Most Recent: Xbox 360

New IPs to Play Before the End of Days

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Andrew Rainnie

The Mayans and film director Roland Emmerich would have us believe that the end of the world is nigh. Really nigh. Knee nigh almost. But despite the warnings, it seems most game designers shirked off the warning that was Emmerich’s masterpiece 2012 and decided to roll out the same old stuff. We have Final Fantasy XIII-2, Guild Wars 2, Borderlands 2, Darksiders II, The Darkness II, Mass Effect 3, Max Payne 3, Soul Calibur V, and Street Fighter X Tekken (I know the X doesn’t equal 10, but it might at well). I am sure some of these games will be amazing (and I have my £40 saved for Borderlands 2 already), but if it really, truly is the end of life, the universe and my games consoles, then is it too much to ask to play something new before we’re all burned, drowned, stabbed or frozen to death (depending on which mood Emmerich is in) instead of say, another instalment of Call of Duty or, hypothetically, taking an isometric political espionage strategy game from 1993 and turning it into yet another First Person Shooter?

Thankfully no. (more…)

Posted in Features, PC, PS3, Top Story, Vita, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare story details, arcade mode revealed

Posted on December 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

A week after officially unveiling Alan Wake’s American Nightmare at the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards, Remedy has unveiled the first story details for the downloadable title. Staying true to their promise that it’s not Alan Wake 2, the developer confirmed that American Nightmare actually takes place in “Night Springs,” the fictional TV show from Alan Wake. And due to its “fictional” nature, the story is going to be taking a pulpy turn:

The main story mode in Alan Wake’s American Nightmare is part of the “Night Springs” TV show fiction and offers an exaggerated pulp action adventure where the horrors of reality have the all too easy habit of coming true. Alan Wake finds himself stuck in an altered reality filled with dangerous shadows; he must leap into action and pursue his evil doppelganger, Mr. Scratch, across the Arizona mesa towards the town of Night Springs. Scratch, a supernatural serial killer, has his evil plans set on Wake’s wife, Alice. Wake must learn to control reality itself and unravel the secret to Mr. Scratch’s demise while using the power of light to put an end to the darkness.

Remedy also announced the Fight Til Dawn arcade mode today. In Fight Til Dawn, players must “survive a full night of enemy onslaughts while racking up their score.” By loading up on weapons and using safe zones, players will have to survive the night and destroy as many demons as possible to write the highest score possible onto the game’s leaderboards.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare will be available exclusively as an Xbox Live Arcade download in early 2012.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Retailers list February release date for Kinect Star Wars, R2-D2 Xbox 360 bundle

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Is it time to rejoice, my fellow Star Wars nerds? It looks like Kinect Star Wars may just have a release date – which means that ridiculously amazing Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle may have one, too! Walmart has a February 7 release date listed for the game and bundle, while Kmart has the same date for the game. I can’t even find the bundle on Amazon right now (it’s actually been pulled), and the game still just says it will be released in December 2012.

I’m thinking February 7 is the date. With the recently released ESRB Rating Summary, it’s clear moving and shaking is happening – possibly literally and figuratively. I’ve been holding out on buying a 360 since this bundle was announced, determined that this will be my first ever Xbox. And with a March birthday, this is pretty awesome timing, Microsoft. Thanks for thinking of me.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Dance for Jabba in Kinect Star Wars

Posted on December 18, 2011 by John Scalzo

OK, we don’t know for sure that you’ll be dancing for Jabba in Kinect Star Wars, but the recently released ESRB Rating Summary confirms that the game will include a “dancing mini-game” with “revealing outfits.” Sure sounds like the Jabba’s Palace scene from Return of the Jedi to me:

In the dancing mini-game, some female characters perform suggestive moves (e.g., gyrating their hips/buttocks) and wear revealing outfits (partially exposed cleavage/buttocks).

So allow me to amend the headline to say “Dance for Jabba in Kinect Star Wars while your character wears Leia’s gold bikini!” (OK, we don’t know that either, but I know you’re all thinking it).

Yeah, this is going to be the greatest Star Wars game ever.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Ninja Gaiden 3 slices its way into stores on March 20

Posted on December 17, 2011 by John Scalzo

Ryu Hayabusa returns to slice and dice more demons this Spring as Tecmo Keoi has announced a release date for Ninja Gaiden 3. Ninja Gaiden 3 is the first game in the series not developed by former Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki as well as the first to be released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 at the same time.

And while we’re on this “firsts” theme, Ninja Gaiden 3 will also include the first time the public gets a chance to play Dead or Alive 5. Players who pre-order the game from GameStop will receive a DoA5 demo featuring Ryu Hayabusa and Hitomi. Meanwhile, those who place their pre-order through Amazon will receive a different demo, which features Ayane and Hayate. But if you buy the Ninja Gaiden 3 Collector’s Edition (available exclusively at GameStop), your demo will include all four characters.

The Collector’s Edition will take a $99.99 slice out of your wallet, but it includes a copy of the game, the DoA5 demo and a “Ninja Gaiden 3 ‘Unmask’ game art book, soundtrack CD, and a unique ‘Duel of the Masked’ figure.”

Ninja Gaiden 3 is also in development for the Wii U and will be available at the console’s launch, which is currently scheduled to take place sometime in 2012.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Minecraft tops Time Magazine’s top 10 video games of 2011

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Time Magazine has announced their “Top 10 Everything of 2011” lists, which of course contains a list of video games. Did your favorite games of this year make the list? Number 10…

10. Battlefield 3
9. Sword & Sworcery
8. Dark Souls
7. The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim
6. Bastion
5. Batman: Arkham City
4. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
2. Portal 2
1. Minecraft

My favorite game of 2011, Dead Space 2, did not make that list – nor have I seen it on any other lists. That’s what happens when games get released at the beginning of the year, I suppose. Ah well. For full commentary, check out the Time Magazine article.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , ,

10 million copies of Skyrim shipped

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Nicole Kline

In an announcement surprising to no one, Bethesda Softworks said they’ve shipped 10 million copies of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. In PC games alone, it outsold all other PC games three to one in the first month of its release. Digitally speaking, it’s also the “fastest selling title in Steam’s history,” according to Jason Holtman, Director of Business Development at Valve Corporation.

Skyrim has also been raking in countless awards and attention, from Game of the Year at Spike TV’s VGAs to Raptr’s Most-Played Game of 2011. G4TV, Official Xbox Magazine, and Machinima.com also gave Skyrim their Game of the Year Award. This comes as no surprise, seeing as this same developer also got game of the year in 2006 with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and in 2008 with Fallout 3.

I haven’t played any of the Elder Scrolls games, but this might be the year that I cave and get one. I might start with Oblivion and then ease my way into Skyrim. Don’t be alarmed – that sound you hear is just my backlog weeping.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Risen 2: Dark Waters sets sail on April 24

Posted on December 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Deep Silver has announced that Risen 2: Dark Waters, a pirate-themed RPG from developer Piranha Bytes, will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on April 24, 2012. You can also check out the newly-released box art to your left.

And if the name Risen 2: Dark Waters has left you scratching your head in confusion, here’s an official description from Deep Silver:

“Piranha Bytes combines Risen’s authentic role-playing gameplay with a fresh setting, new content, further-developed technology and multiple, thematically varied islands. With its highly interactive game world and dynamic day/night rotation – influencing countless aspects of the world – Risen 2 allows players to plunge into one of the most intense role-playing worlds ever created.”

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