Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Flies In For a Welcome Rescue Mission…

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

Arriving in time to give me a break from all this writing (oh, I’m not done, folks – I still have a TON of Toy Fair stuff to do as well as more hands-on articles), Ratloop Asia’s fine and funny side-scrolling action/platform/adventure game (also available as a PS3 game via PSN) is saving my brain bacon from crisping up too much. So far, it’s fun and funny in an 80’s action flick meets old-school NES game kind of way, but that’s a good thing, as I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare on Ice or whatever. Actually, I go into most reviews with NO expectations, so I’m pleasantly surprised so far. Anyway, a review will indeed go up shortly. Most likely after that big, fat Sony event on Wednesday while I’m trying to recover from THAT madness. Stay tuned…

Earth Defense Force 4 Cover (Japan): FOUR Motherships? Alright, It’s Officially ON…

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

If this is indeed the final cover art for the upcoming import version of EDF 4/EDF 2025 (set to land in Japan in June), it’s kind of amazing for a few reasons, the main one being the FOUR huge motherships heading for the earth. The last game had one and that did a load of damage (OK, so it was way too easy to take down on every level except Inferno if you had the right weapons and didn’t cheat), but if Sandlot has packed in three more along with the new enemies seen in those recently posted Gematsu screens, this will indeed be the mother of all battles (well, in terms of EDF games, that is). Hmmm. I think I may need a few new controllers after all…

GRID 2 PC Hands-On: Codemasters Is Hitting The Road With a Superior Sequel

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

The team at Codemasters has been hard at work making GRID 2 into their best racing game to date and it shows. I’ve been a longtime fan of their racers from the goofy fun of their many Micro Machines games on the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive to the TOCA and Colin McRae Rally and DiRT games, and also love their F1 stuff, so getting to play a bit of this new game was more than a pleasure. It was the PC version up and running on some high-end Intel laptops, but console fans needn’t worry about their versions suffering, as the newly beefed up Ego engine is extremely flexible across multiple platforms. Unlike certain other popular (and great) racers, this isn’t about amassing a gigantic car collection, open-world exploration at one’s own pace or racing for big bucks. The focus and theme of “Be Fast, Be First and Be Famous” along with the interesting use of the ESPN license and assorted in-game “social” features combined with the intense speed and handling should make this a game that’s going to get quite a bit of play when it finally rolls into stores.

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BioShock Infinite “Lamb of Columbia” Teaser: I Bet There’s No Mint Jelly on the Side…

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

Nope, none at all. In fact, I’m betting if you have an appetite, the game proper will make you lose it under the sofa somewhere and you won’t get it back for a few hours afterward. Not because you’ll get sick to your stomach or anything, mind you. You’ll probably be so immersed that you’ll simply forget to eat something until someone conks you on the head and drags you away from that TV. “Violence is a very horrible thing!” you know. Anyway, short teaser, short post. The rest of the trailer drops on the 19th – leave that mint jelly on the shelf when you come back to watch it…

Soul Sacrifice Update: More Aural Fixation (Or: There’s An Orchestra in Your Vita)…

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Here’s a tiny bit of Wataru Hokoyama’s stirring score for the upcoming (and eagerly anticipated) PS Vita action/RPG exclusive plus some interview time for your listening pleasure. Hey, we’re cultured around here despite the name of the site. Hang around here long enough and that’s me drinking a cold beer with my pinky out in the corner. Anyway, Soul Sacrifice will be out soon, so keep an eyeball peeled for it. Of course, if you’re REALLY cultured, you’d have someone peel your eyeball for you, painful as it may be – it’s the classy way to do things…

BioShock Infinite Columbia/Icarus Trailer 2: The Mystery Deepens (With Candy!)

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Who says Irrational Games doesn’t love you? You get a Valentine’s Day card (belatedly, as I just got around to checking my other inbox, oops!) with your new Columbia video! Anyway, BioShock Infinite is hopefully going to be one of those games where the long dev cycle and loads of pre-release hype make it worth the wait. Hmmm. in looking at that card again closely, I’m not sure I’d want to eat any of those chocolates, especially if they had squishy liquid centers. If Elizabeth has found a way to miniaturize the game’s deadly enemies and dip them in yummy milk chocolate, That might not be a cherry cordial you’re chomping… Ewww..

Well, ladies first, I say…

Urban Trial Freestyle Trailer: Trials of A Man on The Iron Horse…

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Now available on PSN for the PS3 and Vita, this slick-looking moto game from Tate Multimedia might LOOK verrrry similar to Red Lynx’ worldwide hit, but the gameplay shakes things up a chunk by making stunts a huge part of the fun. I’ll have a review up sometime next week, as I’m just getting around to downloading my copy and there’s an embargo until the 19th. OK, I’m off to check my insurance and go grab a helmet and pads. I’m not as spry as I used to be, so I’m taking extra precautions!

Star Trek: The Video Game – Making The Game (Part 1): “Deflectors Full Intensity!”

Posted on February 15, 2013 by geelw

Here’s the first of a few video peeks at the making of Digital Extremes’ upcoming Star Trek game, which is looking pretty cool. Three years of hard work just might pay off for action gamers as well as Star Trek fans who don’t mind a lot more action than sitting around discussing plot points while a star field zips by in the background. Of course, if this does well, it would e nice to see a deeper more RPG-like experience in the Mass Effect vein. Then again, Bioware’s hit series was in part inspired by the Trek franchise, so it would be a case of taking the crown and passing it around the galaxy for a bit, I say…

Gallery: Earth Defense Force 4 Update: 116 More Reasons To Buy In to This Bug-Out!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by geelw

Holy Cats. Gematsu has posted 116 NEW screens from Sandlot’s upcoming bug blast-fest as well as news of a June release in Japan. This is super news and combined with the recently subtitled trailer that D3Publisher of America posted on YouTube about a week ago, I’d bet a dime that an English localization for the script is well underway and we’ll see the game in North America around the fall. Hopefully, this won’t be a download only release, as it needs to get out to as many non-PSN and XBLA users as possible, not just be restricted to those who have console accounts and high-speed connections. So far, no import retailers have announced pre-order info, but my eyes are on Play-Asia taking my money sometime from late March to sometime in May. Check out the bugs and ‘bots in action HERE and note that Wing Diver has WHEELS on her boots. If she’s skating when on the ground, I’m definitely playing as her first. Go, Sandlot! I’m going to download a few of those and make myself a few new wallpaper choices for my laptop, that’s for sure…

Star Wars Pinball: The Empire Strikes Back Rolls Onto PSN, XBLA

Posted on February 13, 2013 by geelw

Zen Studios does it again, dropping a new, cool pinball table onto PSN and XBLA for Zen Pinball fans. This one will have special appeal to Star Wars fans, as it’s Episode V themed and as you can see above, packs in plenty of detail and familiar characters from the film and fun cinematic stuff to make you lose a few balls over as you’re ogling them instead of paying attention to the rest of the amazing play field when these sequences end. Of course, pinball is easy to pick up for anyone who can hold a controller, so this one has wide appeal to all ages (E10+ rating aside). Zen also has a Boba Fett table coming and will reveal more next week, so pop back in to see what’s up (and yes, you can expect a certain line from Return of the Jedi used as a joke title for that post or somewhere in that post…).