E3 2013: Might & Magic X Legacy: “Old School, New Rules”, Huh? OK, Does It Run In DOS?

Alright, I’m kidding, Ubisoft (sort of). Anyway, Limbic Entertainment’s plan of a partially user-aided development process for its upcoming Might & Magic “sequel”/reboot is both a great and terrible thing. Great indeed, as we’ll see some fine ideas implemented that make the game what longtime fans want to play (er, hopefully without too much fighting amongst the gamers helping out). Terrible because I’m betting the game will require a higher-end PC than what one would think should run this, the game may have modern elements that make it less than enjoyable (if too many ideas make it in that kill any challenge thanks to casual play modes)and finally, at the end of the day, it’s still a niche RPG that will be over the heads of the crowd that can’t get past the grid-based movement and lack of stuff blowing up every three seconds.

Then again, this isn’t the game for them at all and goofy cartoon trailer aside, Limbic looks as it it might be able to resurrect this franchise and make me forget all about Might & Magic IX, an under-polished mess of a game that crept into retail with way too many issues to make it playable for long. Anyway, the art I’ve seen so far looks great – as long as the results are solid (and yes, this also gets a console release at some point so more can play it), this could be a more than welcome return to form…

E3 2013: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2: Putting The Bite Back In Dracula…

I can still remember parts of the internet going nuclear when Spanish developer Mercury Steam was chosen to do a new 3D Castlevania game with Hideo Kojima doing a it of supervision. Konami, the developer and even Kojima himself got raked over a few coal beds, the game was deemed to be doomed before anything was playable and the usual crowd of “if it isn’t 2D, it sucks!” folk were there to condemn the building as the foundation was being laid . Of course, 2010’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow definitely wasn’t the train wreck many predicted and in fact, it was one of the nicer surprises in terms of aged franchises getting a chance to shine on current generation consoles.

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E3 2013: DAYLIGHT Trailer -You’ll Need a Night Light When Playing This Horror Game…

To some gamers, Zombie Studios is actually better know for its military-themed shooters, but this isn’t their first time at the scary games rodeo at all. The developer has also done the two Konami-published SAW games (which were pretty interesting to play through) and I suppose you could label their surreal 1996 game ZPC as a sort of “horror” game thanks to the twisted visual style and weird enemies. But let’s look a little it into the future, shall we?

Daylight logo

Daylight is coming for the PlayStation 4 and PC from publisher Atlus in 2014, and if this trailer is any indication, fans of jump scares and pesky ghosts rattling their cages will be all in and dying for more. The Unreal Engine 4 visuals look appropriately creepy and the procedurally generated levels will give the game almost infinite replay value (and make for yet another modern horror twist on the rogue-like RPG). Clearly, this isn’t going to be a “one time play and back to the shop it goes” experience, but it’s really going to be up to those gamers who “get” the concept and latch into it that keeps this one in play stacks. Translation: it better scare the hell out of us each time it’s played. Back with more on this one in a bit…

 

 

Random Film of the Week(end): The Conversation

 

the conversationIt’s not surprising at all to me that everything we do on the internet or on the phone is monitored and for the most part, the average Joe and Jane is too caught up in not paying attention to this as an important issue and continues yakking or clicking away because they don’t see sanctioned invisible nosiness as a problem until it stomps on their big toe while chasing someone else.

That or there’s an “Oh well, what can you do?” attitude that’s only changed when they find out how bad things really are before case of mild online petition signing and outrage slides back into apathy as soon as that new Kardashian photo or cute cat video pops up in your inbox. Yeah, you know that’s you in there somewhere… I’ve got the transcripts if you want to come check them out sometime…

Anyway, The Conversation may (and should) make you even more paranoid as you’re watching it, but feel free to feel delighted as well as its eavesdropping surveillance whiz (Gene Hackman in one of his best performances) has his world fall apart around him while he plays catch-up with his conscience. For me, this is my favorite Francis Ford Coppola film because it’s still as timely, smart and ultimately depressing as it was when it was released almost 40 years (!) ago.

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Man of Steel TV Spot #11/Pacific Rim TV Spot #3: More Heavy Metal Heroes…

So, I’m not hanging out in Los Angeles for this year’s E3 and its series of wild post show parties and such, but if I were going, I’d make sure to hang around until the 14th just to catch Man of Steel at whatever big theater it was opening at. I haven’t done that premiere thing since Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace opened and I got to see it at a ridiculously crowded midnight showing (the only time we could get tickets). Anyway, based on the power of their ads alone, both The Man of Steel and Pacific Rim are certainly going to be a hell of a lot better than Episode One was on a few fronts.

Well, at least I think so… ;^P

E3 2013: NMA World Takes On Microsoft & EA

Ouch. This first video is actually from May 30, but leave it to the awesome Taiwanese animators toiling away mercilessly over at NMA to poke some of there incredibly mighty pointed stick in the eye fun at some recent gaming news. The Dragon Age 3: Inquisition video is also a total hoot and even funnier because I’d bet the folks doing the animation have gamers among them who probably wish the game would be as awesomely hilarious as they make it look here.

Off to dig up some lunch now – back in a bit. This stupid storm rolling through here is keeping me from a better connection, so updates will be less than I’d like by a lot today, grrr…

E3 2013: Dying Light Trailer: Seems Those Undead Will Live Forever…

OK, it’s officially official: zombies are finally played out in games. But at least they’re getting used in desperately fun and funky ways as fodder in some new hybrid titles. Techland’s upcoming PlayStation 4 and PC title, Dying Light pits your supremely agile character against packs of fast-moving undead in what’s looking like a pretty thrilling “open world” action game that’s part Mirror’s Edge, part Left 4 Dead. This one’s not coming out until 2014, but it’s on my radar as I like a lot of what Techland has done. Hopefully, it will look and play good as well as not disappoint – it’s tough to judge from a CG trailer, but as usual, some hands on time is the best and ONLY way to gauge any game’s potential success of failure.

EDF 4 Web Shop Treats: And That’s Why We Love You, D3Publisher!

With Earth Defense Force 4 less than a month away in Japan, D3Publisher is keeping fans up to date with a little web shop weirdness that really needs to be part of the game’s US localization. Yeah, yeah, explaining inflatable cuties in maid outfits is going to be an eyebrow lifter for some gamers, but just roll with it – they’re actually really useful in the game against the hordes of giants bugs and other pesky enemies you’ll face. July 4, 2013 is when this hits overseas, meaning those of you importers who pre-ordered won’t be getting your copies until after that holiday even if you paid for more expensive shipping. Anyone else, well – D3Publisher of America hasn’t dropped that release date just yet, but E3 is in a few days so expect some info soon…

E3 2013: Meanwhile, In NintendoLand…

All Hail King Reggie! Huzzah! Verily and forsooth, Sire Reggie of Redmond hath some gilded words for his loyal subjects! Huzzah!! OK, OK… I jest (and jest a little, hee ho!). Still, I bet that every executive at Nintendo is smiling a bit broadly (or just a little bit more) now that Microsoft has thrown down it’s gauntlet and four of the fingers clattered off onto the stone flooring. Oops. Well, my own Wii U and Wii are bouncing up and down as my two busted 360’s are doing the dead face thing. My PS3 isn’t saying anything, but it’s been batting its eyelashes at me every time I turn it on. Anyway, this should be a really interesting show this year, as it seems some plans aren’t going as planned and some will do better than expected. I say skip the boring stuff, show the games and just keep us all up to date on what we’ll be paying for and how the heck much it’ll all cost.

E3 2013: DuckTales Remastered: Launchpad Lands in the Amazon and Transylvania…

Woo-ooooo! Yeah, I played the Transylvania demo level already at the Capcom event last month (it’s quite amazing how WayForward recaptured the feeling of the original and has enhanced it even more), but seeing it once more makes me smile. That Amazon level looks as tough as ever, but with some nice twists. I’m allowing this happy-happy joy-joy stuff take over instead of the news that all my (and your) emails and other online conversations have been (and are) pored over by the federales for security reasons. Bleh. Well, I should be a LOT more annoyed, but I guess I’ll leave that to the bloggers who do better at focusing on politics. Me, I just want to toss them all onto a slow boat to the sun, Wooo-oooooo!