Gallery: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Tagforce 4

Posted on September 20, 2009 by geelw

Had some quick hands-on time with this at Konami’s NYC press event a while back. Nice anime visuals, deep gameplay, plenty of battlin’ cards and creatures and a more “mature” feel than your Pokemon games, for sure. Fans will be completely enraptured, newbies will be baffled, very helpful tutorials aside. Interesting side note: Konami spells it Tagforce, but it seems to list at most retailers as Tag Force. “Potato, Poh-tah-toe, Tomato, Toh-mah-toe….” and all that…

November 17, 2009 is the release date, so mark your calendars accordingly.

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Obscure: The Aftermath Hands-On

Posted on September 17, 2009 by geelw

Way back in 2004, a scary little survival horror/adventure game called Obscure crept onto the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC, receiving mixed reviews before disappearing from the scene and becoming something of an eBay collectible. The game still sold in well enough numbers that a sequel, Obscure: The Aftermath (or Obscure II, depending on where you’re reading this) was released in 2007 for the PS2 and Wii. Thanks to Playlogic and developer Hydrovision, that sequel is headed for the PSP on September 29 and thanks to their PR department, I’m writing up this hands-on of a preview build. Featuring disturbingly detailed visuals, plenty of “teen slasher flick” ambiance and wireless drop-in/drop out co-op play, this is one game horror fans looking for a wild ride won’t want to miss.

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Gallery: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Co-Op Screens

Posted on September 2, 2009 by geelw

With its October 6, 2009 release date rapidly approaching, Codemasters has unveiled a new set of screenshots as well as a game trailer for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s Co-op mode. Lifelike visuals and animation? Check. Impressive audio effects? Check. Die-hard military simulation fans waiting with bated breath for the game’s launch? Check. Unlike other first-person shooters that rely more on the ‘one-man army’ approach to combat, Dragon Rising is (like the original game), a highly detailed simulation where trying to play Rambo will leave you and/or your team members dead in no time flat. The unforgiving nature of the game should weed out lazier players more used to regenerating health (not happening here), bulletproof AI allies (nope) and dumb enemies (don’t count on it). Scope out the press release below the box art for a bit more detail.

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Hudson Announces Lost In Shadow

Posted on September 1, 2009 by geelw

More Hudson news? OK! The company has also announced Lost in Shadow, a unique new platformer/adventure/puzzle game hybrid scheduled to reach the Nintendo Wii sometime in Summer 2010. Based on the images and press release below, my take on this one is that I’m definitely intrigued. Stylistically, the game’s visuals and color palette seem highly influenced by the phenomenal PlayStation 2 sleeper hit from 2001, ICO. Similar aesthetics aside, it will be extremely interesting to see this one in action, as the shadow platforming idea is certainly innovative enough for a really solid game experience.

Below the jump are the complete press release and five screenshots for your reading and viewing enjoyment.

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Gallery: Darkest of Days (Updated)

Posted on September 1, 2009 by geelw

Phantom EFX’s upcoming time-bending PC and Xbox 360 single player FPS, Darkest of Days is one of those games I’m really looking forward to playing thanks to its focus on a compelling single player story-driven experience and massive, open field battles. I have the feeling that the weapons selection won’t disappoint either, as it looks as if there will be guns from the past and future available to blast plenty of enemies with. Below the jump are a dozen more great looking images from 8monkey Labs‘ Marmoset engine-powered game:

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Gallery: Dark Void

Posted on August 30, 2009 by geelw

Yet another game I’m hoping turns out as spectacular as it looks is Capcom’s upcoming Dark Void, set to hit stores on January 12, 2010. Airtight Studios has been hard at work on this baby for quite some time and each time I see it in action or pore over new screenshots is a reminder of how the best developers can take a killer concept and given enough time, really make it soar.

Given that some of the Airtight team helped craft the original Xbox mega-hit Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, expectations are indeed high that this new game will not just follow in the footsteps of that classic, but surpass it to become a smash across the board on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC once it finally ships…

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Preview: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment Character Profiles

Posted on August 20, 2009 by geelw

Konami is rolling out more info on the cast of its upcoming PSN and XBLA Strategy/RPG along with a brief plot outline. From the three missions I tackled at Konami’s NYC Gamers’ Night press event, let’s just say that The game is going to be quite a challenging experience for fans of the genre and hardcore VH fans should definitely be pleased with what’s here. Expect some very tough battles, all-new combat skills and rich HD visuals that pop off the screen.

Enough from me – here’s who’s who in this Sostegarian saga right below the jump… Continue reading →

Fairytale Fights Hands-On

Posted on August 19, 2009 by geelw

Playlogic has something very naughty up its sleeve coming to consoles and PC this fall and it’s a bloody, outrageously funny absolute blast of a “gamers game” that’s going to kick your happy childhood story time memories right in the teeth. Fairytale Fights is set to hit the Playstation 3, PC and Xbox 360 this October 27, so throw a dart at your calendar and read on… this one’s going to be a real winner. I got to sit down for about a half-hour or so with a build of the PS3 version with the game’s producer, Poria Torkan and Adam McGowan. Playlogic’s Marketing Director, both of whom were giddy as freshly fed goats over their baby. And rightly so, as this is one of those rare games that’s hilariously fun and funny as hell simultaneously. Continue reading →

Update: Where the Wild Things Are

Posted on August 17, 2009 by geelw

Warner Bros. Interactive has finally let a bit more info out (as well as two screenshots) for its upcoming video game based on the film version of Where The Wild Things Are. The game is currently in development for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii by Griptonite and for the Nintendo DS by WayForward Technologies. Here’s a bit of press release intel with the new images following below the jump.

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Sands of Destruction Hands-On

Posted on August 17, 2009 by geelw

Sega’s upcoming Nintendo DS exclusive RPG, Sands of Destruction is going to blow you away. With its superb production values, supremely beautiful visuals, and an amazing amount of voice acting for a DS game, this one’s a clear candidate for best handheld RPG when it finally reaches stores in early 2010. The Image Epoch-developed epic is in the process of being tweaked to improve game balance and a few other issues with the original Japanese version and based on my short time with a build at Sega’s press event last week, things are coming along very well indeed. Continue reading →