Crimes & Punishments (Sherlock Holmes) Launch Trailer: Elementary? Not So Fast, You Armchair Sleuths…

Posted on September 26, 2014 by geelw

Oh, the rather droll and humorous closing exchange between Holmes and Watson is probably worth buying the game outright, but I think Focus Home Interactive and developer Frogwares want players to get more than just a moderate chuckle when the snap up this latest Sherlock Holmes game. It’s out on September 30 for PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/Xbox One and PC and looks like it’s going to be a pretty solid game. I’m actually behind in the series, but I may grab this one and work backwards just because it’s not really a franchise where you need to dive into each game in a particular order at all. You just have to love the man and his work. Still, I wonder what’s for dessert on that menu and whether or not the detecting duo actually attend that soiree they’ve been kindly invited to? A good mystery always deserves better clues, I suppose…

Godzilla Set to Stomp All Over PS3’s In December (Only In Japan, Of Course!)

Posted on September 25, 2014 by geelw

Well, this was a bit of a surprise to see earlier today. And of course, despite having the new Godzilla from the US-made film as a DLC character… this isn’t even going to get an English localization release outside Asian territories, so it looks as if I’ll be helping this sell out of at least one production run at some point. Thanks to Play-Asia for popping this news into my inbox and making both my tired eyeballs pop open this morning.

After I recovered them from under my chair and washed them off, I pretty much realized the chances of this game coming out here in the west was zero multiplied by a few hundred zeroes. Not that we don’t need a new Godzilla game, mind you. It’s just that there hasn’t been one in a few years and while plenty of kaiju fans would buy this outright on a disc or as a download, I’m not sure that “plenty” is enough to justify the localization costs.

As you can clearly see from those videos and the game’s official site, this one sure looks pretty spectacular for a Godzilla game, so here’s hoping it’s not only as good as it looks, but VERY import friendly for those who want to snap up this region-free game and haven’t a clue about the language barrier thing most imports hit newbies with right out of the gate. If Bandai Namco’s US arm somehow decides to get this one out here, I’ll be the first one to let out a roar even if it’s only as a digital download. As usual, we shall see… but don’t hold your radioactive breath, folks…

Alien Isolation #HowWillYouSurvive Update: Two More Reasons To Jump Out Of Your Seat

Posted on September 25, 2014 by geelw

#AINope will be trending if I have my way, but I’ll very likely be far too busy ducking and weaving in my chair while playing Alien Isolation to do much social network socializing. Nope, I won’t be Twitching unless it’s involuntary and from the game creeping me out from playing past a certain point. No tweeting unless I’ve a police whistle around my neck and I’m calling for help before I throw a shoe at my TV screen. And definitely no facebooking at all, because that’s actually more frightening than any game ever made. Yaaaaaah!

Alien Isolation lands in stores and digital delivery systems on October 7, 2014 for PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/Xbox One and PC. Back with more ways to die horribly in this soon to be modern sci-fi horror game classic in a bit…

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare “Power Changes Everything” Trailer: Let’s You And Him Fight! Again.

Posted on September 24, 2014 by geelw

Ah, if only real world conflicts could be solved by some simple gaming away for a few hours until one side “loses.” Yeah, I’d be ALL for that instead of this stop and start unsteady war footing we keep finding ourselves mixed up in. Sure, the real world is indeed a complicated place, but you’d THINK that after centuries of either getting it all wrong or not learning from past mistakes, we’d figure out an easier (or at least more efficient) means of dealing with people we don’t like who do things we really don’t like. Of course, the more recent Call of Duty games have been a bit timely in asking a few of these questions in between bullets and bomb blasts, but I’d gather that the bulk of the millions who buy and play these games year after year might not care much about hot geopolitical topics interrupting their online gunplay and kill streaks galore. Granted, the games do get better and better from a production standpoint and it’s clear that Sledgehammer Games is doing this year’s installment up right for PS4 and Xbox One owners expecting the best visual quality.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare hits retail outlets and digital delivery systems for PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/Xbox One and PC on October 3, 2014.

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2: More Of Lots And More Of That Lots…

Posted on September 20, 2014 by geelw

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 producer extraordinaire Kunito Kimori has a great sense of humor and clearly enjoys his work. As he showed off a few levels of the upcoming game at a recent Bandai Namco event, he pointed out fun additions to the gameplay that weren’t in the original, checking with a glance between playing to see if I was grinning as much as he was. He needn’t have worried, as between the on-rails sky surfing shooting section and the intentionally silly boss battle between a skyscraper-sized Pac and an equally large missile shooting metal meanie, I was more than happy to see everyone’s favorite dot-munching pal back in action… Continue reading →

Big Eyes: Tim Burton Gets Back To The Really Scary Stuff – Reality!

Posted on September 20, 2014 by geelw

(thanks, Retina Br & Yahoo Movies!)

Okay, clowns of the circus and makeup-wearing movie serial killer variety don’t scare me at all. Those stupid Troll dolls with their wild hair sticking up? Nah, I just laugh at their hideous mugs when I see them. But those Keane paintings? Yeesh. They were SO popular and ubiquitous that as a kid it seemed to me someone was going around and hanging them in every other home or shop window to keep people OUT. Anyway, Tim Burton’s new project takes a look at the rather wild court battle between Walter and Margaret Keane after the mister claimed he did all those famous paintings when in fact, his shy missus did all the brushwork.

While this doesn’t sound like Burton material, the man is actually a keen collector of Keanes, so it’s clear that this one’s a labor of love made for about $10 million (a bargain by Hollywood standards). Still, for some of us, this will be a horror movie. It’s those damn haunting gigantic eyeballs that will seep into your soul and probably age you by a few years before this film is over. Either that, or you won’t sleep right for a week because of those damned BIG EYES burning holes into your miiiiiiiind. Yaaaaaah! Well, if it’s a return to form for the director, I’ll be pleased to see this. I’ll just have to remember to keep repeating to myself “It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…It’s only a movie…” Yaaaaaaah! Anyway, Big Eyes opens at a theater near you on December 25, 2014.

Alien Isolation #HowWillYouSurvive Trailers 2-4: #JustBarelyIfAtAll (If You Need To Know)…

Posted on September 19, 2014 by geelw

Nope…

and Nope…

annnnnnnnd, make mine a triple, bartender. Or, “No more for me, thanks, I’m dyin’!”

Yeah, it looks as if there are quite a few ways to expire in Alien Isolation and I’m betting some of you won’t need a rocket to ride through space when this game launches on October 7, 2014 for PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/Xbox One and PC. Hopefully Sega and developer The Creative Assembly have been shutting out the trolls and paying attention to those of us who want to experience the game on any platform to see if it’s a worthy follow up to the 1979 film as intended and those expecting some run of the mill FPS with the license stamped on realize it’s not all about what they want and all about what the CA is bringing to the table in the horror/sci-fi genre. Respect is a simple enough word for this one and I’m in for the long haul as far as spreading the word if this one’s a winner.

Falling Skies: The Game Enemies Trailer: Tactical Advice (Or A Good Look At What’s Going To Do You In)…

Posted on September 19, 2014 by geelw

Another Falling Skies: The Game update? Sure, I’ll take it. I really like the strong X-Com vibe the game gives off, the straightforward visual style and what looks to be solid and challenging gameplay in this latest video.

As I get what’s here and intend to play this one from beginning to end, there’s really not much else to say about this save for it’s coming to PS3 and Xbox 360 at retail or download, Wii U via the eShop and PC via Steam on September 30, 2014. If it’s as solid as the games it’s based on, Little Orbit will have a surefire sleeper hit that just needs a proper and appreciative audience playing it from day one.

Hikari Friday Time! Funko Foists FOUR Figures For Free!

Posted on September 19, 2014 by geelw

Yes indeed, Funko wants to make FOUR lucky winners very happy this week, one each will nab the first one off the line of these cool Hikari Sofubi Vinyl figures. This week it’s more Transformers up for grabs. Check out the Distressed Optimus Prime Premium Hikari Sofubi Figure and Distressed Bumblebee Premium Hikari Sofubi Figure:

Get your chance to win at one of Funko’s social network sites:

http://www.facebook.com/OriginalFunko
http://www.twitter.com/OriginalFunko
Instagram @OriginalFunko

As usual, those first two figures will be available at your favorite Funko retailer in case you’re not a lucky winner. And yes, the reason those two robots in disguise are distressed is because they’re temporarily homeless and are getting a bit desperate to find a shelf or space to camp out on as they plot their revenge against the Decepticons who destroyed their planet!

On the other hand, the even MORE limited edition (and exclusive) Books-A-Million transformers, 24k Optimus Prime Hikari Sofubi Figure and 24k Bumblebee Hikari Sofubi Figure are only available online and are limited to 600 pieces each. Have a look at these shiny beauties:

And before you even ask, NO, they’re NOT REAL 24K gold at all. I’d not even want to imagine the weight of one of these figures or if an actual gold Transformer figure existed, who’d have enough disposable cash to buy one. Then again, there ARE gold and silver encased PlayStation 4’s for sale in Dubai, so it’s not a total impossibility… Anyway, good luck!

Forza Horizon 2: Stop, Look and Crash!

Posted on September 19, 2014 by geelw

Amusingly enough, although this is a dig at some famous track-bound racing game franchises, I’d actually PLAY a good slot car racing game if some smart developer and publisher teamed up to make one on nearly any home or portable platform. Anyway, while this commercial for <strong>Forza Horizon 2 is magnificent and funny, I have to question WHY it’s partially shot in live action with real cars (with a good deal of expensive CG enhancing) when the actual game looks so gorgeous:

Then again, I don’t work at Microsoft and heck, they know their own games better than anyone, right? Anyway, I’m still an Xbox One holdout, but if I were to grab one of those, this would be one of the games I’d grab with that system. If this is as open world and free range pure driving as it looks, it’ll be something I get lost in for hours and that’s just driving around all by myself checking out all the hard work that went into making the game engine sing so darn well. I’d be the one pulling over every few miles to check out the scenery, even in the middle of a race, so I can’t imagine being the poor AI driver behind me trying to pass as I slide to the left or right and perhaps dent up my ride because I’m trying to ogle a pretty sky or sunset. Anyway, September 30, 2014 is the due date for this baby which is predicted to do VERY well on the console…