LEGO Batman 2 Is Going To Be Absolutely Great, But There’s Just One Thing Missing…

I’ve been thinking about this from the moment I found out how big the game was in terms on scope and amount of playable characters and after talking with a few people who feel the same way, well here you go. Sure, this will probably be the best-selling Lego game to date and TT Games has done a STELLAR job all around. That said, where’s the SERIOUS Batman/Justice League game in the vein of Arkham City? Imagine all that large and lovely real estate to roam around in and all that fast-paced action with a ridiculous number of regular looking (non-LEGO) DC characters? Heck, the dev team and publisher went to all the trouble to get tons of voice talent and cook up a bigger, much more coherent storyline this time, so I’m betting a lot of DC fans are probably on the same wavelength. OK, memo to WBIE, DC and TT – get to work on something like a Justice League Heroes follow-up that will appeal to those folks who somehow aren’t quite sold on another LEGO game (no matter how fun and awesome it is)…

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Update: Peter Cullen IS Optimus Prime Again…

And all is good in that way fans of the show would want it to be in the case of one of the key character voices. Frankly speaking, the game is looking so polished and excellent that they could have gotten Gilbert Gottfried to to ALL the voice work and it would still be worth paying full price for. Hmmm… that gives me an(other) crazy idea (dot, dot, dot).

Memo to Activision: maybe think about giving Gilbert a call and hell, get him to narrate the TV commercials while you’re at it. I know people who bought a Shoedini just because he was the voice talent in that infomercial. Or maybe not. Hey, I’m entitled to feeble attempts at both humor and dipping a toe into some PR person’s day to give them a chuckle from time to time…

Review: Sniper Elite V2

Platform: PlayStation 3 (also on Xbox 360)

Developer: Rebellion

Publisher: 505 Games

# of Players: 1 – 2

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A-

The crowded and set in its ways military shooter genre needs games like Sniper Elite V2 and developers like Rebellion just to remind gamers that sometimes, slower pacing and more methodical play can be as exciting or even more so that a constant thrill ride shooter with not much room to catch one’s breath. Here, the game (and aim) is all about taking time to survey, spot and shoot with just enough level and mission variety to keep things moving when they need to. You don’t have to have played the first Sniper Elite back on the PS2, Xbox, PC (or the more recent Wii port from about two years ago) to fully enjoy this game, but if you remember that sleeper and loved it, much of what’s here will feel familiar. An online-only co-op mode seems restrictive (and is, if you don’t use PSN), but it’s seamless and about as good as it gets, while the multiplayer also has a few cool touches that lift the game above the usual run & gunning extravaganzas other shooters deliver.

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E3 2012: Watch_Dogs Gameplay: Ubisoft Also Hits A Few Nerves Outside Of The Gaming Life…

Like nearly everyone else who saw it, I was floored when Ubisoft dropped Watch_Dogs into our collective consciousness at the end of its E3 press conference. Not only did they completely surprise people, they did so in the way things USED to be done in this industry. Win NO in house PR-generated “leaks” or overly annoying viral nonsense that keeps people who need to be more productive trolling around the Internet looking at teaser sites or playing with devices in useless mini-games that hint at what’s to come. Although amusingly enough, that’s probably one big way to market the game now that the beans have been spilled. Still, as great as the game looks and as amazing as the idea behind it is, something bugged the hell out of me when the demo was over…

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E3 2012: As A Game, Defiance Proves Me Wrong, But The Show Still Needs To Be Worth Watching…

 

OK, I’ll admit it. I wasn’t at ALL keen on Defiance from the moment I heard about it. Sure, Trion Worlds is known for some solid MMO experiences, but the fact that the game would be based on a show from the network that brings us crappy camp like Sharktopus and Jersey Shore Shark Attack! didn’t exactly make me comfortably assured about reliable quality control in regards to the upcoming TV series.  Sure, the Battlestar Galactica reboot was groundbreaking and great from the start , but as the song goes, “What Have You Done For Me Lately?”

Then I saw some gameplay and well, I had to eat my hat…

 

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E3 2012: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: One If By Land, Two If By Sea, Three If By Air…

While it’s not the first arcade-style racing game with transforming cars, it’s hard not to see the lineup of rides here and not want to fall over something running to grab a controller and get some fast track action in. I’m still confused as to exactly what to call this, as Sega keeps leaving out the SEGA in the title, but folks who’ve posted the video have put it back in (where it needs to be). I guess we’ll all need to see what the official word is, but as a Sega supporter since before a lot of you were born, I’m all for promoting that world famous name whenever possible. Go, SEGA!

E3 2012: Lost Planet 3 Trailer: I’ll Have Another Cold One, Thanks…

Capcom and developer Spark Unlimited are going back to the past to bring you the future with Lost Planet 3. Taking place before events in the first game, the mix of “older” tech, some new Akrid to fight and a few tweaks to the gameplay formula (while ditching what didn’t work in part two) could just make this one a sleeper hit. Just don’t get it mixed up with Dead Space 3 (as that installment gets a cold and wintry planet to explore as well as huge bosses to battle) and you’ll do fine…

E3 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown Trailer: It’s Your Turn Soon Enough…

Even with all those big name , bigger deal AAA shooters out there, turn-based strategy gaming has never really gone away, but it’s just nice to see it getting more notice with higher profile releases such as Firaxis’ upcoming relaunch of one of the best PC games in the genre. I can most definitely recommend giving this one a go even if your only dip into the genre has been something along the line of Advance Wars or other lower stress SRPGs. If this new game is as deep and fun as the original, 2K has a surefire hit that will be played and replayed for ages.

E3 2012: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Cinematic #2: It Just Keeps Getting Bigger & Better…

Truth be told, this game REALLY doesn’t need any CG trailers at all, as the gameplay itself looks pretty amazing. That and the Megaplex reveal we all saw was more than enough to make plenty of people want to trow more money at Activision and keep High Moon Studios in business. City-sized robot? Oh yeah, that’s going to be a ton (or a few million tons) or awesome.

E3 2012: Dead or Alive 5 Trailer: As Long As It Makes Me Forget About That Film…

With Virtua Fighter characters on board (thank you Sega!), the crossover appeal here is off the charts unless you’re a total purist with no sense of fun in your bones. I say give this a shot just to see what the mix of fighting styles plays like. Heck, you already know it’s going to be one of the best-looking fighters on the market, so I say trust the gameplay as well. I don’t think you’ll be too disappointed at the end of the day…