GRID 2 Video Update Finally Uncovers Drift Mode

 

You Codemasters racing fans have probably been wondering what was up with the not so revealing of every game mode in GRID 2, but there’s a plan at play here to keep you all dialed in and driving those browsers back to the company’s game and YouTube pages. In case THAT trick doesn’t work at all, it’s kind of up to people like me to get you skidding there through posting stuff like this. No, the video above, not my well-played and humorous text that doesn’t describe what’s in the video above at all. Hey, consistency is my thing here at DAF and if you’re in an always confused state while poking around here, that means my work is done. Of course, I’d be neglecting my duties by not informing you that GRID 2 hits retail in North America on May 28, 2013 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 (and 5/31 in the UK/Europe).

Retro City Rampage Is Five Bucks on Steam. You Know What That Means, Right?

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Yeah, it means that’s a sale that won’t last forever and yes, you should drop EVERYTHING (well, except whatever you’re reading this post on, as that’s a bit dumb to have your phone/tablet/laptop/home PC/converted UNIVAC you picked up for two bucks on eBay {with free shipping? What a deal!} fall to the ground and break) and BUY THIS GAME. Seriously, If you like to laugh and love retro games, you’ll probably die laughing with a controller in your hands. If you hate to laugh but like retro games, you’ll crack a smile after far too long out of practice and probably scare your cat or dog or the neighbors in the process. Usually, the only thing you see at 67% off are day-old donuts and dented cans at the supermarket, but Retro City Rampage gives you ZERO chance of food poisoning or too many cat-scented old ladies beating you in the head with their canes to get to that tin of tuna surprise (yum-o!).

Besides, you look like you could use a good bargain today as I know you spent too much on those new shoes and are feeling a bit guilty about it…

Might & Magic X Legacy: Ubisoft (Finally) Revives The Classic RPG Series (Fingers Crossed Version)…

 

MMX_goblinySure, my first Might and Magic game was the lowly (but still incredibly hard as hell) Sega Genesis game, Might & Magic: Gates to Another World, but that turned me onto the series and I followed it onto the SNES and later, PC as time went on. Anyway, the series ended up dying a horrible death in 2002 with the rushed release of an unfinished Might & Magic IX (as publisher 3DO was itself dying in the flames from churning out too many mostly awful games for far too long) and has until now, been a series longtime fans have been begging to see reborn. Well, it looks as if Ubisoft is finally getting it in gear, as German developer Limbic Entertainment is working away on an all-new installment that’s coming to PC and will be revealed this weekend in Boston at this year’s PAX East.

Firemage rangerMight & Magic X Legacy should be one to watch out for if it’s done right, so here’s a few fingers and toes well-crossed that the dev team and Ubisoft get this out in fine form AND get it to gamers across multiple platforms and this classic style of RPG is strong thanks to a few indie darling hits and seeing MORE people playing a new M & M game instead of the high end PC elites only will make more fans of this game and more loot for the developer and publisher at the end of the day. Hell, Ubisoft slapped the much more casual-friendly Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes onto anything with a screen except for digital watches (and that was only because the screens were too small), so let’s see Vita and 3DS versions even if they’re scaled back or entirely different side-stories, I say…

Review: Alien Spidy (PC)

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Platform: Windows PC/Xbox 360/OSX
Developer: Enigma Software Productions
Publisher: Kalypso Media
# of Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Official Site
Score: B+ (85%)

 

Remember the days of those bright, colorful but tough as nails platformers on 8 ans 16-bit consoles? Enigma Software Productions’ Alien Spidy does a mostly stellar job of recapturing those glory days with a long and challenging game that while not flawless, is well worth playing and keeping in your library. If this were on a cart or CD back in the day, it would be a solid entry and possible new mascot platformer many would be jumping for joy over. Of course, in this era of easily forgotten digital releases, the question is “can Alien Spidy keep up the the best indie games out there?” My answer would be a two-parter, as in “Sure it can!” and “Where’s the sequel?”… Continue reading

Hating Aliens: Colonial Marines? Well, It Could Be Better (or Worse) With A Bit of Retro Perspective…

 

ACM_PS3Given the critical drubbing that Sega’s Aliens: Colonial Marines has gotten across most of the Internet-verse, some gamers are still feeling the urge to play something that feels closer to James Cameron’s 1986 film than what ended up on store shelves. Well, allow me to assist in this matter (sort of). Track down a working Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and MSX and a copy of Electric Dreams’ 1987 game, Aliens or the rather interesting (and free) PC remake over at Derbian Games and see what was scary to gamers of that era. Continue reading

Inventist, Your Swerver Quad Skates Make Me Want to Go Broke (In All The Right Ways)…

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swerver quad skatesHmmm. $395 is a bit steep for a cheap guy like me, but I saw these awesome feet-wheels at Toy Fair and immeduately wanted to take them for a test drive. I used to roller skate a bit in the 80’s (no, it wasn’t a disco thing, silly!) and early 90’s, but stopped once I actually broke a pair of old-school skates during a parade I was in (no, it wasn’t that type of a parade, silly!). Anyway, those slick Swever Quads promise with a “patented lean-to-turn design” that according to the official site “allows for increased stability when skating forwards or backwards, and more freedom of movement.” Hmmmm. They do look nice with jeans, yes?

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BC_ThorWell, no “Hmmm.” at all actually, as I’ve seen Inventist’s other products in action including the amazing Solowheel, which makes me crack up because I think of that old BC comic strip (which is STILL running, I just found out – just not in any NYC papers from what I’ve seen) and that “original” solo wheel cooked up by Thor back in the day. OK, so I’m mandated to get a gaming angle here by the other side of the brain, so here you go: a play through of the classic and slightly related to this post Commodore 64 game from 1983 called B.C.’s Quest for Tires. Hmmm… (again?) perhaps that NEXT Solowheel video can be a “remake” of the game? THAT would be really cool. Weird and funny as hell, but cool nonetheless…

 

 

(Thanks to Christian Liepold and his YouTube Channel for that video, by the way)

Defiance Ark Hunter Chronicles 5: Risk Versus Reward, Indeed…

 

How amusing that this week’s DEFIANCE AHC has this particular title. It also seems that’s the collective hive mind thinking of some MMO and shooter fans who somehow STILL don’t “get” this game after MONTHS of footage, previews and information that’s NOT leaked out in dribs and drabs by some “crafty” PR drone, but put up by Trion Worlds and syfy themselves. I still see posts calling this a “Halo” clone, a FPS, or asking if it has traditional MMO click and wait gameplay. Some people love the air in their bubbles, I guess. Personally, they just give me gas. Anyway, the game is fast-paced, fun and will probably surprise some of the jaded types. The only bit of confusion I see that’s a b it pesky for Trion is some think the game is offline as well when it’s not. I still think it SHOULD have an offline solo and co-op game (which would make it PERFECT for fans of Sandlot’s Earth Defense Force games), as well as get a Vita version with the same features. But perhaps we’ll see some other developer give that a go if the series takes off and there’s high interest in taking it to that level. As always… we shall see…

Defiance: New Alien Sightings Make For A Spring Workout Plan…

 

More looks at syfy’s upcoming series DEFIANCE in a quickie alien preview. As noted earlier, this is really looking like it’ll be a show worth running home to see each week, provided you LIKE running home or running before you catch a favorite TV show. Hey, it’s SPRING and you could use to lose that winter fat, buddy. Yeah, me too, but I work at home, so I’ll need to run around the block a few times (or back from the library which is about 1/2 a mile from home) or the Starbucks with the better internet connection about 1.2 miles away. OK, I’ll “walk quickly”, as I don’t run for anybody and I’m certainly not going to run for office, even if it’s at home…

Woo. That’s cyclical humor at its finest, folks! I’ll be here all week – 2 shows nightly, 2 drink cover. Don’t forget to tip your server!

BioShock Infinte’s Elizabeth: Creating Much More Than Just A Pretty Face…

It takes a good deal of work to put together a video game and with being Women’s History Month, I’m gathering Irrational Games is trying to celebrate their version of the event in a bit more interesting manner by showing what it took to create Elizabeth in its upcoming game, BioShock Infinite. As you’ll see, it wasn’t an easy process at all, but the end results seem to be working for both male as well as female fans of the series. Of course, the final test of that comes when the game hits stores on March 26, 2013 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Transistor: Supergiant Games’ Next WIP (PLUS, Buy Bastion Cheap If You Haven’t Yet!)

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Transistor_19-mar-2013_01Meet Red, heroine of Supergiant Games‘ currently in development action/RPG, Transistor. That’s a mighty big sword she’s swinging, isn’t it? Turns out that weapon is integral to the plot, as it was previously used in an attempt to kill the poor gal, but she survived and is out to find out who wanted her dead and why they used such a damn big butter knife when an accidentally dropped piano would have done the job. OK, so THAT piano stuff is probably not part of the plot (I hope), but those of you who played Supergiant’s amazing Bastion on any platform it ended up on know that Transistor will be a spectacular and memorable experience. Keep an eye on this one, folks – it’s going to be one for the ages, I predict…

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