Gallery: Max Payne 3 (Remedy Gets Even More Real)

Posted on September 10, 2011 by geelw

After a long wait (and still ongoing development cycle), Rockstar is finally bringing Remedy’s modern noir detective back, and this time he’s looking both better and worse for the wear. Better as in the game is taking the stellar visuals and phenomenal attention to detail the developer is known for to new heights of realism. Worse in terms of the presentation of a down and out Max Payne as an alcoholic, pill-popping gun for hire living in Sao Paolo. Of course, the game is not just about his decline well off the grid and whatever rotgut and cheap drugs he can score to feed his bad habits. There’s plenty of gunplay, bullet-time sequences and what’s looking like the most spectacular use of the Euphoria Engine to date. Rockstar is set to reveal the game’s first trailer next Wednesday, so expect that to get posted (most likely on the other blog, as I’m expecting it to be nice and violent).

Some in-progress screens are below and more are on the way (most likely next week with the trailer I’ll bet)..

Happy Birthday, Daggerfall!

Posted on September 1, 2011 by geelw

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=104087

It's hard to believe how quickly time flies, but 15 years ago today, Bethesda Softworks released the second installment of its RPG series. While the end result of all that hard work was a more stellar experience than TES: Arena, it was still a bit buggy in spots. That said, Daggerfall was still impressive for its amazing visuals, scope and gameplay. Ah, memories. I still have my copy of the original game minus the interior box and the cool letter opener thanks to a really stupid roommate years back when I was living in NYC. At the time, I was recycling some cardboard boxes for mailing and I kept a small stack of folded boxes near my games collection, as I was using the boxes to ship out games I sold or traded. One day as I was going out to work, my roommate asked if he could use a box to ship a gift out for his mother's birthday and I recall saying something like “Sure, take anything near the stack of games” before heading out the door. Little did I know that my invitation was a call for some major stupidity and minor theft…Read more »

Gallery: TES V: Skyrim Character Portraits

Posted on August 22, 2011 by geelw

Want to see which races you can play as in Bethesda’s upcoming time-eating epic RPG? Here are a few possible combinations (out of millions or variations) thanks to the excellent character editor. As longtime Elder Scrolls fans know, a good chunk of the fun at the beginning of a new adventure is choosing just who you want to play as. I’m thinking about ditching my usual first play-through choice of an Argonian battlemage who dips into archery from time to time, especially given the more flexible skills system Skyrim offers. Decisions, decisions…

Gamescom 2011: GoldenEye Reloaded Gallery

Posted on August 20, 2011 by geelw

More lovely screens from Eurocom's upcoming re-reboot headed to the PS3 and Xbox 360. Along with many other GoldenEye fans, I'm more than thrilled with what's coming. However as usual in the free-thinking democracy we live in, there are people out there who just don't want the game to succeed. As long as the anti-Activision crowd (some of whom don't play many/any games in the genre or worse, judge every modern/console shooter as “bad” for some reason), overly nostalgic N64 fanboys (yes, the original is a great game, but come on – grow up and open your eyes while learning to show RESPECT to a developer updating a classic into an even better experience) AND Daniel Craig haters (who have ZERO clue about how licensing works – you're not getting Pierce Brosnan back as Bond in a new game no matter how loudly you gripe) who STILL think every FPS has been ruined by Call of Duty (they haven't) are around and thinking their loudly expressed opinions are 100% indication of actual facts (they aren't, but thanks for trying), the game might have that minor speed bump to overcome at retail. I say if you're THAT skeptical and jaded, not even a playable demo will help you. Here's hoping that a percentage of these wags actually change their minds after playing one.Read more »

Gamescom 2011: Ridge Racer Unbounded Gallery/Gameplay Footage (Bugbear Redeemed, Part Deux)

Posted on August 20, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GMdPhKU6JnE?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Bugbear's take on Namco's seminal racing series definitely has a Burnout thing going for it visually, but given that Criterion has changed their popular crash-fest into a top-down retro-looking family-friendly download only arcade affair (say that three times fast!) with Kinect support over XBLA (it's actually a lot of fun), it looks like gamers who want polygons pushed around into assorted scrap metal might be looking at a new contender for the crown. As a HUGE FlatOut fan, I like what I see quite a lot and can't wait to take this one for a spin. Screens below the jump.Read more »

Gamescom 2011: Borderlands 2 Screens Tease More Greatness…

Posted on August 18, 2011 by geelw

2K Games and Gearbox Software are set to deliver an even bigger blasting bonanza with this upcoming sequel to everyone's favorite post-apocalyptic shooter that already had too many billions of possible weapons combinations. Nice new environments, new characters and as mentioned, way too many weapons to count. Full press release below the jump and yes, you can now dual wield anything you like, which should make online play SUPREMELY cheap when everyone's packing twin sniper rifles or some sort of crazy homing weapons that means they can camp and prey on unsuspecting newbies. Good thing I'm only in for the single player campaign. Still, this one will be a major smash for 2K and Gearbox (which is having a pretty darn good year so far)…Read more »

The King of Fighters XIII Gameplay (Or: Oops, Make That TEN Trailers!)

Posted on August 18, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/AO5hpyaF-KU?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Yeah, yeah, I forgot one video (Atlus posted it a while ago), but then again, it was pretty late here when I finally got around to posting the other clips. Anyway, here you go. Screenshots from the upcoming 2D fighter to come in a separate post. Don’t say I never gave you anything, grrrr.

BloodRayne: Betrayal – New Screens

Posted on August 10, 2011 by geelw

Five more images from WayForward Technologies’ upcoming side-scroller. It’s too bad it’s not 1994 or this one would be splashed all over every game magazine as a must-buy title. As it is, it’s getting a big PSN and XBLA release, but I’d really love to see games like this compiled and put on a disc so anyone who wants to play them can do so any time they need a fix. Back with more screens when they pop into my mailbox.

White Knight Chronicles II: New, Improved & You Get The First Game Free

Posted on August 3, 2011 by geelw

With so many big-name RPG's rolling out this fall from a few big name publishers, it's easy to overlook some genre gems coming from unexpected places. D3Publisher of America is also branching into console RPG territory with the upcoming release of White Knight Chronicles II, exclusively for the PS3. The Level 5-developed JRPG features a huge amount of improvements over the original, which has itself been enhanced and added to the package as a ridiculously awesome bonus.Read more »

Gallery/Impressions: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Posted on August 3, 2011 by geelw

What else can be said about what's truly going to be one of the biggest games (in terms of scope and hype) to hit consoles and PC's to date? TES V: Skyrim will no doubt be generously rewarded with huge sales and critical accolades from press and gamers alike, so I'm just pouring more gasoline on the bonfire of praise with these words. Seeing that E3 presentation on TV and the internet is one thing. Seeing it in person id like discovering sunlight for the first time. Bethsoft's proprietary Creation Engine brings the game world to stunning life without any need for 3D glasses or tacked on motion control schemes. The team behind the game has crafted one of the best-looking games to date and you'll see this in many, many fine details such as items that can be rotated in your inventory (helpful when solving some puzzles) and the way the weather changes as you ascend a mountain from the sunny plains below to the freezing summit. Everyone at the presentation was silent, most likely from being in sheer awe at what was on screen…