Review: DIRT 2 (PS3)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PS3/Xbox 360

Developer: Codemasters (Racing Studio)

Publisher: Codemasters

# of Players: 1 (Online: 2 – 8)

Rating: T (Teen)

Score: A

Accessibility is the prime mover DIRT 2 uses perfectly to keep players of all skill levels coming back for more. Whether you’re a rally newbie interested in the sport thanks to the X Games or a grumpy veteran player shaking his or her fist at Codemasters for “Americanizing” the game in the past two installments, there’s definitely something for you (and everyone in between those two extremes. Stick a controller in your hands or sit in front of your expensive steering wheel setup, lock in your difficulty and take the phone off the hook – you’re not coming up for air unless it’s your virtual ride taking to the skies on an awesome jump. Fantastic visuals, near perfect handling and a solid racing experience await anyone looking for one of the best racers this year. A few bumps in the road keep this from sheer perfection, but the Joe Gamer crowd will barely notice the problem areas.

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Now Shipping: Twice the Horror (or Obscure, Meet Dead Space)…

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Two horror-themed titles have shipped for next week’s big release hoedown doozy of a game avalanche. There are also a ton of cool games in other different genres coming as well next Tuesday (and onward), so here’s a quick heads-up for you on some of what I’m looking forward to:

Dead Space Extraction (Wii) and Obscure: the Aftermath (PSP)are headed to retail on September 29th (as are Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga (Wii) and a bunch of other stuff I’ll post once I find time to compile the listing). Anyway, here’s a bit more on both titles (and a nice trailer for the Obscure sequel)…

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Dragon Age: Origins Update: Meet Zevran!

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

In this latest Dragon Age: Origins character reveal, we meet up with one of the game’s more interesting personalities and yes, he can be part of your party, i hear. Check out the bio on this guy and check to see if you still have your wallet afterward…

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Left 4 Dead Crash Course DLC Coming 9/29

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

The gift that keeps on giving gets its second DLC pack as Valve is about to whack L4D fans over the head with some cool new content for everyone’s favorite PC and Xbox 360 Source Engine-powered co-op zombie killing masterpiece.

Quick details below:

Crash Course delivers new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay to both platforms, and bridges the gap between the end of the “No Mercy” campaign and the beginning of “Death Toll” in the original game.

While containing both Survival maps and a Co-operative Campaign, the primary goal of Crash Course is to deliver a complete Versus mode experience in just 30 minutes, resulting in a streamlined version of the game’s existing Versus campaigns. A recharge timer for infected teammates has also been added, and item spawn behavior has changed for more balanced gameplay.

L4D: Crash Course DLC will be available on September 29, 2009 – hit the official L4D web site for more information!

Gallery: F1 2009

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Codemasters’ upcoming Wii and PSP exclusive licensed racing game F1 2009 is coming this fall, so here’s a look at some beautiful screens from the Wii version. I can almost heat the whine of those engines! It’s certainly great news to see the Wii is finally getting more realistic racers. PS3 and Xbox 360 F1 fans interested in this one may have to make the jump, especially with the upcoming $50 Wii price cut this weekend. If the game is as good as (or better than) Paradigm’s stellar F1 World Grand Prix back on the N64, Codemasters will have a hit among Wii-owning Formula 1 fans.

Of course, buying a console for ONE racer isn’t a smart idea. Thankfully, there are a load of other titles in different genres that you might like. go do some research after you ogle these screens – I’ll wait…

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Goes Gold

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Just a little bit longer… Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising has gone gold and is set to hit retail on October 6, 2009. Naturally, Codemasters is going all out with a bunch of cool stuff happening on the game’s official web site. Peek below for a few screens, boogie on over to the game’s site and go pre-order what’s looking to be one of the best modern tactical military games to date.

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Fallout 3 News: Broken Steel + More DLC on PS3, GOTY in October for All

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

PlayStation 3 owners can now commence with the dancing around the room stuff, as they finally get to catch up on what’s happening in the Wasteland their 360-owning buddies have been bragging about for some time now. Bethsoft has released the first in a series of download content packs for the PS3 version of Fallout 3, Broken Steel, for a paltry 10 caps (or $9.99).

In addition, the next few weeks should be a regular beefsteak mine bonanza for PS3 owners as more content becomes available. For those of you who’ve never played the game, have no broadband access or just want a physical product you can hug as you sleep or send off as a gift to your favorite person (Hey, I’m your new friend, right?), there’s also the upcoming Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, set to hit retail on October 13, 2009. Details you want, Details you got – (cut, paste):

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Half-Minute Hero Demo #2 Arrives On PSN

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Xseed Games loves you, y’know – they just released the second of two demos for their upcoming PSP exclusive, Half-Minute Hero through the PlayStation Network Store and it’s a doooooozy. Fun and ridiculously funny, but it’s short and really cool to the point that you’ll break a nail or something after playing it so much. Xseed is of course, hugely unapologetic about your busted fingernail and has released the following statement:

We are excited to release the second of two downloadable demos for our upcoming hi-speed RPG, Half-Minute Hero. This demo will feature Evil Lord Mode, a real-time strategy game where players will take control of the powerful, and obnoxiously gorgeous, Evil Lord.

In this mode players must summon monsters to fight enemies.

Summon monsters are divided into three types: Brutes, Nimbles and Shooters. Enemies are also divided up into the same categories. Each type of monster or enemy has advantages/disadvantages towards another type of monster or enemy. Figuring out the best strategy to use against each type is the tricky part. When the time limit reaches zero, the reign of evil is over.

See? Totally unapologetic! Anyway, go download the demo and try the game out – keep the Band-Aids handy just in case your nails are weak (more calcium and natural gelatin in your diet helps, as well). Half-Minute Hero will be released in October 2009 at retailers across North America.

Left 4 Dead 2 Ratings Update (UK, Australian and NZ Versions)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

G’day to all my UK, Aussie and NZ readers! In case you’re wondering about the status of Left 4 Dead 2’s ratings, here you go – news directly from Valve. Let’s all hope cooler heads prevail thanks to a dose of simple common sense. Note to ratings boards around the world: It’s a GAME, folks – there are no real-life zombies and this isn’t going to inspire someone to run around looking for them with a squirrel gun.

Of course, if there’s someone out there that’s THAT far off the rails, well… there’s a pill for that, I hear. Or therapy… Anyway, off the soapbox and on with the news…

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