Xseed’s August One-Two Punch: Way of the Samurai 4 and Gungrave: Overdose Hit PSN

Posted on August 21, 2012 by geelw

Normally, I’d suggest running the other way at paying $40 for a game that doesn’t come in a case with a manual, but I’ll make an exception for something this wacky, challenging and fun. Especially as it’s supporting the fine folk at Xseed Games who seem to be doing quite well with their digital releases these days. Acquire’s open world sword-swinging samurai series has gotten quirkier and more intriguing with each new installment, so if you’re into the Yakuza games and their weird (and more modern) riff on all things Japanese, you’ll like what here quite a lot. WoTS 4 has ten endings, loads of stuff to do in your travels and too much Japanese humor on display that you’ll have to play through a few times just to confirm that the game was that nuts. Check out the full features list on the PlayStation Blog post or at the game’s official site

Gungrave: Overdose is also super insane and while shorter and cheaper at $9.99, the more action-packed run ‘n gun gampelay found in this PlayStation 2 sleeper (now part of the PlayStation 2 Classics lineup) from 2004 (originally published by Mastiff Games in North America) might appeal to those who aren’t quite fans of wandering samurai in feudal Japan as it moves kicking and screaming into the modern era. Granted, you may not be into anime or manga either, but I say take a chance on one or both titles if you haven’t played them before. Of course, if you’re into offbeat Japanese games, haven’t played either of these and want to support Xseed, well… here you go. Just poke around the PSN store and you’ll find these with ease.

Tokyo Jungle: I’d Have Worked A Wall of Voodoo Song Into This PS3 Game’s Trailer…

Posted on August 20, 2012 by geelw

Specifically, the eternally quirky “Animal Day” off 1981’s excellent Dark Continent LP. Well, that’s the sone I’d pick if I were working in SCEA’s marketing department. That and hey, this was on a Blu-Ray in Japan, but it’s only getting a PSN release here, grrr. If i were running things out west, or at least had a say in matters, I’d have done a release through PSN as well as a double-game disc with this and Papo & Yo or rain on it plus a few demos of other PSN titles and yes, added a PlayStation Plus discount voucher to the game case so more people could play both games. I’m just saying, the MORE people that can access this content, the better in the long run for SCEA (and gamers, too!)

Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition: PC Gamers Finally Get To Feel The Pain (And How)…

Posted on August 20, 2012 by geelw

August 24, PC owners. Prepare to Buy… then Prepare to DIE. And love every moment of it. The core word here is NEW, as in new areas, NPCs, weapon, monsters, bosses, PvP areas and MORE. Yes, as a console owner I’m temporarily annoyed (we’re getting this content later, so it’s all good), but I’m also hoping that PC gamers who’ve been whining about wanting this so badly buy it in numbers that stagger the imagination. Hopefully, the online play will be cheat and hack-free, but we’ll see what happens in the first week or two of release and then a bit afterward as those that can start mucking about with the game code. I still would LOVE a Vita version of a Souls game or a new RPG franchise from From Software at some point geared to portable players. I guess we’ll see what happens with that down the road…

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Launch Trailer: These ARE The Droids You’re Looking For!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by geelw

Tomorrow is the happy day for Activision and High Moon Studios as their big metal baby storms into retail before landing snugly in consoles all across North America. All that hard work they’ve put into what’s looking like the best Transformers game to date should make fans all to happy to snap this up like hotcakes. If War for Cybertron kept you busy for weeks, the new customization modes, addition of fan favorite characters, even more thrilling gameplay and what looks like some ridiculously fun multiplayer modes should have you practically living in front of your TV. Of course, you kids headed back to school had better get that gaming in before you have to hit the books hard. You don’t want to end up being a video games journalist or something equally low-rent (little in-joke there)…

Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Gamescom Trailer: Making Mascots Matter (Mostly)

Posted on August 20, 2012 by geelw

I’ve been having an interesting conversation with a friend about the “need” for this sort of AAA mascot platformer in these days of more gritty games and less humor in too many major releases. We’re both not against the idea of this genre and yes, there are plenty of fun (and funny) indie games to fill the gaps should the mascot platformer just about vanish from the next generation of consoles. That said, outside anything “new” Nintendo has been doing with the Mario franchise, I’m seeing a bit too much by the numbers programming where deja vu takes the place of actual innovation and true creativity. Or hell, perhaps I’m getting too jaded about thing (which isn’t a good sign). I think not, though – I’m just old enough to know when a game is going the rote route.

Maybe it’s developers trying too hard to recapture what made many classic platformers great or maybe it’s just that we’re seeing the genre finally winding down after so many games from great to terrible. Either way, it’s looking as if Sanzaru’s upcoming Sly Cooper game will be part of a dying breed unless we start seeing a resurgence in the genre that features new and equally memorable mascots and gameplay that’s worth buying a new console for. Then again, you don’t need a new system to play the best platformers (or mascot games) ever made, right?

Konami On Air Gamescom 2012 Wrap-Ups (Day 4 & 5)

Posted on August 20, 2012 by geelw

Oops. With all the stuff I’m working on I forgot that (since I’m not at the show) Gamescom was still going on. Here’s Konami’s final two days of content from the show floor. I’ll probably post the longer On Air videos about Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and the two Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 games on the other blog at some point this week. Too much to do, not enough time, as usual! OK, off to get some much-needed sleep.

Random Indie Game of the Week: Epic Elf

Posted on August 19, 2012 by geelw

While it’s got a few pesky typos (and is yet ANOTHER game that’s making me wonder if I should join the fine folks over at RPGMaker.net and ask people to send me their scripts to proofread), spirit_young‘s very cool and often crudely funny RPG, Epic Elf manages to be well worth checking out for a few reasons. His spin on the treasure hunting rogue and his slime minion is a fun one, complete with modern day cursing (hey, it made me laugh) and plenty of increasingly challenging battles. I liked that the game wasn’t a complete walk in the park and some of the dungeons past the first area require your party to be properly leveled, packing some powerful gear and spells in order to take out enemies and much more brutal bosses. You can swap your trusty slime out with another useful minion once you find it, but be sure to level the new one up a bit or it will constantly be dying in combat.

Continue reading →

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault: Well, If You’re Skewing Younger, It’s A Step Forward…

Posted on August 19, 2012 by geelw

Well, it looks as if since R & C All 4 One, Insomniac is cutting out any chance of this series being as “edgy” as it once was. Of course, that’s to be expected with the franchise running for so long across two console cycles (and soon to be two portable ones). Granted, if you think about it, the visual style has always been that of a modern CG cartoon influenced by many classics from days gone by now geared to kids. I’m also betting that the dev tem members with younger kids are making a game they can play with them as opposed to cranking out yet another game made for the fans who want nothing to change, ever.

That’s one BIG reason for new IP folks – it keeps stuff like this from dragging out into the land of diminishing returns. Bring on Overstrike, I say.

Random Film of the Week: Invasion of the Saucermen

Posted on August 19, 2012 by geelw

(thanks, historycomestolife!)

invasion of the saucer-men

Despite its super low budget, eager cast of hokey actors and rather brief running time, this 1957 mix of sci-fi and comedy manages to work quite well thanks to a solid sense of humor and effectively scary use of special effects in one memorable sequence. That the film purports to be “A true story of a flying saucer” right at the beginning is the first in a long string of eyeball-rolling chuckles it hits you with.

After a teen couple out on a late night make-out session run over an alien with their car, they’re soon caught up as murder suspects once the remaining big-headed, bug-eyed, and short of stature creatures replace the body of their comrade with a human they’ve eliminated. Given that the aliens kill with finger needles that inject pure alcohol into their victims (ouch, *hic!*), it’s initially easy to see the couple’s alibi easily shot down by the cops.

Continue reading →

DmC Box Art: Hey Capcom, I Want That Genesis Version!

Posted on August 18, 2012 by geelw

Here’s the simple but effective cover art for DmC on the PS3 and Xbox 360 plus a fun little surprise you’ll never ever see as an actual product unless someone invents time travel. Or maybe thinks of this stuff BEFORE a game gets made. In the blog post over at Capcom Unity, there’s a joke picture of a Sega Genesis version of the game labeled “coming never” (ha, ha) that, while hilarious for a hot minute, got me thinking a bit creatively (and yes, I’m here to help, Capcom). Make it so, guys! Hell, you should have thought of this funky idea while the game was in development as it would have been an AWESOME bonus on the disc (or, as a bit of {ugh} free DLC or pre-order content over PSN or XBLA).

Continue reading →