Asura’s Wrath Demo Is Alive & Kicking (and Punching) Over PSN/Xbox Live

Posted on January 11, 2012 by geelw

POW! With its February 21, 2012 release right around the corner, CyberConnect2’s paradigm-changing cinematic action game finally gets a playable demo and it’s purely insane earth-shaking stuff of the gods. And it’s funny as hell, too. Go play it and enjoy the crazy ride it takes you on. Capcom’s got a mega hit here that deserves a wide audience, so hopefully folks who think games like GOD HAND are the best thing since sliced bread will be all over this and tell as many friends as possible how cool it all is. What, you’re still reading this post? Don’t you have a demo to download? Go on, shoo!

Gallery: Phantom Breaker

Posted on January 7, 2012 by geelw

With 2D fighting games on somewhat of a roll these days, it’s nice to see yet another developer enter the fray with a sweet-looking console title. Set to be published in North America this February by 7sixty Games, Phantom Breaker is an Xbox 360 exclusive from developer 5bp that, according to the press release, “takes its cue from classic 2D brawlers, offering a host of spectacular special moves, high-impact combos and a counter system that’s easy to pick up but takes a lifetime to master…” I’m pretty awful at fighting games compared to the top masters out there, but I do love excellent sprite-based artwork like the stuff found in the game trailer and screens below.

Also, for the collectors out there, the game will be available in a Special Edition that includes a mini strategy guide, desk calendar featuring characters from the game and two double-sided posters. Amazon has this listed at $39.99 (which is a steal for a nice set like that), so make sure to pre-order this pack if this looks like something you’ll be down with. Check out the game’s Facebook page and sign up if you like what you see – 14 pretty cool screenshots await below the jump…

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Soulcalibur V Goes Gold (Well, Yesterday), In Stores 1/31

Posted on January 6, 2012 by geelw

OK, I’m a bit behind in news (what else is new?) – anyway, controversy over a rather silly ad I won’t run here aside (when will game companies learn that using boobs to sell an otherwise fine fighting game is a no-no in this era of gamer equality), the game is looking sharp and should be another fine installment once players get used to the new stuff Project Soul has added. I’m not sure how I feel about Ezio from the Assassin’s Creed games being in the mix, but hey – it’s better than Yoda, Darth Vader and a few of the other guest stars that have popped up in the series (although they all were fun to use, mind you).

And yes, there will be a number of special pre-order bonus items available, based on which retailer you’re headed to. Press release with info on that below the jump…

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2K Games Announces XCOM: Enemy Unknown In Development At Firaxis

Posted on January 5, 2012 by geelw

Well, well, well… I’m actually not as surprised about this news because I kind of predicted it last year, but there’s no doubt this will quell somewhat the overblown nerd rage significantly against the other XCOM title in development SO many want to hate without having even played it. Still, I have to ask if this is also being done to appease investors who went nuts based on any doom and gloom forecasting about the potential low sales of the more controversial game.OK, maybe that’s my tinfoil hat sparking too much with conspiracy lightning, but it does strike me as odd that this is Game Informer’s HUGE exclusive in a year that’s going to be packed to the gills with memorable releases…

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Gallery: Xbox 360 Library

Posted on January 5, 2012 by geelw

Well, it’s weird, I’ll admit it, but I have to say that both my 360 and PS3 collections are VERY fluid. As in games come in, get played and traded/sold faster than with anything else I’ve collected. I’ve probably owned close to 200 – 250 games for the console, but here’s what I have at the moment, minus about 15 titles out on loan. I have a few region-free imports as you can see, but I’m not much interested in a Japanese 360 at the moment (other than a ton of cool shmups we never got here that I’m not too interested in playing and a few interesting titles I might like, I’m not urgently pursuing an import console). Yeah, that Shadow Ops DVD should have gone in the Xbox library, but it was on the bottom of a stack of games that I just got around to relocating (oops).

Sonic 4: Episode 2 Set To Roll In 2012

Posted on December 31, 2011 by geelw

Sega is set to send Sonic soaring into the stratosphere after two great games in a row on consoles (the super Sonic Colors and the even superior Sonic Generations). Here’s a quick peek at the Hedgehog’s latest speed-fest, set to hit XBLA and PSN in the New Year – enjoy!

Gallery: Xbox/Xbox 360 Demo Library

Posted on December 26, 2011 by geelw

I’m missing a few Official Xbox Magazine demo discs as you can see, but overall, I’m happy with what’s here. Actually, I have disc 31 in a slim case buried in a stack of games here (and possibly a few other demo discs), and disc 2 was supposed to come with the second issue a few years back. However, all I got after I subscribed was the mag itself and NO disc (grrr). As for the later discs I’m missing. I’ll dig those up at some point, as I see small to medium size lots floating around a few places for cheap. I actually want more single game demo discs as well as kiosk discs, as I know there are a bunch out there I don’t have yet. One day, one day…

Gallery: Assorted Preview/Review Disc Library

Posted on December 24, 2011 by geelw

Yes, I’ve kept almost everything I’ve gotten to preview and review (save for stuff I’ve had to send back), so here you go, a bunch of Xbox and PS2 games (plus a paltry few PS3 and 360 ones for good measure). Some are demos or incomplete beta versions, some are complete trade demos, check discs or debug code plus some quirky stuff like that E3 2006 PSP Memory Card. Of note are some titles that were almost to completely localized and SHOULD have been released (Dinosaur Hunting, and Rent-A-Hero #1), an awesome build of Arx Fatalis (it had the infamous “chicken cheat” from the PC version that was taken out of the console game plus a weird save game with a nude barkeep) and some other fun stuff. Yup, that’s Bedlam, an unreleased Sega Saturn game in the last photo (it was a port of a PC game). I haven’t played it, as I don’t have any way to at the moment, but it does have a nice Redbook soundtrack. Despite its popularity, I’m not one for “dumping” stuff, but I’m all for legal emulation on older unsupported consoles or abandonware PC titles.

DmC “The Secret” Trailer Shows Off In Progress Hops & Chops…

Posted on December 20, 2011 by geelw

For a game still in development, DmC is looking pretty spectacular in my book. Ninja Theory is working hard on this one despite some awfully annoying “fans” out there of the first four games giving them grief about a few too many things they needn’t worry about. Sometimes change is good, people. That, and even though this is an alternate take on the character’s origin you may not care for, I’d say the developer’s forging their own version of Dante’s younger days is the best thing the franchise needs. In any event, I’m hoping some of these irate fools lay off the dev team when the game is released and starts getting solid ratings. Of course, some of those folks will NEVER be satisfied OR wish Ninja Theory any success at all, so I say ignoring these naysayers and their constant griping is all for the best. Not so amusingly enough, they want a “better” game while not having even seen anything CLOSE to a final version, but I sure as hell don’t see any of them applying for jobs at Capcom or any other game companies…

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Has A Versus Mode, After All…

Posted on December 16, 2011 by geelw

A-ha… So that’s what Slant Six Games has been up to. I was wondering what else they had planned for multiplayer in REORC, and well, here you go. I normally don’t go for the usual running around and shooting each other in the face MP modes, but I like the heroes vs villains vibe here. Of course, this will be one of those games where the hardcore RE fans go at it in teams to see which of their favorite characters is the best. Sort of like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but with more a lot more guns, zombies and room to run around in, ha ha.