As I’ve said elsewhere, anyone saying the PS3 has “no good games” either doesn’t own a PS3, is a massive fan-troll with FAR too much time on their hands or just really doesn’t get out to the shops much. This latest trailer from Namco Bandai’s upcoming Level-5/Studio Ghibli collaboration shows off just how gorgeous a game can look when everyone behind it is dedicated to the project. This one’s not out for a little while, but don’t worry, NamBan has some other fine games for you to play (as do a bunch of other developers and publishers)…
Monthly Archives: June 2012
Injustice: Gods Among Us Trailer: More DC Only On The PS3…
But this time, it’s not a big deal MMO I have no interest in playing (thankfully!) exclusive is a new fighting game by NetherRealm Studios (yup, the Mortal Kombat folks). This one caught me by surprise, but thinking about it, MK vs DC was pretty well received, so this not quite follow-up is going to be huge. I’m hoping we see this on the Vita as well and YES, with cross-platform play of some sort, as Sony REALLY needs to start pushing those features and developers NEED to start using them. Anyway, this looks like a ton of fun…
E3 2012: Papo & Yo Trailer: MinorityMedia’s Got A Majority Of My Attention…
Yes indeed, Sony’s got yet another super PSN-only sleeper on their hands that I really wish was on a disc along with a few other games a bunch of non-PSN users are missing out on (and not because they WANT to, mind you). Hell, I’d even play this on the Vita if it were sold on a card and not just as a download. Yes, I would actually pay more to support a smaller developer, especially when their game is this original, surreal and inventive. Let’s hope SCEA is listening to the little people for a change instead of just doing it their way, damn the outcome. Hey Sony! A little flexibility in this day and age actually gets MORE people to like what you’re doing. That;s also a memo to ALL game companies: if you don’t allow us to care (and buy games how we like), guess what? They’re not always going to sell as well as you hope they will, no matter how good they are…
E3 2012: Castlevania – Lords of Shadow 2: Mercury Steam Is Back On Drac…
Castlevania – Lords of Shadow was the first truly great non-2D game in the fan favorite series that did a great job of bringing the long-running franchise to current -gen systems, keeping elements from the classics intact and adding influences from a few key games of this decade. Super talented developer Mercury Steam is once again going all out to bring gamers a hardcore action game that looks to be the best it can be for the platforms it’s coming to, and that just makes me grin even more. The official site is alive and kind of kicking, so go check it out. If you still haven’t played the first LoS, go grab a copy and try it out – it’s super fun, long as hell and the story is really good stuff.
E3 2012: Dishonoed Gameplay Trailer: Arkane’s Got That Magic Going On….
Bethesda really knows how to get me thrilled even about stuff they don’t make directly, and Dishonored is looking to be one of those big surprises of a pretty crazy year for good games. Everything is falling into place for a game with a defined single player focus, an intriguing new character and gameplay that rewards creative thinking. I’m betting even the more skeptical folks out there who don’t quite get this one will be eating some hot crow pie (yum!) once they see that it’s actually a great deal better than they thought. Hey, we all have to admit our mistakes sometime, right? Of course, the chances of some Internet troll fessing up to being a total uninformed dolt is about less than zero, but hey – I’m going to think optimistically for a change (at least for this post)…
E3 2012: Tomb Raider “Crossroads” Gameplay Trailer: Crystal Dynamics Goes For The Gold
Now, THIS is a TR game I can get behind. Truth be told, I haven’t been much of a fan of Lara’s current-gen games despite their much better visuals and tighter gameplay than the Core-developed original series. For starters, saddling her with that crew of techies and such made things too chatty and all those gadgets turned Lara into a female James Bond more than a tough as nails solo explorer. This origin story with a survival adventure vibe just might be the best way to re-reboot the franchise, as I think we need more cool female game characters around. That said, I’d REALLY like to see Ms. Croft in some more sensible (and realistic) exploration outfits and gear should she return as an older, wiser spelunker in the future…
Of Orcs & Men E3 2012 Trailer: Spiders And Cyanide Are Good For You? Who Knew?
This is one of those games that I’ve liked ever since I saw the first images and this latest trailer shows it coming together even more. From the nicely stylized fantasy characters to the richly detailed game world (which I’m hoping is a bit more open than Cyanide’s dark and deep Game of Thrones, which I just got on Monday and am still playing to review), this one looks like a game to spend many hours exploring. That and heck, the chance to play as a pair of characters who normally are the ones you’re killing off in other RPGs makes for a nice twist to ye olde formula. Will it be a sleeper of prisoner of the bargain bin because people want their usual square-jawed hero in his dragon-busting armor? I’m hoping for the former and more… Keep an eye peeled for this one as more info gets out….
Review: Dragon’s Dogma
Platform: Xbox 360 (also on PS3)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
# of Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Score: A-
After a lengthy and rewarding partnership resulting in loads of treasure, experience and some deadly dungeons being cleared out, you take stock of your traveling companions and see that the two pawns you’d hired some 15 or so hours previously are no longer suitable for the tougher enemies ahead. As much as you hate dismissing them, you absolutely must in order to progress further onward. Touching a Rift Stone, you dip into the void and discover that you probably should have replaced them a few levels ago with two much stronger and better equipped allies. As you’ve socked away more than enough points, you decide to add two pawns that are about five or so levels higher than your level just to keep them around longer. However, before you make your final selections, you decide to look at a few more pawns before choosing a pair that’s even stronger. Satisfied (and after saying goodbye to your former traveling companions), you set out for new territory, knowing that you’ll see your old mates on the road at some point in passing. After enhancing your gear, crafting handy items from gathered loot and learning some new skills, you and your new team take on an escort mission into uncharted territory, unsure of what awaits, but more than confident you can defeat anything…
And so goes just a tiny fraction of Dragon’s Dogma, Capcom’s new open world high action RPG that’s one of the nicer surprises of the year (so far). While the game isn’t quite perfect, the level of immersion, excellently fluid movement and combat system plus the massive game world insures those who like this type of game will be hooked in for quite some time. While you can follow the main quest in a mostly linear fashion to the endgame in about 30 – 40 hours, the land of Gransys is big enough to spend much more time exploring and adventuring in. That and the fact that this is a game where multiple replays are a must just so you can experiment with different character builds and party formations as you take on the many dangers the game throws your way. Continue reading
Sports Champions 2: Is This Sony’s OTHER Move Secret Weapon?
Cue the “It’s About Time!” music, please. Well, I’m glad that’s one more E3 surprise I don’t have to worry about not being announced, even though it was a no-brainer. I like the new additions a lot and hopefully, Sony will have a few more fun PS Move games to show off next week. Truth be told, I’m not even a huge sports fan these days and I’ll be picking this one up just for the workout possibilities. Motion control gaming isn’t dead quite yet, kids – but it’s not going to completely replace traditional controllers at all, either. It’s all about BALANCE at the end of the day…
I’m Betting My Money On Inversion This Month…
So, it’s this months featured banner (for at least a week or so) until I decide my E3 pick), as you can see above. Namco Bandai and developer Saber Interactive are finally getting set to bring Inversion your way and I say you should take a look at it. The genre-bending, gravity-defying, hyphen-friendly action shooter looks to put a fresh spin on the usual cover-based shooters we’ve seen over the years and from what I’ve seen and played months back, the game was definitely one worth giving a shot. It’s been in the oven for a bit more time, so my fingers are crossed that not only do gamers get it… they “get” it when they play that this isn’t yet another Gears of War wannabe at all. Although, I’d say the first time they’re having a firefight against an enemy at an impossible angle and they use the Gravlink to yank an enemy out of cover and blast it or arc that first grenade at 90 degrees, they’ll be hooked…
