Review: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Posted on September 3, 2012 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation 3 (also on Xbox 360, PC)

Developer: High Moon Studios

Publisher: Activision

# of Players: 1 (Online 2 – 12)

ESRB Rating; T (Teen)

Score: B+ (85%)

High Moon Studios swings hard for the fences with Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, and while not quite a clean home run (it’s more of a hard rocket shot that clangs off the correct side of the foul pole into the stands), the game manages to be a fantastic follow up to Transformers: War on Cybertron, despite the loss of co-op play and the twin campaign structure. Previous experience with the last game isn’t really necessary for any player to hop in and have a blast, but A true Transformers fan will tell you that you’ll need to know where the story began before tackling what’s here. It’s definitely going to help in terms of understanding what’s going on in all the chaos, as the game assumes you’re playing it because you’ve been around for the first installment. FoC is also packed with fan service in the form of in-jokes, references to the cartoons and the animated movie and more hidden goodies than you can shake a Minicron at.

(Although, shaking a Minicron would probably not be a good thing to do unless you were really mad at it for knocking over a vase onto that napping cat by “accident” or something…)

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Plants vs. Zombies Pinball (Yes!) On The Way for Zen Pinball 2

Posted on September 1, 2012 by geelw

While I truly miss the days of beating feet to the arcades every weekend with a roll of quarters to check out the latest pinball (and arcade) games, a few very dedicated developers who were also fans of the old school such as the mighty Zen Studios have been keeping the flame alive digitally. Thanks to some incredible simulations that take up a hell of a lot less space than an actual Pinball machine, yet manage to pack in all the thrills, you whippersnappers can play to your hearts content in the comfort of your living room and get the same thrills. Well, save for the flat out cool factor an actual hefty hunk of American made metal, glass and well-wired circuit boards brings to your living room. Hell, I bet that damn 60″ HD setup you have is where that pinball table WOULD be. Wait, what? You have a 90″ TV? Eeek. Well, good for you.

Anyway, Zen Pinball 2 (or Pinball FX2 for you Xbox 360 owners) has been getting some AMAZING updates. Here’s the latest one coming your way next week: Plants vs. Zombies Pinball, based on the popular and hilarious PopCap games. Three bucks for your PS3 or Vita (yes!), 240 MS Points for your 360. That’s a recommendation right there if I’ve ever written one. Poke around PSN or mosey around Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade in a few days, whip out that wallet and add PvZP to your collection.

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes: Just When I Think I’m Out, They Drag Me Back In…

Posted on September 1, 2012 by geelw

OK, I’ll bite (and hard, at that) – a new Metal Gear Solid game coming from Kojima Productions? With that proprietary Fox Engine making sure the game looks even more amazing as an anniversary present for fans of the long-running series, this one’s a no-brainer even if it was a Metal Gear tsuguroku. Fortunately, it’s not, as you’ll see in this almost 11 minute jaw-dropper. I’m in all the way on this one, feet first. Hell, I’ll even post the trailer twice here (one is English subtitled) just to show my love for the series. Hey, I’m still buying Revengeance, Konami – I’m not some fair weather fan who only wants the same thing over and over. Thankfully, Hideo Kojima seems to be the same in that each Metal Gear experience has some truly excellent reasons to play through multiple times…

As for the proposed Metal Gear Solid movie everyone seems to be raving about (n one way or another)? I’m really, really on the fence here. Why? Well, young’uns… the joke goes something like this: in every Metal Gear Solid game, there’s that loooooooooooooong cut scene where unless you’re prepared for it, will go on and on (and on), forcing you to commit to playing around with camera angles with your controller just to kill time as an important plot point is explained. At some point (if you haven’t fallen asleep), you can et up and go make dinner, go to the bathroom or even go outside to check the mailbox (sometimes all of the above) before things get back to being playable.

You can’t expect a modern movie audience to be in on this at all (maybe the art house crowd will go for it, though), so hopefully, the folks writing it will go light on the exposition. On the other hand, I don’t want a stupid action flick with explosions and Meryl boobing out all over and a story that’s thinner than the edge of a katana. If this isn’t in The Dark Knight territory in terms of tone and execution, I’ll be a sad clown indeed. But let’s see what happens with this project. With a Solid Script (ha ha), perhaps Solid Snake can rake in the green with a big surprising smash of a summer flick.

That said, success or failure at the box office, I’ll still respect you in the morning Mr. Kojima!

The Unfinished Swan PAX Story Trailer: When Games Are Indeed, Art

Posted on September 1, 2012 by geelw

I wouldn’t exactly call this soon to be released instant classic something that’s going to make the hardcore shooter fans fall away in droves from the games they like, but you can clearly see all the work that”s gone into making The Unfinished Swan a game for the ages. Of course, it’s another PSN-only game, so it’ll be seen as disposable by those who dislike digital releases. Hmmmm… I really do hope someone is preserving all this game code that goes up on these download sites for future reference, as physical media is still important to the industry (and will be for a while). Hell, they still need to transfer digital movies to 35mm film stock for proper preservation purposes all while the movie industry is rushing into dropping film pretty much entirely within a few years due to the cost of shipping heavy film reels around to theaters (for starters). That’s going to be one frightening time indeed, especially if all that digital data starts disappearing. Eh, maybe I’m worrying too much… but I don’t think so….

Let Sir Hammerlock Take You On A Tour of Borderlands 2…

Posted on August 31, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm. I definitely needed a vacation after all this time without one, but Gearbox’s well-armed, enemy-packed planet of terror is a wee bit too “hot” for my tastes. Oh well – I think I’ll stay home and blow $#i! up from the comfort of my couch, thank you much. Anyway, start stocking up on provisions now, what with food prices jumping and all that noise. I predict it’s going to be a looooong fall of many gamers buried in this game for way too long (just like 2K Games and Gearbox want them to)…

One Piece: Pirate Warriors – Taking Musou To A New Level Of Awesome

Posted on August 29, 2012 by geelw

Namco Bandai and Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force team up once more for hard-hitting multiple enemy on screen massiveness, but this time, it’s the cult hit One Piece getting the full-on Sengoku Musou treatment. One Piece: Pirate Warriors takes the familiar Dynasty Warriors formula and kicks it up a few notches with the show’s trademark oddball humor, some excellent visuals and gameplay that’s actually a lot more dynamic and frantic than what’s usually found in the DW series. From the level I played as Luffy, everything clicks into place and PS3 owners who can download this game should absolutely put this one on their radars. Controls are solid, with specific combos needed to pull off certain moves and yes, there’s a killer special attack you can unleash once that meter is filled. Enemies aren’t shy about batting you around the map if you’re too slow, a good thing for players who like a bit of challenge.

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Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise Hands-On: Behaviour’s “Fluff Film” Gets Some Big Improvements…

Posted on August 29, 2012 by geelw

One of 2010’s great guilty pleasures for me was 505 Games’ Naughty Bear, cooked up by the slightly twisted (like a pretzel dipped in slightly tainted chocolate sort of twisted) minds at Behaviour Interactive (formerly Artificial Mind and Movement). The lead character, a rather pissed off teddy bear out for revenge for all sorts of minor to moderate social snubs, made for quite an efficient killing machine and despite a few flaws, the game was uniquely amusing and challenging, albeit a bit on the short said for some players who may have been a wee bit too good at the serial killer thing. Hey, I’m just sayin’… everyone needs a hobby, so I judge no one. Just don’t tell me what’s in that duffel bag you always carry around, Mmmm-kay?

Anyway, that first installment seems to have done well enough with gamers who grooved on its combo of cute and psychotic elements (plus some memorable bloodless yet violent stealth kills) that a sequel was a no-brainer and yes, it’s merrily on the way (and like a good serial killer, sooner than you’d think). You’re getting an all-new Naughty Bear starring in a bigger, better and badder game as a PSN and Xbox Live download this October, so break out the digital duct tape and garbage bags – you’ve got some killing to do.

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Buy It! The Art of Journey (or, My Psychic Powers Are Working Just Fine, Thank You…)

Posted on August 27, 2012 by geelw

Ha and ha ha. I recall telling some folks from thatgamecompany a while back at a press event that an art book on the making of their groundbreaking PS3 exclusive Journey HAD to be released along with the game on a physical disc at some point and guess what? both are happening. Awesome, especially for those of us who KNOW that this medium NEEDS both a digital and physical means to archive milestones like this particular game. It’s too bad that the pressure of making the game has broken up the team, but it looks as if everyone had landed elsewhere and at the end of the day, the game is still an incredible experience not to be missed.

Anyway, buy this book if you’re a fan of the game and hell, if you’re not a fan of the game and own a PS3, get the Journey Collector’s Edition when it hits stores and this book so you can see what all the fuss is about. Hmmm… Now I know what I want for Xmas (or a late birthday gift for myself, or an early retirement present, or whatever)…

He’s Baaaaack (And In a Better, Harder Game This Time)…

Posted on August 27, 2012 by geelw

Shhhhh… don’t tell anyone this, but Behaviour Interactive and 505 Games are going to be unleashing a big and furry surprise on PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers soon enough that’s a pretty nice treat from what I got to see and play. I can’t talk more about it until the embargo lifts (soon enough, soon enough…), so I’ll just keep you in suspense for a tiny bit.

Er, that and I need to figure out how the hell to get that darn bear from stalking me (I think he’s on the roof, judging by the sounds of pigeons being squashed). Anyway, drop by on the 28th for a status update (provided that bear doesn’t get into the house)… Off to bed (with a light on and a few bear traps slathered in honey laid out near key entry points)…

Ragnarok Odyssey US Trailer: Vita JRPG Lovers, Xseed Wants All Your Spare Time

Posted on August 23, 2012 by geelw

Packing in a lengthy quest mode, a real time battle system focused on combos and contact, up to four player co-op via ad hoc or online, lovely visuals and some nice connections to the popular MMO series, this one could be an instant classic when it’s released. As someone who liked Ragnarok DS quite a lot and knows this game is going to be a whole lot better, I can’t wait to see how it turned out. My Vita’s getting hungry for more dungeons and drooling denizens determined to drop doom on my poor party. Fat chance, demon-spawn, fat chance, I say, grrrr!