Hawken March Update: Free To Play Has Its Good And Bad Points (Like It Or Not)…

Posted on March 1, 2012 by geelw

Adhesive Games’ latest trailer to its now free-to-play online mech combat game shows off some even more impressive detail and based on the already crowded beta, this one’s bound to be a mega-hit the PC gamer crowd can call their own. That said, I’d love it a lot more if this game would show up on a portable platform with some cross-platform play so even more of you out there can experience it. Sure, THAT version won’t be free to get at retail, but I say people won’t mind paying for something that looks this awesome. When I actually have it, I like throwing good money at any developers I think are doing outstanding work (provided they also get a physical product out there at some point). I guess we’ll see where that goes after the game goes live at the end of this year. Of course, if the world ends in some form or another, the Internet most likely won’t be working at all and you’ll wish this WAS on a disc so you could at least play offline while you’re hunkered down in your bunker somewhere. I’m just saying…

Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Developer Interview

Posted on March 1, 2012 by geelw

After too many years without a new Sly game, it’s just really great to see the raccoon back in action and looking fantastic on the PS3. Love the different costumes and their effects, although I can hear the Super Mario 3 fans out there shaking their fists at the screen for some reason. No matter, I say. As long as the game is great and continues the fun tradition started by Sucker Punch, I’m all aboard and banging the drum as loudly as possible. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to brush up a bit and play Sly 3 again so I can make sure I’m not (too) terrible at the new game…

Unit 13 “How To Play” Video: Zip It, Haters.

Posted on March 1, 2012 by geelw

Yeesh, so the game doesn’t feature some super crazy balls-out 100-player online death-match modes up the wazoo. I say big deal, as I don’t care for that stuff and this early in the Vita’s life cycle, I’ll also suppose any developer would need a bit more time to make sure any competitive MP was running as smoothly and with as little lag or load times as possible. It’s definitely not just a simple “cut and past from the PSP code” deal, I’d bet. Of course, the spoiled/jaded/cranky gamer crowd won’t hear any of this, nor will they face the fact that as much as they WANT the Vita to be a portable PS3, it’s not QUITE going to do that. Yet. For me, as long as any game this early on is well-made, I’m aboard with any compliments and complaints I’ll have placed exactly where they should be.

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir (3DS) Fatally Frame-tastic (Finally).

Posted on February 29, 2012 by geelw

Some internet nitpickers with too much time on their hands are going nuts about the name change (which is untrue, as Spirit Camera is a spin-off from the Zero/Fatal Frame series) the fact that we never got that Wii FF game localized (OK, they do get a “boo!” from moi on that flub) and a few other things, but whatever. I’m just happy to see the 3DS get another quality game (and another horror-themed game, at that), Of course, I’d LOVE to be on a bus or subway watching someone playing this and screaming out loud when they get freaked out by some ghost popping up in their faces. Hey, Nintendo: there’s your TV spot right there. Have a bunch of people on a train playing the game on a subway in different parts of a car and have them all freak out at the same time (or at different time – your choice). Then have the lights go out on the train and… you can fill in the rest.

No charge for the idea – I’ve got a million of them…

Gravity Rush Live-Action Trailer: Another Reason To Get a Vita…

Posted on February 29, 2012 by geelw

Don’t try to read too much into this as far as any “messages” go, folks. It’s just a cool ad designed to get you interested in another awesome Vita launch window game. Created by some of the team behind the Siren games (for my money, one of the most frightening series to date), this one’s a completely different and yes, gravity defying experience that’s a must-buy killer app. It’s also proof that the handheld is a LOT more than “just a hopped up PSP” as I heard some 3DS owner claim a few days ago. Of course, I just had to ask him if he’s actually had the chance to try the Vita out and yup, he admitted that he didn’t. Sorry, but that sort of ignorance gets you a BUSTED rating here at DAF.

Sure, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but as soon as they creep over into the fact section and you start brewing up that pitcher of hateorade (in new bile flavor, Oh Yeeeeeaaaah!), a little gentle smackdown must be applied. Respect gets respect, I say, and broadening one’s horizons only makes you a better person in any subject at the end of the day. I like the 3DS as well as the Vita for different reasons and there are great titles for BOTH systems that make for some fine entertainment.

OK, that’s a solid 100 posts for this month – whee. Act-ually, it’s a solid 120 posts when you include the stuff on the other DAF blog (feel free to sign up if you like – I can always use the extra traffic). I should celebrate a little, but I’m actually focusing on being even MORE productive with so much going on that I need to cover. That said, here’s a live-action WipEout 2048 trailer – another great reason to be a Vita owner, I say.

Touch My Katamari Trailer: Hey, Go Touch Your OWN (But Buy A Vita First)!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by geelw

Remember kids: There’s no sin in pleasure… er, at least when it comes to gaming. Namco Bandai’s double shot of Vita launch games (the Shinobido 2 trailer is here) gets off to a rolling start with what’s looking like some pretty decent titles. I’ll need to get my paws on a review copy to see if the latest in the junk-rolling up series has what it takes to be a touchy-feely funny classic or one for the dust bin. Given the Vita’s funky dual touchscreen that adds a lot to some games, I’m rolling toward some positive impressions…

Xseed Games Bringing The Last Story To Wii (And You’d BETTER Buy It, Grrrr!)

Posted on February 22, 2012 by geelw

Fans of many Japanese games (in particular, JRPGs) can be a persistently prickly bunch often to the point of working themselves up into a frenzy if they feel slighted in the slightest bit by a publisher they feel isn’t working hard or fast enough at localizing certain Japanese games (no matter how niche). However, that’s actually a good thing when we all benefit from a publisher like Xseed that can make the magic happen. One example of this is today’s surprising news that Xseed has picked up the publishing rights to Hironubu Sakagushi’s The Last Story, one of the best current-gen games on the console that has a lot of people very excited. You can ogle some more video info on the Mistwalker-developed title over at the Nintendo Direct channel (just skip ahead to 10:11 in the video and prepare to be awed).

Continue reading →

IDW’s Wally Wood EC Stories Artist’s Edition: Stellar Stuff From A True Master.

Posted on February 22, 2012 by geelw

The late Wally Wood’s work was one of many inspirations that got me interested in comic art and thankfully, there’s a large enough selection of his originals still around so anyone who wants to see some of the greatest panel art ever (and can afford to drop a few hundred bucks on a top quality hardcover book) can check it out thanks to IDW Publishing.

This collection in the fantastic Artist’s Edition series presents some of Wood’s classic EC Comics tales as ACTUAL SIZE (15 x 22) pages, complete with editing marks and assorted aging you don’t get in digital comic art. There’s just something incredible about seeing how hard Woody worked on all that meticulous detail and how much of his work has held up over time. This massive new book (which could double as a small card table if you opened it and put legs on the covers).

UPDATE! According to some poking about around the internet as well as a note from IDW’s PR guy the book is COMPLETELY sold out on the publisher’s web site. However, you CAN (and should) call up or stalk your nearest comic store, as they should have copies of the book in stock!

Hey, Sony? Where The Heck is PANEKIT On The PS3 and Vita?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by geelw

(thanks, akiha777!)

I’ve been on the hunt for a reasonably priced copy of PANEKIT for ages and I’m still surprised that Sony has passed up on localizing this seriously awesome game for the U.S. of A. while also never updating it for a home or portable console since its release*. And you’re now asking me: “What’s a PANEKIT?” Basically, it’s a toy construction kit where you get to build whatever you want out of metal “parts” and set it in motion (if you like) in a 3D world. Sure, it’s visually “dated” by today’s standards and DEFINITELY a niche title, at that. Nevertheless, in this age of all sorts of junk games on phones and tablets, anything that allows you to create and share digital toys with others without losing pieces or worrying about dropping what you’ve built (and seeing it smash into a million pieces) deserves a new shot…

*Yes, the game was popular enough in Japan to get a PSN reissue not too long ago, but it STILL wasn’t even looked at for a more worldwide release (which is too bad)…

Escape Plan: The Vita’s Fun, Funky Puzzler That Needs To Be Played…

Posted on February 19, 2012 by geelw

What, another Vita hit? Yup. Escape Plan’s black & white “comic noir” visuals, easy to learn, tricky to master puzzle/adventure gameplay and just pure sense of fun make this a memorable launch title. Sure. it’s probably not going to make some of you “hardcore” gamers get all gushy (you’re getting your shooters, don’t worry!). Nevertheless, it’s great to see all sorts of games coming to the Vita that just aren’t the usual ports or other truncated “casual” experiences derived from a social network page. More, please!