Most Recent: News

Nintendo launches a Super NES Virtual Console exclusively for the New 3DS XL

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

nintendologo

Nintendo is bringing a handful of Super NES games from their Virtual Console service to the 3DS… but only if you own the more powerful New 3DS XL.

Announced during the consolemaker’s latest Nintendo Direct presentation, three Super NES classics are already available to download on the New 3DS XL: Super Mario World, F-Zero, and Pilotwings. If you’re old enough, you might remember that trio of titles as the original launch lineup for the Super NES back in 1991.

Nintendo will further fill out the digital store shelves for the Super NES Virtual Console on the New 3DS XL with a number of additional releases throughout the Spring including Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Kart, and EarthBound on March 24. They’ll later be joined by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Quest on April 14.

According to Nintendo, the New 3DS XL handheld enables “Perfect Pixel Mode” for Super NES games, which gives players the option to display the downloadable titles in their original resolution.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

No Man’s Sky will be released for PC, PS4 on June 21

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

nomanssky-header

After years of toil, a flood of biblical proportions, and a chat with Mr. Stephen Colbert, Hello Games is finally ready to announce that No Man’s Sky will be released for the PC and PS4 on June 21.

While the developer doesn’t have a new trailer to mark the occasion, they did reveal that No Man’s Sky will be available to purchase for the PC (as a digital download) and the PS4 (as a digital download through the PlayStation Store and as a Blu-ray disc at your game store). They also confirmed that players will interact with aliens throughout the course of the game, and will even need to decipher several alien languages to advance.

Managing Director Sean Murray stopped by the PlayStation Blog and spoke to SCEE Blog Manager Fred Dutton about this rather unexpected new feature:

In short, here’s how it works. As you travel around the universe you’ll encounter individuals from several distinct races. As with everything else in the game, how they look and what they say is procedurally generated based on a set of variables defined by the Hello Games team.

You’ll be able to trade with them, gain upgrades, learn more about the game’s lore, forge alliances and so forth. Sound straightforward? Well, not so fast.

[…]

“With NPCs in No Man’s Sky, you actually have to learn their language; they speak to you in their native tongue. The more you travel around the universe, the more you learn their language, and the more you can communicate with them.”

Murray used the remainder of the post to reveal a lot more about the game’s many alien languages and how players will interact with the various factions in the No Man’s Sky universe. I think it’s well worth your time.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Dead Island: Definitive Collection will be released for PS4, Xbox One on May 31

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

We still don’t know if Dead Island 2 will be ready for its planned 2016 launch, but Deep Silver hasn’t given up on their undead franchise.

The publisher announced today that Dead Island: Definitive Collection, which includes Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide, will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 31. The remastered compilation will give both games a complete visual overhaul courtesy of several fancy graphical tricks that weren’t possible before:

  • Higher Quality Textures – Game textures have been redone in a higher resolution and the level of quality has been improved across the board.
  • Photorealistic New Lighting System – The lighting system in the game has been vastly improved, providing a much more realistic look to the beautiful sunny tropical setting.
  • Physically Based Shading – The introduction of new physically based shading techniques due to the latest iteration of the Chrome Engine means a higher quality look to the game models and objects as they react in a more realistic way to various lighting conditions.
  • Image Quality Enhancements Via Anti-Aliasing – The addition of more sophisticated anti-aliasing means that console players can now experience Dead Island without unsightly “jaggies“ – meaning a much cleaner look throughout.
  • Improved-Quality Game Models and Geometry Assets – All major geometry assets (for example, NPCs and character models) highlight a marked quality increase.
  • HBAO and Motion Blur Effects – The introduction of Horizon-Based Ambient Occlusion adds an extra layer of depth and realism to the world. Through a better implementation of object shadows, while the all-new motion blur effects will provide a much more cinematic feel to the game experience.
  • Updated Game UI – Providing a more consistent look between both Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide. Increase to equal quality level for seamless game experience.

Both games in the Dead Island: Definitive Collection will include all of the previously released downloadable expansions, as well as new features like online four-player co-op, streaming, and recording. PlayStation 4 owners will also be able to take advantage of PS Vita Remote Play and Share Play. Players will also get the chance to test out the “Power Fists” powerup, a fan favorite mod.

Finally, the Dead Island: Definitive Collection will include Dead Island: Retro Revenge, a side-scrolling endless runner that will be exclusive to the retail package.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Nintendo Download… Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, Pac-Man 2, Chasing Dead, more

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

The dual GameCube/Wii launch for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess always made it feel like a game without a home. But ten years on, it’s become one of the most beloved entries in the Zelda franchise, so it’s fitting that Nintendo is once again offering it to fans as The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD. The Wii U remake will be available to download through the Nintendo eShop beginning tomorrow and it’ll include improved graphics, a brand new Hero Mode, and a number of other tweaks.

Also available this week on the Wii U eShop is Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures, a bizarre point-and-click adventure game that was originally released for the Super NES back in 1994. If that doesn’t thrill you, there’s always Chasing Dead, a zombie-filled first person shooter from 2020 Venture.

More information on all of these games (and a few other new release) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

Bethesda wants you to help choose Doom’s alternate cover

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

doom-header

The Internet had a bit of a meltdown when Bethesda revealed the official boxart for Doom last month. The rather generic-looking space marine and the garish yellow background didn’t provide the thrill that most longtime Doom fans were expecting. Especially since we grew up with this image.

Thankfully, Bethesda and id Software have seen the error of their ways and will offer an alternate cover on the reverse side of the sleeve. Fans will even get the chance to vote for their favorite in a Twitter poll that’ll be open until Monday, March 7. Option A depicts the dreaded Icon of Sin from Doom II: Hell On Earth, while Option B is a new take on the original Doom‘s cover:

So what are you waiting for? Vote now:

Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 13. And don’t forget, if you pre-order Soom through the Xbox Games Store, you’ll receive the first two games in the series for free.

UPDATE: Voting has closed and the people have overwhelmingly picked Option B!

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Next Forza game (with the Lamborghini Centenario on the cover) will debut at E3 2016

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

Microsoft and Lamborghini have revealed that the Lamborghini Centenario will be splashed all over the cover of the next Forza game. We don’t know yet if Micorosoft and Turn 10 are working on Forza Motorsport 7, Forza Horizon 3, or something else entirely, but we do know it’ll make its debut at this year’s E3 Expo.

“We’re excited to continue our long history of working with Lamborghini and to be part of their 100-year anniversary by celebrating the Centenario as the featured cover car of the next Forza game,” said Phil Spencer, the Head of Microsoft’s Xbox Division. “It’s an honor to announce our partnership at [the Geneva International Motor Show], one of the world’s biggest automotive shows, and we look forward to unveiling the game at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo.”

According to Lamborghini, the Centenario uses a V12 architecture, and “the Centenario’s naturally aspirated engine produces 770 hp and powers from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, and from 0-300 km/h in 23.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 350 km/h.” That’s impressive and all, but I’m just happy it has scissor doors like most of Lamborghini’s vehicles.

And if you’re still addicted to Forza Motorsport 6, Microsoft and Turn 10 recently added a new Lamborghini-centered “Rivals” event to the game. And depending upon how well you perform in this event, you might earn an exclusive 2015 Huracan Super Trofeo in-game and be invited to the second round of competition.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Tetropolis resurfaces as Refactor and it’s coming to PC, PS4 in 2016

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

Refactor originally popped up on our radar back in 2014 (more specifically, at PAX East 2014), when it was known as Tetropolis. Even back then, the action took place within a Metroidvania-style world that players explored through the eyes of a shape-shifting tetromino. The little guy was deemed inadequate to appear in “The Game,” but his powers gave him the perfect chance to escape.

Fast forward to today, and developer NextGen Pants has announced a partnership with Sony to bring Refactor to the PS4 and PC. Writing on the PlayStation Blog, lead developer Bob Webb expounded a bit more about the game’s mechanics:

For example, the square shape can be used to combat enemies or the line shape to leap great distances. These shapes can be further augmented by special abilities found throughout the world. While these powers are fairly standard for the metroidvania genre, we’ve turned it up a notch and have given you the ability to rearrange the map in a puzzle-like manner.

Set in a world that is a puzzle itself, you can literally turn the world upside down by rearranging the map. The rooms that make up the map can be reordered, moved around and even rotated, all in real time. It is up to you to construct new pathways to previously inaccessible areas, to solve mind-bending puzzles, and to uncover secrets in the world of Refactor.

Refactor will be released for the PC and PS4 sometime later this year.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

EA CFO confirms that Mass Effect: Andromeda has officially been pushed to Early 2017

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

masseffectandromeda-header

Earlier this week, Electronic Art CFO Blake Jorgensen spoke to investors at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference. During his presentation, the executive revealed that Mass Effect: Andromeda is officially slated for release in the fourth quarter of EA’s fiscal year, which runs from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017:

“So, we’ve got a great year ahead. For the first time I’m trying to tamp down Wall Street expectations than build it up. Good position to be in, I guess. We’ve got our Battlefield first-person shooter game coming in the third quarter, and our third-party title that Respawn, our partner, built, it’s called Titanfall, it’s the second title that they brought into that brand. Both of those are first-person shooters and will be targeted around both the fast, action-driven shooter market, as well as the strategy-driven market in the quarter. We have all our sports games. We have our Mirror’s Edge runner game, that’s first quarter, and then we have Mass Effect, which is a sci-fi action game, in our fourth quarter. So, big year ahead and we’re pretty excited.”

Executives from Electronic Arts previously discussed Mass Effect: Andromeda’s release date during their quarterly financial report at the end of January. At that point, the game was expected to launch in late 2016/early 2017, so this isn’t really a delay, but more of a clarification.

Whatever happens, we know one thing for sure, Mass Effect: Andromeda won’t star Commander Shepard and is said to take the franchise in wild new directions.

[Source: Polygon]

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged