This former big deal Wii U exclusive getting delayed from launch window status to September 3 just so it could be ported to other platforms as an equally big deal release (and all launched simultaneously) seems to be well worth the wait, although it also seems that Nintendo’s console is the best way to play this one based on what I’ve heard from a few folks. Nevertheless, the combination of outstanding visuals, breakneck pacing and an amazingly wacky and varied soundtrack make this one a must buy for anyone into “old school” gaming bliss. I hear the game is also pretty challenging if you have terrible reflexes, but that’s par for the course with games such as this. Well, that’s another one for the library once I get around to getting it. That Wii U library is slowly getting better, folks…
OK, it’s not just any Star Wars, folks… it’s The Star Wars, an eight-issue maxi series based on George Lucas’ original rough draft screenplay and translated into visual form by writer J. W. Rinzler and artist Mike Mayhew with colorists Rain Beredo and Brad Anderson. Behind that Nick Runge cover (that’s nicely reminiscent of the late Ralph McQuarrie’s work) lies what Dark Horse is promising to be “one of the biggest, craziest, alt-universe stories the franchise has ever seen.” I’m old enough to have had at one point a bunch of Star Wars books on the making of the film including the stellar The Art of Star Wars which showed a load of pre-production art that was based on that rough draft, and so far, the first few pages I’ve seen have captured that look just about perfectly.
So, if you’re a fan of SW, but prefer it classic style (as in Han shooting first) or as originally intended by its creator, here you go. I have the feeling that this one will do well… it must be the Force or something mule-kicking me in the noggin… Ouch.
Of course, only those of you out there who saw that particular George Clooney flick from a few years back will get that title, but hey, I like to test you folks every now and then. Anyway, this does look really interesting and hell, it’s an effects film with actual, um… gravity when it comes to its plot. That and hell, a film where you have the paradox of an outer space setting (you can’t get any bigger than that) forcing you to pay attention to its two main characters for probably the entire running time AND you’ve got no choice but to sit and watch Clooney and Bullock try to stay together or else (insert romantic comedy and on screen chemistry jokes here) makes this at least worth seeing once on a big screen. Hey, imagine if this did well enough to get made into a crazy Broadway show like that dopey Spider-Man yanking the tourists in by the hotel load? Someone get Taymor on the line! All we need now are Mummenschanz and a bunch of sturdy harnesses…
It’s a great thing that One Piece Pirates Warriors 2 demo on display at Namco Bandai’s press event a few weeks back was timed or they’d have had to drag me away from the controller. I’m a big fan of the Dynasty Warriors/Sengoku Musou series and the games that use the same formula and/or game engine and while last year’s One Piece game was solid, it had a few flaws in the ointment that made some parts slightly annoying. OPPW2 completely nixes the quick time events from the original’s boss battles and has a more free form style in terms of how much there is to do and how you can get it all done. There’s a new leveling system where you can used earned gold to train characters and even the ability to temporarily switch characters during gameplay by building up a special meter.
Developer Omega Force is at the top of its game here, packing the huge battlefields with even more enemies, ridiculously stylized (and hilarious) special attacks and that trademark Musou gameplay that’s addictive and challenging on the higher difficulties. As with the first game, the wacky art style of the anime translates fantastically to 3D with the assorted cast members retaining their exact likenesses and expressions from the show and bringing more to the table thanks to a dev team clearly having a blast doing what they do so well. I keep wondering when Omega Force will finally do a Tekken game in this style or even better, a crazy Namco Bandai character mash-up that’s part Musou, part Super Smash Bros. (of course, some hard core Nintendo fans will want to beat me up for even suggesting this, but I can handle it).
Like the first game, North American gamers are only getting this as a download through PSN while Japan gets this as a disc game, download and as a separate Vita release. Granted, this is exactly the sort of niche title that won’t move as many units as it will in its home country, but I think Namco Bandai should bend a wee bit and reach out more directly to the fan base just to see if they’d indeed buy this as a disc if were to be made available. Even better would be both One Piece games on a single Blu-Ray if possible for a fair price, but as usual, that’s more wishful thinking on my part. Anyway, US gamers get this one soon (September 3, 2013), so keep your eyes peeled and your fingers limber. You don’t want to seize up from a bad case of “controller claw” or anything right as that boss battle gets underway…
As usual, Nintendo certainly isn’t following the crowd or path some would expect as yet again, they’ve whipped out some big surprises to get more money rolling into their hefty coffers. The latest eye-popper is a new handheld system, Nintendo 2DS, which is basically a fully functional 3DS with all the same features except the 3D slider (in other words, it will run everything the 3DS and 3DS XL does just fine, but not in 3D).
Its paradoxically chunky but slim form factor is clearly geared towards younger gamers (and collectors of Nintendo systems, of course), 2DS will launch on October 12 in the US for $129 (a European model also arrives on the same day) and is sure to get families with younger children snapping these up as gifts. While it looks bizarre (at least to me), reports from a few lucky journalists who’ve gotten some play time reveal 2DS is lighter and has a extremely sturdy construction (Nintendo is known for its nearly kid-proof handhelds) and that price point is quite attractive.
Oh my, it’s the flying pun (heh). OK, OK… I’ve been lax in posting stuff about Thor: The Dark World. Sue me later, but at least suffer like a man (or woman, although they’ve suffered enough because of us men) through this post about these posters. The one up top was released earlier this month and is pulling off a nice Star Wars variant pretty well (although it’s a wee bit too crowded for my tastes), while these latter two dropped today and are nice looks at Thor and Loki good for covering up a closet door or something similarly sized. Hmmm… nice, but I know some of you want to see the ladies get their own posters. In other words, it’s your move, Marvel…
Yes, it’s a few more Grand Theft Auto V screens below and below the jump, info on the game’s Special and Collectors Edition extras some of you Standard Edition buyers will want to shake your fists at before canceling your old pre-order to upgrade to either the Special or CE version for all the goodies they’ll has. Or if you’re feeling particularly self-generous (or are naturally that way) you can just buy all THREE versions of the game and make Rockstar even happier, right? RIGHT?
Tequila Studios’ upcoming PS4 exclusive, RIME looks wonderful in that ICO meets Journey manner with similarly rich (but more detailed) visuals and what sounds like a pretty lovely score (provided it’s not placeholder music). As for the story and gameplay, it’s tough to get a grasp on what the plot is and how this one controls from the video, but the game sure carries the influence of Team Ico’s work with those shadowy creatures and the protagonist using a torch to fight them off. It also looks like a more open world experience than ICO or Journey, but again, it’s tough to say much other than the game looks simply gorgeous.
I’m reserving any judgement on this one until it gets seen in person and played, so hopefully, Sony will get back to inviting those of us with smaller sites BACK to their press briefings, as they’ve been shutting out everyone who’s not packing in page views by the multiple thousands in exchange for what seems to be “strategic partnerships” with the big guns. This, of course… STINKS, as I used to be invited to SCEA events all the time and it’s a total pain in the neck to not get a response back to an email or a heads up that there’s something cooking in the city. Hell, I’m a train ride away and always thrilled to see new titles, so someone needs to start paying heed to the “little guys” (although after doing this stuff since 1998, I don’t consider myself “little”, grrrr…)
With Capcom and Spark Unlimited’s PS3, Xbox 360 and PC sci-fi action game Lost Planet 3 finally headed into stores August 27 here in the US (August 30 in Europe and Australia), I had the great opportunity to shoot a few questions over to WIlliam “Bill” Watterson, voice and motion capture actor for lead character Jim Payton (who by the way isn’t related to THAT Bill Watterson, which is why he’s called William here). You can probably call him Bill if you run into him in person (just don’t ask him to draw you a picture of Calvin or Hobbes).
Anyway, below the jump he discusses voice acting (with a few tips for you thespians out there), music, LP3’s western influences, booze and how to get social with the man himself in a few places online…
Airtight Games and Square Enix are going to be dipping a toe into the supernatural with the upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Murdered: Soul Suspect, set for a 2014 release. If you’ve been around the gaming block a bit, this one looks like a cross between L.A. Noire, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective and a couple of cool PC adventure games from way back when. I like that the video plays like a little hint book of sorts and there will be more to come that will no doubt aid games who snap this up in uncovering a few important clues as they go through the game. Of course, I tend to avoid spoilers and tips before or while I’m playing, so I’m probably only going to watch each of the rest of these trailers once and hope my short term memory gives out like I’m starring in Memento II or something. Er, pretend I didn’t type that – I can see some lousy straight to video sequel popping up in what, two weeks from now…
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 