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First God of War: Ascension story, gameplay details released

Posted on April 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

The PlayStation Blog livestream is still ten minutes away, but that hasn’t stopped Sony from sending out the official press release announcing God of War: Ascension.

The document doesn’t contain a release date for Kratos’ next adventure, but it does include a summary of the game’s plot:

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ascension is an epic adventure that allows players to take on the climactic role of the ex-Spartan warrior Kratos as he finds a way to break the blood oath that binds him to the god, Ares. Six months after being tricked into killing his wife and child, a younger Kratos is sentenced to a life of madness with the Furies, caged in a titan-sized prison for the living damned. Fighting insanity, his will is tested to the limit as he seeks to break his bond and gain the clarity to seek revenge on Ares for his part in the death of his family. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest for redemption.

The release also promises that God of War: Ascension will include “a revamped combat and weapon system, promptless mini-games, and new puzzle challenges.”

“The bar has been set quite high for this franchise as each God of War title succeeds in being better than the last,” said Todd Papy, God of War: Ascension’s Game Director at Sony Santa Monica Studio. “But, unlike previous releases, we’re providing a deeper look into Kratos’ tormented past and psyche that fans have not seen before. Combined with refined gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, and a fresh twist on competitive gaming with our new online multiplayer mode, I guarantee that God of War: Ascension will give fans what they have been eagerly waiting for, and much more.”

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Sony confirms multiplayer mode for God of War: Ascension

Posted on April 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

I don’t even remember how it started, but it’s always been the assumption that a fourth God of War game would include some type of multiplayer mode. This morning, Sony confirmed that when God of War: Ascension ships sometime next year, it’ll include a multiplayer mode.

The multiplayer mode reveal will be included as part of a livestream on the PlayStation Blog today (beginning at 11 AM Eastern). But a few details have already leaked out early courtesy of a media event Sony held last week.

When creating a character, players will “sell their soul” to one of four gods (Ares, Zeus, Hades, or Poseidon). Which god you choose will determine how your character’s “allegiance tree” shakes out as they advance through the multiplayer mode.

During the event, Sony showed off Domination Mode, which will be an 8-on-8 brawl where two teams of four compete for “the favor of the gods.” The team that pleases the gods the most will earn the right to massacre a towering cyclops. The idea is to bring the infamous boss battles from the single-player mode to multiplayer.

But don’t forget to tune into the God of War: Ascension livestream to get your first look at the game’s multiplayer mode.

[Source: USA Today]

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Awesomenauts publisher files for insolvency

Posted on April 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

DTP Entertainment mostly specializes in publishing PC games for the European market. But the company is also publishing Awesomenauts in North America, which is due to be released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade this week. However, that plan may be in jeopardy now that DTP has filed for insolvency.

“Insolvency” is a legal term that means DTP doesn’t have enough money to cover their debts. Awesomenauts developer Romino Games is unsure how, if at all, this will affect the release of the game.

With Awesomenauts literally days from release, it’ll make its way to the PSN and XBLA eventually. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.

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Weekly Warp-Up: Zerg Rush Edition

Posted on April 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…

It looks like it’s book week at Warp Zoned as we review both Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto and The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man To Mass Effect. And speaking of books, we pull out the Good Book again for the latest edition of The Cross and The Controller, “The Darkness II Shines a Light on Religious History.”

However, sometimes you just want to throw a book at someone. Say, for example, the people who keep complaining that games are more expensive than ever. To them I say… Just Stop! Games Are NOT More Expensive Today

Finally, our PAX East 2012 coverage continues with a double-barreled look at Double Dragon: Neon including a Hands-On Preview and an Interview with Majesco’s Pete Rosky.

Looking for more of this week’s biggest stories, then turn the page and check out the rest of the Weekly Warp-Up. (more…)

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BioShock Vita will get Irrational’s “full attention” after BioShock Infinite

Posted on April 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

During last year’s E3 Expo, Ken Levine famously stepped on the Sony stage and announced that a new BioShock game was in development exclusively for the Vita. Since then, we’ve heard absolutely nothing about it. How come? Apparently, it’s because BioShock Vita is on the back burner until Irrational finishes up BioShock Infinite:

Wired: Are you really focusing on BioShock Infinite before you get to work on the Vita game? Or are you working on both simultaneously?

Levine: These games really are all-consuming endeavors. You do want to keep the ball rolling but it is tough to give it your full attention before you finish what you have. But we’re getting there with Infinite.

This news came from a Wired interview where Levine gets into some of the real nitty gritty design choices his team made in BioShock Infinite. While this is bad news for Vita owners hoping to get an exclusive look into Irrational’s world sometime soon, it’s an amazingly entertaining read.

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Nintendo getting ready to “introduce some new characters”

Posted on April 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Shigeru Miyamoto recently sat down for a lengthy interview with The Guardian. Originally, the interview was supposed to focus on Nintendo’s introduction of the 3DS Virtual Guides at the Louvre. But as with any Miyamoto interview, the conversation naturally shifted to what he’s working on next.

The answer is a game filled with new characters… maybe:

With this in mind I wonder if Miyamoto has a yearning to create any particular game that he hasn’t yet been able to? “I don’t have a big list of ideas I want to realise,” he replies. “I usually come up with new ideas while I am working on other games. That said, there’s a strong possibility we will introduce some new characters to the scene soon.”

Contrary to popular belief, Nintendo has created multiple games not based on any existing property in the last several years. For three recent examples, look no further than the company’s trio of new action RPGs: Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora’s Tower.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II pre-order cards spotted in the wild

Posted on April 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

First, there was a hidden message written in morse code embedded within a splash page at CallofDuty.com. Now, an IGN reader has stumbled across Target pre-order cards that seemingly confirm the next Call of Duty game will be titled Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

I suppose it’s possible the image to your left is a fake, but the fact that the cards are still in shrinkwrap would make a Photoshop job extremely unlikely. So consider it even more confirmed, the next CoD game will be Call of Duty: Black Ops II and it’ll be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 (and surely the PC as well) on November 13.

But if you’re waiting for the official reveal, that’s still set for May 1 during TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

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New Releases: Mortal Kombat Vita, Tera, More

Posted on April 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Possibly the weakest month ever for new video games comes to a close… but the new games we can look forward to on May 1 aren’t much more impressive.

However, that’s not to say there’s nothing new this week. For example, if you’re a fan of the best fighting game of last year… and your Vita needs a new game… look no further than Mortal Kombat on the PS Vita. Or perhaps you’re looking for a new PC game. There’s the MMORPG Tera and the Quake III-like team FPS shooting of Nexuiz. And don’t worry, there’s one new console game as well. players will be able to get a bead on their targets in Sniper Elite V2 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

And that’s it. If there’s something for you, great. If not, there’s just two more weeks until we’re all blown away by the new releases of May 15.

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