Call of Juarez Gunslinger Reveal Trailer: Techland’s Bounty on the Mutinous

COJ_G

 

Veteran developer Techland’s games have always been visually incredible, so it’s zero surprise at all that this latest entry in the Call of Juarez franchise is gorgeous to look at and the violence is even more balletic in its post-ballistics delivery. What’s a tiny bit surprising to me is the focus on bounty hunting some of the Old West’s well known desperadoes. I’m not going to argue historical accuracy here at all (that’s for the crankier folks out there who apply arbitrary rules of reality to games at the most inopportune times. Still, this looks like it’ll do quite well among the amateur historians and fans of the series who wanted to see it go back to the wild western days and stay the heck out of the present. You’ll be able to saddle of for a quick ride at this year’s PAX in Boston or hang out at your O.K. Corral until the game ships out later this year.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Sorcerer Gameplay: Now, That’s How You Spell Trouble!

 

DDA_PS3FOB XBOX_360_OWP_v4.5.inddWho said magic-users were “bad” go-to characters in RPGs? As you can see in this latest trailer for Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, a good Sorcerer is indeed a major force to be reckoned with. A little “Disco Inferno” or “Lightning Strikes” would make this video even better, I say. Hey, if you played the original game, you know that rockin’ title song got stuck in your head for a few weeks. Anyway, keep this game on your radar, folks – I’m predicting another “sleeper” of truly epic proportions that just may beat out upcoming next-generation launch titles for sheer longevity and replay value. April 23, 2013 (April 26 in Europe) is only a short time away… are you ready? Those ridiculously tough and massive bosses aren’t going to kill themselves, you know…

Review: Capcom Arcade Cabinet (PSN)

CAC_artDeveloper: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
# of Players: 1 – 2+
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) to T (Teen)
Official Site
Score: A

 

Capcom’s little experiment in reworking some of its many arcade games back into the minds and hands of gamers around the globe is definitely working, folks. Capcom Arcade Cabinet (so far in its second wave of three games) is not only a must-buy collection whether you do it now or in May when the entire set of 15 titles becomes available as a single purchase, it’s probably going to be the way to go should other companies decide to get HD versions of their classics out onto consoles (*cough* Konami! Sega! Tecmo! *ahem* for starters). Sure, there’s no Wii U, Vita or 3DS version on the way as far as I know (a bit of a sticking point for those Nintendo-only gamers or Sony fans who’d LOVE to take some or all of these on the road), but for sheer nostalgia value, this trip down memory lane will have your fingers and brain merrily tapping and plotting away as you take on some oldies that still pack a mean punch. Continue reading

The Making of DEFIANCE (1 – 5): Nope, No Sharktopus Here, Folks…

 

I figure I may as well run these now, as I’ve finally watched them all and can safely say that this might indeed be a VERY cool show and even better than I was thinking. I still HATE the illiterate “syfy” re-branding (and NO, it’s not the “same” as sci-fi, which as I noted a while back, was reviled when the late Forrest J. Ackerman thought up that abbreviation), but I’m gathering no one but me is bitching about it these days…

 

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Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness Trailer: Now, That’s More Like It (Again)!

 

“Breathe deep, the gathering gloom… watch lights fade from every room…”

Yes, Laharl and Etna and company are indeed baaaaaack in this all-new Disgaea game headed to the PS3 this fall. Expect this one to drop in standard and some sort of limited editions bound to sell out quickly, as this dark yet hilarious series has always been a fan favorite and both Laharl and Etna have some REALLY hardcore fans. Well, Etna probably has the most fans, as no one wants a tattoo of baby Laharl on that demonskin rug on their back, but I’ve seen a few cool Etna tattoos over the years inked on some fans of assorted ages. As for me, I prefer to remain non-inked (needles… NEEDLES!), but pay me a million bucks and you might get me to reconsider. Maybe. Anyway, happy days indeed for strategy RPG fans who like their games wacky, hard as heck and filled with anime goodness galore…

Nippon Ichi’s The Guided Fate Paradox Poses Some Innnnteresting Eternal Questions…

 

Oh, this one just needs to be read to be believed, so I’ll just run the description below for this upcoming PS3 exclusive RPG and let your brains have at it:

The story for this title in particular is quite unique–imagine you are at the mall and you are forced to enter a raffle they are running inside…and you win! Congratulations, you winner, you! Your prize? You get to become God! Now that you are God, it’s your beeswax to go through the mysterious Fate Revolution Circuit and guide the fates of those who have prayed to God for help!

 

I happen to love the Disgaea games on the PS2, PSP, PS3, Vita and Nintendo DS and as TGFP is from some of the same team and looks cute as hell (er, ha ha?),  I’ll probably grab this one on the PS3 when it ships out whenever. That said, I’m praying for a physical release (no, not THAT kind of release, silly!) but can see Nippon Ichi Software America needing to deal with a few particularly picky folks who like their old-time religion in a non-anime (and more vengeful if you poke fun at it) manner. Any-way… I’ll be in the back with the devil horns playing loud (Maceo!), filing my nails and tail or something. Red velvet cake for dessert later – with fresh ice cream, by the way. Bring a friend. And a few marshmallows – it’s hot as hell down here.

God of War: Ascension Collector’s Edition: “What’s In The Box?” (Or: Another Lesson In Excess)…

 

Hmmm… Allow me to get into trouble (again) as I break this down for you and possibly help Sony and other game companies save some money in the future (hopefully).  While these Collector’s Editions are indeed really cool, they also present a telling case against themselves (as well as make people like me wish for the older, wiser days). For example, sure, it’s fine and dandy to get a demo of the eagerly anticipated The Last of Us as well as additional God of War content, but why not stick those onto a separate DISC and put it in the box as opposed to creating paper vouchers that end up getting tossed or lost? This way, gamers without PSN access could play the demo and access that bonus content which wouldn’t be initially available to those with the standard edition. That soundtrack CD is a good idea, but it’s too bad games aren’t using Redbook audio these days, as it would have been super to just hear the soundtrack alone by accessing it off the game disc (just like the “old days”)… Continue reading

BEYOND: Two Souls – Willem Dafoe Reveal/Interview: Quantic Dream Goes For A Class Act(or)

David Cage is certainly getting Quantic Dream’s upcoming PS3 exclusive BEYOND: Two Souls some big talent. In addition to Ellen Page starring in the game, Willem Dafoe has joined the cast and as you’ll see here, the dev team has captured his look and performance perfectly. Even more amazing is how they aged Page DOWN to look like a little girl here (and look!, She’s the exact same height as she is now, har har). Anyway, this one has been on my radar since it was announced last year and every bit of footage is pushing it up on my must play list. Now, I’m wondering who else is going to make an appearance in the game. If Cage gets Charlotte Gainsboug in here, I may run out of air from screaming, as she and Dafoe were quite freaky and frightening together in Lars von Trier’s Antichrist (one of the more disturbing but amazingly shot “horror” films you’ll see)…

Retro City Rampage on PC and WiiWare Is Full of Surprises (Well, One More Awesome Surprise)…

Not content with a simple port of an already hilarious game, creator Brian Provinciano decided to take it to the next level (or more precisely, back to the roots) by cooking up an “8-bit” version of the game for the WiiWare and PC releases (out now!). Even if you’re terminally rusty at games, if you’ve a brain with a dusty old file cabinet filled with memories of 80’s and 90’s pop culture references, Retro City Rampage is fun and funny enough to get you cracking up within a few seconds of playing it. Anyway, some neck exercises for you to practice, as you look a bit tired and you don’t want to have to pay for that Lifestyle Lift (at least for a few MORE years,right?): Look up and click! Look down and click! Repeat as required until you figure out you need a Wii or PC to get the game (or a PS3, Vita or Xbox 360)…

The Last of Us Dev Diary 1: Hush (Well, After You Gag From Looking At That Creature)…

 

Naughty Dog’s upcoming survival adventure isn’t quite the last great PS3 game, but ever since the amazing E3 demo from last year, PS3 owners have been keeping their eyes peeled for anything and everything about this one. Well, it looks as the developer diaries are getting rolled out on YouTube and I’d gather we’ll see more of these all the way up to the game’s June 14 launch. System seller this late in the game? I think so, for some who still might not be ready for a new console and want something they’re going to play and be knocked off their feet by. Then again, I can’t see anyone looking forward to this with a PS3 holding out for a shinier and more visually spectacular version (which isn’t going to happen anytime soon, folks). This is the work of a dev team at their best, so don’t pass it up at all…