Review: Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions

Posted on September 14, 2010 by geelw

Platform: PS3 (also available on Xbox 360/Wii/DS)

Developer: Beenox

Publisher: Activision

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: B

Once you get used to its quirks, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is one of the more fun superhero games you'll play this year. After a couple of years of mission-based open world Spider-Man games (with Web of Shadows being the best to date), Activision and developer Beenox have smartly decided to shake things up by letting everyone's web-slinger have at it in a new game featuring a more tightly focused selection of stages, four very different art styles and an overall sense of flair that permeates nearly every part of the game. Some camera issues (that can hopefully be patched) make wall-crawling a bit frustrating in spots but overall, the game can be a ton of fun to play and no cakewalk at all thanks to some great boss battles.

Walmart Reveals PS3 Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD Bundle

Posted on September 13, 2010 by geelw

After the success of God of War Collection last year and this year’s upcoming The Sly Collection for the PS3, I figured Sony was going to do this collection at some point and thanks to Walmart’s web site, it’s pretty much a done deal. In case you’re scratching your head about how they have this listed before other major game retailers, well that’s the power of Walmart for you. They’re so darn huge that they’re no doubt allowed to list products that far ahead just because it’s good for Sony, Walmart and Walmart’s customers who can either pick up the game or have it shipped to arrive on day one.

Anyway, that eyebrow raising April 1, 2011 release date is probably subject to slip a bit, as I’m betting they’re only allowed to list titles up to Q1 until an actual release date comes from SCEA.

Or something like that.

Anyway, if it’s real it’s damn good news (and about time, Sony!). Now if only Capcom would get on the ball and redo the Mega Man Legends/Tron Bonne games in HD and Sega would do Shining Force Complete Box and Panzer Dragoon Complete Box, I’d be an even happier camper!

(Yeah, those last three game sets all in my fertile little mind, but c’mon, folks. They’d SELL like water in the Sahara).

Gallery: Valkyria Chronicles II

Posted on September 1, 2010 by geelw

As promised, a small but nice set of VC II screens. I love how well the excellently versatile Canvas Engine has translated to the PSP and from what I'm hearing from someone who picked up the game yesterday, the gameplay is “pretty cool” as well. Hell, it SHOULD be, as the original was one of the best PS3 “sleepers” to date as well as an excellent strategy game in its own right. I'm sort of surprised there's no Valkyria game on the DS yet, but on the other hand, it's great to see the PSP get yet another great release, right?

Anyway, I've no time to be jealous of friends gaming away while I toil (and I ain't got time to bleed, either) – I just have enough time to post an update or three a day. So there…

As I keep saying: 2010 is shaping up to be the best year for Sony's handheld so far.

TRON Evolution Hands-On Preview

Posted on August 25, 2010 by geelw

Propaganda Games is toiling away like mad on two licensed games I'm really looking forward to: Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned and TRON: Evolution. While both titles are being published by Disney Interactive Studios, core gamers in the loop are anticipating each game for a number of reasons. I got to try a bit of the PS3 version of Evolution at Sony's excellent Holiday showcase and came away impressed by what's looking to be the rare licensed movie game that goes above and beyond the call.

O-Games’ Superstars V8 Racing Headed To PS3 As PSN-Only Download

Posted on August 24, 2010 by geelw

“The breadth, depth and quality of Superstars V8 Racing make it one of the best racing games available on PlayStation Network,” said Greg Lanz, general manager of O-Games, Inc. “Our original plan was to release this game at retail, but after considering all the options, we decided to release it exclusively through PlayStation Network. Superstars V8 Racing delivers a first-class multiplayer race experience with world-renowned cars that will thrive with this audience. In addition, O-Games can sell Superstars V8 Racing for a lower price since we do not have to pay the costs to manufacture, package, and ship the product to retail. The bottom line? Gamers can now own a $40 game for half the price they would pay in-store.”

Translation: How can you tell the recession is still going strong? Well, one area where publishers are cutting costs is in the actual production of games. Even for what would be considered a great deal at $40, it costs a lot to get a boxed game to retail. Allowing that same title to be downloaded makes it easier for gamers to get a new release with a credit card and a few button presses.

Sony Gears Up for Move Launch With New PS3 Bundles

Posted on August 18, 2010 by geelw

Alright, it's late and I'm pooped. For your bedtime story, go read this nice SCEA press release while I jump in the shower and then collapse in a smiley heap for some pleasant dreams. From the games I tried recently, the new Move controller is a ton of fun to use so it'll be interesting to see how it moves in these new package deals with the larger hard drives and such.

Insomniac Announces Two New PS3 Titles

Posted on August 18, 2010 by geelw

At Sony’s PlayStation Press Conference at GamesCon, Insomniac Games has announced they’re working on two new titles:

and

Resistance 3 is coming from the company’s Burbank studios while the new Ratchet & Clank is straight outta Insomniac’s North Carolina offices. No screens yet, but we’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s what with both of these P

Gallery: Kung Fu Rider

Posted on July 21, 2010 by geelw

Here are a set of screens from the hilarious-looking PS3 exclusive office furniture mayhem stunt racer. Hey, wasn’t there some free PC game download and/or a budget PS One title in Japan that used this wacky idea some years ago? I’ll have to look this up, but I’m guessing that perhaps some of the folks that worked on those games ended up here. Ah well, whatever – the game is absolutely insane, fast and funny as hell. It may be a super niche title, but it’s a total blast and good for some rolling off the couch hysteria once you give it a whirl. The difficulty is a bit challenging, but that’s a good thing in my book…

Gallery: The Last Guardian

Posted on July 17, 2010 by geelw

Here are standard-sized screens along with some unique portrait sized, ethereally lovely images from Sony’s guaranteed masterpiece. This one is on my absolute must-have list and should be on yours as well. Don’t have a PS3 yet? Well, here’s a hell of a great reason to own one, I say.

The Last Guardian E3 Trailer

Posted on July 15, 2010 by geelw

Simply beautiful is all I can say (well, I can’t wait to play it is something else I’ll say). Like ICO and Shadow of the Colossus before it, The Last Guardian looks to be an instant classic when it’s finally released.