Dark Souls II PC Screens: Prepare To BUY Is More Like It, Folks…

Posted on March 7, 2014 by geelw

Yeah, yeah, the modders will have their fun with the game once the PC version drops and they hack in some more “realistic” visuals for those who want them, but I love FromSoftware’s original vision for this soon to be released sequel. PC owners also get some nice content bonuses for pre-ordering (this version of the game ships out on April 25, a month and two weeks after the console versions (eek!), so there’s still time to grab this from a few online and retail locations). Click away below the jump for some press release action with the gory details. I’m backlogged in posting today and actually got in some books I need to read and review, so I’m kind of swamped…

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Deception IV: Blood Ties Gets Me In A (Badly) Rhyming Mood…

Posted on February 21, 2014 by geelw

Here comes a lazy redirect
on a foggy Friday gray
Five new Deception IV game screens
from Sony’s PS Blog page.

The fun is back, oh sweet revenge!
Your victims will soon feel
Humiliation and then death
From a banana peel!

Oh, yeah, I’m on a roll now, kids. Well, perhaps not. I wasn’t planning on writing a crappy poem today, but it just popped out when I saw that screen with the gal slipping on the banana peel. Yep, the deception series is back in a big way, goofy humor and bloody demises and all. Deception IV: Blood Ties slides into retail and onto PSN for the PS3 and Vita on March 25, 2014.

Cloudbuilt: Eternal Run Shines (of the Spotless Kind)…

Posted on February 15, 2014 by geelw

I haven’t even played Coilworks’ incredible looking Cloudbuilt yet, but between that very descriptive game trailer above and the lovely screens below, I’m getting a serious Gunvalkyrie meets Mirror’s Edge meets Mega Man vibe – and that’s a damn good thing.

Man, I wish this game was on consoles on a disc so MORE people could play it. The sense of speed and what looks like solid controls only add to the fun, and given the levels seem to be open to each player’s skills, I’m expecting this to be one of those games that’s not played and put away (or deleted) any time soon (unless you’re a total loser who despises a decent challenge). Now I just need to find time to actually play that demo I’m being teased with, as Toy Fair is going to take up a huge chunk of my time for the next four days and afterward as I write up a few articles. Eh, it’ll all work out soon enough. It always does. Back in a bit.

Strange Love: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle

Posted on February 14, 2014 by geelw

Namco Bandai seems to be conducting a little experiment and I’m gathering they need your assistance. For a little while the company has been releasing digital versions of popular Japanese anime-based fighters available overseas as retail and digital purchases, and now they’re trying out a limited edition physical release to go with the (to some) more convenient downloads.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is coming sometime this Spring via PSN (digital) and as a limited edition physical disc (ClubNamco.com and Amazon.com). No price has been announced just yet, but I think it’s a good idea as even niche games have fans who want them who can’t buy digital only product. Ever busy developer CyberConnect2 shows once more they’re the master of making anime fighters look as close to their source material as possible, as you can see above and in the screenshots below.

As for what’s on that disc or download, below the jump is some cut ‘n paste press release work plus those eleven screens… enjoy!

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CD Projekt RED Wants You To Spend The Weekend With Geralt of Riva…

Posted on February 14, 2014 by geelw

Got a Steam account? Good. A decent to killer gaming PC? Even better. Now, all you need is time and a lot of coffee or something else to keep you away through Sunday, as CD Projekt RED is letting you play both The Witcher Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition for FREE until then. Yikes.

That’s a LOT of ground to cover, even if you’ve already played both games and know what to do, where to go and which dialog choices to make (as the game changes based on your decisions. If that’s not enough time for you, BOTH titles are on sale for 80% off ($1.99 and $3.99 respectively) until February 18, 2014, meaning you can keep playing as much as you want after that freebie ends and not pay much money for two great adventures.

Of course, it IS Valentine’s Day, so if you have that special someone who’s not a gamer in your life, and you want to tackle these games this weekend, you’d better spill the beans now or else it’ll ONLY be Geralt getting some action. Of course, this is one of those well written mature fantasy experiences that may draw in someone who thinks games are still for kids, so who knows. Just be gentle with whatever you do. We wouldn’t want to see you all cranky and weird come Monday morning…

VGA 101: If Monday’s Still Kicking You Around, It Could Be Worse…

Posted on February 10, 2014 by geelw

You could be some poor guard in or under Garuda Compound in Valhalla Knights 3. These poor saps never get a break at all, as you can see in these screens. Hell, no matter what day of the week it is, they’re going down hard and fast if your party is properly leveled and you’re in no mood to be trifled with.

Ouch. But wait, there’s more… Continue reading →

Toukiden Addendum: It’s Even Better News In This Soon To Be Hit…

Posted on January 27, 2014 by geelw

Surprise, surprise. Toukiden: Age of Demons had two of them for me I found out after posting my demo impressions. Oops. One was there are a bunch of separate missions you can play online via ad-hoc, over PSN or (wait for it)… OFFLINE with up to 3 AI fighters (woo hoo!). Two, the demo is actually longer than I expected with two chapters and a cliffhanger right before a what looked like a tough boss battle. There’s also a series of weapons training missions that let you practice with each weapon (the bow isn’t as annoying as I thought!) and these are recommended, as you can swap weapons out between missions.

There’s a bunch of other stuff (such as weapons and armor can be strengthened and some can be combined), but I’ll save that for the review.

Okay, that’s it for now – Back to dinking around with more games. Back in a bit. Or tomorrow, most likely…

Gallery Update: Dark Souls II

Posted on January 27, 2014 by geelw

I have the distinct feeling that my list of ‘must play’ games will be shorter than I think thanks to a handful of upcoming titles eating up way too much of my time. In addition to EDF 2025, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Toukiden: Age of Demons and a bunch of indie to AAA games for assorted platforms I’ve been keeping my eye on as 2014 rolls onward, Dark Souls II looks as if it’s going to consume a rater huge chunk of a few months on and off. Every time I see new screens for this game I get a few chills in all the proper places as well as a sense of dread because from my play time with that demo, I know this one’s going to be rougher than using a huge sheet of the coarsest waterproof sandpaper as a towel after a too hot shower. Or, OUCH!.

But hey, we Souls maniacs like it hard and Producer Takeshi Miyazoe along with the dedicated team at developer FromSoftware are more than willing to please as from what I’m seeing and hearing from folks in that beta test, the game is going to be even harder than Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls combined.

Eeep.

More screens below the jump… Continue reading →

More Sage Advice From Valhalla Knights 3? Okay, Sure…

Posted on January 26, 2014 by geelw

Although I’ve completed Valhalla Knights 3 a little while back, I ended up snapping a bunch of screenshots for no other reason that I can use them for random posts like this. Anyway, guys (and some of you ladies out there), here’s more of Tina laying it down for you. She sounds as if she’s got a good head on her shoulders, right? Then again, I guess you can trust a half-dressed weapon shop clerk only so much…

From The Vaults, Slowly They Come (#1 of Who Knows How Many)…

Posted on January 14, 2014 by geelw

Thanks to years of writing for a few places, I have a LOT of press stuff here socked away in a few bins (I tend to keep just about everything I’ve gotten of importance). When I’m not doing my usual headless chicken thing, I keep plotting and planning to post a few galleries of the assorted discs and other material I’ve held on to, but I just haven’t had the time to pore through that mountain of materials. Anyway, thanks to these two press kits popping out of a box while I was digging up some old games someone wants to buy from me, I guess this is now one part of a many-part project I’ve launched. That’s one of the Sly 2: Band of Thieves press kit on the left and Killzone on the right. They’re about the size of a 12″ vinyl LP, by the way. I don’t think I have any more records here or I’d have done a size comparison. Or If I do have any records left around here they’re probably hiding out in a different bin I haven’t cracked open in a few years. Eek.

I’m not sure when another update is coming from the press vaults, as it’s a daunting task to dive in and not get lost going through things for hours and reminiscing. All that does is leave me with stacks of stuff to repack and no place to sleep if I don’t. Of course, a helper monkey who can make lists and take pictures would be a total help, but they don’t exist yet and any robot I want to think of buying can only vacuum my floor or dance (but not both? Come on technology, get with it already!). Ah well… I guess I’ll get this thing taken care of when I can…