Steel Battalion “How To” Trailer: “First, You Buy A Kinect…”

Posted on May 24, 2012 by geelw

Ha ha… Well, that’s how it SHOULD begin for those who still don’t own a Kinect, right? Out of all the games for the thing, this one is the main reason I’m interested in the peripheral. I like that it’s set up as a simulation where you’re not just using the Kinect to do EVERY action. With gameplay taking place in and out of the tank, it looks as if there will be a wide range of things to keep players busy as they tromp and blast through some pretty deadly war zones. The sense of immersion looks off the charts and HOPEFULLY, the jaded folks out there will give this one a try even if they’re still whining for a special (and one use) controller. Look kids – that’s not going to happen, as it would be too expensive to produce and useless just for this ONE game. Sure, the first Steel Battalion got that great big 44-button monster, but Capcom was smart enough not to overproduce it. Still, I;m sure SOMEONE will hack their SB controller to work with the new game (good luck with that project!)…

Sleeping Dogs Update: “Made In Hong Kong” Doesn’t Mean It’s Cheap…

Posted on May 24, 2012 by geelw

It’s really looking as if Square Enix and developer United Front Games are going to have one of those ridiculously FUN games to play in Sleeping Dogs. Personally, I though the True Crime games were undercooked and a bit too derivative of certain other games on the market at the time, but as a reboot and potential new franchise, SD has nothing but too many cool Hong Kong action flicks to look up to. I think as long as the combat isn’t as slippery and funky as it was in Stranglehold and the story is well done, this one’s going to be a keeper. We shall see, as always…

Lollipop Chainsaw “Special Edition” Ad: Juliet’s Not Going To Let You Play Unless You Play Nice…

Posted on May 23, 2012 by geelw

Director (and co-creator of the game) James Gunn has an amusing answer to the fanboys out there drooling all over Juliet and thinking this game is ALL about exploitation and bouncy cheerleaders and junk like that. This clip made me laugh quite a lot, but I’d bet some of the harder-headed types on either side of the fence might not see the funny here. Go Juliet!

Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox Update: Welcome To Our Town!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by geelw

OK, it’s only a few more in-progress buildings, and yes, the team is still hard at work, but hey – the game is looking better and better with each new video. I’m hoping these guys make their target and maybe even find a distributor like gog.com or even (eek) Origin (now that they threw out the offer to distribute any ready to go indie games). We shall see, I suppose. Anyway, keep an eyeball peeled for this one, as it’s going to be quite a nice throwback to the days of yore when it’s all done. And that’s a good thing, by the way!

Sorcery Launch Trailer: It’s Like Magic! Sort Of…

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

It’s finally out as of today, so give it a try if you’ve got a Move wand and Navigation Controller that are feeling lonely these days. I’m not expecting “perfection” at all, but a game that’s fun to play and shows off how the peripheral is a lot better than waving your empty hands in front of your TV and pretending to swing a sword or cast spells. Sure, it probably won”t be a “game of the year” candidate, but as long as I’m entertained, I’m a happy camper…

LEGO Batman 2 Trailer: You Can Call it “Arkham Cutie” If You Like…

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

Soooo, it’s an open-world game in the Arkham City vein (but not as dark, of course), AND it has fully voiced characters (for the first time ever in a LEGO game? Traveler’s Tales is doing their best work to date and sweet. I get to play this tomorrow at an event here in NYC. But, Ruh-Roh! I’ll be there with a bunch of kids and their parents around ruining my day when they have to drag their bawling offspring away from the controllers. Feh. I’m stocking up on hand sanitizer and wearing my “step away from that controller, kid!” face tomorrow (complete with a growly Chris Bale voice for good measure), is all I’m saying…. That, and staying the hell away from any snacks put out. Nothing like a plate of picked over cookies and fruit, right? Ewww… OK, breathe…. breathe…. it’s the Year of the Bat, it’s the Year of the Bat… Damn kids…

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Deep Dive # 2: Know Your Enemy (Which Would Make Them LESS Unknown, Right?)

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

Hokay, kids… I’m still buried under a bunch of games and stuff, so here’s an XCOM developer diary to ogle. October 9, 2012 is the release date for Firaxis’ turn-based strategy game and yes, it’s looking cooler by the moment. Granted, trying to please EVERY fan of the classic game series (or any series) for that matter in a total impossibility, but as someone who was around for the original game, I’m happy with what I’m seeing here and elsewhere. And hey 2K! Keep that other XCOM game in the pot, cranky comments from elsewhere or not. You spent a ton of loot making it, so you may as well finish it and get it shipped, I say. As long as it’s FUN, I won’t mind anything else…

Skyfall Trailer: Could This Be The Best Bond Film Yet?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by geelw

Well, the best MODERN Bond film, so as not to rile the Sean Connery die-hards out there. Hey, I’m old enough to be a fan from that far back, but I’ve always thought Daniel Craig’s version of Bond owes a lot to George Lazenby’s underrated performance in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (which you should check out if you’ve never see it before). Anyway, director Sam Mendes is certainly on the right track from what I’ve glimpsed in this teaser, which hints at an even darker Bond than in the last few Craig films. I guess we’ll see what’s what soon enough…

What You Should Be Doing This Week…

Posted on May 21, 2012 by geelw

Playing Dragon’s Dogma, of course. Capcom has cooked up a slow burning yet surprisingly addictive and fun open world dungeon crawler that’s guaranteed to make even the most skeptical “Japanese developers can’t make western games” message board denizen stand up and take notice. Sure, it’s got some flaws here and there, but the mix of open-world exploration (and it’s a HUGE world), tough monsters (if you’re not prepared, you’ll die early and often) and a great Pawn system (something I’ve wanted to see in a RPG for years) makes this a pretty solid RPGs. Granted, it takes a while to get off the ground in terms of story, but I understand there’s a hell of a finale and unlike some sites, I’m not about to post impressions until I get there.

OK, I need to stop typing and play some more. I’m guessing my review will go up by the end of the week, as I’m taking my time and exploring as much as possible. Also, for the record, I haven’t installed the game on my 360 (My HDD is out of room thanks to too may other games I’m playing), but I’m not seeing any major frame rate issues at all. Just some screen tearing and pop-in on stuff, but that’s a common thing that’s not going to affect my scoring…

Back in a bit…

Dishonored Preview: Arkane Studios and Bethesda Are Cooking Up An Instant Classic

Posted on May 20, 2012 by geelw

With its innovative gameplay, distinctive look inspired by classic illustrators such as N.C. Wyeth and Charles Dana Gibson, an incredible cityscape created by Visual Design Director Viktor Antonov with Art Director Sébastien Mitton and the rarefied air of a product that knows how great it’s going to be to those who “get” it, Dishonored has shot up to the top of the list of games I really want to play (and see succeed in this era of sequels and retreads). Arkane Studios has been going full steam ahead with this all-new PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 IP, a single player focused and yes, story-driven game that allows players do tackle missions in just about any way they desire. Without a multiplayer mode in sight (thankfully), Arkane is showing that a strong story and stronger gameplay can do wonders for an industry where relying or retreading popular multiplayer modes has decimated some games and genres into a depressingly generic formula year after year.

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