Review: Cursed Mountain

Posted on August 23, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Deep Silver Vienna/Sproing

Publisher: Deep Silver

# of Players: 1

Score: A (95%)

sub·jec·tive (suhb-jěk’tĭv) adj.
1. a. Proceeding from or taking place in a person’s mind rather than the external world: a subjective decision.
b. Particular to a given person; personal: subjective experience.
2. Moodily introspective.
3. Existing only in the mind; illusory.
4. Psychology: Existing only within an individual’s mind.

Most horror-themed video games are extremely subjective in that each person who plays them will generally have a different overall experience. Those that frighten easily will baby-step through their play sessions, saving frequently, checking maps and trying their very best not to to die horribly. The more fearless, bolder gamers accustomed to faster-paced play will blaze forward, taking on all comers in a quest for kill counts while often blissfully unaware of the developer’s intentions in attempting to set a particular mood. This type of player generally never flinches unless the game adds in “jump” scares like those found in hundreds of horror movies or live haunted house experiences in some amusement parks. A third type of gamer takes the middle road, going into every game “cold” in order to fully appreciate every nuance as they let themselves become completely immersed in the game world.

Welcome, dear reader to Deep Silver’s incredible Wii exclusive, Cursed Mountain…

Continue reading →

Gallery: Wet

Posted on August 21, 2009 by geelw

PARTIAL TELEPHONE TRANSCRIPT: ONE WAY, TRACED
DATE: FRIDAY, 8/21/2009
TIME: 5:42:38 AM EST
DIALED FROM: REDACTED
DIALED TO: REDACTED
————————————————-

(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)

Hello?

No Rubi, I didn’t forget about you… it’s just been a bit busy here – one man operation and all that. Yes, dear… no, put down the gun. No, please don’t shoot up the phone like last time – I couldn’t hear right for a week. Thank you, Rubi…

What was that… there’s some static going on, what? … Yes, I’ll run those WET screenshots now.

Right, right… I know Bethesda is publishing the game and the team at A2M (also known as Artificial Mind & Movement) are developing it.

Yes, uh-huh… September 15, 2009 is the release date.

Yesssssss,I also remembered your birthday, Rubi. No, i’m not telling you what I got you… it’s a surprise. No it’s not a new knife… you “left” the last one I gave you in someone’s head, remember?

Anyway, you want me to run that press release on the blog as well? “Just the good parts?” OK. Uh-huh, right. I gotta go now – don’t want to keep a lady waiting, right?

No no! I was talking about you! Rubi, wait, don’t shoo…(*click*)

DISCONNECTED
END CONVERSATION
DATE: FRIDAY, 8/21/2009
TIME: 5:44:01 AM EST
LOGGED BY: REDACTED
————————————————————————————————-
Women – can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em, right?. Well, at least she didn’t shoot the phone this time. Now let’s see if I can do this right: Continue reading →

Spectrobes: Origins Hits Stores

Posted on August 19, 2009 by geelw

Disney Interactive Studios has shipped Spectrobes: Origins to retail while also announcing a September launch for exclusive Spectrobes-themed iPhone and iPod Touch apps that further the game experience via cool multimedia content.

From the screens and trailers I’ve seen, it sure looks like Genki (one of my favorite Japanese developers from way back, thanks to a bunch of mech and driving games) is still delivering the goods, so this one should be quite a bit of fun. While I go make a cup of tea (ginger/lemon, in case you’re curious), here’s the game’s official press release and a few screens for you to peruse below the jump…

Continue reading →

MTV & Harmonix Reveal 19 More Beatles: Rock Band Songs

Posted on August 18, 2009 by geelw

MTV Games and Harmonix have revealed 19 more of the 45 on-disc tracks that will be featured in The Beatles: Rock Band – leaving all, but one song a mystery. A gameplay trailer featuring ten of the 19 newly announced songs can be viewed by visiting the game’s official web site. “To the press release, Robin!”: Continue reading →

Review: Sudoku Ball Detective (DS)

Posted on August 18, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo DS/DSi (also on Wii/PC)

Developer: Whitebear

Publisher: Playlogic

# of Players: 1

Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site

Score: C+

Remember when the sudoku craze was the big deal about four or five years ago? While I’m sure Japanese gamers were pointing and laughing at us because we were more than a little late to the logic party, there were actually some decent video games based on the classic number puzzle. Of course, these days you have to wonder just how many gamers remember Dr. Sudoku, Platinum Sudoku or even the goofy Toondoku which replaced numbers with cartoon characters in an effort to convince the less-informed who still thought sudoku was math related that it wasn’t (it isn’t, by the way).

As far as the audience for these games, it may be smaller now (especially since Sudoku can be played for free online), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any original gems left to discover. Playlogic’s Sudoku Ball Detective is a bizarre mix of story-driven murder mystery with a unique take on sudoku that makes it a curiosity piece worth tracking down for those looking for something unique. While the main game is a bit brief and there’s no puzzle edit function or multiplayer modes, it’s one of those offbeat titles that will find its niche and roll around comfortably in it. Continue reading →

Gallery: Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop

Posted on August 14, 2009 by geelw

Majesco has revealed the latest portable installment in the popular Cooking Mama franchise along with some nice, juicy hot off the grill details on the new game. Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop for the Nintendo DS will allow players to hit the aisles of different markets in order to purchase a wide variety of international ingredients, take them home and whip up tons of tasty worldwide treats. Continue reading →

Risen Box Art, Voice Cast Unearthed

Posted on August 13, 2009 by geelw

Did someone ask “Hey, where’s the Risen cover art? Well, here you go – in tasty Xbox 360 and PC flavors! Very nice indeed. Looks like Deep Silver’s big RPG is also getting some major talent in terms of vocal performances. I’m wiped out from spending all day at the Konami event, so here’s the beefy part of the press release all set for your reading pleasure: Continue reading →

Capcom’s Platinum Triple Pack = Gamer Bonaza

Posted on August 12, 2009 by geelw

In the “if you want an awesome deal you got it” category, first, there was the recent 2K Games two-pack with Bioshock and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and now, Capcom has entered the party with a bit of slight one-upmanship. The company’s soon to be released Xbox 360 Platinum Hits Triple Pack contains Dead Rising, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition – Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry 4, all for a paltry $39.99.

One catch: you’ll have to wait ’til next month (September 8, 2009) to snag this deal, but if you haven’t played any or all of these games, that price point is going to be mighty hard to resist…

Review: Watchmen: The End Is Nigh – The Complete Experience

Posted on August 11, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation 3

Developer: Deadline Games

Publisher: WBIE

# of Players: 1 – 2

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B

Other than the 2006 limited edition of Midway’s John Woo Presents: Stranglehold (which came packed with a DVD of Woo’s classic action film, The Killer) the Playstation 3’s Blu-Ray format has been very woefully underused in terms of movie/licensed game combo packs. Warner Bros. Interactive adds another game/Blu-Ray combo to the list with Watchmen: The End is Nigh – The Complete Experience, a 2-disc set featuring the Director’s Cut of the 2008 film and both parts of the arcade-style beat ’em up game, making for a great collectible for hardcore movie and game owners. Provided you waited for this full meal combo version of the game and didn’t buy either part separately over PSN or Xbox Live (or don’t mind that you already bought one or both chapters), this is a great value for the money. Continue reading →

Gallery: Darkest of Days

Posted on August 4, 2009 by geelw

It looks as if time traveling first-person shooters just may become the “new black” after all. With games such as Phantom EFX’s soon to be released Darkest of Days for the Xbox 360 and PC, we could finally see some great use of time travel as a viable FPS plot device. Developed by 8monkey Labs, this single player shooter has you playing a soldier named Alexander Morris who gets yanked away from Custer’s Last Stand by a “time agent” and sent on a sprawling time-travel adventure that involves some of the bloodiest battles throughout history. Morris’ goal is to stop a bunch of ne’er do wells from the future from rewriting history with a bit of extreme prejudice of his own while saving the lives of a few folks trapped in the wrong place at the wrong time. Continue reading →