Defiance Hands-On: Welcome to the Resistance – It’s Going To Be Really Awesome

Posted on October 19, 2012 by geelw

I may have been initially skeptical about Defiance based on mistakenly hearing it was going to be a licensed game (in fact, it’s a tie in set at the same time as the upcoming show), but I knew that if Trion Worlds was involved in it, it would be a game worth playing. After ogling movies and screens on and off these past few months, I finally got some hands-on time with the upcoming third-person Action MMO and yes indeed, it’s absolutely amazing. If the demo I and everyone else I saw walking away from with big grins on their faces is any indication, Defiance will indeed be a genre pushing game changer upon its April 2013 launch on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Continue reading →

007 Legends Blasts Into Retail (Happy Anniversary, Mr. Bond!)

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geelw

Activision’s and Eurocom’s latest Bond game looks like a real winner fans should take to for a fine dose of cinematic action and plenty of optional multiplayer thrills. I’m intrigued by how all these missions will tie together and how well Daniel Craig’s Bond does as a replacement for Connery, Moore, Lanzenby and Brosnan. Of course, Eurocom has already done a superb job with their GoldenEye reboot on the Wii, PS3 and 360, so it’s hard to see them mucking up this one. If I get a review copy, I’ll let you know what’s what…

Dead Space Liberation: Something To Read While You’re Too Scared To Play…

Posted on October 14, 2012 by geelw

My hands-on impressions of Dead Space 3 are embargoed for a bit by EA, but they’re definitely not keeping quiet about this upcoming treat for fans who want even more lore. Liberation arrives on February 15, 2013 and yup, is a prequel to the events of the upcoming third installment in the series. The folks at Visceral certainly have a big story to tell and between the new game and this book, I can see a lot of you out there not sleeping much. For a few reasons…

Lost Planet 3 Extended Gameplay (Now With Developer Commentary!)

Posted on October 13, 2012 by geelw

It’s probably a wee bit too late to change the name of this game, but perhaps Capcom should consider it because too many people out there seem to think the game erases everything that occurred in LP and LP2 when in fact, this is a PREQUEL that sets up events to come. Anyway, I’ll keep championing this game until it’s launched and beyond because from what I played, it’s Spark Unlimited at their best and it deserves a LOT more respect. Of course, some out there won’t be convinced, but I think the demo being at NYCC this year will convince some skeptics that the game is indeed quite amazing where it needs to be.

Rockstar Games Collection Edition 1: Instant Gift Idea For The Open World Novice

Posted on October 12, 2012 by geelw

Rockstar does it again, folks. With so much content packed onto a single disc, this set is a pretty stellar deal no matter how you slice it. For the price of one game ($59.99), you’re getting FOUR of the company’s biggest titles spanning this current console cycle. Come November 6, 2012, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners looking to try some great games they haven’t gotten around to just yet (or those who want a great gift for a friend or relative who’s never played an open world game previously) will soon have one of the best deals to date. Here’s what’s in the collection? Just check below the jump for some cut & past action (Hey! it’s late and I need some sleep – been up playing a ton of games again)…

Continue reading →

EA’s Going To Surprise A Few Folks (Me Included)…

Posted on October 11, 2012 by geelw

Most of the games I saw and played yesterday are under embargo for a few days or up to next month, so I can’t spill all the beans yet, but let’s just say some of you naysayers are going to be eating a load of crow when it comes to certain titles in their lineup. I’ll start rolling out previews for each title as their embargoes lift, but while you’re waiting, I’ll keep you posted on stuff I can write about over the next few days on the mobile and console front. OK, I’m off to bed for two hours, as I have a LOT to do and need to hop up and get an earlier start than usual…

Of Orcs & Men Launch Trailer: The Big Guy, The Little Guy And The World Against Them

Posted on October 10, 2012 by geelw

OK, Of Orcs & Men is pretty much here already, so it’s all up to you out there to decide if it’s worth a buy. Tfe concept alone makes me want to drop the money on it, Yeah, yeah, orcs have been in PLENTY of RPGs and other games, but not quite like this and not with a goblin thief/assassin sidekick – and both are the main characters. If Spiders and Cyanide Studios can pull it off (they already have the great-looking visuals), it’s a surefire sleeper hit. If not, it’s a bargain bin special in a few weeks (a sad fate for a game that took a while to make and looks so solid). As always… we shall see…

Retro City Rampage: Buy This Game Or It Will Come To Your House And Beat You…

Posted on October 9, 2012 by geelw

Yeah, you know who you are. Laugh at these awesome visuals at your own peril, kids. Listen up: I’m old, so I KNOW exactly what’s going to happen here. Codgers like me will groove on the sprite-heavy, colors a’poppin graphics, tough as nails gameplay and huge open world that means we’ll be hooked in for weeks. Ironic hipster types (bless their bespectacled hearts) who think they’re cooler than they are in real life will remember the indie games they played over the past few years and get the retro vibe full on. Meanwhile, the wee ones under a certain age who think every damn game MUST be a FPS or packing “realistic” 3D graphics that require a PC upgrade every three weeks or new console or whatever will be laughing and pointing like the fools they are until they pick up a controller and get a butt cheek handed back to them by some random digital thug. It’s all about respect, as I keep saying… and Canadian developer Vblank Entertainment is going to learn you whippersnappers a thing or two.

Your PS3 is starving for this one, and so is your Vita… so yeah, do the right thing and get this game, Before it gets YOU.

DmC Preorder Madness: Choose Your Poison (They All Look Tasty)…

Posted on October 8, 2012 by geelw

I’m not a fan at all of the current crazy situation where every major retailer gets SEPARATE pre-order bonuses, no matter how good a game is. I happen to love games where everything is in the package or those where I know I can scoop up every last bit of content in a Game of the Year or other reissue. I know a lot of other gamers who hate this tactic as well, but it seems to be here to stay.

And don’t go hating ONLY on Capcom for this, kids – you can toss a dead cat and hit games from nearly every major publisher that do this sort of thing. That said, from what I’ve played, at least DmC is going to be one of those games that no matter how you buy it, will keep you busy through multiple replays. Continue reading →

Under Defeat HD: The Arcade Shmup Isn’t Quite As Dead As You Think

Posted on October 8, 2012 by geelw

Granted, hardcore fans out there KNOW this, but I always get a chuckle when I hear people wondering why games like this are still made and/or getting attention. Those people are, of course, folks who’ve either never tried shooters or are terminally terrible at them, so they never get listened to. Especially by developers like G.rev and publishers like Rising Star Games (who deserve a big tip of the hat for keeping the flame going). Under Defeat was initially an arcade hit in Japan before landing on the Dreamcast around six years ago (Sega’s console was getting some excellent games in Japan long after it died out everywhere else in the world) and is now headed stateside and to Europe on the PS3 and Xbox 360. The interesting thing here is the game will be made available for the same price point for its digital and retail editions (a mere $29.99), but the retail version will pack in a soundtrack CD, digital art book download,DLC patches and an exclusive letter from the CEO of G.Rev and the game’s executive producer, Hiroyuki Maruyama (no doubt thanking those who got off their lazy asses and walked to their nearest game emporium rather than sit at home and press a few buttons because they’re stuck to the sofa).