Soul Sacrifice TGS Trailer: More New IP Shows Sony’s Clear Vision For Vita

 

I’ve been too busy working on some other projects to keep track of every game I liked from TGS, but Soul Sacrifice is one I’m adding to my long list of wants. It’s not only a great-looking game and a new IP (another one in a bunch coming exclusively to Sony platforms this year and next), it’s yet more proof to the naysayers that the Vita doesn’t get any worthy titles. Of course, it’s usually only those who don’t own a Vita or do, but skip over games for it because they’re unwilling to expand their horizons who are complaining. Me, I say keep it up, Sony!

Naurto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 TGS Trailer: Closer and Closer to Playing an Anime….

Oof… yesterday was a loooooooong one and I didn’t get much done in the way of writing up a few things I wanted to. So, I’ll distract you all with this insane trailer from the upcoming Naruto game, which is coming along quite nicely. I played the demo a few weeks back at the Namco Bandai event here in NYC and was surprised at how chaotic and cinematic the opening sequence was. It’s definitely the most ambitious Naruto title in terms of attempting to bridge the gap between anime and gameplay, and if the dev team can pull off everything they’re going for, this could be one of the best games in the franchise to date. Another fine 2013 release from Namco Bandai? Sure, why not?

Lost Planet 3 TGS Gameplay: Spark Versus Snark (And Spark Needs To Win Big)

 

I’m one of those few waving the flag about how damn good Lost Planet 3 is turning out to be, but par for the course on the internet, there are too many whiners living in the past griping about how the game isn’t EXACTLY point for point like the first two installments. Reading is fundamental, but let me break it down a bit for those who aren’t up to speed. Given that it’s a PREQUEL that will most likely set up some of the events of the other two games, once you get some hands-on time, it’s easy to appreciate the effort developer Spark Unlimited has been putting into the project for a few years now. I liked what I saw in terms of the single player story, the gameplay is pretty tight and the use of Unreal tech is very solid, particularly in the well done cinemas that draw you into the frozen world and the miners who work there. I say a bit more appreciation and a lot less being jaded just to be jaded would help here, but you can’t control others’ intent to somehow NOT enjoy what’s being done to expand their horizons (as well as the potential for future installments in the series). In any event, I’m holding out hope that this dev team and Capcom get some actual credit for what’s going to be a pretty cool experience (at least for me) when the game is released in 2013.

TGS 2012: SCE Japan’s Puppeteer: Another First Party Winner On The Way…


 

Yet another PS3 exclusive I can’t wait to get some hands-on time with, Puppeteer also makes me hopeful that we’ll see such creativity on display (and more) from day one whenever Sony’s new console ships. I’m personally so weary of new systems suffering through dreary (but well-intentioned) launch titles that don’t at all show what a console can do. Developers for next-gen systems NEED to blow us all away right out of the gate and IMPROVE on high quality games in the near future or else we’ll have to keep hearing nonsense talk from PC-only gamers who, when you think about it, really only have graphics (and yes, keyboard/mouse controls in shooters) to babble about as “better”. But we all know that better looking games NEVER means better games at all, no matter how it’s spun. Overclocking a game so it runs at 200fps is all fine and dandy, but crap running at 200fps is still crap, correct?

Just a thought.

TGS 2012: Beyond: Two Souls & The Last of Us Trailers: On Muses, Mushrooms And Going Out On Top…

Sony really has 2013 wrapped up in a nice bow with too many first-party releases to count, but as far as Quantic Dream’s and Naughty Dog’s instant classics, the worldwide appeal for these is clear, no matter what console is your favorite. These are two title that non-PS3 owners will wish they could play while the pure Sony fanatics will have more ammo to whip out when they need to make the case for the PS3’s staying power after so long. Without a doubt, Sony’s NOT going out of this console cycle with a whimper, nor by rendering their console obsolete before its time.

TGS 2012: Dead or Alive 5 Launch Trailer: Bang, Bounce and Boom Time…

Ah, the questions kicking some gamers in the heads here! Stuff such as: Is Tecmo/Koei’s fighting game still relevant after all this time? Will the addition of a few of Sega’s Virtua Fighter characters be enough to shake things up? in an Itagaki-less Team Ninja still able to make a game that’s as out there as they would if he man himself were still with the studio? Does anyone even care about that stuff at all because all they want is another jiggle-fest? It’s enough to make your head explode, isn’t it? As for me – I don’t care about any of that stuff if the game is good, makes me laugh in the right spots and is just plain fun to play. What can I say? I’m a minimalist who likes some things extremely…er, minimal.

TGS 2012: Okami HD Trailer: Once Again, The Line Has Been Drawn!

Even though I sunk many hours into Okami, I’m ready to do it all over again in this HD version. The game looks nice and crisp in that higher resolution and I’m sure that the PS Move controls are going to make the experience even more enjoyable (especially if you’re really used to using the peripheral). As great as this looks, I’d actually LOVE to see a complete reworking of the Nintendo DS game, Okamiden for the Vita at some point. Imagine how amazing it would look on that wide screen with visuals made just for the handheld? I’d pre-order that in a heartbeat if it were a reality, that’s for sure…

Oh yeah, the release date: October 30th, exclusively through PSN.

EDF4 First Look Trailer: The Only Time Bugs Are Great In Gaming Is Here!

 

Holy Cats. I missed this EDF 4 trailer thanks to the CRUSH of Nintendo Wii U, New York Comic-Con news and other game/non-game related stuff jamming my inbox, but here you go. A nice peek at the new EDF game, which is looking SPECTACULAR in its retro way. Sandlot is blowing things up in a HUGE way here and even better, the game is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. As for a US release, it’s too early to tell, but I’d say D3Publisher of America would be IN-SANE to not be thinking about localizing this one. Hell, I’ll do all the voices in the English dub if I need to, D3 (although, that would send the game into Dynasty Warriors series levels of camp). Anyway, expect more to come during TGS this month, as I can’t possibly see D3Publisher not wanting to share more of this upcoming game. 2013 is looking better and better now. One thing, though: where’s the Wii U version?  That fancy new controller could make for a really fun multiplayer aspect to things is all I’m saying…