Preview: 3D Dot Game Heroes – Atlus Gets Retro, Yet Modern With A Sweet Zelda Vibe

Posted on February 19, 2010 by geelw

Thanks to the power of WebEx (craaaak-BOOM!) and the ridiculously fun folks at Atlus USA, 3D Dot Game Heroes has jumped to the front of my must-play list for early 2010 releases. I’ve been interested in this PlayStation 3 exclusive ever since seeing screens from Japan last year and upon hearing Atlus wisely snapped up the US publishing rights, I was more than a little ecstatic at the localization possibilities. Based on the hour-long web demo/presentation, the guys and gals out in sunny Irvine, California have done another super job of bringing US gamers one more surefire hit. From the excellently stylized 3D “block art” to the head-boppingly nostalgic soundtrack and simple yet challenging Action/RPG gameplay, this could be one of those cool “sleepers” that hopefully wakes up a few jaded gamers from their usual purchasing patterns.

Continue reading →

Review: Dragon Age: Origins

Posted on December 24, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360

Developer: BioWare

Publisher: EA

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A

Has BioWare ever made a bad game? I’m inclined to shout a defiant “No” towards the heavens, as I’ve enjoyed everything they’ve ever done, warts and all. Hell, I may be somewhat biased here, but at least I’m definitely right (that’s a little in-joke, by the way). Anyway, in terms of their RPG output, the company has a superb track record with everything from the Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights games to Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and even oddities such as Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Of course, their two current console projects, the upcoming Mass Effect 2 and the recently released Dragon Age: Origins will be the games on RPG fans’ lips and minds for quite some time thanks to the developer’s ability to craft completely different sub-genres while consistently bringing gamers superb storytelling and deep, challenging gameplay.

Continue reading →

Thanks to Prima, Dragon Age: Origins Quizzes Me Somewhat…

Posted on November 3, 2009 by geelw

Well, then – according to this Prima Guides Dragon Age: Origins Quiz, I’m a Warrior! Eeek. I hate playing “tanks” in RPGs. Give me a ranged weapon and some good spells to keep the beasties at bay and I’m a happy camper. We shall see, however, we shall see… The game is out NOW, so I hope you pre-ordered!

Review: Fairytale Fights

Posted on October 27, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PS3/Xbox 360

Developer: Playlogic Game Studios

Publisher: Playlogic

# of Players: 1 – 4

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B–

After a long development cycle it’s finally here, it’s pretty darn bloody and it’s a hack ‘n slash fan’s dream game. That is, provided your dreams are candy-colored and packed with mutated puppets dishing out damage on an epic, nasty scale. Fairytale Fights packs in its entire running time with tons of humor plus more gallons of blood and severed limbs than you’d find in certain zombie-killing franchises. Although the game probably isn’t going to impress those jaded players looking for total perfection and “innovation” seeping out of every corner, it’s got more than enough style to keep those who love the sub-genre playing ’til the cows come home. As a single-player arcade-style experience, it’s supremely hysterical, but can feel a bit lonely after a few hours. However, with up to three friends, the game is a complete blast to play – provided everyone’s platforming skills are up to the game’s deathtraps and occasionally brutal boss battles.

Continue reading →

Fairytale Fights Free DLC Arrives Along With Game

Posted on October 27, 2009 by geelw

BAM! Just as Playlogic’s hybrid hack ‘n slash/platformer hits stores, here comes the first DLC – go sign up and get it, folks! My review is coming shortly…

FAIRYTALE FIGHTS® DLC BONANZA!!
Playlogic Offers Bloody DLC for FREE Within 90 Days of Release

October 27, 2009 – Amsterdam/New York – Playlogic Entertainment, Inc., an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, are thrilled to announce today that its highly anticipated hack’n’slash gore-fest Fairytale Fights will have FREE DLC for all gamers available for a limited period of time (90 days after release). Gamers who buy the game within 90 days of launch can receive exclusive FREE DLC valued at over $15 by registering on the Fairytale Fights official website. Once the downloadable content is available, bloodthirsty Fairytale Fights fans will receive exclusive redeemable codes, courtesy of Little Red Riding Hood!

Part of the FREE DLC will be exclusive to those who register:

Fairytale Fights FREE DLC (for registered users) includes
· 4 Brand New Playable Characters
· 3 Brand New PvP Arenas

For all those that don’t register, we’ll be announcing our FREE DLC release plans for Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store in the coming weeks so be sure to check the Fairytale Fights official site on a regular basis for news and updates.

Fairytale Fights is now in European stores for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and will be available the 27th of October in North America!

Dragon Age: Origins Update: Oghren (Plus Gold!)

Posted on October 24, 2009 by geelw

It’s all done and gone gold, folks. Dragon Age: Origins has gone into production, so those final retail copies are only a short time away from your hot little hands. BioWare has also announced a DA:O social network which you’ll be able to read more about below this week’s character update. Anyway, without further adieu, heeeeeeere’s Oghren!

Continue reading →

Armored Core 3 Portable Hits PSP As PSN DLC Only

Posted on October 24, 2009 by geelw

From FromSoft, with Love (BOOM!), Department: PSP and PSP go owners can do the happy dance while folks who want their retail UMDs are crying in their root beers. An all new PSP Armored Core game is here and ready to go over the PlayStation Network, so drop the fifteen clams on this one and get with the customizing and mecha blasting action, whydontcha? Now, I’m hoping that FromSoftware sees fit to localize and release King’s Field Additional I and II in the US via this method one of these days (especially with Demon’s Souls blowing up the charts all over the map)…

Press release and images below:

FromSoftware Inc. today announced that Armored Core® 3 Portable, the latest installment in its popular mecha action game series, will be available for download on the North American PlayStation®Network on October 22, 2009. The Armored Core franchise has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, and the original Armored Core 3 for PlayStation®2 has stood the test of time as a fan favorite.

In Armored Core 3 Portable, players battle as members of the mercenary organization “Raven,” piloting customizable mecha Armored Core (AC) units. The ACs are customizable with different weapons and machine parts that can be reconfigured as necessary to complete a variety of combat-intensive missions.

Features:

* Over 50 action-packed missions
* Enhanced menu interface and in-game visibility
* Pilot a fully customizable AC unit, configuring weapons, parts, armor color and emblems
* Over 200 parts available to assemble and create your own machine, including parts from the previous games in the series
* PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) Ad Hoc Network support; easily battle up to four friends using a wireless connection
* Challenge opponents nationwide over the Ad Hoc Party on PlayStation®3 (PS3™)
* A new opponent from the Japanese Armored Core novel
* Future-proof data can be saved and transferred to future Armored Core PSP titles

Armored Core 3 Portable is rated T for Teen (Violence) by the ESRB, and has a purchase price of $14.99.

Borderlands Shoots Into Retail for PS3, 360

Posted on October 20, 2009 by geelw

All I know is the FAQ writers and completion gamers’ heads are EXPLODING at the thought of collecting EVERY weapon they MUST have as they blast through Pandora’s population. “Ha ha haaaa!” Gearbox laughs at you with relish (and onions). Just try to enjoy the game and not obsess over getting every darn weapon, I say.

Hey 2K! Has someone at Gearbox even bothered to estimate how long it would take to actually nab every gun in the game? Run that program and post the results – that should give some of those folks out there a fit and a half if they’re the type that HAS to get everything a game can offer!

Anyway, press release below the jump – go buy the game. Three very cool screens from The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned DLC are also here for your perusal. Color me scared and amused already!

Continue reading →

Help NIS America Bring Badaman PSP to UMD!

Posted on October 18, 2009 by geelw

One of the things that irks me as a collector of games is this trend of releasing certain console and portable titles as download-only product (grrrr!). While it’s indeed great for those folks who feel no need to have a physical product, the simple fact is some of us out there would like the choice to have one or the other (or even both in some cases). Heck, what if you’re in an area without decent (or any) broadband access or just want the simple pleasure of actually reading a manual you can hold in your hot little hands?

Don’t get me wrong, folks – the ability to pay for and download new games and game content works amazingly well for those gamers who don’t give a hoot about the above issues, but SOME games would actually enjoy a much LARGER user base IF they were made available in as many (legal) forms as possible (grrr!). Yeah, that means you too, Konami (the otherwise superb Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment SHOULD also get a darn disc release on the Xbox 360 AND PS3 for those of use who want it! grrrr!!!)

Continue reading →

Mass Effect 2 Release Date, Pre-Order Info In Full Effect…

Posted on October 16, 2009 by geelw

As I think I’ve said previously (and on more than one occasion), BioWare really loves you, particularly if you’re a fan of their games. Here’s a nice bit of pre-order info about Mass Effect 2 that may come in handy. Nice armor, huh?

Continue reading →