Images have leaked online revealing the character selection screen for the hotly anticipated Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations thanks to some lucky fans at CyberConnect2′s showcase event for the title. Crunchyroll leaked the images of the character select screen online earlier which caused Namco Bandai followed up the leak by revealing the entire character listing, which has brought the number of playable characters in the title to over 85.

The following characters and their transformations are playable within the game:

• Naruto (with 4-Tails Awakening)
• Naruto (with Tailed Beast Chakra Mode Awakening)
• Sage Naruto (with 6-Tails Awakening)
• Mei
• Ay
• Onoki
• Sasuke (with Susano Awakening)
• Sasuke (Akatsuki)
• Sasuke (with CS2 Awakening)
• Sakura
• Sai
• Kakashi (Adult)
• Yamato
• Danzo
• Tobi
• Karin
• Jugo
• Suigetsu
• Neji
• Lee
• Tenten
• Guy
• Tsunade
• Deidara
• Sasori
• Hidan
• Kakuzu
• Shikamaru
• Choji
• Ino
• Asuma
• Jiraiya
• Itachi
• Kisame
• Konan
• Pain
• Kiba
• Shino
• Hinata
• Hashirama
• Tobirama
• Hiruzen
• Orochimaru
• Kabuto
• Gaara
• Temari
• Kankuro
• Chiyo
• Killer Bee
• Kakashi (Teen)
• Obito
• Minato
• Naruto (Part 1)
• Sasuke (Part 1)
• Sakura (Part 1)
• Neji (Part 1)
• Lee (Part 1)
• Tenten (Part 1)
• Shikamaru (Part 1)
• Choji (Part 1)
• Ino (Part 1)
• Kiba (Part 1)
• Shino (Part 1)
• Hinata (Part 1)
• Gaara (Part 1)
• Temari (Part 1)
• Kankuro (Part 1)
• Kimimaro
• Haku
• Zabuza
• Darui
• Cee
• Chojuro
• Ao
• Kurotsuchi
• Akatsuchi
• Fu
• Torune
• Kurenai
• Shizune
• Anko
• Jirobo
• Kidomaru
• Sakon
• Tayuya

That is a mighty big list, which pretty much covers the majority of the characters to ever appear in the series which makes this game the most complete Naruto video game to date. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is set for launch on the 30th of March, 2012 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

Fans of adventure gaming may have had their eye on this – Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle. A point and click adventure set in the 17th century pirate infested Caribbean, the game was originally due for release on February 24. For reasons unknown the game has been delayed by a couple of weeks until March 16.

The title is shaping up to be something very unusual, given that it’s a point and click adventure built on an unusually large scale. Reportedly containing over 20 hours of gameplay, Captain Morgane also runs in full HD, is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as well as the usual adventure game home that is the PC, and boasts over 40 characters scattered through 50 environments. The title is also due to release on the Wii and DS.

EA’s epic fantasy role-playing game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is now available to players across Australia and the United States.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an epic role-playing game in the same style as other Western RPG greats as Fable and Skyrim. We recently reviewed the title to which we gave it glowing praise. You can view our review of Reckoning here.

You can purchase Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning now from your local gaming store for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Will you be picking up Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning? Let us know in the shoutbox and comments section.

That’s right boys and girls, Grand Slam Tennis 2 has officially hit Aussie shelves as of today so go out and grab your copy ahead of both North America and Europe.

Grand Slam Tennis 2 is available for Xbox 360 and PS3 and also utilises the PlayStation Move controller. The game features a star-studded lineup including current legends in the making: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Serena Williams as well as past greats such as John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Martina Navratilova.

The game also boasts the official licensing to all four Grand Slams, and implements an all new Total Racquet Control system for a truly realistic experience.

Don’t forget to keep your eyes open for our review which will be on the site very soon.

Some may remember that True Crime: Hong Kong was dropped by Activision last year due to some rather unsatisfying explanations. However later in 2011 some hope for the series was revived as Square Enix picked up the rights to the game in development. Now Square Enix only purchased the rights to that game, but not to True Crime itself, so that means that when they release the title it will be under a different name.

Thus we have Sleeping Dogs. Square Enix revealed today that they will be releasing the game later this year and it is still being developed by United Front Games. To commemorate this announcement they have released an amazing live-action trailer for the game which can be seen below. Almost makes you wish that they were making a movie rather than a game.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Big Huge Games
Platforms: Xbox 360 (Reviewed), Playstation 3, PC
Release Date: February 9, 2012
Price: $59.95 - Available Here

Overview:
What is it that we look for in an RPG? Do we look for an immersive world with a deep mythology? Do we look for characters that engage us? Do we look for an adventure through a wild world completely different to our own? Or do we look for freedom?

All of these are things players have looked for in RPGs and also things they have discovered in RPGs over the years. So how does that all tie in with Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning? Well, it doesn’t. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an RPG the likes of which has not been seen before.

Reckoning takes all of these tenets into account, but it never truly grasps them. Instead it allows them each to be decided by the player, giving gamers an unprecedented level of choice in what they get out of this game.

What do you look for in an RPG? Reckoning wants to know and it’s willing to provide. Your fate is entirely in your hands, welcome to the Kingdoms of Amalur.

Story:
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning doesn’t so much feature a plot line as it does a concept and universe. The story begins with the player awakening after having been thought dead, you are the only person in the entire world who is not bound by fate. From that point the player holds the fate of the world and themselves in their hands.

The universe of Amalur is a vibrant, expansive and well conceived one at that. It’s a world filled with intrigue and adventure, all waiting for the player to choose which path they will take.

The Kingdoms of Amalur world is massive and as such features an almost unfathomable mythology, arguably more so than other Western RPGs on the market such as Skyrim and Fable (Both of which have clearly positively inspired the world of Amalur in one way or another).

Fantasy lovers will find themselves in utter glee as they explore and uncover more about the history and mythos of the Kingdoms of Amalur and even the most complacent of fantasy fans can appreciate the scope.

Gameplay:
Reckoning plays like most RPGs. You fight monsters, tackle dungeons, level your character, grow stronger and explore. It may seem like another generic RPG fare there but believe me when I say that it is far from that.

The game begins with the player having resurrected and looking to escape the dungeon you are trapped in. Throughout this first dungeon, players are given a taste of every possible play choice available in the game. You are given a chance to try out every fighting style available throughout the game, leaving you ultimately to decide which way you want it.

That choice right there from the very get go of the game is crucial to what makes Reckoning so very unique. More than anything the emphasis is on deciding your own fate in Reckoning. That is the main focus of the gameplay, particularly in the combat side of things.

Combat in Reckoning is put simply; amazing. There is so much customization and a plethora of different fighting style available, from the fast paced or stealth based fighting of Rogue classes to the more spell based fighting of the Magic using classes. This gives players a real MMO feel in the sense that there is multiple different ways to play with an incredibly deep level of customization to weaponry, spells, moves, etc.

This customization is capped off with what is without a doubt a revolutionary idea for an RPG – the ability to change class and fighting style by just pausing the game and flipping it over. It’s so simple a concept yet so effective in it’s execution. If there is a boss who is weak toward magic for example, but you play as a Rogue mostly and are having difficulty taking him on, you can simply swap to a magic user (pertaining you have magic gear) and adapt to the action.

If you love ploughing through dungeons or fighting monsters, you are sure to be pleased with Reckoning’s customization and emphasis on combat. This emphasis is pure indulgent fun, as it rightfully should be.

In terms of storyline and quests however, things don’t hold up as well as the combat system and customization. That’s not to say there are major problems, it’s all simply minor. For example a lot of the side quests are rather repetitive (a problem that plagues a lot of Western RPGs), but there is enough variety that it shouldn’t bother players too greatly.

That brings me to the other facets of the game. There are a few minor glitches and bugs, as you’d expect from a massive game such as this. The worst problem I suffered was a troublesome camera that would rapidly fly about with a life of it’s own when battling in narrow parts of dungeons which made it rather difficult to fight, but it wasn’t anything that lasted. It was only a brief and small problem. Other glitches are mostly graphical and nothing on the level of Skyrim thankfully.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an RPG fanatics fantasy game, there is a multitude of choices available as to how you want to play this game as well as a combat system that is by far one of the best ever implemented in a Western RPG. There is just so much unbridled fun available to players in Reckoning and that’s what people will take away from this.

Visuals and Audio:
On an aesthetic level, Reckoning is a visual feast for the eyes. The world is filled with vibrant colours and well conceived character designs alongside unique environments that just beg players to explore.

The graphics are certainly up to par and the universe of Amalur is so well designed that you will definitely find yourself immersed in the wonders and small eccentricities hidden within this giant world. It’s a place players want to spend their time in and that is certainly in part due to the spectacular visual aspect of the game.

From an audio stand point, Reckoning features work from the great Grant Kirkhope of Rare fame. He has composed an amazing soundtrack that provides the right atmosphere to Amalur no matter the situation and should be praised for that feat.

All in all, Reckoning is a lesson in how visuals and audio should be in a modern day video-game.

Overall: 
Whatever choice you make, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a brilliant game and a great start for what promises to be an impressive new franchise in the making.

Getting back to my original question, what is it we look for in an RPG? Well, whatever it is you are looking for in a role-playing game, Reckoning can give you that, and then some.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has proven itself to be the hottest new RPG on the market and one that reminds players that it’s not always about the nitty gritty, but about the fun of gaming. Reckoning is pure enjoyment and is an experience that must be had. Journey into the Kingdoms of Amalur, it’s the right choice in a world with so many possibilities.

Because why the world wouldn’t they create a Battleship video game? Anyways… Activision and Double Helix have revealed that they are currently working on creating a lovely video game adaptation of the Battleship movie which is set to be released in a few months… The movie itself is an adaptation of the board game Battleship so…

The game will combine aspects of the classic board game alongside FPS gameplay and is being developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. There will also be “uniquely designed versions” released for the Wii, DS and 3DS. So what is next… Chutes and Ladders the video game? Or how about Candy Land? Perhaps a treasure hunting game where if you Connect 4 you will save the world…

If MMO’s aren’t your thing and you need a bit of a Star Wars fix, here’s the latest from LucasArts and Microsoft. To mark the release of Kinect Star Wars on April 5 a limited edition ‘Kinect Star Wars’ console bundle is being released, which will retail at $549. As you can see the bundle is themed after everyone’s favourite droid duo, with an R2 D2 styled console and C3PO controller. Of course a copy of the game is included, and there’s even some extra bonus content too – an exclusive C-3PO unlockable for Dance Mode.

Dance mode (Galactic Dance Off mode to give it’s proper name) is one of three new modes also announced for Kinect Star Wars. Somewhat horrifyingly it allows players who want to take a break from their Jedi training to dance along to Star Wars themed pop songs – want to bust a move in a dance off against Darth Vader? Well Star Wars fans, now you can.

Also joining the already announced Rancor Rampage and Podracing modes are Duels of Fate and Jedi Destiny: Dark Side Rising. Duels of fate provides a series of one to one battles to sharpen your lightsaber skills, and Jedi Destiny comes packed with ride-able landspeeders and speeder bikes, space battles and brand new opponents such as Count Dooku and Darth Vader.

If you can’t see yourself waiting until April, then Star Wars Episode I : The Phantom Menace 3D is released in cinemas today.

How would a console game’s marketplace look if it tried to make use of Valve’s policy of selling character customization items? Well it would probably look a lot like Gotham City Impostors. While the game is set to be released tomorrow on the XBLA, the downloadable content is available today. There are over a hundred different items to be purchased and each one is simply a character customization piece.

The prices for these packs range from 80 to 320 MSP. However don’t get too worked up about this situation as Monolith has explained that all of the costume pieces for purchase are available in the game itself and can be unlocked for free. Meaning that if you are desperate for a certain in-game item, maybe you should play the game a bit more to unlock it.

Upcoming survival game, I Am Alive, has had a new trailer released for it from publisher Ubisoft. The trailer showcases many of the environments that players must traverse in order to stay alive and advance through the game.

The unique looking and sounding title is set to be released on the 7th of March and is set in the post apocalyptic city of Haventon, USA. Of course, this is a fictional city, but it is a very interesting set-piece for the kind of game that this is.

Fans of survival movies and games are sure to love this game when it is released for the Xbox Live Arcade. So be sure to check out the official site for more info.

Trailer is embedded below.