Gallery Update: Splatterhouse

Posted on February 25, 2010 by geelw

Well, well, well… Namco Bandai’s upcoming relaunch of their seminal horror/action franchise is looking mighty tasty lately and very much improved over those screens from a few months back. Look at all that ketchup – yum! Rick is looking beefy, the monsters are meaty and the red stuff most certainly paints the floors, walls and pretty much everything else.

“This time, we didn’t forget the gravy…” indeed. Q3 2010 can’t come soon enough for me, that’s for sure.

Now, if only NamBan remembers the hardcore fans and actually sticks the arcade version on the game disc somewhere as well as make the great Sega Genesis sequels available as DLC (or heck, on the disc… pretty pleeeeeeeeeeeeease?), this one just might be near perfect… or as good as it gets for us Splatterhouse junkies.

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Review: Divinity II: Ego Draconis

Posted on January 6, 2010 by geelw

Platform: Xbox 360 (also on PC)

Developer: Larian Studios

Publisher: CDV

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B+

Featuring a vast game world fun to explore,
many quests to take (or perhaps ignore),
Divinity II, that new Larian lore
more than deserves the posted score

It’s got some quirks (but don’t games all?)
mayhaps a patch will raise things tall
Still, for adventure, heed well my call
What’s here is tops from wall to wall!

Plain old good to flat out great RPG’s make me wax poetic from time to time and as it deftly straddles the fence between those two poles, Divinity II: Ego Draconis gets 2010 off to a fine start in grand style for genre fans. Sure, it wears some of its PC origins on it sleeve a bit too proudly, yet the game is quite addictive and indeed, very highly playable for hours on end. Despite some pesky technical issues that rear their ugly heads, the game is also often quite good to look at provided you aren’t wistfully recalling something else while playing. Warts and all, you can’t knock developer Larian Studios for bringing this sequel to the stellar 2001 PC RPG Divine Divinity to the 360. The first game was an instant classic (it’s been an automatic install on the three PC’s I’ve had since 2001) and what’s here comes very close to being equally as fun an experience. If you’re looking for depth and a flat out huge and fun world to explore, Div II delivers and lets you keep the change.

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The Dragon Has Landed!

Posted on December 30, 2009 by geelw

So, I’m walking in the door on this wickedly freezing day and the Fed Ex guy pops up out of nowhere from behind me and almost scares me to death with his big grin and package waving ways. Seems I was his last stop and he was more than happy to see me, as it meant he got to finally go home.

Anyway, my review copy of Divinity II Ego Draconis hath arrived, so I now have New Year’s Eve plans. Yeesh – I KNEW I should have finished that preview a few weeks back!

Tempus Fugit, that’s for damn sure!

Ah well. Early impressions from the preview builds: the game is pretty damn good. The final versions should be better. Off to get in some more flight time… Back in a bit with an update.

Review: Dragon Age: Origins

Posted on December 24, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360

Developer: BioWare

Publisher: EA

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A

Has BioWare ever made a bad game? I’m inclined to shout a defiant “No” towards the heavens, as I’ve enjoyed everything they’ve ever done, warts and all. Hell, I may be somewhat biased here, but at least I’m definitely right (that’s a little in-joke, by the way). Anyway, in terms of their RPG output, the company has a superb track record with everything from the Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights games to Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and even oddities such as Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Of course, their two current console projects, the upcoming Mass Effect 2 and the recently released Dragon Age: Origins will be the games on RPG fans’ lips and minds for quite some time thanks to the developer’s ability to craft completely different sub-genres while consistently bringing gamers superb storytelling and deep, challenging gameplay.

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TRON: Evolution Teaser Trailer

Posted on December 15, 2009 by geelw

Hmmm… This definitely looks pretty interesting and it’s a great teaser, for sure. I’m ancient enough to recall seeing the original film a few times during it’s first run back in 1982 and catching it on cable as many times as possible back in the day. Propaganda Games might have a sleeper here, provided the game goes beyond what the film brings to the table.

Divinity II: Eco Draconis Pre-Order Goodness + One Awesome Contest…

Posted on November 23, 2009 by geelw

Larian Studios’ surprisingly stellar epic follow-up to its 2001 RPG, Divine Divinity (my hands-on preview will be up this coming weekend) is coming to the Xbox 360 and PC on January 5, 2010 and lucky Xbox 360 owners will be able to snag a neat set of powerful gear if they boogie on down to their nearest GameStop to pre-order the game. Check out the goodies below the jump…

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Sega Offers Up Bayonetta 360 Demo Chance Get!

Posted on November 7, 2009 by geelw

Jump on this, folks: 40,000 very lucky Xbox 360 owners will get the chance to play through this killer demo early. If you want in on this, go sign up here for your free SegaPass. You can thank me later.

Left 4 Dead 2 TV Spot #2

Posted on November 6, 2009 by geelw

Nice. 10 million zombies, huh? Given the pace of the recently released demo, it sure feels like it! November 17 is zooming up faster than you think…

Thanks to Prima, Dragon Age: Origins Quizzes Me Somewhat…

Posted on November 3, 2009 by geelw

Well, then – according to this Prima Guides Dragon Age: Origins Quiz, I’m a Warrior! Eeek. I hate playing “tanks” in RPGs. Give me a ranged weapon and some good spells to keep the beasties at bay and I’m a happy camper. We shall see, however, we shall see… The game is out NOW, so I hope you pre-ordered!