Assassin’s Creed III Gameplay Trailer: Er, Its Not Historically Accurate (But You Don’t Care, Right?)

Posted on May 11, 2012 by geelw

Ah ha ha. I made the mistake of reading a few too many message board posts elsewhere about this trailer (well, I got caught up in cracking up at some pretty lousy arguments that make no sense because this IS just a game at the end of the day), but no matter what’s been said about it, one thing is crystal clear: Ubisoft knows what they’re doing. I haven’t enjoyed the series all that much, but I do like the new setting and time period. Still, I can’t help but imagine some school teaching a course in history as seen through video games like this and others that take actual fact and twist them into a rich game world along with a few historical figures along for the ride. Eh, whatever – as long as this one’s better than the last and well-cooked enough to rate a few replays, I’m all aboard for this ride…

Review: Dungeon Hunter: Alliance

Posted on May 7, 2012 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation Vita

Developer: Gameloft

Publisher: Ubisoft

# of Players: 1 – 4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: C+

With Dungeon Hunter: Alliance on the Vita, developer Gameloft had a rather interesting challenge in making a version of their popular (but “old” by other device standards) hack and slash RPG that could be seen as a solid (and full priced) showpiece the Sony’s new handheld. While they didn’t quite succeed in every area, the end result presents enough creature chopping challenge for those who like to go solo while also being a ton of fun in multiplayer. Visually, the game is solid, if not spectacular overall, the gameplay is what you’d expect with some interesting use of the Vita’s touch screens that range from handy to not really necessary. Unfortunately, despite the glossed-up visuals, the game misses the chance to do more with the basics, meaning if you’ve played this already on a device, computer or even the PS3, you’re not going to be too surprised at what’s here. Addicted? yes. Shocked at the stellar amount of originality on display? Nope.

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Assassin’s Creed III Cover Makes Some See Red(coats)…

Posted on March 5, 2012 by geelw

As for me, after the last couple of installments doing their best to milk things dry, I like the new location the series is headed to. The choice of a Revolutionary War setting shows that Ubisoft is interested in taking the series in a different direction that just may shake up the gameplay in a few core areas. I always get a chuckle out of poking around message boards and seeing the bile flow from the folks that don’t get the fact that the AC series isn’t “their” game. Like it or not, at the end of the day, Ubisoft dictates what goes on in the series and as long as the games continue to sell, you can expect them to keep being made. As for those who were expecting the series to stay overseas as far as settings go… lighten up, already. Sure, it may seem jarring to have things leap from the vast and lovely architecturally dense cities to pre-1800 America and its fight for independence, but let’s just see where this one goes as more info (and some ACTUAL gameplay) are released, hmmmm?

Hell, I’ll only complain if I see the exact same game mechanics and animations (and maybe some Dodge cars being driven during a big battle sequence like in that stupidly overblown commercial from last year)…

Why is I Am Alive NOT On A Retail Disc?*

Posted on February 8, 2012 by geelw

*Or: Hey, Ubisoft, Here’s How To Market A Game To EVERYONE Who Wants To Play It…

Sure, I Am Alive looks amazing and yes, the idea of a realistic survival adventure set in a destroyed city has garnered tons of praise everywhere anyone has seen or played it. But Ubisoft is doing themselves no favors by only releasing this on Xbox Live Arcade in March and perhaps later on PSN,… oops SEN (sorry, Sony! Give me another week or so to get used to that change). Memo from the front: despite your current successful digital business model, there are STILL a large amount of gamers who can’t get that content dying for something different that’s NOT another FPS, zombie game, franchise update or yes, I’ll say it, ANOTHER damn digital-ONLY release that should have been disc-based.

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Rayman 3 HD Coming To PSN, XBLA In March

Posted on February 2, 2012 by geelw

Above: a really nice trailer for the upcoming release of Rayman 3 HD, set for a March 21, 2012 launch over PSN and Xbox Live. Below: a short (and suggestive) note to Ubisoft from me: if you’re trying to get that follow-up to Beyond Good & Evil off the ground, why not pack HD remakes of all the numbered Rayman games onto a disc with some cool bonus features and get them out there along with separate digital releases so you’re serving both physical and ethereal gamers out there? Of course, you guys know better than I do about business matters and your own back catalog, so just ignore me. At your peril. I’ll be in the corner with my slingshot and some popcorn…

Dungeon Hunter: Alliance – (Slightly) Defending Ubisoft’s Vita Hard Sell

Posted on January 30, 2012 by geelw

Based on a majority of the posts over at the PlayStation Blog regarding Ubisoft’s upcoming Vita Action/RPG, Gameloft’s Dungeon Hunter Alliance is going to be a hard sell to those who’ve already played the game as an iOS, Android or PS3 release… and that’s too bad. The upcoming port of DH:A has enhanced HD visuals and makes use of the Vita’s front/back touchscreen sand accelerometer in an interesting manner. As I’ve never played any version of the game and love a good dungeon crawler (I don’t own an iOS or Android device and don’t use PSN these days) , I’m interested in reviewing this one on its own merits.

Sadly, it seems that nearly everyone criticizing the game is doing so solely based on the $39.99 price point and not the fact that those new Vita owners who may have never heard of the game before probably won’t mind supporting Ubisoft, Gameloft and Sony with a full-price retail purchase… provided the game is good. Herein lies the problem with launch software (well, one of many problems). If you don’t spend time creating an experience that favors both old as well as new players, the veterans will always be there to let you know you’ve” screwed up” (even if you really didn’t)… Continue reading →

Ubisoft’s Bad Rabbids Get An Unmerry Xmas Surprise…

Posted on December 21, 2011 by geelw

Merry Xmas from Ubisoft, er.. sort of. As much as I’d like an actual stuffed Rabbid sitting about the house lazing about and looking goofy. I just KNOW that all sorts of bad things would start to happen. Of course, Ubisoft has gone and figured out through the magic of CG all sorts of things gone wrong if there were real Rabbids roaming about. Thank goodness they’ve confined these brainless pests to the digital world…

Rainbow 6 Patriots Trailer Is Disturbing Stuff (But UbiSoft Is Intentionally Going For That Vibe)

Posted on December 13, 2011 by geelw

While I’m not the biggest fan of the Tom Clancy games, UbiSoft’s upcoming Rainbow 6 Patriots managed to get my eyebrow up (and interest piqued) a bit higher than it normally goes. The whole idea of a game revolving around home-grown terrorists taking on the government as well as the big banks is intriguingly innovative, yet is also clearly going to ruffle some feathers amongst a few non-gaming TV talking heads. who often turn to games as a sign of all things evil when they need a quick ratings rush. This should be especially true once they get wind of the game not being made here in the U.S. of A. at all. Continue reading →

Rayman Origins “10 Ways To Win” Helps A Lot (But You STILL Need To Buy The Game First!)

Posted on November 21, 2011 by geelw

UbiSoft wants to assist in any way they can, so here you go. From what I played, the game is gorgeous, laugh out loud funny and at times, hard as hell in a joyous old-school manner. Pinpoint platforming, multiplayer action, tons of levels and ridiculous replay value are all here on the game disc, so what are you waiting for? If you say “Um, a few hints on how to win the game?” You get a tin cup and some dark glasses, kid. Now get off my lawn…

Raving Rabbids: Alive & Kicking Trailer: UbiSoft’s BIG Conspiracy In Action

Posted on November 4, 2011 by geelw

Listen up! Before you start in with the “Awww, cuuute!” stuff, you REALLY shouldn’t let any Rabbids into your home, especially if you have a Kinect. Why not? For starters, they multiply like, well… Rabbids, they’ll eat all your canned food (and probably part of the cabinets they were stored in) and you’ll never get a second of rest once you start chasing them around and stomping them before they can destroy something else! Anyway, that’s my good deed for the day – consider yourselves warned. Fail to heed my words and it’ll be trouble. That lamp that just went flying across the room? That wasn’t YOU swinging your arms and kicking wildly in front of the Kinect that did it. It just looked that way. Those darn Rabbids can fool you into doing all sorts of insane stuff. I think UbiSoft has been overrun by the little buggers, since they created them a few years back and came up with this game to get rid of their infestation! So now, they’re shipping them out all across the globe and actually CHARGING people good money for the privilege of flailing away in front of their TV sets like spastic chimpanzees. Oh, the humanity!

Remember, You have been warned.