R-Type Dimensions Trailer: Bydo Empire Returns, Hard As Ever To Take Down One More Time…

Posted on May 9, 2014 by geelw

Ah, R-Type and R-Type II. I have many fond and not so fond memories of trying to beat you both way back in the day in the arcades and at home on a few consoles and you always getting the better of me until that one day when everything clicked, the sun was in the right spot in the sky and I had enough adrenaline to survive those pesky enemies and out-blast those bosses to a few victories. Well, I’m older and slower and don’t play many arcade shooters these days, but I see you’re BACK for revenge, this time in R-Type Dimensions on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 on May 20 in North America (and May 21 across supported European territories). I also see that not only are you bringing the pain with the original arcade versions, you’re also packing heat with a remade high-resolution 3D visuals and an all new soundtrack to go with those spiffy looks.

My fingers are now tingling and my brain is percolating up remembrances of tactics past. Yeah, that’s right… I’m coming back to get you damn Bydo Empire jerks and blast you into alien scrap a few times too many. Well, once I do maybe ten thousand push-ups and go through my collection of Irem shmups with a side slide into some Toaplan titles. Practice, practice, practice! You’re going DOWN, you two… AGAIN, grrrrr!

Moon Chronicles On Nintendo 3DS: Much More Than A Remake Of A Great Sleeper Hit…

Posted on May 9, 2014 by geelw

Back in 2009, developer Renegade Kid released MOON, a fine little Nintendo DS exclusive first person sci-fi adventure game/shooter hybrid that got decent reviews and was a fun solo game with some nice twists and turns as it progressed. The team at RK is still around making games and is revisiting their game as a remade and expanded four part episodic eShop download-only experience that’s sure to draw attention on a few fronts. First and foremost, yes, that trailer above and those screenshots below are a bit fuzzy, but the resolution on the Nintendo 3DS (particularly the 3DSXL) is greater than what’s seen here (as you know if you own the handheld) and the game will run at a slick 60 frames per second even with the 3D effect all the way up.

Secondly, the game being split into chapters means players will have some added suspense to their gaming lives as each new episode is revealed. The original game wasn’t one to be blown through quickly, as it was deliberately paced to be played in small chunks. So the digital delivery method using the eShop is s great move on that front. Granted, gamers who still don’t care for digital content probably won’t be convinced they need this game, but this is a case of supporting a developer that’s always gotten the most out of the hardware they develop for and like the DS version, Moon Chronicles looks to be a technical showpiece for the 3DS (as well as one of the few first-person shooters on the handheld). Episode One drops this summer (price and release date both TBA) and after the other three chapters are released, RK has a second “season” in the works for what they’re now calling an “on-going episodic saga”.

I’m liking this a lot, but I really want to see what RK can do with more powerful hardware. MOON Chronicles on the Vita would probably be quite spectacular and pack and even more impressive visual punch, especially if it’s running at 60fps with even nicer lighting and shadow effects. Anyway, my pipe dreams will continue some other time. More on this one as news drops in – stay tuned…

Alien Isolation “Creating the Cast” Trailer: Who’s Who Before All That Screaming And Dying Starts…

Posted on May 8, 2014 by geelw

Once again, it’s fantastic to see all the hard work going into making Alien Isolation a game worth watching. In case it hasn’t been made clear yet, this isn’t a run ‘n gun shooter or one more generic jump scare-filled horror game at all, but a project that’s hopefully going to be seen by fans of the series to fit like a glove in between the first and second films. Sure, that Colonial Marines game may be infamous on a few fronts, but AI will hopefully erase all those negative memories by being a completely different experience in every way. The game is coming to PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on October 7, 2014, so keep an eye peeled if you’re liking what you see in all these behind the scenes trailers…

BUY IT! Transistor Pre-Orders Begin: PSN & Steam Will Be Busy Buzzing On 5/20…

Posted on May 8, 2014 by geelw

Short and sweet: you NEED to play Transistor. Preorder links are live on the Supergiant Games site – the game will be $19.99 for PC via STEAM or PlayStation 4 via PSN. As far as i can tell, there’s no Mac version as of yet, you Apple-heads!.

And yes, there’s a soundtrack pre-order as well. Get both the game and soundtrack to support these guys, I say!

This Humble Weekly Bundle Night Dives Into The Past With Some Great Classics

Posted on May 8, 2014 by geelw

Wow. Three great epic role-playing games, four horror-themed adventures (including one based on a great, gloomy Harlan Ellison story), a sci-fi/horror hybrid first-person shooter still seen as one of the best games ever made and while not quite a classic, a dark and disturbing action/shooter that’s worth a play just to see how bizarre it gets? Sounds like a buy if you ask me. Anyway, Wizardry 6, 7 and 8 plus System Shock 2 are more than worth the price it takes to unlock them and everything else is just the gravy on that cake. I actually liking this bundle because of Harvester, a supremely twisted point & click adventure game that doesn’t shy away from the David Lynch-like weirdness and some mildly to pretty shocking gore effects (which are cheap looking even by 1996 standards, but still effective):

Amusingly enough, the charities this bundle supports are Child’s Play and The American Red Cross (ha and ha, ha). Anyway, this one’s only available for a limited time (6 days, 19 hours as I type this), so GRAB IT before it’s gone!

Shadowgate is Back? Welcome To Your (Highly Enjoyable) Doom!

Posted on May 6, 2014 by geelw

Okay, I’m kind of terminally slow on the crowdfunding front because I have neither the time to look at EVERY project that clogs my inbox nor all the money I’d LOVE to donate to all those cool looking games and products I do look at.

In other words, I had NO idea the original developer was remaking this well aged absolute classic adventure game for current computers (and yes, Macs, iOS and Android devices as well). Based on the art and screens here plus that lovely pre-order trailer, I’m betting fans of this old chestnut are grinning madly as the game’s release looms closer and closer…

“The last thing that you remember is standing before the wizard Lakmir as he gestured wildly and chanted in an archaic tongue. Now you find yourself staring at an entryway which lies at the edge of a forest.”

So begins the classic anew, this time relaunched with many new features and as developer Zojoi states clearly, this isn’t a simple port at all, but a whole new take on the original that expands the adventure in every aspect. As you can see below, the classic adventure game retains the use of static art screens to tell its tale, but Shadowgate has never, ever looked this spectacular because these even more gorgeous screens add motion to the story.

A game overview, screenshots and concept art are all below the jump, as I don’t want to keep you from pre-ordering this ASAP. ogling them can wait a minute or two… Continue reading →

God of War Collection On Vita: Kratos May Be Smaller, But He’s Still Killing It Big Time…

Posted on May 6, 2014 by geelw

It’s not surprising to finally see the two PlayStation 2 God of War games coming to the Vita, but what is surprising is the delivery method. In addition to the usual PSN download, this new double pack (available NOW!) is getting a retail release with both games on a Vita memory stick.

Yes, both will be HD remastered and yes, Trophies are added to both games, meaning you folks who love them will be hunting down every one even if you’ve played both games to death and beyond many times. Now, all we need is a Vita exclusive GoW game or some even more massive set that packs the PSP, PS3 and oddball mobile game from a few years back onto a disc or memory stick and the collectors out there will keel over backwards because it’ll be one more thing to snap up.

This. May. Not. Be. Sparta (!!!!), but it’s an action-packed romp twice over that’s not for the kiddies and has a great, bleak story for those who like their heroes anti and of the non-stop angry variety. Kratos has his reasons for being so terminally pissed off, but I’ll leave those for you new to the games to find out what those are…

Bound By Flame Launch Trailer: There’ll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town This Friday…

Posted on May 6, 2014 by geelw

Spiders’ next game is (almost) here and I’m actually quite eager to give it a play through, as they’re a developer that’s done a number of great looking games with interesting play mechanics that while not flawless, showed a ton of promise with each project. Bound By Flame looks like a labor of love and the next step for the developer, as it’s their first “next-gen” game for the PlayStation 4 as well as being on PS3 and Xbox 360. Of course, PC gamers will say they’re getting the “best” version (and they’d be right in terms of visuals), but for me, at the end of the day, it’s gameplay that makes the game, not running the game with all the settings maxed and showing off what that graphics card you have can do. The visuals look nice on anything I’ve seen this on, the music (by Olivier Derivière) and voice acting are excellent and the combat looks like an interesting mix of a few games. Of course, videos are one thing, but there’s nothing like some controller time to see how it’s all come together. Well, May 9th is the day, so I guess I’ll see what’s up with this one then…

Gallery: Monstrum – Junkfish Wants To Make You Seasick of Monsters Trying To Kill You…

Posted on May 5, 2014 by geelw

So, Monstrum, huh? Let’s see now: You’re a passenger on an abandoned ship with only a flashlight and maybe some flares and there’s a second “passenger” on board that happens to be a bit of a monster who you don’t want to run into. You need to find a way off the ship or die trying and if you DO die, it’s for good and the next game starts you out all over again with a fresh layout to get lost in? Did I mention there are assorted traps and dangerous stuff scattered about to beware of? Well, there are! Anyway, count me in and I’ll be the first to pat the team at Junkfish on the collective back for cooking up yet another horror game I want to dive into for a spell. Granted, I won’t be able to play it on anything but my current aging PC (for now), but the team is making the game compatible with the upcoming Oculus Rift virtual reality peripheral, a process that’s making for some really interesting blog posts.

Anyway, creepy and noisy video above – five alpha screens below. The game is due out in the fall, I believe. As the Rift isn’t (ha ha), I’d imagine it will be playable without it. I should ask for a demo to try out, shouldn’t I? Oh, I don’t know why I do this to myself, as I always get freaked out and end up sleeping in the kitchen sink or on top of the refrigerator…

Alien Isolation “Lo-Fi Sci-Fi” Trailer: The Future? Same Problems As The Past (You Need Four Hands For Everything!)…

Posted on May 5, 2014 by geelw

Eeek. I actually MISSED posting the Alien Isolation update from April. Oops. Hey, it happens with all these games coming out, kids. Anyway, how fitting that this video is about the low-tech equipment used in the game and the lower tech methods developer The Creative Assembly used to get parts of the game looking quite analog. I love this behind the scenes stuff and you have to appreciate that old techniques work as well as (or even better in this case) than just doing everything on a computer to FAKE video footage that looks garbled and yep, “lo-fi”. October 7, 2014, folks. Carve out some time for this one – it’s turning out really special…