Saturday, March 2, 2013

News::Meet the four heroes of Fuse


Fuse is the four-player cooperative third-person shooter from Insomniac Games and stars four distinct playable characters. And you can get to know each one through these four new trailers focusing on each star.


You get to see some of their backstory, their weapons, and a ton of gameplay in all four videos. Naya is the one in the first video and is kind of my favorite of the bunch as her gun shoots black holes. Black holes! Dalton, Jacob, and Izzy can all be seen below.


Meet the four heroes of Fuse screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/meet-the-four-heroes-of-fuse-247533.phtml

News::Strong or Weak for the Week: MLB 2K13 and Tomb Raider

Welcome back to Strong or Weak for the Week! This coming week, Erin will be showing you three different games, across all different platforms: Atelier Ayesha: Alchemist of Dusk, MLB 2K13, and Tomb Raider.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184906/strong-or-weak-for-the-week-mlb-2k13-and-tomb-raider

News::Lost saves are a horror of the past in Walking Dead S2

Many celebrated Telltale's Walking Dead series up to its season finale, despite the prevalent issue across platforms of users losing saves between episodes. Telltale CEO Dan Connors said, in an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, this issue was unavoidable in producing season 1 and will not be a problem when players jump into season 2.


"I think in season two, we’re going to be a lot more diligent about making sure that part of the system can handle everything that’s going to happen," Connors said. "Now we know how people are going to do this and how they’re going to use this and how it’s going to appear to people. I think we’ll have some good systems in place to make sure that it’s great in the next season."


Connors confirmed that season 1 saves will carryover to season 2, so it's a good thing that he is taking a more careful approach in how saves transfer on each platform. Save bugs on PC and consoles led to many players losing progress and key plot decisions that defined their experience once but no more (I was one of these survivors -- NEVER FORGET!!!)


Lost saves are a horror of the past in Walking Dead S2 screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/lost-saves-are-a-horror-of-the-past-in-walking-dead-s2-247520.phtml

News::TPG Review: Aliens: Colonial Marines Why Randy? WHY?

TPG - Six years have come and passed since the sudden announcement of Aliens: Colonial Marines, a game enthusiastically advertised as set to fix all the wrongs of Alien 3 and answer many of the unresolved plot threads in the franchise. As a longtime fan of the films, this announcement had me filled with extreme excitement. While I did have some initial fears that A:CM would be yet another terrible film based game, a gameplay demo shown at the E3 2011 event quickly vanquished those thoughts and left me to craving more. However, upon release, the supposed finished product wasnt even a work in progress compared to that E3 2011 demo but rather it was a work in regress.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184974/tpg-review-aliens-colonial-marines-why-randy-why

News::Journey art director opens new studio, Giant Squid

Ask people the first thing they like about thatgamecompany's Flower and Journey and they'll likely respond: the art direction. But, maybe not anymore.


Thatgamecompany art director Matt Nava left the acclaimed studio and formed his own, Giant Squid. Joined by Journey composer Austin Wintory and advised by thatgamecompany's Nicholas Clark, Giant Squid will make games that "will inspire players, challenge convention, and push the boundaries of experiential and narrative interactive entertainment into new and unexpected areas."


Giant Squid is co-founded by film company The Ink Factory, which is currently producing Anton Corbijn's (Joy Division's photographer and music video director) next film.


Journey art director opens new studio, Giant Squid screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/journey-art-director-opens-new-studio-giant-squid-247525.phtml

News::Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 League Play Season 4 has begun

The fourth season of League Play for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 officially began yesterday with the start of the new month. League Play is a feature introduced in Black Ops 2 where players are given placement and compete for ladder ranking in several different categories. As gamer rise up the ranks, League Play automatically attempts to match them with similarly skilled opponents. Players can choose to compete either solo or as a league team.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184869/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-league-play-season-4-has-begun

News::Winning the console wars: Sony's not-so-secret weapon

This next generation of gaming is looking to provide the biggest industry shake-up in decades, with dedicated console manufacturers facing ever-growing competition from tablet devices, smartphones, and an upcoming wave of budget consoles like the Ouya.


This is why I was so bewildered by Sony’s over-hyped PlayStation 4 reveal earlier this month, an event which seemed almost completely ignorant of this coming shift in the marketplace. I’d expected to bear witness to some sort of master plan from one of the leading console manufactures. Instead we were treated to the non-news of another Final Fantasy game and a two-year late Diablo III port, each new awkward PR robot that took the stage helping to reinforce the idea that Sony had no idea what they were doing.


Thing is, the more I’ve thought about Sony’s current market strategy, the more I’ve come to believe that they may not be as stupid as that mess of a press event would indicate. Though Sony’s newest announcements may have been lackluster, the company has already proven themselves to be the only console manufacturer aware of how shifting valuations of media are affecting the gaming industry, an understanding which could give them a leg up in the coming console war and keep them from making the same sort of epic pricing blunders which could take Nintendo out of the race before it’s even truly begun.


Winning the console wars: Sony's not-so-secret weapon screenshot


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via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/winning-the-console-wars-sony-s-not-so-secret-weapon-247362.phtml

News::The Showdown Effect Preview + Gameplay Commentary [NoobFeed]

Daav from NoobFeed.com plays through a bunch of The Showdown Effect from Paradox Interactive and Magicka creators Arrowhead Studios. It's just been revoked!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184839/the-showdown-effect-preview-gameplay-commentary-noobfeed

News::Hitman: Absolution Professional Edition Down to Ten Bucks on GMG

Hardcore Gamer: The Professional Edition includes an artbook, a behind the scenes video, and a three-pack of DLC. The game requires a fairly beefy setup to run impressively, but if you've got one, this is an outstanding price on a great game that's only a few months old.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184865/hitman-absolution-professional-edition-down-to-ten-bucks-on-gmg

News::The Bridge Review - GamesReviews

From GamesReviews: "When Braid hit the Xbox, it was a wake up call to indie developers. Smart and simple games could flourish in this new generation of high-powered graphics. The Bridge is an indie 2D puzzle game where players control time and gravity to guide a man through a distorted world of M. C. Escher geometry. The Bridge owes much to Braid, both for paving the way for other indie games, but also for the quiet thoughtful tone that both games share."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184817/the-bridge-review-gamesreviews

News::The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt New Screenshots released

A new batch of screenshots for The Witcher 3 has been revealed. According to reports, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be for next generation consoles. The Witcher 3 is full of impactful decisions, and gamers will choose between storylines that exclude one another in a single playthrough, ensuring extensive replay value.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184860/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-new-screenshots-released

News::Buy Hitman Absolution: Professional Edition For Only $10

OOG from STFUandPlay writes, "Alright people this is not a typo, today only for a 24 hour sale you can buy Hitman Absolution: Professional Edition for only $10. Here is the catch, its PC only but, its Steam Activated which is awesome."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184891/buy-hitman-absolution-professional-edition-for-only-10

News::Ryan DeGange Discusses Goals, Nudity, and Plans for Empire Eden

Ryan DeGange of New Horizon Games recently took the time to discuss his title upcoming run n gun action RPG Empire Eden. The game revolves around a nameless tribal hero who travels the world hoping to seek answers and rescue his people from the Empire.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184810/ryan-degange-discusses-goals-nudity-and-plans-for-empire-eden

News::Watch Dogs team did everything after E3 showing as they wanted to fulfill their dream,

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has said Watch Dogs developer, Ubisoft Montreal, was given a much as it needed in order to make the best game possible.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184866/watch-dogs-team-did-everything-after-e3-showing-as-they-wanted-to-fulfill-their-dream

News::The Evolution of Lara Croft

BlueWolf takes a look at just how Miss Croft has changed over the years



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1183760/the-evolution-of-lara-croft

News::GDC 2013 adds PS4, HTML5, Project SHIELD and Oculus Rift talks

GDC 2013 organizers have added new vendor sessions for PS4, HTML5, Project SHIELD and Oculus Rift to the event schedule.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184855/gdc-2013-adds-ps4-html5-project-shield-and-oculus-rift-talks

News::The Duel Interview with Jon Shafer of Conifer Games

Kenny Riouxs first episode of his interview podcast starts with an interview of Jon Shafer from Conifer Games. They talk about Jon starting up Conifer Games, his work on Civilization 5, Jons new project At The Gates and more.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184856/the-duel-interview-with-jon-shafer-of-conifer-games

News::Lets Reboot Call of Duty

Call of Duty what a monster. With clockwork precision a new edition pops up every year and sells millions without fail. Its doing perfectly well, but in spite of an audacious shift to a far future setting in Black Ops 2, its becoming increasingly repetitive. Its become a slapstick dose of noisy annual nonsense with an arcade multiplayer mode attached. Its a game about gun-lovin superheroes who are 90% bicep and 10% stubble shooting hundreds of enemies, shouting and occasionally getting into knife fights. Activision have found a golden formula for mainstream success that has changed the genre. Call of Duty perfected iron sights aiming and ushered action movie set pieces into shooter environments, but those set pieces have gradually subsumed the challenge and tension of the series rolling street battles. The series ballooning love for noise and bombast masks a dearth of substance, and its ability to deliver those famed set-pieces is increasingly hindered by an engine that...



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184850/lets-reboot-call-of-duty

News::{TPV} Freedom To Play Your Way Kenshi Interview

TPV: "Kenshi is an a game being developed by lofigames.com. Its an indie game made by one guy and even though its in its alpha stages, its already looking awesome. Having spoken to the developer Im very excited about the features yet to come in Kenshi. Soon youll be able to make your own towns and manage them accordingly. It will even get to the point in the game where bandits will not necessarily come in and loot your town but rather threaten you with force, unless you pay up. The same will be said for organised governments who will react similarly and only this time demand taxes."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184848/tpv-freedom-to-play-your-way-kenshi-interview

News::Game Update 4 for Planetside 2 next week

Set for next week, game update 04 will bring plenty of new and exciting content to Planetside 2. The Flash, Planetsides version of the quad bike will be able to carry two people as a Rumble Seat is being added, it is not yet known whether it will be purchasable add-on or whether it will be added to all Flashes. For those who play the infiltrator class, a new add-on called the Wraith Module will allow their cloaking ability to transfer over to the Flash.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184756/game-update-4-for-planetside-2-next-week

News::RIFT Trailer Maggie Q wants to be taught how to play the game

RIFT Chinas publisher, Shanda Games, is trying very hard to stress what an Western success the game is in order to attract the China gamers. Hence, American celebrities are recruited, the first being NBA star Dwyane Wade, while the second is Maggie Q.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184735/rift-trailer-maggie-q-wants-to-be-taught-how-to-play-the-game

News::God Mode behind the scenes at Oldschool Games

Atlus has released a behind the scenes video for God Mode, its upcoming third-person *retro* shooter with action and RPG elements.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184783/god-mode-behind-the-scenes-at-oldschool-games

News::Game Guys review - 'Crysis 3'

Developer Crytek's Crysis games have never been that heavy into plot progression and overall storyline. Sure there has to be some sense of a story to draw the player in and keep things moving, but it's always taken a back seat to gameplay and presentation. Crysis 3, the latest game in the EA-published series, continues this trend and delivers a very fun play experience.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184611/game-guys-review-crysis-3

News::7 Cancelled Games That Could Have Been Great

Making video games is suppose to be easy. That is in the minds of those outside the industry who know nothing about the process. Developers struggle with planning and building virtual worlds and characters before they can meet the needs of the audience. Budgets can be tight and timing can be crucial. There is also the challenge of presenting these builds to an audience that may not accept them. And if even one miscalculation is made, it could all come crumbling down. Hence, a cancelled game. It is understandable that not every video game makes it to shelves and there have been countless cancelled games to list. The real question however, is which of those games had the potential of being hits if ever completed. In this post, we will go through a selection of 7 Cancelled Games That Could Have Been Great



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184580/7-cancelled-games-that-could-have-been-great

News::Crysis 3 Review | TheGamersPad

Crysis has always been seen as the benchmarking tool of the PC gaming universe. You dont play Crysis, you test it. The lack of a decent storyline and the hard to relate to protagonist has always been the weakest point of the series despite its graphical superiority. Until now



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184550/crysis-3-review-thegamerspad

News::Top 5 Reasons You Should Be Excited for Bioshock Infinite

"Just as with the first Bioshock, Infinite was announced probably way sooner than it should have been and this hype train has been rolling for quite some time. At this point, some people are starting to doubt Infinite. After all, how many games of late that have been in development for a while have been any good? Im here to tell you that even though Aliens: Colonial Marines was terrible and even Bioshock 2 was a bit disappointing, you should be excited for Bioshock Infinites release next month." - David Rhinehart of Geekenstein.com



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184543/top-5-reasons-you-should-be-excited-for-bioshock-infinite

News::Battlefield 3 End Game gets new weapon, medals and assignments release date revealed

Pixelenemy - Here we are again with some info on Battlefield 3s End Game expansion the fifth and final piece of DLC fans can expect before Battlefield 4 drops.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184535/battlefield-3-end-game-gets-new-weapon-medals-and-assignments-release-date-revealed

News::New Writer Review - Red Dead Redemption by Oliver Smith

For his first article with Zero1Gaming, Oliver Smith, writes a love letter to Rockstars Wild West title, Red Dead Redemption



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184250/new-writer-review-red-dead-redemption-by-oliver-smith

News::Mass Effect Trilogy Review | VGU

Will Mass Effect be remembered as this generations defining RPG series? With EA's release of the Trilogy boxset, we take a journey across the stares to give you our opinion



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184840/mass-effect-trilogy-review-vgu

News::Witcher 3 has 100 hours of total playtime, dev says

CD Projekt Red claims main story accounts for 50 hours, with another 50 for "additional stories"; new screenshots released.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184789/witcher-3-has-100-hours-of-total-playtime-dev-says

News::Ubisoft Montpellier working on new project for PS3/360/PC/Wii U

GE: "ZombiU and Rayman Legends developer Ubisoft Montpellier seems to be working on a new project for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184794/ubisoft-montpellier-working-on-new-project-for-ps3-360-pc-wii-u

News::Assassin's Creed IV is on next-gen consoles, Oct. 29

A reveal trailer, posted by GamesRadar, for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag confirms that Ubisoft's pirate-centric sequel will arrive on PC, current-gen, and next-gen (Wii U, PS4, and possibly next Xbox) on Oct. 29 -- this also tells us that PS4 may arrive before November.


For more details, stay tuned for our not-likely-to-leak coverage next week and enjoy the CG trailer below while it's still up -- oops, already gone but check out the mirror trailer site below:


https://cdn.anonfiles.com/1362245692264.mp4


Assassin's Creed IV is on next-gen consoles, Oct. 29 screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/assassin-s-creed-iv-is-on-next-gen-consoles-oct-29-247529.phtml

News::Ubisoft pays undisclosed amount of cash to acquire Watch Dogs dot-com domain

Watch Dogs has been generating a lot of buzz in the video game community since it was first announced at E3 2012. Last June, on the very same day Ubisoft kicked off its E3 press conference and unveiled Watch Dogs, the company registered a bunch of new domains like WatchDogs2.com, WatchDogs3.com, WatchDogs4.com and WatchDogs5.com. However, one name was missing from the list: WatchDogs.com. Thats because the name had a different owner. Now, according to WHOIS records, Ubisoft owns the domain name as of this week and has begun redirecting the web address to its main Watch Dogs website. The exact sales amount is unknown since the sale wasnt publicly reported, but given WatchDogs.com is a pretty strong name on its own, the price was likely in the five-figure range.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184786/ubisoft-pays-undisclosed-amount-of-cash-to-acquire-watch-dogs-dot-com-domain

News::SimCity Social Island Quests: Everything You Need to Know

Kotaku: Earlier this month, SimCity Social players were teased with the information that a new land was coming to the game, but we didn't know exactly when that land would launch, or what it would be until now. The game has finally been updated, allowing players to unlock a new island and tons of new quests, all without breaking the bank.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184761/simcity-social-island-quests-everything-you-need-to-know

News::Arma 3 interview AI, map design, mods, and a response to Will Arma 3 break my PC?

PCG:In advance of the Arma 3 alpha dropping on Tuesday for Steam pre-orderers, I launched a salvo of questions at Project Lead Joris-Jan van t Land and Co-Creative Director Jay Crowe. Well have in-depth coverage of the alpha when the embargo lifts on Tuesday, March 5.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184807/arma-3-interview-ai-map-design-mods-and-a-response-to-will-arma-3-break-my-pc

News::Black Ops 2 Camos: How to Get Each One Fast

There are a total of 16 different weapon camos you can obtain in Black Ops 2 to customize your weapons with. Learn how to earn each one as quickly as possible so that you can unlock the elusive gold and diamond camouflages for any weapon you desire in BO2.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184742/black-ops-2-camos-how-to-get-each-one-fast

News::Former war correspondent worked on Gears of War: Judgment


The awesome team at Kill Screen paid a visit to Epic Games and got a behind the scenes look at how Gears of War: Judgment's new story was created. Kill Screen spoke with Rob Auten, a former Hollywood editor, and Tom Bissell, a former war correspondent, to learn what it was like for a couple of outsiders to craft a videogame story.


The duo spent more than a year working on the script, shared how the back and forth design process was like, and detailed the constraints involved. Other interesting facts include that there's about 17 minute of cutscenes, how they wrote multiple scripts, and that's there's 20,000 lines all in all.


Gears of War: Judgment will be out on March 19, 2013 for the Xbox 360. Look for an updated hands-on impressions of the game soon.


Former war correspondent worked on Gears of War: Judgment screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/former-war-correspondent-worked-on-gears-of-war-judgment-247468.phtml

News::Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag debut trailer leaked

Take a look at the first cinematic trailer for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184825/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-debut-trailer-leaked

News::Neverwinter, 2013's Most Anticipated Game Heads To PAX East

Perfect World Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce that Neverwinter, the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG, is making a major appearance at PAX East, which takes place March 22 to March 24 in Boston, Massachusetts.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184245/neverwinter-2013s-most-anticipated-game-heads-to-pax-east

News::NTN: Battlefield 3 weapon tips: UMP-45

Here is Lee with another weapon review in Battlefield 3. This time around its the UMP-45.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184223/ntn-battlefield-3-weapon-tips-ump-45

News::The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Will Support PhysX and DX11

DSOGaming writes: "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will support Nvidias PhysX technology, as well as DX11 features such as tessellation, Global Illumination and MSAA."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184799/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-support-physx-and-dx11

News::Time Extend: Phantasy Star Online

EDGE: "Its a gaming phenomenon: a high-fantasy adventure with a vibrantly distinct art style, attracting an unprecedented number of newcomers to the world of online gaming the first of its kind to earn an Edge 9/10. Déjà vu? Before World Of WarCraft there was another game which swept an adoring audience before it: Segas masterful Phantasy Star Online."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184801/time-extend-phantasy-star-online

News::Tomb Raider Walkthrough

Tomb Raider Walkthrough will guide you through all the different levels in the game and provide you with tips on completing your playthrough.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184755/tomb-raider-walkthrough

News::Are you going to PAX East? Let us know!

[Update: PAX East is in three weeks! If you haven't joined our Google Group or added your name to the list below, let us know ASAP!]


Holy crap! PAX East is just around the corner!


Every year, Dtoiders from around the globe make their way to Boston for the annual gathering of gamers and developers known as PAX East, and every year we have an absolute blast! This time around will be no different, as the Destructoid crew will be out in full force and showing the east coast of the U.S. exactly what we're made of.


This year's PAX East is happening over the weekend of March 22nd through the 24th. Three day passes are long gone, but there are still a few Friday and Sunday passes left, so jump on 'em! Passes are completely sold out by now, so I hope you got yours!


Below is an up-to-date listing of the Dtoiders currently planning to attend PAX East. If you'd like your name added to the list, let me know in the comments! Also, be sure to check out the info regarding our Google Group, as it's a great way to stay up to date with all the Dtoid PAX happenings!


Oh, and don't forget to congratulate Nintendoll, who is officially one of this year's Omeganauts!!


Are you going to PAX East? Let us know! screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/are-you-going-to-pax-east-let-us-know--242155.phtml

News::Still Playing: DMC Devil May Cry

DmC Devil May Cry


DMC is a game light on back-story, so let me offer some of my own: I spent a few years working in a videogame store. It gave me an encyclopaedic knowledge of releases but more crucial was the demographic data I gathered: I learned the buying habits and groupings of the UK general public. There were pre-teens desperate for the trophy of adult game kudos that was Grand Theft Auto. There were the collectors who’d buy games in twos. And then there were the metalheads.


I remember one particular gang of these trench-coated videogame otakus that had an insatiable desire for everything and anything Capcom flavoured. Their enthusiasm was infectious. They’d huddle around the latest Devil May Cry like they were in a sports team planning their next play, poring over every screenshot and bullet-point, haggling over the pros and cons of what was to come in their next pass-the-pad session.


To the general public at large, this group of quirky characters might be considered outcasts, slackers. But in Dante’s shoes they were saviours; superheroes doing battle with the forces of evil. Devil May Cry had clearly tapped into the long-standing relationship between heavy metal music culture and gaming, a relationship that can be traced back to the days of Trent Reznor and id Software’s original Quake, uniting two mediums’ fuck you manifestos in the face of social – and political – demonisation.


The thing is, I didn’t get the impression Capcom was ever fully aware of the nature of the series’ appeal, either in its marketing strategy or within the games themselves. Across its four previous instalments I’ve always felt Devil May Cry to have had an inconsistent, changeable personality. The original, for example, had a strong gothic horror through-line while the third title – perhaps the series’ most revered – was a heavenly slice of heavy metal hack-and-slash that wouldn’t have felt out of place in an arcade.


It’s taken an outsider, then, to capitalise on the thrash-and-slash appeal of Dante’s demonic duelling and bring us what I believe to be the definitive vision of this slacker-turned-saviour in the stylistic context that serves him (and his skill with a scythe) best.


DmC Devil May Cry review


The herd of metalheads I’d court in my store longed for a conduit to fulfil their wildest fantasies and in Dante’s shoes, equipped with his pistols and sharp things, they found it. If there was a problem it was just that he was so very obviously Japanese in his design and conception. Platinum mullet, porcelain features, perfectly measured movements and postures. Dante was a cocked hip away from being a Final Fantasy pin-up. He could have done with a little roughing up to make him more relatable and Ninja Theory clearly agree. Though still a beautiful specimen, in DMC there’s a new cruelness to Dante’s looks, his pretty boy smirk corrupted into a snarl. His crudely cropped hair (now goth-black) and his lanky, lithe frame, is more Lisbeth Salander than the accidental athlete of before and his attire is possessed more of homeless chic than heroic hemlines.


The story’s use of Limbo, a state between earth and the underworld, keenly taps into, and expertly holds a mirror to, the way in which Dante’s fans hop from their own world into his, as our anti-hero’s tiresome existence is invaded by the exciting, the dangerous and the outright hellish.


For me, however, the perfect summation of Ninja Theory’s brash, bold reinvigoration of Dante can be found in a quite simple, seemingly unremarkable animation. In the fourth hit of his Oblivion sword combo, with his final blow, Dante stumbles towards his prey, nearly hitting the deck under the weight of his demon-slaying apparatus. It’s a subtle animation that telegraphs much: Dante is a slacker with a saviour’s job to do; wielding great power but lacking the responsibility required to do so.


It’s unsurprising, perhaps, to find such nuance in a title from Ninja Theory, a studio whose use of motion capture and character animation – from Heavenly Sword’s Kai to Enslaved’s Trip – always propels its output from eye-catching to jaw-dropping. I’d argue Dante’s unsmooth moves are the developer’s finest hour. Dante is responsive and fast but also untidy. He’s not the graceful angel of death he’s been before, he’s hard-hitting and cocksure but lacks grace, and he’s got a hell of a hangover.


With DMC, it feels like Dante – and Capcom – is finally embracing the same culture and fashion of a particular subset of the series’ followers. He’s wish-fulfilment personified for that black-garbed group, huddled in my videogame store. In a bizarre, brilliant twist on the theme of art imitating life, then, he’s become closer to what they are, rather than the unreachable dream of the reverse. He’s a trench-coat wearing outcast, a slacker. A metalhead.


The post Still Playing: DMC Devil May Cry appeared first on Edge Online.






via Edge Online http://www.edge-online.com/features/still-playing-dmc-devil-may-cry/

News::Tomb Raider Review | Analog Addiction

Analog Addiction writes: "Lara Croft has finally returned, bringing her latest adventure into the modern gaming age. After seven years of work on the Tomb Raider franchise, the developer Crystal Dynamics has decided to reboot the series, focusing on Laras origins, the central theme of the game being her transformation into the Tomb Raider we all know and love. It will be hard to avoid making the comparison during the review, so let me come out and say it: Tomb Raider feels like Uncharted in many ways. As you know, Croft and Drake are in a similar line of work, and her latest adventure brings many of gamings latest trends into the games landscape. Now before I lose anyone, this isnt a bad thing. Tomb Raider is able to refine, improve, and add to the similar formula both games posses. Crystal Dynamics has put an outstanding amount of effort to make sure the game appeals to classic Lara, and new-age fans alike. Tomb Raider offers an amazing experience, bringing the lege...



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184750/tomb-raider-review-analog-addiction

News::Metal Gear Rising: Revegenance Review - Zero1Gaming

Oliver Smith reviews the latest instalment in Konami's biggest franchise, Metal Gear Rising Revengeance.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184766/metal-gear-rising-revegenance-review-zero1gaming

News::Devil Survivor 2 Break Code coming to 3DS

I'm sure that Devil Survivor fans have been secretly hoping that Atlus would do this. Last year's DS release, Devil Survivor 2 , was an excellent strategy game, but it came to us in the 3DS era, which had me wishing it looked a bit better. A remake would work, right? They did it before with Devil Survivor Overclocked , and now they're doing it again with Break Code.


Devil Survivor 2 Break Code was announced at a Japanese pre-screening event for the upcoming Devil Survivor 2 anime today. Attendees there are saying the remake will launch in Japan this summer, with new story bits and character content added.


Tweets from the event also say that Famitsu will have more for us on the game later this month.


Atlus Japan has yet to say anything official on this, so stay tuned.


Devil Survivor 2 Break Code coming to 3DS screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/devil-survivor-2-break-code-coming-to-3ds-247512.phtml

News::D-Arts Blastoise is also ready to tussle this June

Devil Summoner's Raidou isn't the only game star shrinking down to desktop warfare size! Also among Bandai's upcoming list of June toys is D-Arts Blastoise, ready to burst at an even lower price tag of ¥3800 (~$41).


The D-Arts Pokémon line is already welcoming Mewtwo this month and Charizard by April, so Blastoise is in good company. Now all that's left is to complete the set of evolved G1 starters is Venusaur. Where you at, son?


As usual, non-Japanese residents can pre-order from AmiAmi, HobbyLink Japan, and Hobby Search, swooping in while the 26%-off discounts remain in effect.


Take a peek at some official images of D-Arts Blastoise [Tomopop]

Bandai's June releases are now available for pre-order [Tomopop]


D-Arts Blastoise is also ready to tussle this June screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/d-arts-blastoise-is-also-ready-to-tussle-this-june-247488.phtml

News::10 Features That Minecraft 2 Needs

Minecraft 2 may not be a hot topic right now but with the current game becoming a stale experience, its time to think about the future.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184764/10-features-that-minecraft-2-needs