Gamescom 2011: Rayman Origins Trailer Is Nostalgia Of The Best Possible Kind

Of all the UbiSoft games I’ve seen this year, I’m most looking forward to playing Rayman Origins. I still have my Atari Jaguar copy of the game (I’d be playing it again, but I need another Jaguar) and remember how amazed I was back then. RO is pure fun and just amazing in how it brings together all of what makes platforming games so great while being highly accessible to anyone who want to pick up a controller. Here’s hoping all three versions (PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii) do well – I want to see this one pop up on the Vita as well, but I guess that’s for the bean counters to decide in a bit. November 15 is just around the corner, so make sure you get this one…

Disgaea 4 & Atelier Totori Trailers Bring That 2D Bliss Home

NISA just can’t stop pumping out the sweet and tasty mixture of gorgeous hand-drawn 2D games on the PS3 (keep that flame alive!) and that’s how we like it. The latest installments in the ridiculously deep and often supremely hilarious strategy/RPG franchise is well on the way, as is the newest game in Gust Incorporated’s magic-making simulation/RPG series. Between the custom map feature in Disgaea 4 (yes!) and the fun crafting and Atelier Totori’s mix of adventure, alchemy and classic combat, fans of JRPG’s will no doubt be sinking many, many hours into each of these games. Now, where’s that time machine so we can find the few hundred hours to sink into these two?

Gamescom 2011: Uncharted 3 Trailer Is Pure Thrilling Brilliance

Every new piece of footage or screenshot makes Nathan Drake’s latest adventure clearly one of the best, most polished game experiences to date on ANY platform. Naughty Dog is at the top of their game and you and gamers will be on the edge of their seats whether or not they play this on in HD or 3D (which I hear is outstanding ans some of the best in a game, ever). This one’s going to walk away with a TON of very well deserved awards in every category. I’d say they’re going to have to create a new category this year for a number of these upcoming releases simply due to the fact that so many great games are coming that some will get shut out of voting because there’s not enough room for every single one.

Gamescom 2011: Soulcalibur V Trailer

If the super-early demo I saw a few weeks ago was any indication, fans of the series will be in for a real treat. Combat is faster, more fluid and feels more like an action game than a traditional fighter. Sure, there’s no blood spilled here, but there’s a definite God Of War influence to the new combat, as even slower characters are getting a speed boost. This, of course, will probably lead some longtime fans who love beating the stuffing out of opponents using Sigfried or Nightmare wanting these characters to be their old selves. However, it seems that the dev team is merely following the trend of making a game more accessible to all sorts of players rather than simply rehashing what’s come before. As with any game, we shall see what happens once a public demo is available and Nsmco Bandai hears what the fan base says…

Gamescom 2011: Armored Core V Online MP Trailer

It’s simply amazing that FromSoftware has kept this long-running mech combat franchise going for longer than some systems have been in existence. I can still remember playing the first game on the original PlayStation and being floored by the game (which was made using a modified King’s Field engine from what I recall). ACV looks to be one of the best entries in the franchise with a much stronger focus on online play than in previous entries, improved visuals and as you can see, pretty fast action. I’m hoping there’s a solid single player campaign somewhere in the mix that’s better structured than in the last installment, but we’ll see what happens as the game moves closer to completion.

The King of Fighters XIII Gameplay (Or: Oops, Make That TEN Trailers!)

Yeah, yeah, I forgot one video (Atlus posted it a while ago), but then again, it was pretty late here when I finally got around to posting the other clips. Anyway, here you go. Screenshots from the upcoming 2D fighter to come in a separate post. Don’t say I never gave you anything, grrrr.

Gamescom 2011: Asura’s Wrath (A One-Two Trailer Punch)

Cyber Connect 2’s latest is still hilariously mind-blowing even after seeing it in action a few times. It’s got that God Hand meets Dragon Ball Z vibe going on big time, yet there’s a great cinematic thing going on that should make the game pretty fun to play. Capcom should have a fun time marketing this one, that’s for sure.

Battlefield 3 Caspian Border Trailer WIll Make You Want To Upgrade Your PC

Even though I have zero interest in online shooters (no matter how good they are), it’s hard not to (actually, it’s IMPOSSIBLE) not to say anything against them when Dice is running the show. With up to 64 players on maps like this amazingly huge showcase they’ve whipped up (LOVE the jet action!) and that incredible Frostbite 2 engine doing everything it needs to do (and really darn well at that), this one’s going to be an instant hit. Yes, on consoles as well, even though the player cap is a “mere” 24 (which is nothing to sneeze at, mind you). All Dice needs to do is find a way to make some PC gamers less lame jerk-ass braggarts about building their own systems and showing off to the point of embarrassment and the would will be a happier place.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution TV Ad (UK Version)

It’s finally out (well, review copies are being shipped this week and next) and definitely worth the wait. Eidos Montreal’s hard work looks to kick off this supremely busy season of games in the best possible way, so let’s hope it’s all it’s cracked up to be and then some. To some off-base skeptics, Square Enix still needs to prove that it’s not JUST “those Final Fantasy guys” (even though they’ve published a few solid non-FF western developed games previously). Hell, I say just buy, play and enjoy this one – you’ll definitely be back more than once just because there are so many ways to play…

The King of Fighters XIII Character Trailers (Yes, All NINE Of Them!)

Atlus, I love you so much, but this is ridiculous… in the best possible way. OK, I'll shut up now and let you get to watching all these brief HD trailers starting with the ladies first because I'm a nice guy. OK, Mai said she'd beat me up and I'm not into that rough stuff. Anyway, one here, eight below the jump. I COULD have done nine separate posts, but there's still a ton of stuff to tackle from other publishers (not to mention a review or two) and I don't want you all to think I'm a TOTAL Atlus freak or anything (he said, stroking his copy of Run Saber gently). Oh yeah, The King of Fighters XIII is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in October in HD with an incredible amount of new and updated features.Read more »