Sleeping Dogs Update: “Made In Hong Kong” Doesn’t Mean It’s Cheap…

Posted on May 24, 2012 by geelw

It’s really looking as if Square Enix and developer United Front Games are going to have one of those ridiculously FUN games to play in Sleeping Dogs. Personally, I though the True Crime games were undercooked and a bit too derivative of certain other games on the market at the time, but as a reboot and potential new franchise, SD has nothing but too many cool Hong Kong action flicks to look up to. I think as long as the combat isn’t as slippery and funky as it was in Stranglehold and the story is well done, this one’s going to be a keeper. We shall see, as always…

Lollipop Chainsaw “Special Edition” Ad: Juliet’s Not Going To Let You Play Unless You Play Nice…

Posted on May 23, 2012 by geelw

Director (and co-creator of the game) James Gunn has an amusing answer to the fanboys out there drooling all over Juliet and thinking this game is ALL about exploitation and bouncy cheerleaders and junk like that. This clip made me laugh quite a lot, but I’d bet some of the harder-headed types on either side of the fence might not see the funny here. Go Juliet!

LEGO Batman 2 Trailer: You Can Call it “Arkham Cutie” If You Like…

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

Soooo, it’s an open-world game in the Arkham City vein (but not as dark, of course), AND it has fully voiced characters (for the first time ever in a LEGO game? Traveler’s Tales is doing their best work to date and sweet. I get to play this tomorrow at an event here in NYC. But, Ruh-Roh! I’ll be there with a bunch of kids and their parents around ruining my day when they have to drag their bawling offspring away from the controllers. Feh. I’m stocking up on hand sanitizer and wearing my “step away from that controller, kid!” face tomorrow (complete with a growly Chris Bale voice for good measure), is all I’m saying…. That, and staying the hell away from any snacks put out. Nothing like a plate of picked over cookies and fruit, right? Ewww… OK, breathe…. breathe…. it’s the Year of the Bat, it’s the Year of the Bat… Damn kids…

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Deep Dive # 2: Know Your Enemy (Which Would Make Them LESS Unknown, Right?)

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

Hokay, kids… I’m still buried under a bunch of games and stuff, so here’s an XCOM developer diary to ogle. October 9, 2012 is the release date for Firaxis’ turn-based strategy game and yes, it’s looking cooler by the moment. Granted, trying to please EVERY fan of the classic game series (or any series) for that matter in a total impossibility, but as someone who was around for the original game, I’m happy with what I’m seeing here and elsewhere. And hey 2K! Keep that other XCOM game in the pot, cranky comments from elsewhere or not. You spent a ton of loot making it, so you may as well finish it and get it shipped, I say. As long as it’s FUN, I won’t mind anything else…

What You Should Be Doing This Week…

Posted on May 21, 2012 by geelw

Playing Dragon’s Dogma, of course. Capcom has cooked up a slow burning yet surprisingly addictive and fun open world dungeon crawler that’s guaranteed to make even the most skeptical “Japanese developers can’t make western games” message board denizen stand up and take notice. Sure, it’s got some flaws here and there, but the mix of open-world exploration (and it’s a HUGE world), tough monsters (if you’re not prepared, you’ll die early and often) and a great Pawn system (something I’ve wanted to see in a RPG for years) makes this a pretty solid RPGs. Granted, it takes a while to get off the ground in terms of story, but I understand there’s a hell of a finale and unlike some sites, I’m not about to post impressions until I get there.

OK, I need to stop typing and play some more. I’m guessing my review will go up by the end of the week, as I’m taking my time and exploring as much as possible. Also, for the record, I haven’t installed the game on my 360 (My HDD is out of room thanks to too may other games I’m playing), but I’m not seeing any major frame rate issues at all. Just some screen tearing and pop-in on stuff, but that’s a common thing that’s not going to affect my scoring…

Back in a bit…

Dishonored Preview: Arkane Studios and Bethesda Are Cooking Up An Instant Classic

Posted on May 20, 2012 by geelw

With its innovative gameplay, distinctive look inspired by classic illustrators such as N.C. Wyeth and Charles Dana Gibson, an incredible cityscape created by Visual Design Director Viktor Antonov with Art Director Sébastien Mitton and the rarefied air of a product that knows how great it’s going to be to those who “get” it, Dishonored has shot up to the top of the list of games I really want to play (and see succeed in this era of sequels and retreads). Arkane Studios has been going full steam ahead with this all-new PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 IP, a single player focused and yes, story-driven game that allows players do tackle missions in just about any way they desire. Without a multiplayer mode in sight (thankfully), Arkane is showing that a strong story and stronger gameplay can do wonders for an industry where relying or retreading popular multiplayer modes has decimated some games and genres into a depressingly generic formula year after year.

Continue reading →

Dragon’s Dogma Arrives To Take Me Away From Hell For A Bit…

Posted on May 18, 2012 by geelw

Nice. I wasn’t expecting this to show up this evening, but well, here you go. First impressions: I can’t say, as the reviews are embargoed until MONDAY, but the title music cracked me up (let the first one play out and wait for the second, nicer theme). I’ve only put less than an hour in and yes, the game is quite a bit of fun and packed with detail and hidden loot. It’s a COMPLETELY different vibe than what some of you are probably thinking, but again – that’s content for the review.

OK, let me shut up and get back to it for a bit. I’ll be writing about something else in the next few posts so I don’t spoil any more…

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Is Pleased To Introduce Itself (Say Hi!)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by geelw

[youtube+http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMmwOhdLdfk]

It’s funny writing out the ENTIRE name of this upcoming sequel each time I post about it, but being lazy and abbreviating it to DEM2:TPoT is actually worse. Anyway, here’s a look at what’s in store for this next installment, from the co-op play to the big musical numbers and refined camera system. It would be awesome to see the first game get fixed up in HD for the PS3 and 360, but I don’t think that’s in the cards anytime soon, if at all. For those who still haven’t played it because you don’t own a Wii, ah, go buy one already! There are a bunch of very cool games on the system and you’d be surprised at how not EVERY motion control game is a dance or exercise game that will make you trow fits because not a shot is fired and there are no explosions (other than the top of your head popping off from touching a Wii Remote)…

Dragon’s Dogma “Pawns Unleashed” Trailer: And Hardcore Pawns, At That…

Posted on May 16, 2012 by geelw

A ha ha ha, I’ll be here all week, folks – two dollar cover, two drink minimum…. Anyway, the game ships out soon and it looks as if it’ll be successful despite the crankypants-ing about the paid DLC being on the disc to be unlocked at a later date. Hey, I don’t care as long as the main game is long enough to keep me not griping about having to pay for more. Capcom just needs to say “Hey, it’s basically the way things are done today”, or “we’re not the only ones doing it,” or “it’s an “expansion pack” that’s not on a separate disc”… and so forth and so on. Or maybe it’s time for a shift to more transparency throughout the entire industry, as they’re far from the ONLY publisher doing this. Of course, if the game does well enough, I expect to see a Game of the Year edition with everything unlocked. Right Capcom?

Lollipop Chainsaw TV Ad: Just About All You Can See During Primetime…

Posted on May 16, 2012 by geelw

I really like that WBIE didn’t fall over themselves trying to whip up a tame and unremarkable commercial for Grasshopper’s upcoming game. Yes, if you’ve been ogling the trailers before, you’ve seen most or all of this footage already. But this spot isn’t for YOU, silly rabbits. It’s for those folks who haven’t pre-ordered on heard of the game for some reason and are seeing all that weirdness for the first time. Hell, I’d buy this if I saw this ad and didn’t know a thing about the game just for the comedy bits alone. I predict a nice summer for Juliet if the game does well (and everyone involved will be happy as well)…