Thief 4: As Long As It Doesn’t Stab Me In The Back When It Takes My Money, I’m Good…

Ah… this is fine news indeed. It seems that there’s a new Thief game (which just SO happens to be called Thief 4 because it’s the fourth game in the series) in the works for PC and next-generation consoles. Nice. I’ll do a happier dance when I see some gameplay, but to the initiated, the Thief series is one of those seminal works that’s pretty deep and always challenging to dive into. Eidos Montreal is handling the development chores, Square Enix will be publishing and if the game is anything like Deus Ex: Human Revolution in terms of scope (but with much more interaction), it’s guaranteed some solid ratings as well as a loyal fan base.

Granted, I’m betting ANY inclusion of “casual” play modes will be met with all sorts of internet-driven derision and division, but that’s how it goes in an era where more people seem to want to try more types of games (before giving up before they’ve learned the damned controls in the tutorial). As always, we shall see. I’ll be sneaking carefully behind this one and keeping tabs, that’s for sure…

Resident Evil Revelations Infernal Mode: On May 21, You Just May Get That “Jill Sandwich” After All…

Ouch and double ouch.

RER_WiiU RER_PS3 RER_360

Moved-around monsters (with new ones to face),
items and crates now put in new place!
This is no straight port of the 3DS game
so if you die fast, you’re the one to blame.

It’s bound for PS3, 360 and Wii U May 21st
if you’re not prepared, you’ll just be the worst
So take some time off to practice your dodging
so you can spend that day off holed up in your lodging.

A boat full of nasty undead and more lurk
you’re going in alone, but don’t be a jerk
There’s no co-op here to save your nice skins
But Raid Mode is co-op for some sure-fire wins.

Those graphics are all redone in shiny HD
For all the gore, the game actually looks quite pretty
But admire the detail a wee bit too long,
and you’ll see naught but red when poor Jill’s head’s gone!

TMNT: Out of the Shadows Teaser: Back Again (and Still Shelling Out, Some Would Say)…

 

I always flip a coin and wait when I see a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game roll around. Sure, that original arcade game was a classic, but it’s been kind of hit or miss since then with a few good games and a few stinkers. Granted, I’ve definitely outgrown the appeal of those pizza-chomping, slang-slinging crime fighters who perhaps should have been chased down and turned into soup and luggage by evil poachers long ago. But there’s a new movie in the works and the fans all say  “The fans… think of the fans!”  (or at least that’s what the fans would like to believe they all say), so here you go: a new downloadable beat ’em up game on the way this summer on PSN and XBLA coming from Red Fly Studios and published by Activision.

Personally, I’d much rather see Rare get off whatever slow unicorn they’re on and get us a proper Battletoads revival (an HD reboot of the classic 1994 arcade version and/or a new 3D game in the Conker vein), but those chances are slimmer than a photo of Kate Moss, circa 1994 placed under a stack of C++ programming books.

EDF 4 Gameplay Footage: 4Gamer.net? I Love You And Hate You (But Mostly Love You)…

 

Well, wow and double wow. Japanese game site 4Gamer.net posted this hands-on last year (!!!) and I’m just NOW getting around to seeing it thanks to some poking around online for something entirely different. Eh, it figures. I’m just thrilled because even though it’s a WIP version, I get to ogle more of the gameplay than the bits I’ve seen from the official trailers D3Publisher in Japan has been posting. OK, off to the home base now, as they’re about to shove me out the door here at Starbucks. Back in a bit…

Defiance Ark Hunter Chronicles 1 & 2: Building Up That Mythology Is Very Helpful…

 

As Trion Worlds and syfy get ready to roll out Defiance on April 2, they’re dropping all sorts of background mini-movies and excellently produced trailers on the game, game world, creatures and other features (like these Ark Hunter Chronicles vids) in order to have a big, fat and very necessary back story to all the events you’ll soon be watching (and hopefully, playing). This is indeed a good thing and potential viewers and players of the innovative TV show/MMORPG hybrid will probably want every little thing to sync up as perfectly as possible to pleas and appease even the pickiest of nitpickers. It works for me (but I’d still prefer that great looking and playing game – it’s REALLY fun – to have an offline mode)…

 

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Trailer: Captain Morgan vs Cap’n Crunch Time…

 

Man, these “leaks” are getting worse, but this video may not be up long. So I’m posting it now for posterity’s sake (if Ubisoft kills it on YouTube, I’ll replace it with an official one in a new post). Well, Ubisoft sure knows how to rock the boat, as this upcoming installment seems to have nothing to do with the last (shocking!) and makes you realize that those naval combat sections in Assassin’s Creed III were only the tip of the iceberg. Yes, I know a LOT of nautically themed puns, ladies and gents, but I’m sparing you all because I want to keep at least PART of my readership.

Retro City Rampage on PC and WiiWare Is Full of Surprises (Well, One More Awesome Surprise)…

Not content with a simple port of an already hilarious game, creator Brian Provinciano decided to take it to the next level (or more precisely, back to the roots) by cooking up an “8-bit” version of the game for the WiiWare and PC releases (out now!). Even if you’re terminally rusty at games, if you’ve a brain with a dusty old file cabinet filled with memories of 80’s and 90’s pop culture references, Retro City Rampage is fun and funny enough to get you cracking up within a few seconds of playing it. Anyway, some neck exercises for you to practice, as you look a bit tired and you don’t want to have to pay for that Lifestyle Lift (at least for a few MORE years,right?): Look up and click! Look down and click! Repeat as required until you figure out you need a Wii or PC to get the game (or a PS3, Vita or Xbox 360)…

Tomb Raider “Reborn” Trailer: Everyone’s Got Girl Power, It Seems…

 

It looks as if Square Enix and veteran developer Crystal Dynamics have hit a big home run here in this reboot of the franchise and this new video is probably the best bit of PR to come out of this. Watching it is a bit tough, but you’ll want to rescue a tree full of kittens or kick a burning bus down the street into a fire hydrant right afterwards I bet. Just don’t tell the cops that I told you you SHOULD do this. I have enough trouble with people jumping in lakes and flying kites on my say-so. Just go buy the game instead if you have a PS3 or Xbox 360…

Remember Me Release Date Trailer: That We Shall, Nilin, That We Shall…

Dontnod’s action/adventure game now has a release date: June 4, 2013. and Capcom certainly has a new IP work checking out. Welcome to Neo-Paris (which is going to be a pretty but not-so nice place, as sticking the word “Neo” in front of a city also spells “futuristic dystopian nightmare” or something like that) – hope you’ve got some comfortable running shoes and a good antiperspirant (no French bathing jokes, please! I’ve been there and people seem to be reasonably clean) – you’re going to be doing a LOT of rooftop running and jumping in and out of trouble…

MUD FIM Motocross World Championship Slides Into Stores (It’s Time to Get Dirty!)

 

To wit: Are you ready for plenty of hardcore up in the air and down in the dirt action as you whip it around the track? Well, Namco Bandai Games has done the deed and gotten Milestone’s moto racer into retail and digital on the PS3, Vita, Xbox 360 and PC in North and Latin America, so give it a shot and if it feels right, do it all night. Er, just watch out for blisters on those sensitive thumbs of yours. Hmmm… it’s a good thing I don’t do this site in any foreign languages or Braille, as I’d imaging having a hell of a time explaining half the stuff I write. Hey, it’s not as if I try to offend anyone here – it’s just that I’m good at it (everyone needs a hobby, right?). Er, anyway, if you DO decide to grab this and slide around for a bit in front of your TV or monitor, below are a few helpful tips from pro rider Ryan Villopoto for you to take into consideration. Of course, you can go in cold to this arcade/sim racer, but I’ll bet you could use a little guidance every so often. Five impossible things before breakfast and all that, you know…