Review: Demon’s Souls

Posted on September 13, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation 3

Developer: From Software

Publisher: Atlus

# of Players 1 (Online: 1 – 3)

Rating: M (Mature)

Score: A+

Console (and to some extent, PC) role-playing fans have been subject to some pretty darn disappointing games this generation thanks to a few too many developers and publishers playing it safe by merely rehashing familiar anime-style adventures, cooking up oddball battle systems that just don’t gel completely or copying top-rated western-style games with a few new ideas here and there. Sure, graphics have improved tenfold this cycle and there have been more than a few memorable games released during this period. However, other than stunning visuals and larger game worlds, not too many of these titles have done all that much to raise any new bars for the genre. Continue reading →

Games On TV: Scribblenauts Commercial

Posted on September 13, 2009 by geelw

Here you go: mildly amusing, although given the game’s superb originality, it comes off as a bit lower key than I thought it would be.

Ah well… I guess Middle America needs this super-clean version that can be shown at all hours of the day without the usual irate parents’ groups going off the deep end about the game for no reason at all other than it’ll make their kids see and use words in the dictionary that they’d rather them NOT know at all. Yeesh.

Anyway, go buy a copy when it hits stores on September 15!

Atlus Announces Shin Megami Tensei Persona: Digital Devil Delays Download (Saga)!

Posted on September 12, 2009 by geelw

Oh Noes! Well, in case you didn’t pre-order the retail version of SMT: Persona and were hoping to look all cool sliding open your PSP GO! on the subway to play the game you downloaded early the morning of September 22… you’re in for a bit of a shock. The digital download version of the game has been slightly delayed to an October 1, 2009 launch over the PlayStation Network.

Which sort of means if you DON’T have a PSP GO!, it might make a whole lot of sense to drop by your local game emporium and snag the cool pre-order bonuses that come with the boxed version (as the press release below kind of hints at…)

Continue reading →

Half-Minute Hero Demo ( #1) Arrives On PSN

Posted on September 11, 2009 by geelw

The first of two demos for Xseed’s upcoming lighting-paced retro PSP Action/RPG is now available for download over the PlayStation Network, which leads me to ask why you’re still reading this when you should be playing this rather hilarious bit of gaming goodness. So, go download away onto your PSP (you DO own a PSP, right?) and play it to death in half-minute chunks, laughing crazily as you skip out the door a few minutes later to go preorder from wherever you normally get your games.

Or pre-order HMH online, if that’s your thing. Heck, it’s not like you’re getting much exercise these days, anyway. A little sunlight won’t kill you, y’know… Well, that’s what I’ve heard… *Ahem,* anyway, let’s see what the official press release says:.. Continue reading →

Demon’s Souls Arrives, Goes Ahead And Makes My Day…

Posted on September 10, 2009 by geelw

THANK YOU ATLUS! Early impressions: Well, I lasted a whole five or so hours before my avatar finally died, falling (well, rolling) off a ledge trying to get the heck away from something BIG and quite nasty chasing my character. This game is brilliant, beautiful and BRUTAL, all at the same time with a side of fries. Scary as hell in spots, too. As a longtime King’s Field fan, I knew it was going to be great, but From Software has really knocked it out of the park. Hardcore? Oh hellllllllllll yeah. This game will kick your butt all over the living room and into the kitchen, whereupon it shall cook and eat your corpse.

Twice.

Back with a full review in a bit… Did I mention it’s also scarier than a big box of dead, flaming monkeys?

Interview: Creating Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

Posted on September 9, 2009 by geelw

One of the more impressive Nintendo DS games created to date is Fighting Fantasy: the Warlock of Firetop Mountain, created by London, Ontario-based Big Blue Bubble, Inc., published by Aspyr Media and set to hit stores on October 26, 2009.

What makes the game so amazing is how close it comes to replicating the experience of many great PC RPGs from years ago wile feeling completely fresh thanks to the DS touch screen and a dedicated team of artists and programmers looking to bring the book to life and beyond in portable form. FF looks to be a classic, deep first-person role-playing experience set in an huge game world running at a blazing 60 frames per second with full, intuitive touch screen controls and the ability to map locations as you like in order to uncover every nook and cranny of the world you’ll explore.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Damir Slogar, Big Blue Bubble’s CEO and Goran Marinic, the game’s Lead Designer a few questions about the game, most of them submitted by fans over on the game’s Gamefaqs page. In addition, I’m more than pleased to show off the excellent concept art and weapon renders I just received, which hasn’t been published anywhere else online. Continue reading →

Dead Space Extraction Goes Gold

Posted on September 3, 2009 by geelw

EA has announced that Dead Space Extraction for the Nintendo Wii has gone gold and should be in stores on September 29, 2009. Also announced was a nice bonus: pre-ordering the game at selected retailers will give gamers access to four of the game’s ten challenge modes for solo or co-op play. The Wii exclusive game is a prequel to the events of last year’s huge sci-fi/horror action hit on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Dead Space and was developed by Eurocom with a huge assist from Visceral Games.

Continue reading →

Prima Announces Scribblenauts Official Guide Book

Posted on September 3, 2009 by geelw

In case you’re one of those folks that REALLY gets stuck when Scribblenauts launches on 9/15, here’s what to look for at your favorite game shop:

Hudson Announces Lost In Shadow

Posted on September 1, 2009 by geelw

More Hudson news? OK! The company has also announced Lost in Shadow, a unique new platformer/adventure/puzzle game hybrid scheduled to reach the Nintendo Wii sometime in Summer 2010. Based on the images and press release below, my take on this one is that I’m definitely intrigued. Stylistically, the game’s visuals and color palette seem highly influenced by the phenomenal PlayStation 2 sleeper hit from 2001, ICO. Similar aesthetics aside, it will be extremely interesting to see this one in action, as the shadow platforming idea is certainly innovative enough for a really solid game experience.

Below the jump are the complete press release and five screenshots for your reading and viewing enjoyment.

Continue reading →

Katamari Forever Goes Gold, King of All Cosmos Celebrates…

Posted on August 30, 2009 by geelw

…Which is generally both a good as well as bad idea if you know the franchise well enough. Every single time His Majesty gets a wee bit too much “celebration” going on, there’s some sort of cosmic accident as he up and breaks the galaxy or something. Naturally, he ends up sending his loyal son, the Prince out to right his wrongs. How, how, how does the Queen put up with this royal oaf? The good news? Well, at least we get another game out of his royal messing up of things on a galactic scale and for a measly $49.99, YOU get to make things right.

Anyway… yep, lucky PS3 owners can do the happy dance as Katamari Forever has gone gold and should be in stores on September 22, 2009. The new visual style in most of these screens is a super-cool and welcome change (as well a an all-new customization feature) and it looks as if there are some new twists to the gameplay as well. But don’t take my word for it. Heck, what do I know? Here, read this instead…

Continue reading →