More DAYLIGHT? Yeah, You’ll Be Wishing For The Sun, Alright…

Posted on March 8, 2014 by geelw

So, DAYLIGHT will be one reason for me to break down and finally get a PS4, as I love games like this with endless replay value. Jump scares don’t really do much for me, but I do like games that work so well at making you too freaked out to go on that you want to just STOP playing, but someone else in the room or your own stubborn nature makes you push onwards (and not necessarily past that fear, either). I’d missed this video below from January, but as you can see, even Atlus’ own staff and testers are getting broken in (and broken down) quite well:

Yep, I’m playing this with the damn lights ON, thank you much. In newer news, the game will support 3D play out of the case using RealD technology, and PlayStation Multimedia support is also included which means a whole suite of ridiculous options will be on board for those who love messing with people online in a few “fun” ways. Click below the jump for more info!

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Gallery Update: Cloudbuilt’s Looking More And More Like A Winner…

Posted on March 8, 2014 by geelw

Well, well, well… New Cloudbuilt screens have arrived! Check them out:

Just look at them. Lovely, aren’t they? If Coilworks’ awesome free-run/shooter/platformer Cloudbuilt doesn’t win some awards this year, I’m hanging up my controllers and packing it in for good as a gamer. This is a game I so WANT to succeed if only for the fantastic art direction and fact that it’s just too much fun for PC gamers to have all to themselves. Think of Mirror’s Edge, Gunvalkyrie, and a bunch of classic 8 and 16-bit action games all wrapped up in a neat little (and HIGHLY challenging) package. Then again, the game is ALL about pinpoint control and making the best of mistakes as there’s a way out of almost any bad jump, boost or wall dash provided you have keen reflexes and don’t panic. Continue reading →

Dragon Age Inquisition Update: Oh, The Places You’ll Go (And Stare At For Far Too Long)…

Posted on March 7, 2014 by geelw

Lovely. While I wasn’t enamored with Dragon Age II‘s overuse of environments and SUPER truncated finale, that first game was quite spectacular through and through. The third game looks pretty mighty to behold in these trailers, but I’m hoping we see more open environments that beg to be explored like a real world spot where you want to stop and smell the virtual roses (without getting jumped by a pack of monsters or highwaymen). We’ll see soon enough, but I’m going to go out on a limb and trust BioWare has learned from keeping an ear to the ground for fan feedback by now that more is always better thing when it comes to freedom in how one plays their RPGs…

Dark Souls II PC Screens: Prepare To BUY Is More Like It, Folks…

Posted on March 7, 2014 by geelw

Yeah, yeah, the modders will have their fun with the game once the PC version drops and they hack in some more “realistic” visuals for those who want them, but I love FromSoftware’s original vision for this soon to be released sequel. PC owners also get some nice content bonuses for pre-ordering (this version of the game ships out on April 25, a month and two weeks after the console versions (eek!), so there’s still time to grab this from a few online and retail locations). Click away below the jump for some press release action with the gory details. I’m backlogged in posting today and actually got in some books I need to read and review, so I’m kind of swamped…

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LUFTRAUSERS: Old School Looks Meets Bullet Hell. Everybody Wins…

Posted on March 5, 2014 by geelw

Well, well, well. I’d not heard of this snappy little arcade indie game until earlier today, but as soon as I saw that teaser above, I had a nice flashback to the days of dropping too many quarters into a bunch of cabinets in a few too many places week after week. From watching this craziness once, I got a nice blend of Toaplan’s ancient classic Fire Mustang, a few Cave shooters galore, bits of Asteroids, Galaga and so forth and so on now rolling around in my head. I think I need to review this now. PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PC, Mac, and Linux users will all be grinning like maniacal monkeys with twitchy hands soon, as the game has a March 18 release date. Vlambeer’s got another sneaky little hit on their hands here and I’d expect it will hit all the right notes with shump fans looking for a highly customizable and crazy, challenging ride… Continue reading →

Akiba’s Trip 2: Undead & Undressed PS3, Vita Bound This Summer (THANKS, Xseed!)

Posted on March 5, 2014 by geelw

Well, now… this is cool news. I’d been meaning to check out one of the imports when I got the chance, but now I don’t need to thanks to Xseed Games (again!). They’re releasing the second game, AKIBA’S TRIP 2 in North America as AKIBA’S TRIP: Undead & Undressed, on the PlayStation 3 em and PlayStation Vita in summer 2014. The game is an adventure game/action RPG that pits you up against modern day vampiric creatures called “Synthisters” in a extremely well-rendered digital version of Tokyo’s world-famous electronics district, Akihabara where beating their clothes off and exposing them to sunlight is the only means of destroying them.

Yeah, it’s VERY strange in that manner some of the more offbeat Japanese games can be, so hats off to Xseed for grabbing this for localization. Funny, it actually took me until a few minutes ago to see that the title is a fun play on words, as “Akiba” is the abbreviation for Akihabara and “Strip” is just what you’ll be doing to those vampires in the game. Ha! Well, this one also goes on the radar for a look-see later on when more info comes out – stay tuned…

SOMA Update: Theta of the Absurd, Getting Creepier By The Second…

Posted on March 5, 2014 by geelw

Okay, my pun-like reflexes are a bit sad and lonely today, but that’s what happens when you just finish hanging a bunch of laundry and haven’t had that second cup of joe yet. Anyway, Frictional Games’ upcoming PS4 and PC exclusive, SOMA is looking quite nice in this latest clip and while the game won’t be done for a while, it’s looking like one to watch as it progresses. I still want Frictional to give the world a FIEND update, as that scary little top-down horror gem deserves a nice modern update at some point. Although, not that I think about it… I’m not sure if I’d prefer a first-person viewpoint, as you could see all those damned deadly holes you could avoid falling to your death into with the bird’s eye view. Eh, we’ll see what happens in the future when we arrive. SOMA’s the game to concentrate on for the moment…

Lumber Island Chapter Two: Two Bucks Gets You Scared Half To Death? That’s A Buy!

Posted on March 4, 2014 by geelw

Dean Forge’s unsettling little Unity game, Lumber Island just got an update with a new chapter that worth picking up if you like scary game experiences that have you off kilter from the start. In the first chapter, your character wakes up on a rowboat that’s headed for a dark and not so deserted island and has to deal with a frightening… thing out in the night that seems to want him very dead. The fact that you had no clue as to why you woke up in that boat in the first place coupled with the darkness and disorientation that comes from arriving in a new place in such an abrupt manner made the game a sleeper for me, and this sequel looks even more chilling.

That and those eerie notes that you find that spell out bits of the back story make this a fine little read as well as a game best played in the dark (headphones on at your peril, as you’ll probably keel over dead if someone walks into the room behind you and taps you on the shoulder). At only $1.99 (but you know you NEED the first chapter for an extra $1.99, right?), this one will keep your spine shaking so much for about four to six hours that you won’t even be able to move around using that mouse and keyboard. Yeah, you KNOW you want it… so go get it already!

Batman Arkham Knight Reveal Trailer: Rocksteady Is Back With A Killer Finale…

Posted on March 4, 2014 by geelw

Yeah, yeah… it’s JUST a CG trailer and not gameplay, but this year’s E3 will probably feature a bigger reveal of that which everyone wants to see. Only two things bugged me about this otherwise drool-worthy teaser. One: A voice mail message from Thomas Wayne? Hmmm… TOO convenient and somewhat corny in a way, but I’ll forgive the team if they twist that up into a villain being behind that ruse or something like that. Two: Catwoman. Where is she? I think she NEEDS her own game to play around in just to wash the residue of that gawdawful Halle Berry flick and even worse video game from about a decade ago or so. I still cringe when I think of how lousy both were (sorry, Halle!).

Anyway, I do hope we see Cats in her own game at some point, as she could be a more empowering character (and not a cara-cat-ure, ha!) than even Lara Croft is if done right. Other than that, a Batmobile we can drive in this one is fantastic and makes me thing Knight will have a more GTA-like open map to get around in, something the series has been needing since Arkham City. Given that Lego Batman 2 did the open world thing quite well (albeit in a campier manner), Rocksteady is on the right track with what’s looking like a game with even more replay value. Back with more on this biggie soon…

South Park: The Stick of Truth Now Available: Obsidian’s Got A Solid Hit, It Seems…

Posted on March 4, 2014 by geelw

I normally avoid reading other reviews until after I write my own, but the two I’ve seen for this game are pretty favorable and only knock the game for some bugs and technical issues that need patching up and some repetition in attack animations (a common complaint for RPGs for ages). This bodes well for developer Obsidian and publisher Ubisoft, who rescued the game from oblivion after original publisher THQ folded a few years back. Now, if only Obsidian could get a few more RPGs made using a similar combat engine (but a different visual style), I’d be even happier. Well, this goes on the buy list and in the “Play It!” queue (which has grown by a few too many titles as of late).