The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut: A Triple Threat All In One Package For ARPG Fans

Posted on September 17, 2015 by geelw

Warts and all, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing has been quite a fun trilogy to play through. Taking the addictive chase and chop-fest of the Diablo series, adding humorous touches like a sassy AI ally and a fun “tower defense” mini-game that’s nicely implemented into the main story, NeoCore Games has crafted a great time chomper of a game. Coming September 23, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut will give new players the entire trilogy with loads of fixes and new content. Over 50 hours of gameplay, six classes to choose from, new cut-scenes, and an all-new new ENDLESS endgame that can be played in a number of possible ways.

Yes, you can still get an actual ending to the big Borgovian bang trilogy. But NeoCore knows its fans love what they’re doing and the endless endgame is a way to keep them glued to their screens with saucer-sized eyeballs. The game is coming to Steam and gog.com on September 23, 2015 for $44.99, but gamers who own all three games in the trilogy (on Steam at least) will get Final Cut for free when the game launches. I’d say that’s going to surprise some who don’t know this and own all three games when they log into Steam next week and see something huge creeping onto their hard drives.

That said, this game NEEDS to come to consoles at some point down the road. There aren’t enough of this style of ARPG on the PS4, Xbox One or Wii U and that’s a sad thing indeed. We’ll have to see if NeoCore has those plans in the works, but if not, the PC game is one that doesn’t require a super-killer rig to run.

Some Fallout 4 Stuff To Fall Out Over

Posted on September 17, 2015 by geelw

Bethesda Softworks ~~thinks~~ knows it’s clever, getting all these amazing Fallout 4 goodies out there in the wild for all us collector types to collect as if we’re in one of their games collecting stuff. Well, without the being attacked by mutants and other irradiated deviants in the Wasteland. Here’s a quick peek at some of the nifty (and somewhat safe) stuff to be found in your travels. If you happen to be a lazy Vault-dweller too frightened to leave and explore the outside world, guess what? The internet is your friend (mostly). You can get your F4 goodies delivered just about anywhere in the U. S. of A. with a few clicks of a mouse. Well, provided that mouse isn’t alive, about a foot or so long (d’aww! it’s just a baby!) and and trying to bite off one or more of your toes as you roll around on the floor with it fighting for your life.

Continue reading →

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen PC-Bound In 2016

Posted on September 9, 2015 by geelw

And sooner than you think, although paradoxically a wee bit late for some who wanted it to arrive last year. Anyway, Dragon’s Dogma on PS3 and Xbox 360 was a great surprise hit for Capcom back in 2012, and less than a year later the Dark Arisen expansion added all-new content on a disc or as DLC that also changed up the main game with a few fixes. PC gamers have been screaming to the skies for Capcom to get this one-two punch of fantasy action/RPG greatness out on Windows and those wishes will be granted come January 2016.
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Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & The Monster Seal Review

Posted on September 4, 2015 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Developer: Aquaplus

Publisher: Atlus

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

MSRP: $39.99 (Retail/Digital)

Score: A- (90%)

Fans of Mature-rated fan service galore will absolutely be in deep grin mode with Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal, which also happens to be an excellently designed and lengthy dungeon crawler. for the record, developer Aquaplus doesn’t reinvent the wheel at all here. But the gameplay is solid and challenging enough that fans of old-school Wizardry games and more recent riffs on it (Etrian Odyssey, Elminage Original) will find the game an excellent time eater.

In addition to some pleasing visuals, smooth dungeon movement and plenty of quick turn-based random battles against enemies that aren’t pure pushovers keep things rolling merrily along. The rather heavy fan service (in the form of plenty of under-dressed character art ranging from mild to somewhat creepy) will indeed be a sticking point for prudes and anyone else determined to dislike the game for the one thing it’ll sell for to some players who like this sort of content. Interestingly enough, the game somehow balances that out thematically by adding a religious subplot and characters to the mix. It doesn’t make up for everything, but it’s amusing, surprisingly well written (for a game such as this) and intelligently implemented. Continue reading →

Humble Weekly Bundle Features Some Great Rising Stars

Posted on August 28, 2015 by geelw

How’s this for a “don’t miss it!” deal? Seven of Rising Star Games‘ best indies for a mere eight dollars (or more if you choose)? yeah, I heard your jaw drop from here, pal. Every single RSG indie up for less than a song. Anyway, what’s in the digital box? Look in the box below and go get your bundle before time expires on this fantastic deal:

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut is worth it for it’s supremely bizarre take on the horror and open world game genres, but everything here is worth your time if you’re one of those open-minded gamers who loves variety and plenty of replay value. Ha – I see that you’re all busy buying and downloading now, so I’ll just silently sneak away and let you get to it.

Mad Max TV Spot: And You Thought YOUR Commute Was Hell

Posted on August 27, 2015 by geelw

Only a few more days to go until its September 1st launch on PC, PS4 and Xbox One and it sure looks as if WB Games and Avalanche Studios may have another hit on its hands. If Mad Max captures the insanity of the film and even half of the action from Avalanche’s Just Cause series, it’ll be a big winner this year. The longer “Stronghold” trailer from earlier this month certainly does an excellent job at conveying the post-apocalyptic setting and a few of the characters Max will meet in the game while also showing the game isn’t for the kiddies at all. That said, I don’t expect those prone to road rage will want to be playing this for extended periods of time as it may give them ideas on how to make their own commutes a lot more “interactive” in a not so productive manner.

Yakuza 5 Update: Still Waiting For A Date, Discount For The Early Birds

Posted on August 27, 2015 by geelw

If you got rid of your PS3 when you got your PS4, you may want it back for at least one more exclusive of note. General Director Toshihiro Nagoshi and Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama are back with two more in-depth “making of” videos for Sega’s upcoming western release of Yakuza 5. Despite its age (the Japanese version shipped back in 2012), the game looks quite spectacular on the aging PS3 hardware and is finally coming to North America later this year as a digital only PSN release.

While the game may be well-aged to some out there, according to the press release it’s looking to be the most feature-packed English version of any in the series:

Yakuza 5 features more mini-games than previous titles, a modified battle system as well as enhanced customizations and interactions in the signature hostess bars of the franchise. In addition to these features, Yakuza 5 also introduces “Another Drama” which is a series of side stories that focus on each protagonist in-depth and are separate from the main story of the game.

In addition, Sega is making a tempting offer to those who pre-order the game with a 15% discount off the $39.99 price plus the free Yakuza 5 XMB theme below:

You’d think Nagoshi and Yokoyama should be singing “We Built This City” at this point, but instead they just happily chat more about the game and what players can expect:

It’s great to see Sega keeping the Yakuza flame going despite the lengthy wait between releases. Hopefully fans will be on board with the digital-only version and snap it up once it’s released.

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut – Classified Edition: FK Yeah, You Need This!

Posted on August 26, 2015 by geelw

(thanks, zbencz2!)

Not to put too fine a point on it, but for my money, Deadly Premonition: the Director’s Cut was and is one of the most beautifully bizarre and unique horror game experiences to date. Its bat-crap crazy elements and deadly serious story bits combined with the intentionally dated visual style and many hours of open-world gameplay to provide a highly replayable game experience once you got over and used to its many quirks. Given that I’ve probably written more kooky articles about the game than anyone else (well, that’s what I’ve heard), I’m telling you PlayStation 3 owners who happen to also be horror game fans who’ve yet to give this game a try that now you NEED a copy even more than before.

Yes, you absolutely NEED this, Zach!

Thankfully for you, the NISA Online Store is taking pre-orders for this ultimate edition of the PS3 version of the game. In case you still haven’t clicked and whipped out your wallet, here’s what’s in the box:

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut physical copy for the PlayStation® 3
Classified Edition DLC Voucher containing all DLC for the game (It’s all in the details)
Hardcover Art Book 6.75 in x 5.25 in (A book with some unique images inside)
Official Soundtrack 25 tracks with jewel case (Not available before on compact disc)
Deck of 54 Custom Playing Cards (York’s favorite)
Collector’s Box (A good way to keep everything safely tucked away, out of the light)

Given that I’ve played through the game at least five times already (not counting the Xbox 360 version), finding time to do so again won’t be tough. But I can’t let myself become too obsessed, Zach. Actually, I’m much more interested in all that bonus content, particularly the art book and soundtrack. It’s too bad the box doesn’t have a somewhat hard to locate these days Deadly Premonition coffee mug as an extra special bonus. But I’d gather that would add to the cost and there’s the issue of careless delivery persons tripping on that ONE spot on your walkway when walking up to your front door. Well, you can always make your own coffee and find out what the FK is going on when you pour a bit of milk into it.

Anyway, Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut – Classified Edition is available for pre-order NOW (you’ve already clicked one of those links above, Zach? I know you did!) for $49.99 and will be headed your way on November 24, 2015.

The Violent Games Question Makes Me Want To Strangle Someone

Posted on August 18, 2015 by geelw

Ha and ha. Not really, but I am so tired of this nonsense getting regurgitated into news stories complete with clueless Joes and Janes on the street who come off as more ignorant than informed. If violent games make people violent, as someone who’s been playing them (as well as many others that aren’t violent) for decades, where’s my spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List? I’d say adults who beat their children and animals because they somehow think that they can comprehend yelling perfectly without being properly taught what right and wrong are would be bigger menaces to society than some kids who get their paws on games they’re too young to play.

THAT said, I’ll agree that some kids and adults with certain psychological issues can indeed be overstimulated by ANY form of violent OR even non-entertainment entertainment from music to movies to games. The recent APA study is flawed and like other studies that have attempted to directly (or indirectly, as the study finds “insufficient evidence” when all is said and done) link violent entertainment and violent behavior, makes claims the news media never really fact checks when it needs a hot story to grab some clicks. Ugh. Anyway, I’ll shut up now and get back to some actual work. I’d have posted my review of Dungeon Travelers 2 by now, but I’m waiting for the Vita USB cable I ordered to arrive. There are no blood and guts in that game at all, but it does have half-naked anime gals in it and my mind hasn’t been corrupted by that at all…

Fallout Anthology: The Bomb Drops In September (But Only In America)

Posted on August 17, 2015 by geelw

Amusingly enough, this must-have collection of the multi-million selling post-apocapalyptic game franchise is ONLY available in the continental United States thanks to that non-functioning miniature nuclear bomb replica it’s all packed into. Yes, you can imagine the irate international Fallout fans dying to get this and there will probably be some who manage to have a friend or relative here place an order and try to ship it their way. Of course, the USPS or other delivery services here won’t like that and most certainly, Customs in every country in the world won’t like that either. Especially if that “audible bomb sound” goes off while the package is being checked.