Slayer Shock is a procedurally-generated homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Posted on July 1, 2016 by John Scalzo

There have been several games based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer over the years, but none since 2009’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice, and even that one never made its way to North America. Enter Slayer Shock, a first-person RPG from David Pittman and Minor Key Games that follows a teenage vampire hunter and her friends.

Heavily inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Slayer Shock features procedurally-generated missions and campaigns that mirror Buffy‘s mix of episodes and season-long “Big Bads.” Pittman and his team are now seeking votes on Steam Greenlight, where they’ve posted a pretty through walkthrough video and a few more details about the game:

Operating from your headquarters at a college coffee shop, you take missions to patrol the streets, rescue captive humans, and weaken the undead threat. A team of fellow vampire slayers assists you from HQ, providing new weapons, skills, and research.

With a format that lovingly recalls scripted television (missions are “episodes”, each campaign is a “season”), Slayer Shock blends immersive first-person action, lightweight strategy, and procedural narrative into a uniquely thrilling experience.

If that weren’t enough, Pittman also wrote on his development blog that Slayer Shock is using “the exaggerated characters and angles” from professional wrestling to help create the game’s narrative arcs.

Slayer Shock will be released for the PC this Fall.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Now Blizzard is hiring a Game Director for their “Unannounced Diablo Project”

Posted on July 1, 2016 by John Scalzo

blizzardlogoBlizzard first mentioned their “Unannounced Diablo Project” back in August in an employment listing for an Art Director.

Today, the developer is once again looking for applicants to join its ranks. More specifically, they want to hire a Game Director for a project that is starting to look more and more like Diablo 4. Blizzard is seeking candidates who are “knowledgeable and passionate about Diablo games” for the position, and they want a person who will “lead the Diablo series into the future.”

Further fueling the Diablo 4 fire is a separate job opening for a Senior Character Artist that refers to the project as “[Blizzard’s] next hit game.”

Blizzard is a developer who works on their own schedule, so it might be quite a while before we see anything connected to Diablo 4. But there’s always this November’s BlizzCon to look forward to.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged ,

Shenmue III is “coming together” on the first anniversary of its Kickstarter campaign

Posted on July 1, 2016 by John Scalzo

shenmueiii-header

The Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue III was one of a kind. And I mean that literally, as it eventually became the most-funded video game project of all time after 69,320 backers pledged $6,333,295 towards the development of the sequel.

That was a year ago, and now Yu Suzuki has offered an update on Shenmue III in a new video he recently posted to Kickstarter.

According to the developer, Ys Net started building a prototype of the game in January, and “battles and facial expressions are coming together.” Suzuki also confirmed that backer surveys are “still a ways off.” It’s not much, but it’s good to know that progress is being made.

Shenmue III is expected to be released for the PC and PS4 in December 2017.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Thumper, a “rhythm violence game” for PlayStation VR, will be released on October 13

Posted on July 1, 2016 by John Scalzo

thumper-header

Thumper, a “rhythm violence game” from Drool, has quickly become one of the most anticipated titles in development for Sony’s PlayStation VR headset. And it looks like fans won’t have to wait very long to try it out. According to a new post on the PlayStation Blog, Thumper will be available for the PlayStation VR (and PS4) on October 13:

Thumper contains nine epic levels playable in both ultra-glossy 2D and fully immersive VR. Over the past few months, we’ve made many enhancements to take full advantage of PS VR. We’ve fine-tuned movement speed, the scale of the game world, and our visual effects to create an overwhelming sense of speed and monumental dread. It’s hard to describe if you’ve never been a space beetle on a screaming hell ride before. But no matter which way you play, we think you’ll feel the violence!

Thumper will also be released in a special Collector’s Edition that includes a code for the game and a vinyl soundtrack with cover artwork designed by Robert Beatty.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Energy Hook will swing onto the PC and PS4 next week

Posted on June 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

energyhook-header

Jamie Fristrom, the “Chief Scientist” at Happion Laboratories, has announced that Energy Hook will be released for the PC and PS4 on July 5.

Fristrom was responsible for the swinging mechanic from 2004’s Spider-Man 2, and he’s expanded on that mode of transportation for his latest project. Writing on the PlayStation Blog yesterday, the developer described Energy Hook as “the extreme sport of the future” and compares its trick system to Tony Hawk Pro Skater:

Energy Hook is the extreme sport of the future. You swing from a grapple beam, run on walls, jump and boost with your jetpack, and do flips and poses midair, all to earn style points. Chain your tricks to get multipliers for massive scores.

There are also race challenges where you’ll swing through the levels as quickly as possible. Doing tricks earns you boost and keeps you in the air longer; use this to your advantage and get the best time possible!

Like the early Tony Hawk games there’s no story — it’s all about the gameplay!

If you don’t want to wait, Energy Hook is also now available on Steam through their Early Access program.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Super Mario RPG, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Zero Time Dilemma, more

Posted on June 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

Fans of games both new and old will find something to interest them in this week’s update to the Nintendo eShop.

Let’s begin by taking a trip back in time. Nintendo has added Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars to the Wii U eShop this week, giving gamers the chance to relive the classic RPG. Originally released for the Super NES back in 1996, Super Mario RPG is the only game to combine Mario’s platforming antics with Square Enix’s RPG expertise.

Before we move forward, let’s travel further back to… a long time ago. That’s because WB Games and TT Games will add Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the Nintendo eShop for both the 3DS and Wii U in a galaxy very close to ours. Players will be able recreate the film with Lego-ized versions of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Finn, Rey, and BB-8. But they’ll also get the chance to go on “New Adventures” that bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

Finally on the Wii U eShop this week, Telltale Games has crafted the remainder of Minecraft: Story Mode for Wii U owners this week. Episodes 2-5 are now available to download, and players can unlock the mystery of The Order of the Stone.

Over on the 3DS this week, players will get the chance to download Zero Time Dilemma, the finale to the Zero Escape trilogy, and BoxBoxBoy!, another side-scrolling platformer starring the cube-shaped hero.

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

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged , ,

BioShock: The Collection will be released for PC, PS4, Xbox One on September 13

Posted on June 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

I can’t remember the first time I heard a rumor that 2K was looking to remaster the BioShock series for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One… but it was definitely a long time ago. Well, the time for rumors has ended, and 2K has chosen to officially re-release the acclaimed trilogy for the PC and new-generation consoles, as BioShock: The Collection, on September 13.

Development on BioShock: The Collection will be handled by Blind Squirrel Games, and the compilation will package BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite together for the first time. Not only will each game in The Collection feature remastered graphics, but it’ll also include every piece of single-player DLC for all three titles and a brand new video series, Director’s Commentary: Imagining BioShock, with new insights from Director Ken Levine and Lead Artist Shawn Robertson.

Here’s a rundown of everything BioShock: The Collection will contain:

BioShock

  • Museum of Orphaned Concepts: Walk through a Rapture-inspired virtual museum that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at discarded concepts that never made it into the original game.
  • Challenge Rooms: Outside the story of BioShock, tackle puzzles, splicers and Big Daddies. And Achievements, of course.

BioShock 2

  • Minerva’s Den: A self-contained BioShock story, presenting a side of Rapture you’ve never seen before. Use expanded combat abilities with the experimental Ion Laser and chaotic Gravity Well Plasmid, unique to Minerva’s Den, as you face off against the Lancer Big Daddy.
  • Protector Trials: Take control of an Alpha Series Big Daddy woken out of hibernation just before the events of BioShock 2.

BioShock Infinite

  • Burial at Sea – Episode 1 + 2 Add-On Packs: This major two-part DLC pack completes the BioShock trilogy by taking the series back to where it all began. Return to Rapture just before the events of the original BioShock!
  • Clash in the Clouds Add-On Pack: Face 60 waves of challenges across four additional maps for leaderboard glory and unlock areas to explore in The Columbian Archaeological Society hub museum.
  • Columbia’s Finest Pack: Combines the contents of the Industrial Revolution Pack and the Upgrade Pack and includes 500 Silver Eagles, five Lock Picks, six unique Gear items, and two weapon upgrades: Comstock’s China Broom Shotgun and Comstock’s Eagle Eye Sniper Rifle.

Unfortunately, there’s one thing the compilation is leaving out… the multiplayer options from BioShock 2 won’t be included in BioShock: The Collection.

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

Splatoon’s final Splatfest on July 22 will force players to choose between Callie and Marie

Posted on June 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

goldenpixel-splatoonSo it’s come to this. Nintendo has announced that Splatoon‘s next Splatfest will be the final Splatfest.

Set to kick off on July 22 and scheduled to run for 48 hours, the final Splatfest will ask players to make the ultimate choice… Callie or Marie?

The Splatfest’s final scores will be tallied using the results from all regions, but individual matches will be segregated. Players from Japan will only be matched with other players from Japan, while players from North America and Europe will be matched against each other. Splatoon owners will be able voice their choice for Callie or Marie at the Inkopolis Plaza kiosk beginning on Monday, July 4, at 10:00 PM (Eastern Time). Until then, keep checking your email inbox, because Nintendo is going to send out a survey asking players to choose the stages for the “Squid Sisters Showdown” Splatfest.

Mark it on your calendar, the final Splatfest will begin on Friday, July 22, at 5:00 AM (Eastern Time) and the Callie versus Marie melees won’t stop until Sunday, July 24, at 5:00 AM (also Eastern Time). Good luck to both sides and may the best Sister win.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged