At least, those of us who have experienced the iOS-asissted greatness that is Infinity Blade 2..(ahem)

My decidedly direct stare at the rest of my 8-bit team aside, ChAIR Entertainment has revealed earlier this week a number of details surrounding the newest free update, set to release Thursday, May 24th. Titled Vault of Tears, it (finally!!) continues the story of Siris, the story’s imperishable hero after his unforgettable encounter with the Worker of Secrets in the original version. In addition to this, there will be new regions of the map to explore like the lower level of the castle dam, and a swamp housing this unfathomable creature.

It doesn’t just stop there. New enemies, bosses, over 50 new items/equipment to find, and Treasure Maps, which, when located, will hint towards many of the context sensitive and hidden treasures/entrances located around the game’s environments. I’m personally all for poking around the screen until something groovy pops up, but I welcome the reprieve with open arms, especially as this game’s depth expands and grows. Some of the scribblings are something many Infinity Blade fans will find interesting as well.

The Acolyte is one of the newest bosses to be added to the Clashmob pantheon, and scourge of anyone fearing demonic entities dressed as clergymen, or at least ones who look like they bullied Death (Darksiders 2) into giving up his weapon.

Menacing aesthetics aside, he promises to be just as devastating and troublesome as the rest of the mode’s more formidable foes. In fact, if you would like some input on the spoils, you can head on over to the IB2 fanpage over at Epic for more details, and vote on Facebook as to which weapon can be earned by defeating this mysterious foe come tomorrow. This is truly a game that keeps getting better and better, and at 6 bucks, it’s a steal.

Happy Hunting!

Time Gladiator – The glory days of the gladiator may be over, but not in the time-lost arena of City of Heroes. As you’re thrust into the ring, the only avenue for escape is to conquer combatants pulled from across time, defeat the champions of the coliseum and then muster your strength to face off against the mighty God-Champion! Fight with style to sway the crowd’s opinion and receive valuable buffs as you fend off the onslaught of deadly assassins, outlaw gunslingers, cybernetic soldiers and mythical creatures from across time.

The Casino Heist – Think you can one-up Danny Ocean? Don your costume and build out a crackerjack team of super-powered, sticky fingered players as you make a play to bust down the doors of the Tyrant’s Palace Casino. A vast fortune is only one good plan away from being yours, so don’t let the armed guards and state-of-the-art security give you pause. With the right crew of hitters, hackers, grifters and thieves, show the Tyrant what you think of his “impenetrable vault.

Checkout some of the full screenshots down below. For more information on how you can be a part of City Of Heroes Summer Blockbuster Event Visit CityOfHeroes.com

King is a natural pick for any WWE fans looking to lock it up in the world of 2D fighters, that at least was the reason I picked him up. He’s got an interesting arsenal of fairly high damage output special moves but some of them aren’t exactly effective for their original intents and purposes. King’s use of his special meter works great in SFXT since it allows him to almost double the damage of his longer combos and regain a good chunk of what you spent to do so. King can be mixed up pretty easily however, since he’s got no absolute answer to get out of pressure, it’s up to the user to understand not only the match-up he’s against but also the available options on how to get out. His command grabs, Giant Swing & Tomahawk, possess great damage rewards but do require the user to train their opponent to defend  a certain way. For these many 50/50 reasons, King is best in the hands of players who excel at taking the time to set their opponents up and even second guess their own executions at times rather than stick to one set offensive or defensive mindset.

Positioning: King can work the field from just about anywhere except full screen.  At close range King users should have already trained their opponent to block high or low long enough to land one of his command grabs and at medium range he can easily blow through projectiles or completely stop any potential jump in pressure. Staying in close for too long however could easily turn bad for King due to his lack of ability to handle cross up pressure. Keep that in mind and be sure to rotate between the two positions at favorable times. King won’t always have the best punishes available to him due to his average reach but he can score a good hard knockdown at the very least to not let something just slip away.

Offensive Strategy: When behind the wheel of King make sure you know what you want in advance. The most damaging of King’s moves are also the ones which take the most time on start up to land. Due to fighting game nature, it will be easier to start off training your opponents to block low, since that is the natural reaction to turtle, and then land your Tomahawk. It’s rare to catch someone blocking high during pressure without eventually turtling so try to hold back on using Giant Swing unless it’s a clear punish to a missed special attack or a bad raw tag. The Jumping Knee Lift is easily King’s best special moves, landing this allows 4 continuous Knee Lifts and can be ended with Jaguar Bomb, Jumping HK and cutting it short at 3 even allows you to end with his finisher. The Konvict Kick is an amazing tool of his, the EX version can be followed up with the standard lp.mp,hp chain and repeated for massive damage. You can even further this with Knee Lift for some serious damage of over 500 and personal style points.

Defensive Strategy: Defensively, King has one of the best shut down tactics in the game! Avoid staying in close for too long so you do not end up getting put under cross up pressure that he cannot handle. Look for jump in attacks and always punish with Mid-Air Leg Screw. Eventually smarter players will try to bait this by jumping at you but without attacking, when you feel a change in their offense, use the Knee Lift to catch them in mid air and turn things back into your own offense. These techniques allow King to control the pace of the rounds better than most of the roster, even if you’ve lost control momentarily by unpredictable attacks.

Special Move Usage: King is designed as 1 part set up ability and 1 part prediction ability. All his special attacks are catered to work for players who know what their opponents what to do before they even do it. Jaguar Step is great to render projectile heavy throwers useless and force them to attack outside of their comfort zone and right into yours. Some of kings moves aren’t very good for their initial purpose such as Running Jaguar Bomb, this move has a 10% chance at best of catching a jumping attack opponent in the air and should only be used as part of a combo ender or tag in. Leg Screw will rarely find any place during a round because most players start their strings off low, pay careful attention to attack patterns just in case this counter may have a more frequent usage against their play style. Shoulder Tackle is his 2nd most high risk/high reward move that triggers a wall bounce if timed correctly as a counter hit, however if this is blocked it is extremely punishable and shouldn’t be used unless you’re at least 80% sure  there is an opening to do so. Moonsault Body Press is an unblockable attack, since it has no invincibility and extremely slow start up, you should avoid using this move all together as if it isn’t even a part of his moves list.

Whatever your preference, the many editions of Halo have always made a point to deliver and sometimes go a little beyond expectations. This could be why the release of each game has always been treated like monumental events in the gaming industry, and naturally we wouldn’t expect Halo 4 to be any different.

The header to this story is a finished puzzle to a sneaky distraction 343 used on its fans just before revealing what they have in store for the newest entry into Halo and announcing it’s multiple editions. This picture below? Well, that’s the limited edition!

It’s almost impossible to imagine with such sweet box art as this, that if this is only the Limited Edition, then what will the Legendary Edition look like? As far as price goes, nothing has changed since Halo 3. The limited edition is set for an estimated retail price of $99.99, but of course, cosmetics alone are just a small portion of the things to enjoy in this bundle to merit such a fee, so here is a run down of what’s under the hood:

Judging by what’s in the package, the Limited Edition is designed to enhance the multiplayer experience for gamers. Players can control a Spartan- IV which navigates around the UNSC Infinity, a hub for the players multiplayer career.

– 6 unique specializations available for download at launch which unlock customization features, as well as assist players to obtain higher ranks in their multiplayer career. (Further details on how these specializations function will be showcased live during E3 2012.)

– War Games Map Pack Access! The multiplayer mode, now dubbed War Games, will contain this DLC coupon to download a total of 9 maps that will be release post launch. This will unlock the 3 upcoming map packs which contain 3 maps each upon release.

- An in-game Assault Rifle skin, in game Spartan- IV skin, Xbox Live Avatar Spartan IV armor set, and Xbox Live Avatar Prop.

- The UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet; a go to manual for all things UNSC Infinity including information on the ship, Spartan armor schematics, a UNSC bonus weapon and a storied backdrop on the Spartans aboard the Infinity.

- Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Special Edition Movie: A 90 minute live action digital film that traces back to the origins of the Human/Covenant war and how Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would later achieve the amazing feat of becoming the very commander of the UNSC’s most prized ship, the Infinity.

“Premiering The Walking Dead game series to record numbers across so many diverse platforms is a tremendous achievement that shows the value of bringing strong storytelling and game play together,” said Dan Connors, CEO of Telltale Games, Inc.  “The tailored narrative design puts gamers in control of their own story within the universe of The Walking Dead in a way that appeals equally to hardcore gamers and to more casual gamers who are fans of the franchise.  The most exciting aspect of getting off to such a great start is that this is just the beginning of the five episode series. The Walking Dead fans are going to experience some really great moments in the months ahead that are uniquely influenced by the choices they make throughout the season.”

In celebration of this feat and a thank you to my viewers and readers, I will be giving away TWO FULL SEASON PASSES of all 5 episodes, valued at $24.99 each, for Steam. Eligibility is simple and easy, all you need to do is visit the Chocolate Lemon Facebook Page and click LIKE, then leave a comment saying “Walking Dead”. Already a fan or want to double your chances? Infect your friends by having them do the same and leave the comment “Zombie”. The winners will be announced Friday, May 25th,2012. You’ve now been bitten, get out there to INFECT AND WIN!

Deluxe Edition:  this version of the collectors edition includes a copy of Borderlands 2; an authentic Marcus Kincaid bobblehead ; Inside the Vault: The Art & Design of Borderlands 2 hardbound book; map of Pandora; collectable sticker set; digital comic download code; and bonus downloadable in-game digital content. This will retail at about $99.99

Ultimate Edition: The Ultimate edition bundle is absolutely worthy of being called the “Ultimate Edition”. Inside this bundle you will be treated to everything inside the Deluxe edition and more. Within the Ultimate Edition you will receive a Replica Borderlands loot chest;  Field notes from Sir Hammerlock; a vending machine bobble head box for your marcus bobble head; Borderlands 2 the game sealed in a steel case; Four  lithograph postcards; Creatures Of Pandora wide ID card and a numbered certificate of authenticity to prove your Borderlands fanboyness is legit. This bundle will retail at $149.99 and in my opinion is nothing for what you’re getting in this bundle.

If this sounds like the plot to a cheesy 90’s cartoon, or another of several post-apocalyptic setups for intergalactic mayhem, you’d be right on both counts. With a cheesy opening featuring the titular characters very reminiscent of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and some more than passing similarities to cartoons from the time (is Lonestar using an Earthworm Jim gun?) the game makes it’s attitude known loud and clear, and before you know it, you’re thrown into a tutorial that rapidly introduces you to the game’s mechanics, ultimately informing you of the platforming hijinks to follow, but with one single, solitary objective: Keep the other team out of your base, and by extension, from destroying your team’s drillcore, which is a reservoir for that precious element the rulers are just so nutty over. There are forcefields, turrets, and other emplacements to keep your rivals out, but ultimately, it’s up to you and your team to defend your post at all costs.

In each team’s base, you have a shop where you can spend the solar you’ve earned, either on health boosts, upgrades, or towards unlocking your character’s special abilities. The best parts about these unique abilities however, are the several ways each Awesomenauts’ strange designs correlate with them. In addition to the genre standard running and jumping (with some characters having access to a double jump), each character has unique attributes in the form of two special attacks.

My personal favorite, Froggy G, looks like a Battletoad crossed paths with Run DMC, and in addition to having the highest jump, he has access to a tornado (that can eventually deflect bullets) and a running dash that not only helps him move about the stage, but has the added ability to stun enemies on contact. Leon, a French chameleon, can turn invisible and set up decoys of himself to fool enemies. The rest have equally entertaining personalities/powers to use and experiment, and truly coordinated teams amidst the game’s 3v3 battles will be able to exploit the distinct traits of each characters to their advantage, such as using Clunk as a brute force damage dealer or sponge due to his considerable size, or timing Voltar’s ability to buff and heal his allies while planning a rushdown. There may be an issue of balance here and there when going up against higher leveled players, but the game’s generous experience system (even gives bonuses for invites, local players!) makes short order of that complaint.

Challenger Appears?

Rating: 7.0

Lets take a brief trip down memory lane and visit some of these often forgotten titles. Some of them are classics that should have been supported better, some of them are probably known to some extent, while some were rightfully discarded from the memory banks of arcade gamers everywhere. This will be a look at some of the hidden gems in the genre, as well as some rotten eggs that managed to crack open.

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Alien vs Predator

(Capcom, 1994, 1-3 players)

Before that letdown of a movie was released, Capcom threw these two franchises together into a video game. The rather outlandish storyline had the Predators teaming up with the Space Marines so that the Xenomorph infestation could be obliterated. Two Aliens and two humans are playable in this three-player simultaneous beat em up which features a standard attack and jump button, along with a shooting mechanic which allowed players to blast enemies with overheat sensitive projectiles. The catch was, only a few shots can be fired off before overheating, and if one becomes overheated, the cool-down would last several seconds.

AvP excelled as a solo venture just as much as it did with two others joining the battle. Being that this was released years after Final Fight, the graphical detail had a noticeable boost in quality over it, sporting clean animation for the most part. In terms of challenge, AvP provided just the right amount, without feeling too dumbed down or overbearing.

From a sea of beat up titles during the late 80′s/early 90′s Alien vs Predator rode the waves like a champ, and to this day it’s a mindless button mash that will please fans of the genre.

Worth Remembering? Most Definitely.

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Bucky O’Hare

(Konami, 1992, 1-4 players)

Full disclosure – I’ve never watched a full episode of Bucky O’Hare in my life, nor have I played the original NES game. This four-player beat em up boasted quite the vivid audio and video package for it’s time, blending plenty of voice clips between stages with colorful and well detailed cutscene graphics, as well as in-game visuals that could be considered some of the best the genre had seen in arcades.

What makes Bucky O’Hare unique is how the traditional eight way walk layout changes with each stage. Players will start with the traditional method of movement, but each stage changes things up a bit as you go, from a mostly vertical trek to a jetpack fueled area where one must traverse between electrical charges and more. The thing is, despite the variety, it’s really not that fun, or consistent. Attacks are mostly projectile based, with screen clearing bombs easily obtained. Still, some areas seem way too difficult, even for a genre built upon screw points that require extra quarters to enter the machine to continue, yet oppositely, some areas are brainlessly easy.

I suppose those who grew up with the franchise would find a bit more to clamor over, but when it’s all said and done, Bucky O’Hare is a mediocre entry at best, though should be commended for its quality audio and video production.

Worth Remembering? For Fans Only?

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Arabian Fight

(Sega, 1992, 1-4 players)

Depending on who you ask, Arabian Fight isn’t as obscure as I thought. I never heard of it in my life until I happened to stumble across it. This Sega developed beat em up is slightly unorthodox, from its stage layout to its visual inspirations. It’s a four player game, though it’s one that no one should have ever ever known of.

The anime-like visuals during certain points of the game helped differentiate Arabian Fight from other games within the genre. Through magic attacks (usually once per area) a cutscene-like display is shown of the character attacking, and between stage scenes feature these high quality visuals as well. Playing through the game though, you can tell Sega spent more time than they should have on visuals at the detriment of everything else. For example, my first playthrough lasted a paltry 15 minutes through seven stages. I still have no idea how I cleared the game so fast either, especially since the controls are so rigid, with hit detection so poorly implemented, that it made combat as much of a struggle as it was a chore to play. Even if magic attacks cleared the screen in no time, the bosses were still a nightmare thanks to the overall poorly implemented mechanics.

On top of that, the early stages are all two screens long, with in-game visual quality much weaker than the anime-like cutscenes (though the scaling of each character, depending on where they are on screen, was impressive.) As definitely one of the worst beat em up titles I have ever come across, Arabian Fight is a battle worth running far away from.

Worth Remembering? God No.

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Knights of the Round

(Capcom, 1991, 1-3 players)

Another game that isn’t completely obscure, Knights of the Round has seen its share of publicity and successes. The Super Nintendo port was one of the better games in the genre to appear on a 16 bit console. A three payer title, KotR blended the bread and butter of the genre with a few twists here and there, while still remaining close to what players would expect in general.

This is a rare case in which I actually prefer the Super Nintendo port over the arcade version. While the graphical quality and sound overall is a bit higher than its 16 bit counterpart, performing a block in the arcade version feels entirely cumbersome. On the SNES, a button was designated for blocking, which really did add a new dimension to the genre, and made it less of a mindless mashfest. With the arcade version players must press away and attack at the same time to initiate the block. If not timed right, the character will just turn around. It was an intuitive change on the port over, and a reason why I prefer it over the original.

With that said, it’s still an enjoyable venture into the world of Camelot. Just about all of my feelings for Knights of the Round were conveyed in my SNES review a while back, so check it out and get a better understanding to exactly why either version is worth your time and money.

Worth Remembering? Yes.

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Spider-Man: The Video Game

(Sega, 1991, 1-4 players)

This was one I so rarely ever saw, and barely anyone faithfully remembered. This Sega developed Spider-Man arcade title featured a cast of characters that would make fans of the webhead facepalm (Spider-Man of course, along with Black Cat, Hawkeye and Namor.) Up to four players can crowd the machine, with only an attack and jump button utilized (a special attack initiates when both buttons are pressed simultaneously.)

One neat gimmick that Spider-Man: The Arcade Game had was a perspective shift midway through each stage. Traditional eight way movement was reduced to a side scrolling adventure, where each character used projectiles as their primary attack, and where enemy health seemed much lower than in the traditional sections. For the most part, these parts of each stage were the least enjoyable, but it was a worthwhile diversion from the norm. Sega also did a pretty good job with the rest of the package, however. Vocal quips at the appropriate moments, large, detailed character models in a visually pleasant game world and controls that, outside jump attacks, were responsive enough to master and use well.

It may not have the notoriety of X-Men: The Arcade Game, but Spider-Man: The Arcade Game is an often forgotten about beat em up that has enough value to it. There are more than enough Spidey villains throughout the game, and they feel less forced in than Batman Arkham City, regardless of genre and scope differences. I’ve only seen this one twice in person, so I’m not quite sure if this game is that rare or not, but if you ever happen to stumble across it in some fashion, definitely give it a whirl.

Worth Remembering? Certainly.

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Crime Fighters

(Konami, 1989, 1-4 players)

Released the same year as Konami’s behemoth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game, Crime Fighters is a more traditional entry into the genre. Up to four players can punch and kick their way through an American looking city, taking out a plethora of both racial stereotypes and gang stereotypes in the style of Final Fight. Attacks were limited to punches and kicks, with with a jump attack available when both attack buttons were pushed at the same time.

Though it’s the oldest title listed here, Crime Fighters looks, sounds and feels even older. TMNT: The Arcade Game had a much cleaner visual presentation, a more coherent audio set up and by far more feasible mechanics than this. The two things that decimate Crime Fighters are the delays on each attack and the impossibility of holding onto a weapon. Take a well built game in the genre for example, like Final Fight. Each attack has a delay after each swing, yet players are able to move and jump quickly after each swing to strategically compensate for this. Crime Fighters punishes players with incredibly delayed attacks that leave them wide open to be counterattacked. Not to mention getting hit with a weapon will knock the weapon out of the characters hands, where it promptly blinks and vanishes for good.

Just based off the mechanics alone, Crime Fighters is a near unplayable mess. The stereotypes all around the game world are hilarious, but that does little to make up for the poor showing overall. It might be a classic to some, but for me, it’s as bad as it gets in terms of gaming as a whole.

Worth Remembering? As Much As the McDLT.

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There’s a hefty number of titles within this fine genre that I haven’t even got around to discussing. From the SNK title that liberally borrows from Final Fight (Burning Fight for the uninitiated), to genre bending creations from one of the companies responsible for over-saturating the genre (Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom/Shadow over Mystara.) Do any of you have any particular favorites that don’t often get as much recognition? Share them with us all in the comments section down below!

There was a time when Itagaki’s highly publicized departure from Tecmo seemed like the stuff of legends reborn–after all, the outspoken producer had taken a small contingency of his best talent with him when he left Team Ninja to create Valhalla Games with THQ’s backing. Not to mention his first title with the company, Devil’s Third, a neo-futuristic action game seemed like a strong way to start off their partnership with a prospective 2013 release.

4 years, internal trouble and a sorry investment in U-Draw tablets later (along with a fledgling WWE license) that even strong sales of Saints Row: The Third couldn’t save, THQ is on the verge and undergoing a massive restructuring. Unfortunately, Devil’s Third is one of the titles on the chopping block, with CEO Brian Farrell stating that the “profitability profile of Devil’s Third no longer meets our internal threshold.”, among other things. Given that there has been barely any news concerning the game aside from reassurance from Itagaki in February that the game was indeed still on track despite the publisher’s troubles, this is still sad news, but not something entirely surprising.

The good news is, THQ is actively trying to find a new publisher for it, so the future of the studio at least isn’t in doubt. Here’s wishing them the best, as Devil’s Thirddid look like an interesting take on the already somewhat bloated 3rd person action genre.

Via GamesIndustry.biz

A lot of duelists eyes were on this event to see if the dominant trio of decks (Dino-Rabbit, Inzektors and Wind-Ups) would stay the course in their superiority or would a duelist who swam against the current rise again much as what has happened in prior YCS events. Rogue duelists everywhere rejoiced as the top 64 players after 12 rounds of play sat ready to square off. While the trinity of powerful decks were represented in the brackets, the biggest surprise were the number of rogue decks that made their way to the top tables. The severely underrated Dark World deck won out the main event surprising everyone, but a lot of talk surrounded a particular theme that hadn’t seen play in quite some time.

Fast forward to YCS Texas, where Dino Rabbit finally won alongside a field of Dragons, Inzektors and showing no signs of slowing down, the Elemental Hero Deck made an appearance (as well as a spin on a fave of yours truly, Blackwings)!

The release of the Premium Collection Tin saw the TCG release of Masked Hero Acid which inspired many duelists, including yours truly to take another look at the Elemental Hero deck theme. The Elemental Hero deck has many tricks to its name, and some of the plays it has were noted to counter the most played decks in tournament play, especially what many view as the current deck to beat in Dino-Rabbit. With the changes in ignition effect priority finally hitting the TCG market (OCG has had this ruling for a while now) Dino-Rabbit seems to be on a decline as cards like Effect Veiler rise in abundance in playability and are showing up in main decks everywhere.

In the recent weeks I have been tinkering away with the Hero theme and found many combos and cards that go against the current meta that are so prevalent in this format. I personally have shied away from the Mask Hero into Masked Hero Acid play that many duelists have taken a liking to and instead have focused more on an anti-meta approach that can counter Dino-Rabbit, Wind-Ups, the Inzektor theme and another deck we’ll be featuring soon, the Hieratics. Let’s take a look at the current deck list I’ve been testing out.

Monsters: 13

[3x] Elemental Hero Neos Alius

[2x] Elemental Hero Ocean

[1x] Elemental Hero Stratos

[1x] Gorz the Emissary of Darkness

[1x] Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

[1x] Snowman Eater

[1x] Spirit Reaper

[2x] Thunder King Rai-Oh

Spells: 17

[1x] Book of Moon

[1x] Dark Hole

[1x] Future Fusion

[3x] Gemini Spark

[1x] Heavy Storm

[1x] Mind Control

[2x] Miracle Fusion

[1x] Monster Reborn

[3x] Pot of Duality

[1x] Reinforcement of the Army

[2x] Super Polymerization

Traps: 11

[1x] Bottomless Trap Hole

[2x] Fiendish Chain

[2x] Hero Blast

[1x] Solemn Judgment

[2x] Solemn Warning

[1x] Starlight Road

[2x] Torrential Tribute

Side Deck: 15

[2x] Cyber Dragon

[1x] Snowman Eater

[2x] Forbidden Lance

[3x] Mystical Space Typhoon

[1x] Bottomless Trap Hole

[2x] Chain Disappearance

[1x] Compulsory Evacuation Device

[2x] Dimensional Prison

Extra Deck: 15

[1x] Chimeratech Fortress Dragon

[1x] Dragon Knight – Draco Equiste

[2x] Elemental Hero Absolute Zero

[1x] Elemental Hero Gaia

[1x] Elemental Hero Great Tornado

[1x] Elemental Hero Nova Master

[2x] Elemental Hero The Shining

[1x] Ally of Justice Catastor

[1x] Stardust Dragon

[2x] Blade Armor Ninja

[1x] Number 39: Utopia

[1x] Number 39C: Utopia Ray

A pricey addition but not necessary

Now I understand that the lack of Maxx “C” may be a little out of of left field, but as it isn’t a cheap card by any means, one could change up the main board line-up to include Thunder King Rai-Oh in that slot which frees up some side board options as well. I wanted to work this deck on a budget, and for most players this is the case. So no Maxx “C” since quite frankly, I don’t wish to purchase or trade for them.

It's Morphing Time!

For a deck with many aggressors, surprisingly enough the proper way to play this deck is to maintain a degree of board control and card presence throughout the early and mid-game. Too many players get punished for early aggressive attack pushes and lose out to the bigger plays against the aforementioned Big Three and even more-so in the mirror match. Super Polymerization is the best card you want to see in many games as its text basically states it cannot be negated. As an example, when the Dino Rabbit player makes their Dolkka or Laggia play, a well-timed Super Polymerization removes the huge threat from the field and allows you to special summon Elemental Hero Nova Master from your Extra Deck. With his high attack, their isn’t much in the Dino Rabbit arsenal that can take him down, and with back up protection in the deck’s many spells and traps, the sudden change in the game state can coast you towards victory.

One Fiery Hero!

One of the many great plays this deck can make begins on its first turn. Opening with a hand of Reinforcement of the Army or E – Emergency Call if you wish to go that route; means you’re searching out Elemental Hero Stratos, which in turn when he is summoned and provided his effect isn’t negated by any of your opponents cards, you can search for another hero from your deck to your hand. With the recursion effect of Elemental Hero Ocean, Stratos’ second effect becomes even more prominent, as he can also destroy opposing magics and traps up to the number of Hero cards on your side of the field. Remember you can only choose one of these when Stratos is summoned, so knowledge of your position and game state is very important when playing him.

Ride With The Wind ~ Elemental Hero! STRATOS!

The rest of the monster line-up is meant to throw some tricks at the opponent. Neo-Spacian Grand Mole is a card that can get annoying in almost every match-up and forces opponents to waste a card on him if they wish to get rid of him. This means one less option to take down the decks many mighty heroes, and a great advantage for the player running the Hero deck.

Snowman Eater and Spirit Reaper provide a good sense of tempo, and Snowman Eater is also a water type monster which creates fuel for a Miracle Fusion play into Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, who stands tall with 2500 attack points and a destruction effect that can ruin your opponents plans if he leaves the field in any way.

One of the weaknesses of the deck is its lack of option against Dark themed decks like Blackwings or Dark World or even the Inzektor theme. While currently Hero duelists have to be smart about their side deck options in these match-ups, a look to the future presents a nice option that many Hero duelists will probably want to own when it releases in August. Below is a card art preview of the Dark Elemental Hero; ELEMENTAL HERO ESCURIADO!

Even In the Darkness, A Hero Emerges!