No, it’s not the name of a villain from the upcoming game, silly rabbits. It’s Axel Torvenius, one of the artists at Machine Games. His Speedpaint skills are pretty awesome, I have to say. Of course, I need to actually get around to doing more art myself, so it’s cool to get inspired by assorted people in a few places… OK, back to work before I start getting distracted by too much other stuff…
OK, OK, fan favorite or not and guaranteed big, BIG deal to those who know despite the “M’ rating, the kids who want this WILL be playing it, I still don’t get this fascination with Deadpool. I guess he’s so unconventionally non-PC a comic book antihero (basically he’s the insane adult cartoon version of Beavis and Butthead and Bart Simpson with access to all sorts of weaponry) that his antics are immediately appealing to that crowd, but maybe I’m getting old or something. Anyway, if the game is good, I’ll give it a try. I’m not expecting much at all, but that’s actually the best way to go into ANY game, I say. It’s best to end up always surprised by something as it helps keep the jade eye somewhat more closed.
Read it and weep, or clap or run to the window and make like Peter Finch or whatever… but don’t get TOO happy, I say. Sure, Microsoft is finally listening to some of the rage (justified and unjustified) that’s been washing up over them since the reveal of the Xbox One, but the console is still packing a slew of restrictions that make it unpalatable under certain conditions. For one, a mandatory online connection is STILL required to activate the console (set up an Xbox Live account and probably check in with Kinect), meaning those gamers without broadband access at home or nearby (you know, the ones Microsoft told to buy an Xbox 360 if they wanted to play games offline?) can’t use the thing at all (duh).
That’s the main sticking point for me, but I also dislike the current licensing terms that say the product can (and will) change any time at Microsoft’s discretion. So expect things to roll back in as the system draws in suckers users who don’t mind or don’t know this until it hits them in the face when they turn on their consoles one fine day and get smacked upside the noggin with a mega-update that smarts because it’s the company thinking it’s time to move “forward”… We shall see, but I got a sack of pennies (well, 21 pennies) riding on not all going as smoothly as the company would like. Hell, at LEAST the damn box is region-free now (something the Xbox and Xbox 360 can’t claim outside of a handful of games that run on consoles in almost any territory)…
Welcome to Trailer #4 for KILLER IS DEAD – please be sure to keep your hands inside the ride, ladies and gentlemen. I like how this starts out all sad and moody before going into the crazed gameplay and finishing with a it of humor and a little step into crazy at the close. That’s a Suda 51 game in a nutshell for you, so his fans are certainly pleased. I’m one of them, so I guess that means I’m grinning a wee bit too broadly right about now. One day you’ll all understand, trust me. It’s hard to go into detail about what makes a grasshopper manufacture game so wildly fun, but that’s where a trip down that certain road reveals all (or some of all)…
That said, I like that he’s so enthusiastic when he plays games even when he’s awful at them. Still, he did whip Microsoft’s Phil Spencer at the new Killer Instinct (it sounded like a flock of woodpeckers over on Jimmy’s arcade stick) before zipping over to Forza Motorsport 5 for some slow-ish racing action. No, the game wasn’t slow at all, kids. Fallon just drove that fake ride like I’d drive a real car on a real road (and I can’t drive – although I’ve actually driven a few times). As for how the games looked, well see for yourself, but DO play the video in HD. It’s hard to tell on a standard def TV or much on a HD set, as you kind of need to be in the same room to get the full effect of “next-gen” visuals. Still, Spencer was light on the details (well, five minutes is not a lot of time to do a segment on two games) and may have made a slip of the tongue (or not) by stating “The Xbox One has THREE times the power of the Xbox 360!” to Jimmy as he was tolling around and smashing the front of his expensive looking digital car. The problem with that three tmes thing… well, it’s TEN times the power elsewhere (Oops).
Well, the article says ten time the “computational power”, but still… it’s an awful mistake if it was one and given Microsoft’s PR stumbles these last few weeks, it’s another of the last things the company needs when it comes to damage controlling a sticky situation. Oh well… at least Spencer got the $499 price right on the nose. Fallon’s earlier spot on bad games was pretty funny as well. Hmmm… I think I need to send him a list of stuff one of these days (and maybe loan out stuff he can’t find), as I have 2000+ games here and probably more than a few stinkers in my kusoge pile…
Well, 700 or so, to be a bit more precise. Japanese gaming site Gamer has a nice long look at the weapons types for each class in Sandlot’s upcoming giant insect run & gun game set for a July 4, 2013 release there (and a February release in the US and Europe). Fans of the older EDF games will see plenty of ordinance from the older games all redone as different weapon types (a great and welcome touch), and Sandlot has gone above and beyond the call, thankfully not delivering a simple EDF 2 reskin with more levels and gear. The weapons look and behave more “realistically” (well as realistically as you can get in a game packing nine-foot high and 15-foot long ants, bigger, hairier tarantulas, wasps with wingspans like a small plane and building-tall pissed off robots), ejecting shells and rockets that drop a bit when fired and yes, the destruction elements are also improved.
Of course, if you’re deathly afraid of bugs or giant robots the size of skyscrapers, well… I can’t help you much there. But hey, the game DOES have local co-op and online play, so you can hide behind someone skilled and maybe take up a support class role, as they do have those nice healing tanks and lovely turrets you can drop and run away from as they do their dirty work…
As someone who’s been looking forward to Lost Planet 3 since a bit of early demo hands-on time last year, I’m glad to see that Capcom rolled out the more recent demo at E3 for some live stream fun. As you can see here, it’s “only” about 50 minutes long if you bypass a lot of exploration in the base and zip through the hidden area quickly after the boss battle without dying, but it’s intriguing overall because Spark is promising even more thrills as the game progresses. Rig upgrades, some big boss battles and a story that should pack in a few surprises (despite the number in the title, it’s a PREQUEL to the first game, kids) might make this one a bit of a sleeper when it finally launches on August 27, 2013.
If there were any doubts that a new development team would sink the Arkham franchise, WB Games Montreal (taking over from Rocksteady) has killed those negative vibes dead and then some. Racking up all sorts of “Best of Show” awards, Batman Arkham Origins looks to takes gamers back to the beginning of the series on consoles PC and portable systems with a power-packed prequel that seems to show a meaner Dark Knight with some nice toys that should make the game a blast to play (although the poor thugs getting knocked together loaded with that explosive grapple gun are probably asking for some hazard pay). As usual, pre-ordering will be the way for those who want it to get that bonus content, but no one is twisting your arm. Unless you know something and Batman wants more info… “WHERE IS IT?!!” (twist!) “Ouch! OK, OK!! Um, Amazon or GameStop?”
– Yeah, that Batman does tend to get a wee it pushy, doesn’t he?
There’s really not much to say about Skylanders Swap Force other than it’s going to be a big winner this holiday season. New developer, new engine, updated HD visuals for current-gen consoles, new gameplay, characters and more all indicate that this will be the best game in the series to date. Add in the fact that yes, all those older figures will work with this game and it’s pretty much a given that no matter which platform you pick, the kids will be happy with what they’re getting. Of course, if you’re a kid at heart hooked into the Skylanders thing, you’re thrilled even more because your own allowance is much bigger and you can stock your shelves with every figure you can get your paws on and then some. Er, you do look a bit pale, though – the game isn’t out until October 13, 2013, you know… plenty of time to get outside and work on that tan. That sunshine DOES have a few benefits, you know…
Sure, you more jaded gamers drooling over every “next-gen” game until your eyeballs fall out of their sockets may be peeking at these EDF 2025 screens and rolling on the carpet laughing, but here’s a laugh back for you. This game will pack in more action, awesome gear and mindlessly addictive fun AND a planet-load of replay value that will make some of those other upcoming games cry. Especially the ones chopped up in bits of pay wall content that you CAN’T return at all because they’re digital-only “you buy it you’re stuck with it and even if you delete it it still shows up that you paid for it at one point ha-ha” content that even in a “trade” situation, only your little brother would touch it but his parental units won’t let him because it’s rated above his age. And besides, they won’t buy him that console anyway, no matter how much he wants it.
So yeah, EDF 2025 will pretty much rock. Thank you, D3Publisher and Sandlot! February is a long time away, though… oh well. Press release below the jump, not edited much as I’m busy…
Continue reading
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 