Most Recent: Xbox One

Spectra Review: Chiptunes, Racing, and 80s Arcade Style Aren’t a Bad Combination

Posted on August 7, 2015 by John Scalzo

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It’s a rare game that credits the composer as a co-developer, but that’s what you get with Spectra, an overhead racing game that’s set to a chiptune soundtrack created by Niamh “Chipzel” Houston (best known for her work on Super Hexagon). British developer Gateway Interactive took her bleeps and bloops and laid them over a procedurally-generated raceway that expands out into space using arcade-style wireframe graphics. The music and visuals complement each other nicely, but Spectra’s “keep it simple” style goes a bit too far. (more…)

Posted in PC, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox One | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Beatbuddy, Submerged, The Swindle

Posted on August 7, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Three new Xbox One games are available to download from the Xbox Games Store today…

  • Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a side-scroller where players take control of the titular Beatbuddy as they swim through the world and interact with it through music and sound.
  • Submerged also has an underwater theme as it asks players to explore a “mysterious flooded city” in order to save their dying sibling. Heavy stuff.
  • But The Swindle is not so heavy as the “steampunk cybercrime caper” is all about breaking into building, hacking systems, and stealing cash. Getaway airships are just the start of the wackiness.

More information on all of these games is available after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

First Unravel gameplay trailer revealed at Gamescom 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

EA’s Unravel (and its protagonist, Yarny) made a big splash at this year’s E3 Expo. The publisher brought the character back for another round of press appearances at the Gamescom expo, giving us a first look at some gameplay video in the process.

The trailer showcases a level known as “The Sea” and Yarny has to figure out how to navigate the shoreline without being washed away by the tide. The physics-based platforming is excellent and Yarny’s world is somehow ridiculously detailed and heavily stylized all at the time. A single strand of thread, the character’s very literal lifeline, dangles behind him at all times.

It’s easy to see why EA’s executives believe the game charmed everyone at E3. Unravel is in development at Coldwood and will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, possibly as early as next year.

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

Ubisoft adds lip-syncing Showtime Mode and nine new tracks to Just Dance 2016

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft wants players to share their dancing with the world after they play Just Dance 2016. The new Showtime Mode will let players record themselves lip-syncing along to their favorites songs. After the song is over, Just Dance 2016 will create a shareable video for the world.

Showtime Mode will only be available on the PS4 (a PlayStation Camera is required), the Xbox One (a Kinect is required), and the Wii U (a Wii U GamePad is required, but that’s standard equipment for Wii U owners):

The new Showtime mode will allow players to unleash their inner star by creating unique music videos of themselves performing. Players lip-sync and perform along to hit songs in the game and the video footage is then turned into a fun shareable music video. The music videos pull in both creative visual elements and pop cultural references— each song will have a distinctive and visually original atmosphere.

Ubisoft also announced nine new tracks for Just Dance 2016 during this week’s Gamescom expo:

  • Angry Birds – “Balkan Blast Remix”
  • AronChupa – “I’m An Albatraoz”
  • Britney Spears – “Circus”
  • Ellie Goulding – “Lights”
  • Iggy Azalea (Featuring Charli XCX) – “Fancy”
  • The Lemon Cubes – “Boys (Summertime Love)”
  • Pitbull (Featuring Chris Brown) – “Fun”
  • Prince Royce – “Stuck On A Feeling”
  • Shakira (Featuring El Cata) – “Rabiosa”

Just Dance 2016 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 20.

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain gets two new trailers at Gamescom 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Josh Griffiths

The hotly anticipated Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is less than a month away, and Konami is finally ramping up promotion for the game (while in the midst of some internal turmoil) by releasing two more trailers that show off the game’s new features.

Revealed during Gamescom 2015, a short gameplay trailer (embedded above) notably wasn’t directed or edited by Hideo Kojma, while a longer demo walkthrough (available after the break) showcased the new and improved Mother Base.

Among the new features demonstrated in the walkthrough video is the ability to take showers to wash away blood and collect posters scattered throughout the base. Players can also run obstacle courses, train troops, and customize the base (including layout, insignia placement, color, and security measures). We also got a look at how all of these features integrate with the iDroid while you’re in the field.

Also showed off was Forward Operation Base (FOB) multiplayer mode, which involves creating a base separate from Mother Base that other players can invade at any time. In the demo, we saw the player in the middle of a mission get a warning that their FOB was being invaded, and they quickly left the mission to defend the base. What followed was a game of cat and mouse that ended after the defender captured the attacker.

With Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain releasing September 1st, these are probably the last trailers we’ll see before it’s release. It’s been a heck of a ride considering the significance of this game in the franchise. But, the light is finally right around the corner. (more…)

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

Battleborn will be released on February 9, 2016

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

2K Games and Gearbox Software have announced that Battleborn will be released on February 9, 2016. Gearbox’s “hero shooter” will include 25 “Badasses” when it releases early next year and a new trailer released for the 2015 Gamescom expo introduces us to four of them. Say hello to Ambra, Reyna, Mellka, and Benedict:

  • Ambra: Born into an ancient order of priestesses responsible for discovering a way to prolong life indefinitely, Ambra was betrayed by her leader and her faction, the Jennerit Empire, and now fights alongside the Battleborn. She is a specialist hero, dealing damage up close through her melee attacks and powerful abilities, while healing her allies in the process.
  • Mellka: A stealthy assassin, Mellka lost her parents at a young age before eventually earning her place among the Eldrid’s black op’s and intelligence bureau. Her life has been defined by a series of staggering losses, but her response to these losses was never despair – it was fury. She strikes quickly, disorienting foes with her nerve gas machine pistol and bio-glaive melee attacks.
  • Reyna: Known by her followers as “The Valkyrie,” Reyna was born aboard the Rogue faction’s ailing junk heap of a flagship and is a native to the last star system. Reyna has fought tirelessly for the freedom of her space pirate comrades, finding her calling as their inspirational leader. She dishes damage with her laser pistol and uses her command glove to support her teammates.
  • Benedict: August Benedict Jr. is one of several surviving races of bird-like “Aviant” refugees. He swore allegiance to the Peacekeepers where he’s gained considerable notoriety for being a self-centered jerk that’s capable of astounding destruction with his rocket launcher. Double jumping, rocket jumping, and flying – Benedict’s good at all of them and he lets his teammates know it.

An open beta for Battleborn will be held sometime before the game ships to stores this February. But 2K Games isn’t ready to talk about the public test just yet and will announce more details about it at a later date.

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

Comcept confirms Mighty No. 9 delay and pencils in new release date of “Early 2016”

Posted on August 5, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Comcept has announced Mighty No. 9 will miss its originally scheduled September 15 release date, confirming two previous reports (1, 2) that the game had been delayed. Offering an apology in an update to the game’s Kickstarter page, the developer said that Mighty No. 9 will now be released in “Q1 2016.”

Comcept’s representatives also elaborated on the reasons behind the delay:

Of course, it is important to explain why exactly the game is being delayed. As we have communicated in the updates to our backers, all of the core content for the game is developed and in a complete state. However, there are still bugs and issues pertaining to the online features that are included in the game. These bugs and issues have a direct affect on enjoyment of the game, so a decision was made to work these issues out before release.

Currently, [C]omcept and their partners are working at full capacity to resolve these issues and fix any remaining bugs.

Due to the change in release date, Kickstarter backers should expect to receive another platform survey closer to the final release date. Currently in development for the 3DS, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, Comcept has said they will announce a “solid” release date for Mighty No. 9 when they can.

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Get a first look at Rash (and a Kim Wu tease) in Killer Instinct Season 3 trailer

Posted on August 5, 2015 by John Scalzo

Yes, the Battletoad known as Rash is officially coming to Killer Instinct Season 3 (on both the Xbox One and the PC) in March 2016. And now we’ve got the video evidence to prove it.

Rash can use his morphing powers to transform into a Wrecking Ball and his combos include fists and feet that transform into ram horns, big boots, axes, and big fists… just like in Battletoads. And a Hoverbike finisher looks to be pretty hard to avoid.

A downloadable beta version of Rash is currently available to anyone who has purchased Rare Replay or any piece of Killer Instinct DLC. The beta test will end on September 8.

Finally, the Rash trailer closes with a tease for Kim Wu, the last character from Killer Instinct 2 to make the leap to the new version.

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