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

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Trailer: Captain Morgan vs Cap’n Crunch Time…

 

Man, these “leaks” are getting worse, but this video may not be up long. So I’m posting it now for posterity’s sake (if Ubisoft kills it on YouTube, I’ll replace it with an official one in a new post). Well, Ubisoft sure knows how to rock the boat, as this upcoming installment seems to have nothing to do with the last (shocking!) and makes you realize that those naval combat sections in Assassin’s Creed III were only the tip of the iceberg. Yes, I know a LOT of nautically themed puns, ladies and gents, but I’m sparing you all because I want to keep at least PART of my readership.

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…

Tomb Raider “Reborn” Trailer: Everyone’s Got Girl Power, It Seems…

 

It looks as if Square Enix and veteran developer Crystal Dynamics have hit a big home run here in this reboot of the franchise and this new video is probably the best bit of PR to come out of this. Watching it is a bit tough, but you’ll want to rescue a tree full of kittens or kick a burning bus down the street into a fire hydrant right afterwards I bet. Just don’t tell the cops that I told you you SHOULD do this. I have enough trouble with people jumping in lakes and flying kites on my say-so. Just go buy the game instead if you have a PS3 or Xbox 360…

Remember Me Release Date Trailer: That We Shall, Nilin, That We Shall…

Dontnod’s action/adventure game now has a release date: June 4, 2013. and Capcom certainly has a new IP work checking out. Welcome to Neo-Paris (which is going to be a pretty but not-so nice place, as sticking the word “Neo” in front of a city also spells “futuristic dystopian nightmare” or something like that) – hope you’ve got some comfortable running shoes and a good antiperspirant (no French bathing jokes, please! I’ve been there and people seem to be reasonably clean) – you’re going to be doing a LOT of rooftop running and jumping in and out of trouble…

MUD FIM Motocross World Championship Slides Into Stores (It’s Time to Get Dirty!)

 

To wit: Are you ready for plenty of hardcore up in the air and down in the dirt action as you whip it around the track? Well, Namco Bandai Games has done the deed and gotten Milestone’s moto racer into retail and digital on the PS3, Vita, Xbox 360 and PC in North and Latin America, so give it a shot and if it feels right, do it all night. Er, just watch out for blisters on those sensitive thumbs of yours. Hmmm… it’s a good thing I don’t do this site in any foreign languages or Braille, as I’d imaging having a hell of a time explaining half the stuff I write. Hey, it’s not as if I try to offend anyone here – it’s just that I’m good at it (everyone needs a hobby, right?). Er, anyway, if you DO decide to grab this and slide around for a bit in front of your TV or monitor, below are a few helpful tips from pro rider Ryan Villopoto for you to take into consideration. Of course, you can go in cold to this arcade/sim racer, but I’ll bet you could use a little guidance every so often. Five impossible things before breakfast and all that, you know…

 

The Last of Us Story Trailers: The World Ends With (or Without) You…

 

TLOS_standard coverTo some folks out there, Naughty Dog’s upcoming PS3 exclusive begs the question “Do we really need a new console?” To which Sony, industry analysts and plenty of other folks will say “well, mmmmaayyyybe…” While they’re spinning and scratching like an old LP being tickled by an epileptic DJ, I say sure, why not. Now to go rob a bank so I can pre-order one before the mad early adopter crush of crazed “gotta have it yesterday!” superfans and “Ooh, Im’a make a fortune on eBay” losers grab every available system for three months. As to the game proper (which arrives on June 14, 2013), it does look mighty spectacular for this late in the PS3’s lifespan, but you’re looking at work from one of Sony’s not-so secret weapon first-party studios…

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God of War Ascension: Sony Bets There’s a Three Way In Your Future…

GOWA_Cover GOWA_LE_Box GOWA_PS3_Bundle

No, no… not THAT type of three way (and you’ll only get that joke anyway if you’ve played the other games in the series) As in, there are three ways to get the game, you perverts (get those eyebrows at least ABOVE the gutter. This is a family show!). As the latest trailer just dropped earlier today and interest in the game is soaring thanks to some of the other footage from this upcoming action epic, this could indeed be the best game in the franchise to date. That said, methinks it’s time for Kratos to either call it a day after this game or go the open-world RPG route, as I personally feel he’s too confined to linear pathways and puzzles when he needs to bust through those invisible walls, QTE’s and cinematic camera angles and get into doing what he does best (which is whatever the hell he wants to, usually). We shall see, I suppose, but I think the big lug NEEDS the space to breathe and Sony Santa Monica can help him out quite nicely indeed while expanding upon the multiplayer mode they’ve cooked up.