via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iSHFhl
Monday, March 31, 2014
News::Goat Simulator - Review (PC)| CriticalIndieGamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iSHFhl
News::Oddworlds Lorne Lanning bets that fans will love a 3D re-creation of Abes Oddysee (interview)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iSHCSP
News::Diehard GameFAN: 1954: Alcatraz Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1oiELrR
News::New Caffeine Trailer- The Unreal Engine 4 Really Shines
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hslhfd
News::Transformers Universe Gets New Screenshots
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jsaemG
News::ModVive Reviews| Goat Simulator Its Hard Out Here for a Goat
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fGO0sv
News::1954: Alcatraz Review A Flawed Escape I The Koalition
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jsaaU9
News::South Park: The Stick of Truth Review at Skewed and Reviewed
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fGLXod
News::N4G Radio 3/31/14
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fGJgTS
News::Microsoft AR Glasses Could Challenge Oculus, Morpheus
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fGJgmP
News::Transformers Universe is a free-to-play game with e-sports potential that your 10 year old can play
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU8tiU
News::Site tries to 'reveal' Nester for Smash Bros., nobody falls for it
Tomorrow is everybody's [least] favorite day on the Internet: April Fools' Day. It is the day where one cannot trust anything, and everybody would be better off just staying home and sleeping until it finishes. SmashBros.us decided to jump the Zapper by a few days by mimicking the character pages on the official Super Smash Bros. website and "announcing" old Nintendo Power mascot Nester as the next playable fighter.
Admittedly, the fake site does a decent enough job aping the real one, up until the point where the Nester screenshots are shown. Not only is the character model laughable, but Nester is only shown alone and is clearly pasted on in some.
With the "reveal" coming just a few days before April Fools' Day, my initial hope was that this was put out as an obvious joke, and then on April 1 Nintendo would hit us with the double fake out, posting new screenshots revealing that Nester in Super Smash Bros. is real. That would actually be a clever use of the prankster holiday. Alas, since this is not even the official site, it does not seem like that is in the cards.
Read more...
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1gU8jrP
News::Survival horror game Draugen is 'Gone Home meets Amnesia'
Last Halloween, Red Thread Games, the developer of Dreamfall Chapters , the sequel to beloved adventure games The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey , announced it was also working on a survival horror game, Draugen.
And now we have some nice, atmospheric footage of the 2015 release. My excitement remains at the level it was when this was first announced, still, particularly, for its premise: "a first-person survival horror adventure amongst the mountains and fjords of the Norwegian west coast in the 1920s.
"Draugen (Norwegian; meaning 'the Draug') is an undead creature from Norse mythology. The original Norse meaning of the word is ghost, but unlike traditional ghosts the Draug has a corporeal body and physical abilities. Draug reside in their watery graves, guarding the treasures and secrets that were buried with them. And they will protect those secrets at any cost."
Heck yes. "It's HP Lovecraft meets Dostoyevsky," Red Thread's Ragnar Tornquist Tornquist told Eurogamer, "Or Gone Home meets Amnesia."
Red Thread reveals first look at Draugen [Eurogamer]
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1mq8Ukh
News::New Video Game Releases - What Gamers Want for the Week of 3-31-14
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU5Opx
News::3 Things Really Wrong With Realistic Gaming
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU5MxV
News::Is Ubisoft Releasing Too Many Assassin's Creed Games?
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU5MxF
News::Narcosis Developer Talks Inspirations and BioShock Comparisons
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ggOIfl
News::Goat Simulator : You wont believe the stuff you can do in this Baaah-rilliant Indie | WCCF Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ggOHZ3
News::Nekro Preview (Invision Game Community)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ggOHYU
News::Men of War Assault Squad 2 Preview (Invision Game Community)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU5KpI
News::Dark Souls 2: Aggressive Sorcerer Build Guide
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU5K9c
News::Titanfall Review | Jags
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gU3QVU
News::New Unreal Engine 4 Horror Title Caffeine Begins IndieGoGo Campaign
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ggKT9W
News::Weird Torture in DayZ Reaches Creepy New Heights
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ff3dnV
News::Alien: Isolation set for October 7 release
Alien: Isolation is coming out on October 7 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.
So no need for a PS4 or Xbox One yet? Though I suppose Infamous: Second Son is quite nice. But I'm waiting on The Witness.
And yes, I am avoiding talking about Alien: Isolation directly because the original Alien is a perfect movie and nothing else in its unnecessary franchise comes close. Please don't suck, Isolation.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1ff3bMO
News::'Titanfall' review: An innovative shooter plagued with issues | Examiner
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jQ2jlQ
News::Goat Simulator Review: A Beautiful (and Buggy) Mess | TechGeek
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hUkTm3
News::12 Most Anticipated PC Games for 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rYciqs
News::Diehard Dungeon SteamFirst Review Die Harder
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hUkSOX
News::Frozen Endzone Not Exactly a Touchdown - SteamFirst Preview
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jPSLat
News::Facebook's Oculus acquisition has led to death threats
Don't make death threats. Oculus Rift creator Palmer Luckey said that employees and their families have gotten death threats since Facebook bought the company. Stop doing that, any terrible persons that might be reading this.
"We expected a negative reaction from people in the short term, we did not expect to be getting so many death threats and harassing phone calls that extended to our families. We know we will prove ourselves with actions and not words, but that kind of shit is unwarranted, especially since it is impacting people who have nothing to do with Oculus."
Meanwhile, Oculus CTO John Carmack replied to a blog post by Anamanaguchi's Peter Berkman. The deal came as a surprise to Carmack, who, "wasn't personally involved in any of the negotiations," and "wasn't expecting," Facebook to buy the company he recently joined.
He also, "just can't get very worked up about" concerns like data mining and the advertising model. While he appreciates fans wanting Oculus to take the home grown approach of Valve and Steam, "The difference is that, for years, the industry thought Valve was nuts, and they had the field to themselves," Carmach explained. With Sony already in the virtual reality ring, "the real question is how deeply to partner with, and who."
Oculus VR employees got death threats after Facebook sale [UPDATE] [GameSpot]
Wrong and Right Reasons To Be Upset About Oculus [Peter Berkman]
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1feFqo9
News::Global Weekly, 22nd March 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pyQM9M
News::Titanfall Review | Spotlight Report
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pyQLCH
News::Planetside 2: 7 Reasons To Try This Game
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gTHC6B
News::Two Tribes to permanently drop the price of three Wii U games
Two Tribes may have scaled down and completely restructured their studio, but that hasn't stopped them from working. This week the developer has just revealed that starting April 3rd, all three of their Wii U classics will be $1.99.
Starting later this week, Rush , Toki Tori, and Edge are all discounted, and it seems as if it's a permanent change. Those who picked the games up early were able to take advantage of the discount, but eventually the price rose to $3.99.
Two Tribes [Twitter]
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1jPFUVZ
News::Alien: Isolation Preview - Monstrous potential, but with a great big "If" | Dealspwn
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hrxmkC
News::VRFocus Preview: Monstrum
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pys49D
News::Italian Software Charts for the week ending 23/03/2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pys6hv
News::Prsocenium's Spectre Passes Kickstarter Campaign
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gTs1Uq
News::Elder Scrolls Online Leveling Guide
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gTs031
News::Reviewing the Indie Game: Shipwreck | Press Start To Begin
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pys2P3
News::Titanfall review: stand by for multiplayer magic | Doublejump
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pys3lT
News::Titanfall Review (Invision Game Community)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1pys2yl
News::Soul Sacrifice crosses over to Toukiden in DLC form
Toukiden: The Age of Demons is about to extend its lifecycle, with extra DLC crossover content from fellow Vita hack and slash Soul Sacrifice . Tecmo Koei has announced a series of new add-ons that involve new themed armor and two multiplayer missions.
The levels are called "Hell's Guard Dog" and "Dogs of War," and can be obtained by downloading the content and accessing the Portal Stone or a mulitplayer lobby. These are apparently high level instances.
Both bits of DLC are free right now, but Tecmo Koei didn't specify how long that price would last.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1hTHRtm
News::Half Life 3 Gets An Amazing Fan-made Cinematic Trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gg6KOR
News::SteamFirst Review: Age of Empires 2 The Forgotten Expansion
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jqZ01T
Sunday, March 30, 2014
News::[IGM] Echoes of Eridu Rogue Mega Man Legacy
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1mm1TB0
News::How the 'new' Diablo III brought me back in
I never thought I would actually say this, but I am enjoying myself while playing Diablo III. Keep in mind this is without Reaper of Souls , and is entirely about the newest patch -- Loot 2.0. After spending countless hours playing Diablo II and its expansion, my friends and I were incredibly excited for the next installment in the series.
And then I played it.
I could not have been more disappointed. I felt that the inclusion of the Auction Houses fueled many of the other game design decisions (drop rate, loot rarity) and made the game incredibly frustrating. I spent a healthy chunk of time going through the game’s campaign and leveling up my Witch Doctor, but eventually uninstalled the game with no intention to return.
And yet here I am, actually looking forward to playing more Diablo III.
Read more...
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1gejwgO
News::AAA Games Need to Stop Being So Serious
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1mlKPek
News::Watch Dogs Hype Train Derailed
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hQJVlZ
News::Croixleur Sigma hacks and slashes onto Steam in late April
Croixleur Sigma is tentatively scheduled for an April 25 release on Steam, Nyu media announced today. The lovely doujin hack-and-slash initially hit western shores early last year, but has since been outfitted with a myriad of enhancements.
Additions include full voice-over, improved graphics, a second playable character with a unique campaign, Steam achievements, and online leaderboards. Nyu Media has also announced a new local two-player co-op feature for the title's survival and time attack modes.
Moreover, the publisher is coordinating with its distributors to ensure those that purchased the game on other platforms can receive Sigma as a free upgrade -- which is nice. I've been toying around with an early build of the game and can safely say its a vast improvement on an experience I already adore.
Croixleur Sigma [Steam]
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1hQHgZH
News::Goat Simulator Review | Saving Content
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/QweKGS
News::LUFTRAUSERS Review | Gameliner
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hQtZQS
News::Dark Souls 2 Collector's Edition Strategy Guide heavily discounted
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1puAIWw
News::Nerd-dom Weekly Rap-up Episode 40 Powerleveled
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fDtqJD
News::Genius F-1000 Arcade Stick review | GeekNifty
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gQSYYY
News::Thief Quick Review | ArinaBorina
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1kd9jFq
News::The Walking Dead Game Season 1: A Look Back
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1kd9ikR
News::Here Is What Mirror's Edge Could Look Like In Unreal Engine 4
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gdPJVt
News::Industry Talk - Oculus Future in Facebook Hands
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1faPApQ
News::Microsoft Does Not Plan to Bring Additional Halo Titles to Steam
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gQGDUB
News::The Pirate Bay Bundle Offers 100 Free, Legal Games
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1kcZK9l
News::[Continue Play] Preview - Kyn
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1kcZJSZ
News::PSA: Dtoid chat is now open for business
A while back, we introduced a beta chat room for our Huge members to serve as a replacement for what used to be known as Outer Heaven (RIP). Well, chat is back and open to all! Just click the little red chat bubble at the top center of the screen (*points* it's right there), login, and start yapping.
Have fun, kids!
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1jMdCeX
News::South Park: The Stick of Truth Review I GoodGameHR
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jMf68X
News::New Concept Art for Unreal Engine 4 Stealth-Action FPS, Wake Up Call
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hPYDtB
News::AMD Radeon R9 295X2 Dual Hawaii Tease Gives a Glimpse At The Hybrid Cooler Design
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hPYAOn
News::KillStorm Launches Kickstarter Campaign for PC, Mac, and Mobile
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jMf7tE
News::Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Review | Gameliner
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/P7iP3c
News::TeamVVV Weekly Racing Video Game News Videocast: Status Update
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1kcKdq0
News::Hey, we can promote your comments now!
You may have noticed over the last few weeks that some of your comments have been upgraded to "featured comment" status, and spotlit at the top of any given thread. That's because Disqus has given us mods a fun new tool to play with, where we can promote the best, most enlightening response to any given article, to show our appreciation for your fine examples of well-thought-out discourse and commentary.
Or tacos, depending on our mood. So yeah, keep commenting and you might someday see your hard work sitting high and mighty atop the hill of pointless drivel.
Tacos.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1jM1DOk
News::Get to know Dtoider chicagOriginal!
Dtoid community member chicagOriginal has been lurking around our parts for a little over four years now, but it wasn't until recently that I discovered what a badass he is!
A lifelong gamer, breaker and skater, "Junebug" (as he's known in the skating world) hosts an after school program that teaches teens the basics of carpentry, lamination, and graphic design, the end result of which are some amazing videogame-themed skateboards created completely from scratch! And when he hops on the board himself, he loves repping his Dtoid green -- just take a look at some of the shots from his recent photo shoot!
You can see both sets of pics in the gallery below, as well as a shot from his most recent NARP, where his gaming and breaking livestream attracted 4,000 viewers! Thanks for doing us proud, chicagOriginal!
Read more...
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1gdpwXe
News::Interview with Black Desert Producer Kim Daeil - a Game with Endless Gameplay
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1oeFlH4
News::Forward to the Sky, jrpg action adventure, latest gameplay demo!
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gdgwRU
News::Germany Weekly, 22nd March 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gQ7P60
News::The Elder Scrolls Online: Early Access Begins Today
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1f9Vh7m
News::Calling PS4/Xbox Resolution-gate an Overreaction Is Tough, Rate of PC Change Higher Than Consoles
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hP06QW
News::Goat Simulator Review - Crapricorn | The Escapist
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hP06QG
News::Carmageddon Review by Retro Gaming Magazine
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gd884M
News::Nvidias New DX11 Wonder Driver will be 337.xx and Arrive Sometime in April
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gd8aty
News::Elder Scrolls Online Treasure Maps Guide (Pre-Order Bonus) All Maps, One Page
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jnmtRr
News::The Most Popular Final Fantasy Characters of All Time
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jLq26J
News::Elder Scrolls Online Introductory Crafting Guide
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jLq0fc
News::Strider Review I GoodGameHR
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hOKGMk
News::5 Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Easter Eggs You Shouldn't Miss
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hOKEEc
News::The Ultimate Elder Scrolls Online Character Creation Guide
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1mjOJVe
News::The Elder Scrolls Online launches today for Early Access folk
The Elder Scrolls Online officially launches today by way of the Early Access program for pre-orders. Specifically, it kicked off at 7AM EST this morning, and I was there to test out the soft launch and see how Zenimax handled the influx of players.
Thankfully, the servers are holding up very well, and I haven't had any issues or disconnects at all. I also haven't encountered many glitches (many of which are probably fixed by the lengthy beta program), nor have I seen any major bugs yet.
Time will tell how much the infrastructure will buckle later in the week and when the game fully launches on Friday April 4th, but for now, feel free to jump in and explore Tamriel. You can also expect more impressions this week, and beyond.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1jLjmWk
News::Isnt it time for digital trade-ins to become a reality
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/QuXJg1
News::The Elder Scrolls Online Vampire Or Werewolf A Detailed Comparison
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fCfgIw
News::Karting now available in rFactor 2
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/QuNvwi
News::Square Enix Weekend Continues With Tomb Raider Deal
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/QuNybk
News::What needs to be done to evolve the WWE series
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/QuNvfF
News::AZERA - New MMORPG By Timber Games
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/P6u63K
News::Metro Redux coming to PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One?
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/P6u8bT
News::Card City Nights Walkthrough [Guide]
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/P6u7Vx
Saturday, March 29, 2014
News::EGX Rezzed: Hotline Miami 2 Preview | Battle Screen
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fz8nrC
News::Watch_Dogs' Latest Trailer Is PS4 Dev Kit Footage; More Information Shared on Gameplay and Physics
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gaOWon
News::German Version of South Park: Stick of Truth Censors Nazis in Hilariously Lazy Fashion
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1gNuG1V
News::Here's a look at the brains behind Oculus
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jI3LH2
News::Six New Games That Should Be on Your Radar in April
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1dEhPhU
News::The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 2 Preview | 6aming
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jI3FPE
News::SimCity Developer Working on New AAA Game: "Critical" for Maxis Growth
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1obAQgr
News::White Night Hands On GDC 2014 Preview
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iLACHq
News::Let's Play Minecraft - Episode 96 - Tallest Tower
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1oby6jd
News::Why Selling The Oculus Rift Was A Bad Idea
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iLACar
News::Planet Explorers - First 30 minutes story mode
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iLAB6h
News::Ten Thousand Gamers Petition for Sega PC Ports
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iLAzeB
News::After The Hype: Titanfall Has Lots Of Hits, But a Few Big Misses
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1obvlOK
News::Night in the Woods GDC 2014 First Look Preview
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1obvkdH
News::TowerFall Ascension Review | IGN
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rPDQ1e
News::Alien: Isolation release date set for October 7
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1dE2gqF
News::Watch_Dogs Won't Have Microtransactions; Story Will "Explore" Mature Themes; More info Shared
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1k5ST1s
News::Steam Machine Controller Preview With Valve
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hJOC0S
News::Classroom Aquatic's Dolphins Were Initially a Joke
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hJOz59
News::Denkiphile: South Park: The Stick of Truth Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hJOyy5
News::Denkiphile: Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hJOv5D
News::Race to Mars Preview | GameGrin
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1po35Wv
News::Castlevania: Lords of Shadows 2 - Revelations Review [Gamespot]
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jHv6co
News::The Reticule's Gaming Crowdfunding Weekly Friday 28th March 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1po35Wq
News::Castlevania: Lord of Shadows 2 game review (ActionRadius)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1po344Q
News::Dumb Idiot Ideas: The Infinite Power of The Cloud
What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. That's what the focus of this week's Dumb Idiot Ideas is the power of the cloud, and how it will change all of us as people.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1gBI2xa
News::Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode Two review: A Drop in the Ocean [Polygon]
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1mf7toP
News::Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD Review | Saving Content
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1mf7toD
News::Goat Simulator | Boss Dungeon Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ga96im
News::Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 Review You Will Be Missed Irrational | COG
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1ga94XB
News::Wolfenstein Retrospective Part One: Wolfenstein 3D
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1f4XpNC
News::Edge of Space Early Access Review - JumpToGamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1f4XrFt
News::Review: Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z | Rice Digital
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jHcfOw
News::Why Im Worried That Facebook Bought Oculus Rift
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1meU5ko
News::Dark Souls 2 Beginners guide: Character Classes, Attributes and Gifts
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jj6mEL
News::PSU - BioShock: Infinite Burial at Sea - Episode Two Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fxtZES
News::Amazon Specials For Saturday: Tekken 6 is $9.98, Wii Fit U w/Balance Board $35 off and more
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fxtZ7H
News::Ubisoft Plans For Upcoming Years, No Assassins Creed Title Next year
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fxtZoc
News::Retrospective: Mr Driller
Mr Driller is an upside-down sort of a videogame. Traditionally, protagonists are thrown into the belly of a deadly problem and the player made to save them. In this way our games mimic our dramas: a miner becomes trapped in a mineshaft and must dig his way out to sunlight and freedom; a submarine sinks to the seabed and its inhabitants must find a way to the surface before the air depletes; a mountaineer tumbles down a crevasse and must inch his way back to base camp and paramedics. We’re used to working our way up and out of problems.
By contrast, Mr Driller’s pink-suited lead character, Susumu Hori begins each level perfectly safe, stood atop the Earth’s crust without any need of salvation or deliverance. It’s only when the timer starts ticking that he springs to life, burrowing a crazed and furious path down through the rock below, racing metre by metre deeper, air rapidly expiring while labouring under the constant threat of being crushed by falling debris.
It’s hard to quantify, but there’s something liberating and exhilarating about tunnelling your way into a problem – and Mr Driller is a series that delights in the visceral thrill of tearing deep and irresponsibly into the earth. To interact with it is wonderfully simple: Susumu, or any one of this teammates, pets or friends who make up the playable cast, must be directed left and right with the control stick and commanded to dig with one solitary button. There’s no jump or climb ability: the only way is down.
Mr Driller’s conception was an unusual one. A team of designers at Namco decided to start work on a sequel to the company’s discarded Dig Dug series. Originally developed using hexagonal blocks (changed to squares later as they made combos more workable) the project was left by the wayside when the small team was moved onto the PlayStation’s Ridge Racer 4. However, managerial staff were so impressed by the demo that a full game was commissioned with its own original name (albeit within the back-story that Susumu is the son of Dig Dug’s protagonist). The first three games in
the Mr Driller series were all big arcade successes, but it wasn’t until the GameCube’s Mr Driller Drill Land that the concept really blossomed to capture the imagination of a console audience.
For the most part, Drill Land’s mechanics are identical to those of its forbears. Digging down through an area 11 blocks wide you must clear a path of descent as quickly as possible. Blocks are colour-coded, and like-coloured blocks stick together in groups which can be cleared in one hit of the drill button. As you dislodge surrounding blocks with each move there is a constant danger from above in the possibility of being squished under falling debris. There is little time for care, however: the emphasis here is on speed puzzling and, so as to ensure a player doesn’t spend too long thinking about the best way through the puzzle, urgency is applied via an oxygen meter. This must be constantly refilled by collecting air capsules (interspersed with rocks as you descend) and, should your oxygen bar deplete you suffocate in a claustrophobe’s darkest nightmare.
Mr Driller Drill Land takes this basic concept and spins it out into a number of additional altered formats, each taking the form of a different attraction within a theme park. This ingenious way of handling the world map allows for themed levels with different emphases and added inventions. An Indiana Jones-themed level (the wonderfully named Drindy Adventure) sees you collecting golden statuettes while avoiding spikes and rolling boulders. The Horror Night House stage adds in a ‘holy water’ button to scare off any ghouls looking to interrupt your excavation. Likewise the Hole of Durga approach presents a Mr Driller RPG with items, keys to open doors and huge dragon bosses which must be defeated.
These additional conceits help provide much-needed variation to Mr Driller’s compelling but otherwise repetitive approach. The game’s multiplayer modes are also a triumph, the best of which sees up to four players searching for a hidden item within a fixed screen stuffed full of boulders. The GameCube pad pulses with increasing frequency the closer you are to the hidden prize and, as every player races to find the boulder in which it’s hidden, the games are as frantic and hysterical as anywhere else.
The pin-sharp visuals and expert Chibi graphic design style make Mr Driller Drill Land stand out from its contemporaries. Infuriatingly for westerners the game was never released outside of Japan, and when played on a PAL machine via a Freeloader will not create a save game. As such, the game’s long-term enjoyment is limited to those with a Japanese machine, but it’s testament to the game’s bright excellence that it remains one of the system’s most enduring, revered and sought-after titles.
The post Retrospective: Mr Driller appeared first on Edge Online.
via Edge Online http://ift.tt/1rONbGL
News::Ghost Recon Phantoms releases new information, but can it survive the topsy-turvy Titanfall world?
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1k4yVnM
News::The Overseas Connection Podcast #262
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fxeqgc
News::The Gaming Agenda Podcast Ep 5: Facebook/Oculus Rift, inFamous Mini Review, Rome 2 winner and More
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1oaIF62
News::Guild Wars 2: World XP and Legendary/Ascended Gear to become Account Bound
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1oaICXX
News::The Games of April 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1k4mIPR
News::BioShock Infinite Burial at Sea: Episode 2 Review [Game Rant]
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fx7nUJ
News::Divinity: Original Sin Update Discusses Beta Version, Day and Night Cycles Cancelled for NPCs
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fx7qju
News::Cubical Drift Announces New Features for Planets3
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jGLHNn
News::The Last Tinker: City of Colors Preview - The Most Colorful Game Yet | Analog Addiction
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jGLHNi
News::[ABG] Treasure Arena - Legend of Zelda-Style 4 Player Battle Arena
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fx7pMv
News::Loadout 2.0 Patch Review I Expansive
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1jGLHgw
Friday, March 28, 2014
News::New VR Project True Player Gear Emerges To Take The Spotlight
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1fswcRN
News::With Batman: Arkham Knight, Rocksteady Proves That Video Games Matter
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hDu7Tr
News::Phoenix Down 24.1 - Alone in the Dark
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hDu4XM
News::The Most Underrated Final Fantasy Characters of All Time
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hDu4Hm
News::Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 2 Audio Logs Locations
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKDqtc
News::New Batman: Arkham Knight screenshots
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKDqsZ
News::Wildstar Present Their Next Arena: The Slaughterdome
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKDnNL
News::Cloudbuilt: SteamFirst Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKDqcq
News::Watch Dogs: A Dwindling Interest
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hDu0HC
News::GX Gaming Zabius Headset Now Available
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKDpFD
News::Microsoft Reveals Version 2 Of Kinect For Windows
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1phYeGd
News::Square Enix Publisher Weekend Begins on Steam - Ends on March 31
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iHwg42
News::Kickstarter of the Week Ashen Rift: A Man and His Dog | GIZORAMA
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iHsOGB
News::Loadout Shows That Free-to-Play Can Still Work
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iHsMyn
News::Youll fight more than deadly creatures in post-apocalyptic shooter Still Alive
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1o7yLSz
News::'Alien: Isolation' exclusive: One foe you certainly know, but more you don't
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iHsM1t
News::Batman Arkham Knight: Is The Batmobile A Gimmick? (NowGamer)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1o7yJdw
News::11 Video Game Reboots/Revitalisations We Need
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1o7yFKQ
News::The Golf Club Preview (with Gameplay Videos) | NoobFeed
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1iHsNlU
News::Wanna start your Friday feeling depressed?
In My Girl you play as Thomas J in a coming-of-age story that's... well, I'm sure you've seen the 1991 movie. In this game you are Macaulay Culkin's character. So you know what happens.
Spoiler: It's bummertime. Even the MIDI version of the song "My Girl" adds to the bummer vibe.
You can play My Girl right here.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/1iHsJmk
News::VelKoz League of Legends Champion Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKfHJw
News::Age of Wonders 3 Review | IncGamers
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKfFkX
News::Will Jason Todd Make His Next-Gen Debut In Batman: Arkham Knight? | International Digital Times
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hD0jq6
News::Titanic: Honor and Glory Switches Engine, Will Be Now Powered By Unreal Engine 4
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKfF4d
News::Black Desert Pre-beta Interview with the Producer Kim Daeil
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hD0guo
News::Shadowrun Online Coming to Steam Early Access
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1hD0gdU
News::GameStop Has Given Up On Cloud Gaming For Now
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKfE0n
News::Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Review (Strategy Informer)
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKfE0f
News::CRYENGINE - New Video Shows Realtime Fluid/Water Simulation
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1rKbpSo
News::10 Classic Games Playable in a Browser Right Now
via N4G: pc news feed http://ift.tt/1dzz0kW