Staff Writer: Mike has been playing video games ever since the Atari 2600. A longtime Nintendo fan, but connoisseur of all systems, Mike’s favorite video game genres are fighting and survival games, and, although he prefers the physical tables, he is a big softie for pinball games.
Even though Microsoft’s Xbox One presentation was three days ago, my emotions still feel like they’re on a roller coaster. Using Microsoft’s own MS Paint program, I think I managed to capture my reaction in comic form.
The full comic, “Not The One,” is posted after the break. (more…)
Games developed by The Behemoth don’t come around very often. I remember buying Alien Hominid for the GameCube back in December of 2004, and playing it nonstop for months. Then, after four painstaking years, we were blessed with one of the greatest (and most popular) games on the Xbox Live Arcade: Castle Crashers. I could write pages upon pages on how amazing The Behemoth’s second outing is, but odds are you’ve played the game and share my sentiments. If you haven’t, then it’s time to invest in some Microsoft Points. Point being, I haven’t been disappointed by a single game created by these developers. And with their most recent release BattleBlock Theater, I’m elated to say that The Behemoth is three for three. (more…)
Reboots are all the rage these days. Major titles such as Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat and Devil May Cry went back to the drawing board and returned with a fresh coat of paint and new stories to tell. Reviews, and for that matter, sales, have also shown us that rebooting a franchise normally yields positive results. One of the earliest reboots this generation, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow wiped the slate clean and gave us an entirely new take on the revered franchise. Lords of Shadow was very well received, and was popular enough to spawn a sequel. Release information for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 has yet to see the light of day (It’s a vampire game, get it?), but until that day comes, we have Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate. (more…)
By now, you’ve probably seen Sony’s PlayStation 4 press conference, which took place a week and a half ago. You’ve gotten a glimpse of the slick new controller, seen the amazing footage of Watch Dogs and InFamous: Second Son. You’ve seen the Twitter, Facebook, and forum posts all saying the same thing, “DAY ONE!” You’ve checked your budget and figured that by scrimping and saving you will be able to afford the PlayStation 4 when it launches. Now, all you need to do is pre-order your system.
Well, the wait is finally over. This afternoon, Halo creators Bungie unveiled the first details of their newest offering, Destiny, to the public.
The title, which is scheduled to hit the Xbox 360, PS3, and “future generation technology” (that’s the next Xbox and PlayStation systems to the layperson) sounds very ambitious. The story is as follows: In the distant future, humans have spread across the galaxy, exploring the far reaches of space. That is, until they attacked. The entire species is all but wiped out, and all that remains live in a guarded city on Earth. The invading aliens are unable to destroy this last bastion of hope, as the city (and its civilians) are protected by a large, floating orb called “The Traveler” that hovers above. This orb not only shelters the last remaining survivors, but also bestows upon them immense power. The humans use these newfound abilities to try to prevent their extinction.
While this may at first seem like your basic futuristic sci-fi game, Bungie assures us it is anything but. Destiny features an extremely deep online world; almost MMO-like. Destiny is an “always online” first-person shooter, akin to Borderlands. Players are given a choice between three classes: Titan (your heavy hitter), Warlock (magic-wielder), or Hunter (stealth-based). Once you choose your class, you then go through deep customization process, and then you are thrust into the game. You and your friends can progress cooperatively (like Borderlands), or you can choose to join in on a competitive match or two. Vehicles also make up a huge part of Destiny, as it appears you’ll not only be traversing Earth, but also visiting other planets as well.
Bungie is looking to create a world that is always on, always inhabited. Destiny’s main focuses is character interaction – and not just NPCs. Adventures with your friends (and complete strangers) while playing online is what Destiny is all about. According to Bungie’s Joseph Staten, “The most important stories we tell won’t be told by us They’ll be told by players. Personal legends built from shared adventures.”
No specific release date has been given, and Destiny may not even hit shelves this year. But one thing is certain: we can’t wait.
Are you one of the many who cried foul at Resident Evil 6‘s rather drastic departure from what made the series so great? Do you have trouple falling asleep at night, staring at the ceiling and wishing that the series would return to the style that made “survival horror” a common household name? Then start saving your money! Your purchase of Resident Evil Revelations may help govern where the series goes next.
Masachika Kawata, who produced Resident Evil Revelations on the 3DS, said that Capcom will be paying very close attention to the success of the home console port of the portable title:
“I think we’ll get a lot of input from the fanbase and the media on what it means for Resident Evil, and what it could mean for the future of the series. We’ll definitely be looking at that as a signpost for where we need to be going next.”
“Moving forward I can see us focusing even more on the horror aspect and fear in the series, and see us making something scarier than we have already.”
If there’s anything the PlayStation Vita could stand to benefit from, it’s more games. So it warms this gamer’s heart to get a set release date for one of the platform’s flagship franchises. That’s right, FPSers, Killzone: Mercenary officially hits stores on September 17th.
Killzone: Mercenary is a new first-person shooter in the Killzone series, developed specifically for the PlayStation Vita platform and powered by the stunning Killzone engine. Starting just after the ending of the original Killzone, and revisiting many of the events from the Killzone trilogy, the game puts players in the rugged combat boots of a mercenary named Arran Danner. Danner is a former UCA-soldier who has no qualms about taking on paid contracts from the ISA as well as the Helghast.
But don’t go thinking you’ll have to wait seven excruciating months before seeing anything on the game. Sony also graciously provided a new trailer and some screenshots for game:
Racing fans only need to wait a few short months before being able to rev their virtual engines. Codemasters announced today that Grid 2 will hit stores on May 28th in North America, and May 31st abroad. Also detailed was the game’s pre-order incentives, which are as follows:
Pre-orders at GameStop get the McLaren Racing Pack and GTR Racing Pack, which includes the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, and the Nissan GT-R SpecV. In addition, the pre-order also unlocks two routes for the Brands Hatch and five routes for Yas Marina. You also get to participate in some special online events.
If Grid 2 is pre-ordered at Best Buy, you get the IndyCar pack, giving you the Dallara IndyCar, two routes for the Indianapolis Motor SpeedWay Oval circuit, and another exclusive online event.
Finally, those who pre-order from Amazon get the Head Start pack, netting the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT and a RaceNet bonus. Amazon pre-orders also get discounted car upgrades.
Grid 2 will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Even though Microsoft’s Xbox One presentation was three days ago, my emotions still feel like they’re on a roller coaster. Using Microsoft’s own MS Paint program, I think I managed to capture my reaction in comic form.
