LittleBigPlanet Karting? Shark Tank Sinker Or Key Speed Demon Deluxe?

Posted on March 26, 2012 by geelw

Commence the unstoppable automotive puns: It’s a running joke around here that when a franchise does a kart racer, it’s either doomed, running out of steam or jumping the shark somewhat hard creatively. However, given that it’s a LittleBigPlanet spin-off (or spin-out if things go badly for the game), this one might be worth taking for a ride. Of course, Sony already has an excellent kart racer in the ModNation Racers series, but let’s see how LBP turns out before passing any judgement. If what’s under the hood is fast and fun, this one will be firing on all cylinders in play stacks for quite some time. Of course, some creative wags will no doubt create a bunch of Mario Kart clone tracks, which should be really funny because you KNOW someone at Nintendo will be playing them once they’re posted on PSN…

Capcom Fans Go Mad For Asura’s Wrath (But Not Quite Like You’d Expect)

Posted on March 24, 2012 by geelw

Always vigilant, Capcom (through its Capcom Unity blog), does its part in keeping some gamers off their usual slippery soapboxes griping about stuff by asking them to submit a rage-filled video clip to YouTube to support Asura’s Wrath (go buy it, it’s awesome stuff and original as hell in terms of a few things). Here are the best of the best (and some others you’ll want to check out. Enter the Rage Cage, sit back and prepare to laugh (hopefully you have some earplugs handy and don’t mind screaming)…

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland – NISA’s Nicely Necessary New Niche

Posted on March 24, 2012 by geelw

While the Atelier series isn’t for everyone, it’s great to see the series still going after all these years Atelier Meruru, the latest PS3 installment features characters from Atelier Rorona and Atelier Totori plus some all new or tweaked gameplay. If you’ve never played one of these cute simulation/alchemy/RPGs previously, it’s all a bit thick to the skull for a bit until you get a few hours in. Still, the mostly light tone, charming visuals and nicely done soundtracks the series is known for amongst its fan base are always good for losing oneself for a few too many hours before you know what hit you…

Disney Epic Mickey 2 Is Multiplatform. Now Everyone With A Console Can See How Much Fun They Missed…

Posted on March 24, 2012 by geelw

Yes, the original Wii game had it’s quirks, but it was also a breath of fresh air for the “mascot” platformer thanks to Warren Spector’s guidance and Junction Point’s solid programming. Of course, Peter David’s wonderfully dark script and James Dooley’s stellar music score helped as well. Anyway, I’m happy that PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will get to see the sequel (my own Move and Navigation Controller are shaking the dust off of each other and smiling crazily), but I wonder how those HD versions will address the first game/ Hopefully, we’ll see some sort of special prologue or perhaps a brief playable segment that highlights what went before. Below is a super-short Spike TV segment with Spector kicking his new baby off. I can’t wait to see this sequel in HD…

Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad Launch Trailer: Fast, Cheap And Out Of Control (In The Best Possible Way)…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by geelw

Based on this gamplay footage and info from the press release, 2XL’s new off-road racer is looking like pretty slick stuff. It also looks as if D3Publisher of America has a hot little hit on their hands here for PSN and XBLA. It’s too bad this wasn’t tossed on a disc as a budget game under a US “Simple 2000” series or something like that, as I could see this being the PERFECT impulse item at a Wal-Mart or some other retailer where you’d see a beefy pickup or three towing some ATV’s or dirt bikes in the parking lot. This is just that sort of game you’d like to have handy while on the road traveling between race events when you’re in the back of the camper and there’s nothing to do but play a fun game because you’re in an area with crappy internet service.

Ridge Racer Unbounded’s City Editor Should Settle The Rumbles On The Street Down A Tad…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm. Here in the US, Namco Bandai seems to be tiptoeing on eggshells when it comes to hyping Bugbear’s upcoming game and that’s too bad. I’m gathering the jaded types that have been slamming them since the game was announced is flummoxing their PR team here as they try and get the good word out over the drone of haters who want nothing but the same old Ridge Racer with very few changes (or more of the same with a few modern tweaks). I see it like this: when you have a developer that’s already done some excellent racing games working on a spin-off of a world famous franchise, you should be more than confident that the game coming is going to be worthy of the name. That said, this City Editor trailer from the UK should go a long way in quelling the stream of leaky gas fumes coming from some out there who just seem to have nothing good to say about a game they haven’t even played yet. As I’ve said before, at the end of the day, it’s all about respect (and actually spending quality time with what you’re criticizing so much)…

Warriors Orochi 3 Has Over 120 Playable Characters. You’ll Need A Few New Controllers Before It’s Done, I’d Bet…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by geelw

Of all the Dynasty Warriors-inspired games out there, only Koei’s assorted development teams (primarily Omega Force) have really nailed them perfectly. They not only invented the sub-genre of beat ’em up the games fall into, they’ve also been doing them for so darn long that even the ones that aren’t so hot are still incredibly addictive to play. Warriors Orochi 3 is looking as if it will the ultimate in fan service hack ‘n slash greatness as it packs in characters from nearly every Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors game ever made (except the DW Gundam series, no doubt for licensing reasons and the fact that it would be deadly stupid to have life-sized heroes fighting 30-foot mecha). That and you get playable characters from other Koei games such as Ninja Gaiden, Warriors: Legends of Troy, Bladestorm, Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll and Dead or Alive. Yikes.

Sure, the 120+ roster isn’t as nuts as the 210 playable fighters found in Squaresoft’s still amazing Tobal 2 by a long shot. Then again, I’d rather play as Areus, Ryu Hayabusa or Joan of Arc than the bottom head of a totem pole, a pile driver or an over-sized polygon star any day of the week. Yeah, I want this one, but I hope I’ll actually have the time to finish the game with a few favorite characters, as I know doing it with all 120 will take a bit longer than one should camp out in front of the TV. Crazy me will probably do this, but obviously, I won’t get to ALL 120 characters for a review. I’d need a time machine and a box of Dual Shock 3’s for that…

Behind The Scenes With “Kara” – Making The Magic Happen

Posted on March 21, 2012 by geelw

Granted, we probably won’t see Kara starring in an actual game anytime soon, but Quantic Dream has definitely laid the groundwork for a future game project that’s going to blow you away. I’m still not sure if that project will be a PS3, Vita or PS-whatever game, but no matter what Sony platform it appears on, it’s going to get people talking. Personally, I’m hoping for something totally new or that Omikron remake/sequel I mentioned previously, but I’m not picky…

Ninja Gaiden 3 Drops In Like A Ninja Should…

Posted on March 21, 2012 by geelw

Mystically, a review copy of Team Ninja’s latest appeared yesterday (as in out of the blue via Fed Ex), which caught me quite off guard. I guess that means Ryu Hayabusa’s job security is still intact (at least with me). Anyway, I’m in the process of going through it now and while it’s definitely DIFFERENT than previous installments, it’s not the completely horrific experience a few reviewers are bleating on about.

It’s obviously wearing a few modern influences on its bloody sleeves thanks to certain other popular action games out there and thanks to that, it loses some of what made the earlier games great in the process. On the other hand, if it wasn’t a Ninja Gaiden game, I’d bet good money that a lot of the bile directed against it wouldn’t be there at all. Anyway, back to playing some more – my full review should be up this weekend (if not sooner)…

Sleeping Dogs’ “Undercover: Hong Kong” Trailer: Square Enix Is Pitching Woo, Big Time

Posted on March 20, 2012 by geelw

Clearly, the team at United Front Games has a lot to live up to, but it looks as if gamers fond of the True Crime series (warts and all), will have a completely new game experience from a different publisher and developer that just may make them forget about that series (or at least, make them stop comparing it to this new IP). Hey, as long as I don’t have to worry about having a rapper as an unlockable character or anything overtly silly like that, I’m a happy camper. As I say again and again, We. Shall. See… (but I DO think Square Enix is on quite the publishing roll these days)…