Crispy’s list of the twelve most uncomfortable pairings is video game history is pretty much spot-on, echoing my own sentiments at every turn. If you played through Professor Layton actively wondering about the professor’s relationship with his young male companion, you’ve probably got the same sort of mindset. One that would make you question the relationship between Marcus and Dom in Gears of War.

Marcus and Dom have a special man-bond because they have endured things “down in the Hollow” — Roadie Runs, laying down suppressing fire for one another, enjoying tender moments during cut-scenes between levels — that no vacation at even the mighty Hedonism Resort with their bikini-clad lady friends could ever top. I picture Dom late in life, alone in his little trailer, holding Marcus’ old bandana to his face, inhaling his scent, and remembering their down-in-the-Hollow times together. Those sure were some times…

Poor Dom. My favourite uncomfortable pairing, however, would have to be number two on the list.

The scariest videogame of the year doesn’t have the words “Silent” or “Hill” in it. It’s this game from the classy people at Activision. This is the first time in the series’ history that the game actually features an Unlockable Ghost. That ghost is Kurt Cobain, who can be used—yes, that’s the right word here—to create all sorts of uncomfortable pairings like these. Why not just go a step further, Activision, and include some autopsy pics as unlockables, too?

I’d have to agree here—playing as Cobain was hands-down the most uncomfortable experience I’ve had in a video game. What could be even more awkward? Hit up the link below to see the pairing Crispy Gamer thought was more awkward than zombie Cobain.

Uncomfortable Pairings [Crispy Gamer]

Holy Hyrule this thing defies words. Haywan of PaperCraft Museum is responsible for this. Looks like it even has a detachable shield and sword (and scabbard?) – and heck, that makes the plans worth a try by themselves. (It could be the creator photographed himself playing with them before affixing them to the model.)

There are more pics in the gallery, even more at the link. Check them out, they’re chock full of awesome.

Life-Sized Link by Haywan [PaperCraft Museum via GoNintendo]

Sadly, I don’t see any Links that could pass for Daniel Day-Lewis — but there’s one that kind of looks like Jeff Bridges before he went to seed. And there are more than a few portraits that bring new meaning to the term “androgynous.”

But the one that takes the cake, for me anyway, is this one:

What’s your favorite?

30+ Various Styles of The Legend of Zelda Artworks [The Design Inspiration]

Unfortunately, UpKnitCreek’s not making this available for general sale, as most are homespun game/geek items like this that we usually post. But look at the craftsmanship – and the fact it’s accompanied by a Triforce baby blanket, to be packaged up and delivered in a wooden treasure chest. Whichever newborn gets this, he or she is the luckiest baby of 2009. Or ever.

Baby Link [Craftster.org via Geekologie]

In Spirit Tracks, not only do you get to play through segments of the game on a train, firing off shots from a canon, but you have a pet Phantom of sorts which is used to protect you and help solve puzzles.

The version of the game on show at E3 this week was broken down into distinct sections so you could get a taste of some of the new gameplay elements easily.

First I checked out a dungeon, with Link and his Phantom cohort. In the game you control Link with a stylus, as with Phantom Hourglass, moving him around by touching the screen and attacking by tapping on enemies.

You can also move a giant, friendly Phantom by touching a symbol at the feet of the armoured Phantom and drawing a path with your stylus. Once you lift the stylus the Phantom begins walking the course you drew. There is also a button that lets you switch views between Link and the Phantom when the two move away from each other and another button that allows you to call the Phantom to you.

While it doesn’t look like you can use the Phantom to fight, you can use his armoured body to unlock rooms by standing on switches, block fire and even ride the thing across pools of lava by standing on his head.

It’s an interesting new mechanic that adds just enough to the experience to make Spirit Tracks feel like a fresh approach to the touch-control gaming of Phantom Hourglass.

The train section of the demo was more tutorial than gameplay. You control the train by sliding a lever up and down to speed up, slow down, stop or reverse the train on its tracks. There’s also a chain you can pull down with your stylus to blow a whistle and clear the tracks of animals. There’s also a canon mounted to the train that you can fire by touching anywhere on the screen.

Played separated from the experience of the game itself, the train section felt sort of odd, like a tacked on experience that didn’t really fit in with the bigger picture. But I’m sure that won’t be the case once the full game is released.

Annathered’s back from her bento creation station again. She breaks her rule about 3D bentoing to give us a 2D Wind Waker incarnation of Link. It’s time for lunch on the east coast, right?

Here’s the full list of ingredients for this lovely scene of Link finding more heart in the forest:

Toon Link:
– potato salad wrapped with lettuce and spinach
– turkey for his face and hands
– carrot for his boots
– egg for his hair
– seaweed and kamaboko (fish cake) for his eyes
– fake sausage for his mouth

Piece of heart:
– konnyaku (yam cake) and kamaboko

Life:
– carrot

Flowers:
– kamaboko
– spinach
– egg sheet

Other food:
– rice
– Japanese style hamburg
– broccoli
– asparagus

Anna’s flickr page for this creation gives a point-by-point annotation. Bon appetit!

Bento #28: Toon Link [Anna the Red, via Geekologie]

The adowable girl is reader Landon’s niece. Landon and his brother are life long gamers, and his brother made some flash cards of famous game characters. He showed them to his daughter over the course of about three days, and the darling child was able to memorize them all and dazzle us all. Bravo!

*applause*

TV host Olivia Munn dresses as the Capcom fighter after the jump. Reader Chesu as link. COSTUME FIGHT!

In related cosplay news, our cosplay contest is in full swing. Reader Chesu sends along his entry (above, not Chun-Li). Our minds? Blown.

We’ve got a handmade Dead Space helmet we’re giving away. Dress-up like a game character (any game character is okay!) and send along a picture of you holding up a Kotaku sign to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line Cosplay Contest. Please do not send photos of Kotaku signs Photoshopped in. The deadline is November 1. The winner will be selected by Kotakuland and get this helmet. Happy Halloween to everyone and all that crap!

Olivia Munn Trades In The Leia Costume For Chun Li’s Threads [Das Gamer]
Street Fighter Costumes! [Capcom]

GoNintendo was dubious at first that Rhodes deliberately put the Triforce on his boots. But the grappler makes it pretty damn clear in the latest issue of WWE Magazine:

“It’s the Tri-Force from The Legend of Zelda“, Rhodes confirmed. “You know how some people have a book they re-read every year? Well I re-play The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for Super Nintendo every year. In the game, the Tri-Force symbolized power, wisdom and courage. I thought I could apply those qualities to my life”.

In 1992 I actually refereed a pro rasslin’ match in North Carolina. It’s a long-arse story how I ended up doing that. But on the card was this clown who went by Mean Mark. Mean had Scripture printed on the arse of his trunks, which, if I was the Lord, I’d kind of grimace and nod at the sentiment but not really feel complimented, you know? Now 16 years later a value set inspired by a video game gets better treatment on a nationwide stage.

As for me, I replay Red Dead Revolver about halfway every year. It teaches me that revenge is a great and awesome goal but gets real boring after about the fourth time.

WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes Pays Tribute to Zelda via his Ring Attire [GoNintendo]