As someone who’s been looking forward to Lost Planet 3 since a bit of early demo hands-on time last year, I’m glad to see that Capcom rolled out the more recent demo at E3 for some live stream fun. As you can see here, it’s “only” about 50 minutes long if you bypass a lot of exploration in the base and zip through the hidden area quickly after the boss battle without dying, but it’s intriguing overall because Spark is promising even more thrills as the game progresses. Rig upgrades, some big boss battles and a story that should pack in a few surprises (despite the number in the title, it’s a PREQUEL to the first game, kids) might make this one a bit of a sleeper when it finally launches on August 27, 2013.
If there were any doubts that a new development team would sink the Arkham franchise, WB Games Montreal (taking over from Rocksteady) has killed those negative vibes dead and then some. Racking up all sorts of “Best of Show” awards, Batman Arkham Origins looks to takes gamers back to the beginning of the series on consoles PC and portable systems with a power-packed prequel that seems to show a meaner Dark Knight with some nice toys that should make the game a blast to play (although the poor thugs getting knocked together loaded with that explosive grapple gun are probably asking for some hazard pay). As usual, pre-ordering will be the way for those who want it to get that bonus content, but no one is twisting your arm. Unless you know something and Batman wants more info… “WHERE IS IT?!!” (twist!) “Ouch! OK, OK!! Um, Amazon or GameStop?”
– Yeah, that Batman does tend to get a wee it pushy, doesn’t he?
There’s really not much to say about Skylanders Swap Force other than it’s going to be a big winner this holiday season. New developer, new engine, updated HD visuals for current-gen consoles, new gameplay, characters and more all indicate that this will be the best game in the series to date. Add in the fact that yes, all those older figures will work with this game and it’s pretty much a given that no matter which platform you pick, the kids will be happy with what they’re getting. Of course, if you’re a kid at heart hooked into the Skylanders thing, you’re thrilled even more because your own allowance is much bigger and you can stock your shelves with every figure you can get your paws on and then some. Er, you do look a bit pale, though – the game isn’t out until October 13, 2013, you know… plenty of time to get outside and work on that tan. That sunshine DOES have a few benefits, you know…
Most new console and PC tech demos I’ve seen are frankly speaking, boring as hell once you get past the usual showoff effects and buzzword flashiness tossed around. Ooh, look at those thousands of boxes falling! The particle effects in that explosion look so REAL! My, that’s a lot of rubber duckies in that bathtub! That water ripples so realistically that I want to lick my screen (wipe off the dust first, please – a tongue full of yuk isn’t a good thing). On the other hand, there’s Quantic Dream and their story-based demos that manage to impress the eyes as well as the sense of wonder because you get something memorable on a few more important fronts all meshing in a way that makes you see where the future is headed when a developer who can follow up with more that pretty images is at the wheel.
Also, as you can see here, BEYOND: Two Souls is looking more and more remarkable with each reveal. David Cage and his team are making AAA games that matter in this era of bloated game development and game advertising budgets that disguise too many “mee-too” sequels. BEYOND is definitely unique on a few technical as well as gameplay fronts, so I’m hoping this one’s sold to and played by those who appreciate all the hard work that’s gone into making it.
Last year’s release of Telltale Games’ superb adventure game, The Walking Dead showed that there’s more life to the adventure genre than some critics and jaded gamers thought. The episodic horror hit garnered a number of Game of the Year nods and awards from all over the map and for its compelling narrative and its multiple path-driven gameplay and despite some gore and violence (that served the story, mind you) it seems many people who weren’t into gaming per se wanted to play this for the plot. Anyway, the game did well enough that of course, a new set of downloadable stories on the way and based on this trailer (and the pile of “Best of Show” awards the game has gotten, The Walking Dead – 400 Days looks to be more of the same great and frightening descent into a world gone completely insane. The key in both the last series and this one is it’s less about the zombies and more about those still living affected by them and those who may or may not die based upon the player’s actions.
In an interesting move, developer Skybound Entertainment is giving players five stories in one DLC episode this time out and the game is also set to hit multiple platforms (PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Xbox Live Arcade), meaning more will be playing it at the same time if the release date for all of those systems lines up. All those positive press vibes will be great for the developer and publisher as well as fans of the comic and TV series who want more (and GOOD) licensed content that stays true to the source material. I’m already practicing my reflexes, as those conversation-based timed events and action scenes can indeed be as scary as the story making your spine rattle. Back with more on this one soon…
Sure, you more jaded gamers drooling over every “next-gen” game until your eyeballs fall out of their sockets may be peeking at these EDF 2025 screens and rolling on the carpet laughing, but here’s a laugh back for you. This game will pack in more action, awesome gear and mindlessly addictive fun AND a planet-load of replay value that will make some of those other upcoming games cry. Especially the ones chopped up in bits of pay wall content that you CAN’T return at all because they’re digital-only “you buy it you’re stuck with it and even if you delete it it still shows up that you paid for it at one point ha-ha” content that even in a “trade” situation, only your little brother would touch it but his parental units won’t let him because it’s rated above his age. And besides, they won’t buy him that console anyway, no matter how much he wants it.
So yeah, EDF 2025 will pretty much rock. Thank you, D3Publisher and Sandlot! February is a long time away, though… oh well. Press release below the jump, not edited much as I’m busy… Continue reading →
Poland’s CD Projekt RED Studios is one of my favorite game developers because you can clearly see through their games that they really love what they’re doing and are determined to make everything they work on as great and immersive as humanly possible. This dedication to craft has made the first two games in The Witcher series stand out as watermarks in game design and art direction, so it’s no surprise that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is upping the ante in many significant ways on its way to being possibly one of the best modern multiplatform RPGs to date. Set for a 2014 release on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game, while still a work in progress looks absolutely stunning in screenshots and even more incredible in action to the point that you have to wonder what magical powers keep the dev team pouring out such ridiculously perfect work.
All my overblown hyperbole aside, this is a game that’s going to let it’s powerful anti-hero Geralt of Riva go anywhere and have layered adventures in a richly detailed world (35 times larger than the one in the already epic-sized one in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings) full of danger and no doubt quite a few memorable NPC encounters that add even more choices to how the game is played. The new combat system should please old and new players alike and yes, given that the game is assured a Mature rating, Geralt will get to play “pin the tail on the monster” in battle, slicing foes into bits or using his powerful spells to take them down with relish. We’ll probably also him get in some deftly edited romantic time with a few ladies, as the game has also never shied away from the man’s desires (nor those of some of the ladies he encounters in his travels).
Of course, fans of the series buy these games for more than Geralt’s sexytime antics. The story has always been the core of every game in the series and it’s guaranteed that this one will be another memorable chapter in Geralt’s history. Expect the always super voice acting and soundtrack packed with some lovely scored tunes and I’m betting even non-gamers will want to sit and watch this played just to take in the visuals or get wrapped up in a story filled with drama, mystery, well-timed humor when necessary and occasional bursts of violence. But let’s not get too far ahead here – I’ll run updates on this one as the developer puts them out. CDPR has a system seller here, there’s no doubt in my mind about that one bit…
It might seem like a small lineup to some, but it’s definitely coming on strong and packing a wallop for other, more longtime Capcom fans. I don’t even LIKE Super Smash Bros. (so sue me), but seeing Mega Man in there at the end and hearing those old 8-bit sound effects bought a big grin to my face. All I know is that shiny new HD version of the character had better be in a new game at some point next year that’s a mix of classic and current gameplay. Something like a Mega Man Legends Remix HD would be a REAL surprise if it could be made so, that’s all I’m saying… get to it already, guys.
As for Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara? It’s going to be awesome, although I need to wait a few more days until my Steam review code can be activated, as Steam hasn’t actually uploaded the game yet (boo!). Oh well – I’m too busy to get hooked on something new this week, so this is probably a good thing I’m NOT playing right now…
…But things go very far south very quickly if you’re not who they want to be in on their new console. Check out this pre-order info page and if your eyeballs aren’t rolling on the floor trying to find your jaw, you’re the guy or gal they want. Also note that currently, Japan and wow, every other primarily Asian county isn’t even on the list of supported territories, but given the Xbox and Xbox 360 not doing anywhere as well there as they did elsewhere, it’s going to be extremely interesting to see what exactly does happen if and when the Xbox One rolls out in these areas. Thanks to MXE Videos for this clip, as Microsoft has yet to run the full version of this on their own YouTube channel, instead preferring to chop it into smaller segments to show off the games and their respective reveals. I think it works best as a whole meal myself…
Yeah, it’s on, again. Eternally busy developer TT Games is really knocking it all over and out of the park with their LEGO games, and while LEGO Batman 2 was spectacular, this looks as if it will top it and yes, Marvel Comics fans are hopping up and down about this all over the place. That said, as much pure fun as these games are to play solo or co-op, I keep wondering when we’ll see TT do a SERIOUS super-hero game, as I can only imagine how cool an open world Marvel or DC game would be if it played like this and had the same amount of characters (or more) to choose from. No, some MMO doesn’t hack it for me – I’m an offline guy and an antisocial jerk, at that. Well, most of the time…
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