Crysis 3 “Sharp Dressed Man” TV Spot: A Little Fun Before The Bodies Start Dropping…

Posted on February 19, 2013 by geelw

Amusingly enough, I actually had to explain to a non-gaming friend that this wasn’t some sort of cheesy 90’s action flick/comedy game after he kept seeing this goofy ad over the past week or so. I didn’t catch it until about three or four days back and it made me laugh because of the choice of ZZ Top’s classic 80’s tune more than the silly macho posturing going on (I was expecting something more serious like Ubisoft’s Far Cry 3 TV ads), but it’s all in good fun. I got to play a bit of the PC version last week at EA’s spring press event and it’s absolutely gorgeous and definitely Crytek’s best work to date (at least as far as the visuals go). As for the rest of the game, I’ll need to play through it at some point and see what’s what. I liked the second one (and never played the original outside of a demo and about two hours of the final version), so I’m probably going to have fun with this sequel as well.

Hmmm… I wonder if the ad agency that cooked this up is going to hit up more of ZZ Top’s back catalog for the inevitable DLC? I can think of a few other tunes they did that might fit, but I don’t want Crytek to get the idea that they’re better comedians than they are a games developer…

DESTINY: Bungie’s Big Ideas & Big World Need Big Gameplay To Get My Money…

Posted on February 18, 2013 by geelw

So, the big, big not so secret big game revealed today at Bungie HQ is an all-new IP for Activision and a purported innovative open world sort of multiplayer FPS (don’t call it a MMO!) called Destiny with a heavy social tilt and a ton of intriguing elements that look and sound grand on paper and in print (and in video – see above)… but I’m not all in just yet. One MASSIVE problem I have with these press events where ideas and concepts and big talk about the future come up and cycle about the room is until there’s ACTUAL gameplay to be seen. Sure, I know Bungie can most likely deliver the goods their fan base expects and then some. However, I’ve never seen a game that delivered as much as promised after a huge press event such as this one.

That said, I’m more than happy to be proven wrong, but the game has lost my interest already thanks to the online only play and heavy cream emphasis on “social” play. Ugh. I don’t own an iPhone, my internet connection blows and I like my games story-driven and immersive outside of flashy visuals and cast of thousands scope. I’ll only cover this again after I get to PLAY it, as it’s a case of so much promise that might not deliver everything at the same time plus a bunch of other things that annoy me to no end. Hey, at least I’m a positive skeptic willing to change my mind after finally tasting what’s on the menu that’s been waved under my nose all day…

Earth Defense Force 4 Cover (Japan): FOUR Motherships? Alright, It’s Officially ON…

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

If this is indeed the final cover art for the upcoming import version of EDF 4/EDF 2025 (set to land in Japan in June), it’s kind of amazing for a few reasons, the main one being the FOUR huge motherships heading for the earth. The last game had one and that did a load of damage (OK, so it was way too easy to take down on every level except Inferno if you had the right weapons and didn’t cheat), but if Sandlot has packed in three more along with the new enemies seen in those recently posted Gematsu screens, this will indeed be the mother of all battles (well, in terms of EDF games, that is). Hmmm. I think I may need a few new controllers after all…

GRID 2 PC Hands-On: Codemasters Is Hitting The Road With a Superior Sequel

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

The team at Codemasters has been hard at work making GRID 2 into their best racing game to date and it shows. I’ve been a longtime fan of their racers from the goofy fun of their many Micro Machines games on the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive to the TOCA and Colin McRae Rally and DiRT games, and also love their F1 stuff, so getting to play a bit of this new game was more than a pleasure. It was the PC version up and running on some high-end Intel laptops, but console fans needn’t worry about their versions suffering, as the newly beefed up Ego engine is extremely flexible across multiple platforms. Unlike certain other popular (and great) racers, this isn’t about amassing a gigantic car collection, open-world exploration at one’s own pace or racing for big bucks. The focus and theme of “Be Fast, Be First and Be Famous” along with the interesting use of the ESPN license and assorted in-game “social” features combined with the intense speed and handling should make this a game that’s going to get quite a bit of play when it finally rolls into stores.

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BioShock Infinite “Lamb of Columbia” Teaser: I Bet There’s No Mint Jelly on the Side…

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

Nope, none at all. In fact, I’m betting if you have an appetite, the game proper will make you lose it under the sofa somewhere and you won’t get it back for a few hours afterward. Not because you’ll get sick to your stomach or anything, mind you. You’ll probably be so immersed that you’ll simply forget to eat something until someone conks you on the head and drags you away from that TV. “Violence is a very horrible thing!” you know. Anyway, short teaser, short post. The rest of the trailer drops on the 19th – leave that mint jelly on the shelf when you come back to watch it…

BioShock Infinite Columbia/Icarus Trailer 2: The Mystery Deepens (With Candy!)

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Who says Irrational Games doesn’t love you? You get a Valentine’s Day card (belatedly, as I just got around to checking my other inbox, oops!) with your new Columbia video! Anyway, BioShock Infinite is hopefully going to be one of those games where the long dev cycle and loads of pre-release hype make it worth the wait. Hmmm. in looking at that card again closely, I’m not sure I’d want to eat any of those chocolates, especially if they had squishy liquid centers. If Elizabeth has found a way to miniaturize the game’s deadly enemies and dip them in yummy milk chocolate, That might not be a cherry cordial you’re chomping… Ewww..

Well, ladies first, I say…

Star Trek: The Video Game – Making The Game (Part 1): “Deflectors Full Intensity!”

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Here’s the first of a few video peeks at the making of Digital Extremes’ upcoming Star Trek game, which is looking pretty cool. Three years of hard work just might pay off for action gamers as well as Star Trek fans who don’t mind a lot more action than sitting around discussing plot points while a star field zips by in the background. Of course, if this does well, it would e nice to see a deeper more RPG-like experience in the Mass Effect vein. Then again, Bioware’s hit series was in part inspired by the Trek franchise, so it would be a case of taking the crown and passing it around the galaxy for a bit, I say…

Gallery: Earth Defense Force 4 Update: 116 More Reasons To Buy In to This Bug-Out!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by geelw

Holy Cats. Gematsu has posted 116 NEW screens from Sandlot’s upcoming bug blast-fest as well as news of a June release in Japan. This is super news and combined with the recently subtitled trailer that D3Publisher of America posted on YouTube about a week ago, I’d bet a dime that an English localization for the script is well underway and we’ll see the game in North America around the fall. Hopefully, this won’t be a download only release, as it needs to get out to as many non-PSN and XBLA users as possible, not just be restricted to those who have console accounts and high-speed connections. So far, no import retailers have announced pre-order info, but my eyes are on Play-Asia taking my money sometime from late March to sometime in May. Check out the bugs and ‘bots in action HERE and note that Wing Diver has WHEELS on her boots. If she’s skating when on the ground, I’m definitely playing as her first. Go, Sandlot! I’m going to download a few of those and make myself a few new wallpaper choices for my laptop, that’s for sure…

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Enemies Trailer: Treasure Hunting Just Got A Lot Tougher…

Posted on February 12, 2013 by geelw

Capcom is making sure Dragon’s Dogma fans will be coming back for more and staying put in the land of Gransys for even longer, primarily trying to survive some of these new enemy types. Fire breathing lizards, A gigantic reaper who needs to get his sheet suit cleaned, a few giants, and probably worst of all, monsters in some treasure chests. Talk about a jerk-in-the-box! All you wanted was a nice sack of gold or a new sword or something nice… but, nooooo. You get a mutant thing popping out of that chest and chewing on your head instead of that shiny prize. Well, it’ll sure keep many DD players on their toes, that’s for sure. April 23rd (April 26th in Europe) isn’t really that far away if you think about it. That’s plenty of time to go through the original game before this expansion OR you can wait and pick up Dark Arisen at retail which will have the complete game and expansion on a single disc for a mere $39.99… It’s coin flip time, I guess, but the good thing is if you have a save file from the original game you can transfer it over and not have to replay from the beginning (unless you REALLY want to and have that kind of free time on your hands).

Star Trek: The Game “Salvation” Trailer: Kirk & Spock, In Trouble (Again)…

Posted on February 12, 2013 by geelw

OK, so Namco Bandai has re-posted the Gamescom trailer from last year, but that’s fine with me, as that probably means the game is close to completion and this is a gentle reminder of what’s on the way for Trek fans. Yeah, yeah, I was going to use the word “Tribble” in place of “Trouble” in that title, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up (or down, depending on how you feel about that original series episode). That and I didn’t want Namco Bandai chasing me around the galaxy like Khan if he survived his Ahab style demise, got rescued by the Doomsday Machine and is riding on the back on a tiny space saddle. At this point, I’m either making your head spin or I’m putting you to sleep, so I’ll shut up and let you watch that trailer in peace. There’s definitely a lot more stuff blowing up here, so the game seems as if it’s going to be closer to the new movie (and yes, appeal to that core gamer crowd who wants less talk in their games). We’ll see if that adds up to an overall worthy experience soon enough. Veteran developer Digital Extremes has been to this rodeo previously and knows their way around a decent action game, so let’s hope this is their best work to date…