Most Recent: Xbox One

New Retail Releases: Metroid Prime Federation Force, Style Savvy 3, F1 2016, More

Posted on August 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

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It seems like everyone who talks about Nintendo nowadays wants to talk about the NX, but the consolemaker is still releasing games for the 3DS, including this week’s launch of Metroid Prime: Federation Force and Style Savvy: Fashion Forward.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a co-op-focused spinoff from the main Metroid series and won’t star intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. Instead, players will join up with a squad of Galactic Federation Marines as they do battle with Metroids and Space Pirates on a distant planet.

Meanwhile, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is the third game in Nintendo’s fashion franchise, and it’ll give budding fashionistas the chance to design the perfect outfit with thousands of choices.

Steeping away from Nintendo, Codemasters will release F1 2016 for the PS4 and Xbox One. The latest racing simulation from the British developer follows the FIA Formula One World Championship, and includes 21 tracks and 22 drivers.

Finally this week, Krillbite will release a retail version of Among the Sleep for the PS4. Among the Sleep is a first-person game where players take control of a young toddler investigating the strange noises in his house. Is it the Bogeyman? or is it just a shadow?

The real question is, when you’re a toddler, does it make a difference?

Posted in 3DS, News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Xbox Store Today: Momentum, Lies of Astaroth

Posted on August 12, 2016 by John Scalzo

xboxgamesstore-logoThe Xbox Games Store received a pair of new games today… an MMORPG card battler and a physics-based platformer.

Momentum is the physics-based platformer, and it asks players to take control of a ball and navigate it through a variety of 3D environments. Developed by Projectile Entertainment, Momentum combines “zen atmosphere” with “challenging gameplay.” Also available today is Lies of Astaroth, a free-to-play MMORPG card battler that adds a dash of fantasy to an “epic adventure” filled with “humor and suspense.”

More information about both games can be found right here:

Xbox One Games

Lies of Astaroth (Free)
Lies of Astaroth is a free-to-play and highly addictive epic fantasy MMORPG card-battle hybrid! With its simple yet deep battle design, the game has long been championed as the combination of best of both worlds, satisfying both hardcore card game fans for strategy depth and causal players for fantasy RPG gameplay.

Momentum ($9.99)
Experience a new perspective with Momentum, a physics-based platformer. Choose one of many unlockable balls, and then skillfully maneuver it through 3D labyrinths. Race the clock as you rotate labyrinths and use gravity to your advantage. But be careful, because you could easily lose control. Momentum’s zen atmosphere contrasts with its challenging gameplay. The soothing soundtrack and detailed environments combine to create a truly unique, relaxing vibe.

Posted in News, Xbox One |

Nordic Games fully rebrands themselves as THQ Nordic

Posted on August 12, 2016 by John Scalzo

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THQ is back (sort of)!

After acquiring the company’s trademark in 2014, Nordic Games has announced a plan to rebrand the entire company as THQ Nordic. The publisher has issued a surprisingly amusing statement about the name change, which also looks back to their humble beginnings and rather bright future:

It all started out in Sweden in 2008 as a mini-venture to self-publish such illustrious titles like Dance Party Club Hits, Kart Racer, and Truck Racer (just to name a few) on PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii. The following year, we landed We Sing, a million-plus selling karaoke franchise for Nintendo Wii. In 2011, with our first of many acquisitions to come, Nordic Games began its transformation from small scale, two-platform games publisher to a multi-platform, multi-genre global player.

One could say the most defining moment for our company happened in 2013, grabbing headlines like; “Who the FUCK is Nordic Games?”, “Darksiders Gets Bought By… Nordic Games?”, and “Nordic Games explains who the F they are, plans for THQ assets”. Funny enough, back then, this was so true. Until that point, we had been a low profile publisher uttering expletives of our own along the way, and all of a sudden we found ourselves in the international gaming media spotlight. We knew then, with great certainty, that we’d just made the best deal in our company´s history.

THQ Nordic currently has 23 games in development, “the majority of [which] are based on former THQ owned IPs and franchises.” More than a dozen of these games have yet to be announced, but its possible they may make an appearance at this year’s Gamescom convention. THQ Nordic will have a large presence at the event, which kicks off next Wednesday, August 17.

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

Florence + The Machine just released a three-song soundtrack for Final Fantasy XV

Posted on August 12, 2016 by John Scalzo

After using a Florence + The Machine cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” during their Final Fantasy XV “Uncovered” event, Square Enix is teaming up with the British band again for a three-song soundtrack album.

Songs From Final Fantasy XV contains the aforementioned “Stand By Me” cover, as well as two original songs. “Too Much Is Never Enough” is described as “a cinematic epic, featuring sweeping strings and Florence’s rich, emotive vocals.” And “I Will Be,” which is featured in the new Final Fantasy XV trailer embedded above, showcases the band’s quieter side with a ballad.

“I’ve always seen Final Fantasy as a beautiful and creative game so I don’t think I could have worked with another video game. It wouldn’t have made sense,” said lead singer Florence Welch. “In some ways the landscape of Final Fantasy and my own internal landscape seemed to fit quite well, it’s mythical and beautiful and epic.”

Final Fantasy XV’s Director, Hajime Tabata, added: “We are incredibly excited to have collaborated with Florence on both the cover of ‘Stand by Me’ and on the two original tracks inspired by the world and story of Final Fantasy XV. Music has always been a hugely important and much beloved part of the Final Fantasy series, and with these three tracks we really wanted to create a musical experience to live within the game, and that will transport listeners, whether new to the series or not, into the epic Final Fantasy XV Universe.”

Songs From Final Fantasy XV is now available to buy from your favorite digital music service, and you can also listen to it for free through Spotify.

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

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Descent DLC Pack now available for PC, Xbox One

Posted on August 11, 2016 by John Scalzo

Just in case you forgot, Call of Duty: Black Ops III‘s Descent DLC Pack is now available to download for the PC and Xbox One. Originally released last month for the PS4, the downloadable expansion adds four more multiplayer maps and a new Zombies episode to Treyarch’s shooter:

  • Empire: Treyarch adapts its Black Ops III movement system to the Call of Duty: Black Ops II fan favorite map Raid. The re-imagining of this classic, medium-sized map features an authentic Roman villa that has been “recreated by a modern-day eccentric billionaire,” where a classic map structure mixes with the new gameplay mechanics of Black Ops III.
  • Cryogen: Located far off the coast in the Dead Sea, an isolated compound holds some of the world’s most dangerous criminals in frozen isolation. Sentry towers keep watch over the small map’s circular design as frenetic combat is funneled around the prison’s cryogenic tubes, where opportunities for wall running attacks abound.
  • Berserk: Ancient sentinels from a lost civilization guard the entrance to Berserk, a Viking village frozen in time. Players will fight through blizzards, and control the center bridge as they navigate this medium-sized map’s wooden buildings, deadly rocky outcroppings, and tight chokepoints.
  • Rumble: Gamers battle amongst larger-than-life mechanized warriors in Rumble, a stadium where giant robots battle to the roar of the crowd. This medium-sized map funnels high-speed combat to the central arena, where players battle their way through fallen mechs and pyrotechnics.

Descent also thrusts players to an alternate universe of Nikolai’s motherland, the 1940s Soviet Union, in the next highly-anticipated chapter of the Origins Zombies saga, “Gorod Krovi.” Players face-off against a swarm of mechanized zombie infantry and dodge hell-fire from aerial dragon assaults, all in the middle of a raging battle within the remnants of Stalingrad. “Gorod Krovi” delivers the most exciting Zombies experience yet, filled with horrifying new enemies, exciting new gameplay mechanics and an epic set of Zombie annihilating weapons.

The Descent DLC Pack is included as part of Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s Season Pass, or it can be purchased as a standalone download for $14.99.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Please rise and watch the 1992 Dream Team challenge the 2016 Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in NBA 2K17

Posted on August 11, 2016 by John Scalzo

After all the panic and worry, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio kicked off without a hitch and Team USA seems to be doing pretty well on the basketball court. Their 3-0 record includes a 98-88 victory over Australia, and they’ll take on Serbia this Friday, before closing out the Group Phase with a contest against France on Sunday. But first, 2K Games wants everyone to get excited for NBA 2K17 with this new trailer pitting the current National Team against the 1992 Dream Team.

So please rise for the “Star Spangled Banner” and watch as virtual versions of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird take on Kevin Dyurant, Carmelo Anthony, and NBA 2K17 cover athlete Paul George.

NBA 2K17 will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on September 20. However, the 1992 Dream Team is only available in the game as a pre-order bonus. But on the plus side, you’ll receive NBA 2K17 four days early in a special “Tip-Off Edition” that’ll be released on September 16.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition will be available on August 30

Posted on August 11, 2016 by John Scalzo

We all knew it was in the works, but CD Projekt made it official today by announcing that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition will be released on August 30. The Game of the Year Edition is the most complete version of The Witcher 3 and it’ll include the epic original game, every update, and both downloadable expansions (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine):

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition offers over 150 hours of open world adventures and sees players take on the role of professional monster slayer Geralt of Rivia, as he seeks out the child of prophecy in Wild Hunt, faces off against a ruthless bandit captain in Hearts of Stone, and unravels the terrifying secret of the beautiful region of Toussaint in Blood and Wine.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition will priced at $49.99 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. You can pre-order now from your favorite game retailer or watch the brand new announcement trailer embedded above.

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

Xbox Store Today… Kingdom: New Lands, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, Anode, more

Posted on August 10, 2016 by John Scalzo

A handful of new games are now available to download from the Xbox Games Store, including an IGF-nominated kingdom builder and a robot-wrecking ode to the 1980s.

Developed by Noio, Kingdom: New Lands takes the IGF-nominated kingdom builder and adds “an abundance of new content” including “new mounts, merchants, and vagrants” for its Xbox One debut. And speaking of re-releases, Activision and High Moon brought Transformers: Fall of Cybertron to the Xbox One this week with enhanced visuals and included downloadable content.

Finally this week, Anode is another falling block puzzler that adds colored lasers and detonators to the mix.

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

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,