E3 2012: Hawken Live-Action Trailer: Now, Everyone Will Want A Real Mech….

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

In a prefect world, this wouldn’t just be a free to play game that’s going to blow only the PC crowd away, but hey, I can always hope for the game to do well enough that some publisher throes money at Adhesive Games and Meteor Games to do some sort of console or portable version. Hell, it’s not as if we haven’t seen cool mech combat games before on a disc. Armored Core, the Xbox Mechwarrior games, Chromehounds, Phantom Crash (and so forth and so on) are a few examples of games I’ve enjoyed with a controller and a huge grin on my face, so a little Hawken would make me smile even more…

That, and I’d like to throw money at these guys who keep making games for free (and you should, too).

E3 2012: Soul Sacrifice Debut Trailer: Another Great Looking Vita Game? Sign Me Up!

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

OK, looks aren’t EVERYTHING (as I say when I look in the mirror each morning), but with Kenji Inafune (of Mega Man fame) and a bunch of talented artists and programmers working away like mad, this one’s looking like an instant classic in its own right. That’s fine by me, as the Vita needs as many solid games as possible if it’s to stomp away the blues and rocket up the sales charts a bit more. Keep ’em coming, Sony!

E3 2012: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Trailer: Level-5 At The Top Of Their Game

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

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)…

Injustice: Gods Among Us Trailer: More DC Only On The PS3…

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

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…

Posted on June 2, 2012 by geelw

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…

Posted on June 2, 2012 by geelw

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….

Posted on June 2, 2012 by geelw

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

Posted on June 2, 2012 by geelw

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?

Posted on June 1, 2012 by geelw

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….

I’m Betting My Money On Inversion This Month…

Posted on June 1, 2012 by geelw

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…