The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Gets A Beta – Give It A Shot, I Say…

Posted on April 19, 2013 by geelw

NeoCore Games’ upcoming action RPG, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, is headed into its beta stage as a pre-order product the developer has set up as a crowdfunded work in progress that allows interested players to pony up a fee for access that will net them a final copy when the game is completed and released in May. For a minimum payment of $15, you’ll get to play that beta version on Steam (and comment on it, no doubt) and there are payment tiers all the way up to $1000 (which gets you four copies of the game, your name in the credits and portrait in a secret boss level).

Gallery: Castle of Illusion – Disney and Sega Want Your Nostalgic Bones Smiling Away…

Posted on April 15, 2013 by geelw

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OK, I can’t stay too annoyed at Disney, as this latest blast from the past actually looks quite good. Granted, this one SHOULD be on MORE platforms (those high resolution screens on the Vita and Wii U Gamepad are begging for more love), but I guess Disney is going first and foremost where they’ll rake in the most immediate sacks of loot. Granted, I’d bet a LOT more Disney fans without Xbox Live or PSN accounts (or a fancy tablet) would want to throw money at this on a disc or cartridge of some sort (with that DuckTales reboot tagging along), but no one ever thinks of catering to that crowd these days unless it’s some crowdfunded project that grabs the collectors where they like it.

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Anyway, the game art and logo above look nice enough and that teaser video is just that (and too short!):

but those screens below are dipped in yummy chocolate and ready to eat (and they’re freakin’ HUGE when you click on them – go ahead… you KNOW you want to):

Look for this one this summer on PSN and Xbox Live Arcade. Will Disney Interactive, Sega of America and Sega Europe be able to recapture the glory and thrills of the 1990 Sega Genesis classic? Well, we’ll soon find out, right? So far, it’s looking like a real winner…

GRID 2 Multiplayer Redefined Trailer: Yes, Indeed It Is…

Posted on April 15, 2013 by geelw

It was actually really funny to be the first and only person at the early appointment to see the innovative multiplayer mode in GRID 2 and get some great hands-on time, as I could tell the assembled team was itching to let people coming in play the game and see what was what. Still, I had to go through the entire team’s rehearsed presentation before my hands-on time, which was cool to hear, but I’m that sort of guy who “gets” stuff without the boxcar pitch games get. Of course, I’m not complaining one bit, folks – once you play this one, it’s going to keep you busy for some time, especially if you go full-on into the RaceNet functionality. May 28 is rushing up really quickly and for once, I’m not so ticked off at time zipping by…

GRID 2 Multiplayer Hands-On: It’s Like Lightning (But With Better Handling)…

Posted on April 12, 2013 by geelw

The single player in GRID 2 was quite thrilling in that demo from a few months back, but Codemasters knows that many will be snapping up this one first and foremost for the multiplayer modes and fortunately, the game shines even more here. A few members from the dev team rolled into NYC with a new demo that just so happened to be on the same day and in the same hotel as Namco Bandai’s Global Gamer’s Day, so it made for an exciting start to a long day packed full of great upcoming titles. The Xbox 360 version was set up (and looking fantastic, by the way), but being the only writer to pop up at this first session meant playing against the people working on the game and only having the slimmest of chances of beating any of them during the bunch of races about to take place… Continue reading →

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara – The Fighter: This Tank Won’t Tank!

Posted on April 10, 2013 by geelw

Capcom gets with the rolling out of gameplay footage from their more than eagerly awaited HD remake of one of the cooler arcade games we never saw in the US. Check out the Capcom Unity post about this beefy brawler here and get ready for some superior hack & slash action coming to the PC, PSN, Xbox Live Arcade and Wii U eShop. Like a few of you out there wringing your hands for a Vita version, yeah – I’m with you there. Hopefully, Capcom WILL make this happen, as this one’s perfect for some on the go action, especially if the dev team at Iron Galaxy can make it run smoothly for some serious four player co-op. OK, I’m getting ahead of myself here, but hey, it’s a damn great idea I think NEEDS to get done.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: The Title Sucks. The Game Certainly Doesn’t.

Posted on April 8, 2013 by geelw

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So far, so good for this upcoming vampire-killing chase & chop, I say. Well, the title is still kind of dopey (it sounds like a very wrong Saturday Morning cartoon), but I’m really liking what’s happening with this NeoCoreGames-developed action/RPG. If they can pull off everything they’re planning, this one will be a hit (dorky-sounding name and all). Hey, I’m just saying that a better name will keep some skeptics from their snickering, especially with everything looking so great on the presentation side. I don’t mind the HUGE damage numbers at all, as they add a nice touch of humor to things. That said, being able to toggle them off would be a good idea.

Of course, with everyone comparing every isometric action game to the Diablo series (although Torchlight is more enjoyable to some extent if you add Diablo III to the mix), that’s another hurdle to overcome. Not for me, however – I love these types of games and will definitely play this one to death. Or Van Helsing’s death, as I’d be hiding in the broom closet if there were any real-life vampires and werewolves coming after me. Anyway, a PC version is coming this Spring with an Xbox 360 version via Xbox Live on the way later this year. Hmmm… someone get these guys PS3 and Vita dev kits, I say. And what the hell, a Wii U one as well, as all those systems could use a few more great looking hardcore vampire slaying games (that aren’t called Castlevania)…

Young Justice: Legacy Gallery: Little Orbit & Freedom Factory Are Doing It Right For The Fans…

Posted on April 6, 2013 by geelw

Fans of this freshly canceled (or hopefully just “on hiatus”) Cartoon Network show will have one really cool thing to comfort them in these desperate times: Young Justice Legacy is coming along REALLY nicely. While my overall impressions are embargoed for a few more days, I can safely say that fans of games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, X-Men Legends and yes, even Justice League Heroes should be pleased with what’s coming from Little Orbit and Freedom Factory. That trailer shows off an older build, as the HUD is now different (it’s in a corner now) and anything else you want to know will have to wait (sorry!). As for looks, the stylized 3D visuals mimic the show’s 2D art style well enough and I like that the dev team didn’t go for the overused cel-shading some probably wanted or expected.

Of course, the BIG question is will the game do so well at retail that the powers that be over at Cartoon Network and DC want to kick things back into production? That, dear reader… is all up to YOU. Petitions are groovy and all, but buying the game and telling as many friends with a PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS and 3DS (Hey! Where’s the Vita version?) as possible and making sure they also vote with their wallets is the best thing to do if you want to see something positive come from all this hard work. Hey, even if the show never gets a second chance on TV, I’d say the game deserves a solid sequel that addresses that cliffhanger finale, right?

Dragon’s Crown Gameplay Trailer: Not Your Typical Storybook Fantasy Memories…

Posted on April 3, 2013 by geelw

As you can probably guess from that video above, Vanillaware sure isn’t making Dragon’s Crown for the little kiddies… well, other than that happy dancing mouse that cracked me up because *BOOM!* it’s just THERE for a second or two in the middle of things before the next visual hits your eyeballs. Yeah, this gorgeous 2D side-scrolling fantasy chase ‘n chop is destined to get the fans raving about the lush art and maybe a few raging about the generously-endowed ladies (hey, that’s George Kamitani’s style at work and working well), but it’s all good.

I’d say that Atlus most certainly has a hit here for the PS3 and Vita, so set your sundials accordingly and maybe even think about pre-ordering this one, as I can see it going out of print fast as a physical copy when the otaku snap it up on day one. Yeah, yeah, digital is the big deal, but some of us like hugging our software a bit tighter whenever we can and for as long as possible…

New Grand Theft Auto V Screenshots: A More Complete Vacation Package Deal…

Posted on March 28, 2013 by geelw

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V-76-1280 It may LOOK as if I’m not following Grand Theft Auto V around like a very talented stalker dear reader… but that’s quite misleading. I just haven’t written a lot about it because I just KNOW that it’s going to be one of those games that doesn’t require a ton of words written before its actually PLAYED in order to enjoy everything it will offer. Given Rockstar Games‘ dedication to each new installment of the series, it’s been clear from the first reveal that GTA V will be the deepest and best game in the long-running franchise. Anyway, a few more screens to get YOU talking are below. Me, I’m just smiling and thinking about how I’m going to manage my time when I fire this game up for the first of many times. The series is well known for sucking all too many hours from the day once you get in, start peeling back its layers and finding hidden secrets galore. Skydiving AND Scuba in the same game? And a few types of flying machines to go with the ton of cars, bikes and other fine rides? September 17 will be a perfect day for a good chunk of the country to call in sick, I predict.

Of course, if you’re REALLY smart, midnight crush launches aren’t your thing and you’d have already pre-ordered the game directly from the always awesome Rockstar Warehouse online shop, which has a cool GTA V-themed bonus T-Shirt you won’t see elsewhere. Hmmm… someone give these guys the James Bond license and let’s see what happens if they make a wholly original product, I say…

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Behind the Scenes: A Fantasy Trip for Today…

Posted on March 26, 2013 by geelw

Hey! Wouldn’t you like to be on a nice vacation right about now? OK, let’s go! Let’s say, hmmm… we’re now in Sweden with Josef Fares at Starbreeze Studios talking a little more about their unique game collaboration, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons coming to Windows PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 courtesy of publisher 505 Games? OK, OK… sitting in another room that’s different from the room you’re in now may not be much of a holiday at first glance, but think outside the box (or outside the building, in this case) and you’re on the way to your new destination with a fresh outlook. Um, Har en fantastisk semester – inte äta för mycket korv!