DICE’s Frostbite 2 engine is running hot in this spectacular-looking new entry in the long-running franchise. The combination of lightning fast driving and out of the car quick-time action events give the game a truly cinematic flair and you get a digital version of Christina Hendricks to moon over if that’s your thing. EA, you’re going to make me BROKE with yet another cool, fun game this year, grrr…
That’s right, I said it. And yes, Starbreeze Studios will back it up in a big way on February 21, 2012. Based on the demo version I played at EA’s Naughty or Nice event about 2 weeks ago, even the most die-hard fan with greasy smoke coming from their eyeballs and ears about this game should ABSOLUTELY play this modern reworking of Bullfrog’s isometric RTS/Action hybrid.
Five (Plus One) Very Good Reasons to commit without question are below the jump… Continue reading
Electronic Arts, DICE and their mighty Frostbite 2 engine definitely has a winner on both consoles as well as PC. I got to play some multiplayer last week at EA’s holiday event against the DICE team on the PS3 and not only is the gameplay lightning fast and frantic, BF3 looks REALLY spectacular on the system. As fas as the whole “which is better” nonsense going on between the big shooter franchises, I say who cares as long as BOTH games are as good as their respective dev teams can make them. In the end, I see some folks buying and playing both or at least buying one and renting the other to compare. Expect productivity in a few countries to drop even further (er, provided those calling in sick with BF3 flu actually have jobs).
A quickie post before I keel over, as I need to bounce out of bed bright and early for day one of New York Comic Con. EA has some really nice surprises coming up this year and next in pretty much every category. Battlefield 3 multiplayer on the PS3 was amazingly fluid and controls like a dream (seriously, Call of What?). There was a really nice Mass Effect 3 surprise I can’t share just yet (as it’s embargoed until10/27). Speaking of surprises, Syndicate is going to make even the most hardcore fans of the PC classic bow to Starbreeze’s skills. They nailed the dark feeling of the original but as a first-person experience (it’s not a Deus Ex: Human Revolution clone either, which is even better). SSX is another shocker – don’t let the more realistic visuals fool you at all – the game is SUPER fun to play (the tricks flow off the controller) and the mountains are massive. SWTOR is an instant addiction (I had to stop playing before I got hooked) that’s sure to be huge once it ships (look out WoW!). The Secret World brings a fresh, modern take to the MMO (and NEEDS to come to consoles with a single player offline mode, as there’s a lot of good under the hood that begs to be explored). There’s a LOT more to yak about, but that’s for later – i need my beauty rest…
Nice new trailer, guys. I’ll have the chance to play three stages from EA’s upcoming extreme snowboarding reboot in a few days at their Naughty or Nice press event. Patagonia, Siberia and the Himalayas are on the agenda at the event, so expect a hands-on shortly afterward. Given that New York Comic Con is the day after, I don’t expect to have a preview up until the weekend, but I may skip the final day of the convention just to make sure I’m home for The Walking Dead Season 2 premiere (which means yes, I’ll be reviewing this season’s episodes as well).
Even though I have zero interest in online shooters (no matter how good they are), it’s hard not to (actually, it’s IMPOSSIBLE) not to say anything against them when Dice is running the show. With up to 64 players on maps like this amazingly huge showcase they’ve whipped up (LOVE the jet action!) and that incredible Frostbite 2 engine doing everything it needs to do (and really darn well at that), this one’s going to be an instant hit. Yes, on consoles as well, even though the player cap is a “mere” 24 (which is nothing to sneeze at, mind you). All Dice needs to do is find a way to make some PC gamers less lame jerk-ass braggarts about building their own systems and showing off to the point of embarrassment and the would will be a happier place.
As usual, Electronic Arts knows how to blow the doors (and walls and eardrums) out with its press conferences and the Gamescom 2011 showing was no exception. Here’s a look at the entire thing, so sit back, grab some popcorn and a drink and enjoy. Also, feel free to click down to the BioWare LiveStream feed and contribute to the conversation, as there have been some amazing reveals at the show as well as some decent conversation in the live forums there…
Here’s an example of a solid effort and helping some folks grow up a little. Some of the super hard-core (read: less intelligent) Insomniac fanboys, many who want the company to move backward into old IP territory have been practically shooting flames from their little ears ever since the learned their favorite company was going multi-playform and things got worse when their new partnership with EA revealed what’s looking like a cool little new IP, OverStrike. While I’d prefer to let the goons stew in their juices ’til they pop, Price is a nicer guy than I am as he went to the trouble to explain a bit how the real world works outside the confines on a TV set and the insides of certain small-brained creatures. Excellent. Now, lets hope some of these folks GET IT, move on and enjoy gaming on any console Insomniac makes games for rather than the sound of air escaping from their rant-filled lips and other orifices.
Yup, it’s the whole darn thing warts and all, so pull up a chair and grab a nice cold drink if you haven’t seen it yet. I’m buried under news, trailers and assorted updates, but who isn’t? Off to NOT raise some hell and look at more games – back later…
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 