Sony has sent the video gaming world into a frenzy with their teaser video “See the Future”. And we only have to wait until February 20th to find out what that future looks like.
It is being rumoured that it could mean the reveal of the PlayStation 4, way ahead of E3 and Gamescom – the two events many first speculated could be the site of the unveiling. In fact, the Wall Street Journal insists that we will indeed see the PS4 for the first time on February 20th.
This comes after Sony CEO Kaz Hirai said, “why go first when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?” So, even though it seems the PlayStation 4 will be unveiled first, that does not necessarily mean that it will release first.Â
Watch the ‘See the Future’ video below and add to the conversation; let us know in the comments section whether you believe Wall Street Journal, and your thoughts/predictions for the future of PlayStation.
Grinding Gear Games, makers of the upcoming action role-playing game Path of Exile currently in open beta, opened the flood gates today and unleashed a full torrent of screenshots and other images to allow people check out more about their title.
While some people may look at the screenshots and be tempted to write Path of Exile off as merely another Diablo clone, be assured that fans of Torchlight and other action RPGs of this nature should not merely pass it by.  Path of Exile boasts several features that not even the folks at Blizzard have been able to nail down yet, including PvP tournaments and what they claim to be the “deepest item system in any action RPG.”
According to Grinding Gear Games, here are the key features of Path of Exile:
A dark and deep action RPG
Build unlimited unique characters on a gigantic skill tree
Combine over 110 skill gems to create unique combat strategies
Explore a dark and gritty world rendered from a fixed 3D perspective
Download and play for free, but never ‘pay-to-win’
Explore randomly generated levels for extreme replayability
Craft weapons, magic items and even end-game maps to become more powerful
Cooperate or compete with thousands of other exiles in a persistent online world
Ascend online ladders in every game mode
Battle in PVP tournaments for worldwide recognition
You can check out the screenshots in the gallery below, or get a greater feel for the game by checking out the Open Beta Launch Trailer. Â Players interested in giving the game a try can check them out here.
When I heard that Toki Tori 2 was launching with the Wii U, I must admit – I was pretty damn excited. Then a delay happened. Well, there has been a trend of delays with the platform, so that is not new, but Two Tribes want to let their fans know why this happened, and broke down the reasoning in a new blog post.
Here is a brief snippet:
An hour before, I had an amazing idea for a new puzzle. I put it in and it felt really good. It made me think about the game as a whole… if I was still having fun adding puzzles, then why were we going to send the game off to Nintendo in two days?
This realization got me thinking. Why were we so focused on getting the game out before Christmas? Why in the world would we put so much pressure on ourselves, when we do not have a publisher or investor pushing us? Is this something we inherited from our days as a work-for-hire developer? I decided to talk it through with Martijn during our morning commute, and by the time we reached the office we had agreed to delay the game.
To sum it up, Toki Tori 2 was delayed to improve…just about everything. The framerate, the visuals, to add in puzzles, you name it. Normally, developers would have never been so candid, but I give Two Tribes a lot of props for honesty, as it looks like they may have a true contender on their hands as of now. Once we get word on a release date for Toki Tori 2, we will keep you updated. Until then though, rest easy knowing that a much improved version of the game is coming.
The Cave Developer: Double Fine Productions Publisher: SEGA Platform: Xbox Live Arcade (Reviewed), Nintendo Wii U, Playstation Network, PC Release Date: January 23, 2012 Price: 1200 Microsoft Points ($14.99) – BUY NOW
Overview
Double Fine Productions are known for their knack for adventure titles, and have started 2013 off with a bang with The Cave. While the name is a bit plain, this romp is anything but as it was created by Ron Gilbert, the mind behind the likes of Manic Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, and the beloved Monkey Island series. Yes, all of the charm you would expect has made the cut into this digital release, but is The Cave worth exploring? Let’s find out.
Story
The Cave doesn’t have an overall narrative, as it features seven different characters who are out to fulfill their own destiny. To do this, they must trek down into the depths of the cave, and use each other’s skills to obtain their goal. It sounds ever so sweet, doesn’t it? I mean, we have a knight, a pair of twins, your typical scientist, hillbilly, time traveler, a gentle monk, and an adventurer – all working together for a dream. Well, The Cave is not your stereotypical story book, as these personalities must be selfish to succeed.
The Cave’s walls are littered with blood, bones, and torment – which the narrator (who happens to be the cave itself) seems to be quite proud of. Now the general concept is to explore this lair with whichever three characters you select, and discover themed destinations based around one specific character in your party. There are a lot of undertones in this plot, but the main idea is to achieve your goal by thinking of yourself. Yes, it’s dark and even twisted at times, but the bumbling cast involved keep The Cave feeling like a light-hearted affair, disguising the tortuous walls with side-splitting humor.
Gameplay
I can’t help but think of Lost Vikings when speaking of The Cave, as gameplay wise – the two titles are very similar. The player only gets to explore The Cave with three characters, and will only be able to control one of the trio at any given time. This means that you will need to swap out on a regular basis, ensuring each character is caught up to the next so that they can work together on the many puzzles within. As I mentioned, this cavern is made up of several areas, each featuring puzzles and environments based upon a specific theme. For instance, there is a carnival for the hillbilly, a castle for the knight, and a laboratory for the scientist. To progress, the player must complete the puzzles in each area correctly. Making matters a bit simple is the lack of death. Yes, you can die, but the punishment is very minor as the focus of the experience is on exploration and puzzles.
Most of the puzzles within The Cave revolve around using items and switches to open doors or blow down walls. For instance, there is one spot early on that features a hungry monster that will kill anything that even attempts to cross it’s path. The player must send one of their heroes to get a hot dog, and then use the food item as bait while another character stands by near a lever – which is used to trigger a trap for the beast. Yeah, not all of puzzles are like this, but almost every element in the game requires a level of teamwork, so getting each character involved and in a appropriate location is mandatory if you want to solve the clever puzzles at hand. These little brain benders have a lot of depth behind them as well, as a good portion of the time one item will have to be obtained by clearing a smaller puzzle – such as finding a fuse to turn on a vending machine when food is needed. It all comes together nicely though, and even though the backtracking can be rough – The Cave will make sure the rewards for completion are always great each time a large objective is complete.
Adding a little spice to the experience are special abilities. Each character has their own unique move, which can assist or open a shortcut if used correctly. The time traveler for instance has a teleport to move through thin walls, while the knight can summon a shield to protect him against all damage. These are a small touch, but work well with the puzzle solving elements involved. One thing that is a bit rough however is the general controls. Each character moves around fine, but can be very slow. This wouldn’t be much of a problem, but there is a lot, and I do mean a lot of backtracking within The Cave, so you will more than likely be crossing the same paths again and again as you try to complete an objective. The platforming is also a bit off, as missing a jump can be a common affair due to the slight clunkiness, so patience is a trait the player must have in order to enjoy all of the offerings on display. Again, these minor shortcomings are just that – small little annoyances that are only amplified by the repetitive exploration due to the three character concept. I adapted after a bit, but found myself taking several breaks during my first run to kill off some of the monotony involved.
Luckily, The Cave’s brilliance shines through at an unlikely area – and that is replay value. With seven characters in all, one would have to play the game multiple times to collect every painting and solve every puzzle, and the narrator and themed level design always brings about something new, so that the second playthrough will be completely different from the first. Aside from the tiresome backtracking and repeated puzzles at times, The Cave is a game that can be savored due to it’s replay value, and those who enjoy exploration are sure to find themselves in paradise with all of the hidden secrets, puzzles, and items littered throughout this dark and grimacing structure.
Visuals and Audio
When it comes to the visual design of The Cave, it’s obvious just a few moments in that this game was built to compliment the personality of the cast of characters within. Every model has been crafted well, as small details and facial expressions give off both personality and atmosphere, and the animations ensure that the seven spelunkers control and feel different from the next – which is a trait that greatly adds to the incentive of multiple playthroughs. The Cave itself is treated to a stunning art design, popping with relaxing and dark tones – with the themed areas coming in to a pleasant change of scenery as the game moves on.
As far as the soundtrack goes, well – there isn’t one. No, that’s not a bad thing in The Cave’s case. Instead of ambient music, the sound effects of water dripping and other environmental sounds give the player a true isolated feeling of unease as they explore, while the narrator chimes in to sprinkle humor and tips throughout the game. The narrator’s role is honestly one of the most endearing qualities of The Cave, to be honest. Some may shiver at his lack of morals or care for the seven innocent dreamers, but his twisted and rather unsettling dialogue make for an unforgettable experience and could even be compared to another host of misery known as GlaDOS.
Overall
The Cave is not a perfect game by any means as the backtracking can grow tedious, and the controls could have certainly seen a bit more polish. Honestly though, for every patch of frustration, there are golden moments filled with humor, wonder, and charm. The writing never weakens with the clever narrator involved, and this entire tale’s gruesome take on morality gives this romp it’s own dark place amongst some of the finest adventure games to date. Double Fine have done a spectacular job at crafting a vivid adventure in The Cave, opening up an unforgettable world that those with patience are sure to fall into for hours on end.
Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure Developer:Â Genius Sonority Publisher:Â Nintendo Platform:Â Nintendo DS Release Date:Â January 10, 2013 Price:$59.99 – Available HereÂ
Overview:
Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure is Nintendo’s latest oddball Pokemon spin-off and takes the series down a path that honestly could never have been predicted. Just the idea of a Pokemon themed educational typing game seems somewhat ludicrous. Well as preposterous as it sounds, Pokemon: Typing Adventure is actually a pretty fun game, especially if you’re a kid.
This is certainly a game with an audience in mind. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means that it isn’t for everyone. For children however they won’t want to stop typing and it is all thanks to Pikachu and all his cuddly pals.
Gameplay:
Typing is something that has become a part of our everyday life with the rise of the home computer over the past 2 decades. As such, typing is just as important for children to learn now as handwriting is. There have been typing games in the past but none spring to mind that has such a colossal franchise as Pokemon attached to it. That is where the appeal of Pokemon: Typing Adventure comes in, it mixes lessons of typing with the colourful Pokemon world and its characters, to great success might I add.
While it is obvious that Pokemon: Typing Adventure is meant for children, there can be some fun to be had by adults even if they have already learnt to type. The reason being that at its core, Pokemon: Typing Adventure is an addictive game with puzzle and rhythm game aspects to it. For children they will find these aspects to be incredibly fun while also being educated in proper typing. It really is a winning formula.
The game essentially plays out pretty simply, with the player using a wireless keyboard that comes with the game to control the game and play the mini-games and catch Pokemon by spelling out their names. One problem that may be encountered with this title is its inherent lack of portability, it requires a table for stability to keep the 3DS and keyboard in place. But if you are learning to type you probably won’t be thinking of taking this game on to go with you.
It is advised that you have at least a small amount of table space in order to play this game. This may be an issue to some who do not want a portable game that essentially defeats the purpose of portable gaming, but Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure is one of these games that defeats that purpose by being inherently lacking in portability. If you can get over this minor issue there shouldn’t be a problem with your experience. It would be strange however if you were planning on taking this keyboard around with you on the go.
Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure is truly an adventure, literally across the keyboard that comes with the game. As you progress through the game you play different typing missions for each key of the keyboard with a variety of Pokemon appearing depending upon what key you are on. You can capture Pokemon by typing their name in certain levels. Other mission types include typing the letter or key as it appears to gain points. It is all very simple yet so very addictive. Throughout the course of these missions you develop and earn more points for your trainer, with this the game tracks your progress as you learn to type. This is great as it gives you a means to look at how far you have come and everything that you have learnt.
Nintendo have really created a winning formula with Pokemon: Typing Adventure by bringing together a seemingly monotonous education lesson of typing and the magical exciting world of Pokemon. This game will no doubt be a hit with the kids and parents looking for a teaching tool that will actually hold their children’s attention, Pokemon will have no problem doing just that.
Visuals and Audio:
The aesthetics of Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure are very appealing for the younger audience with the art style of choice being super-deformed cutesy Pokemon. It may appear to be a little childish to teens or older audiences, but this game really isn’t made for them.
For the children that this game is made for the game does a great job visually and will no doubt enchant them as they learn to type with its colourful world and cute yet cool character designs.
Pokemon: Typing Adventure’s soundtrack is not exactly anything worth writing home about, though it does do an efficient enough job. The main theme of Typing Adventure is clearly the stand-out while the majority of other tracks in the game feel a little inconsequential and benign. At the end of the day however music won’t make too big of an impact on this game’s target audience. It does the job, but it’s nothing special.
Overall:
Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure is a game that knows what it wants to be and does it very well. It doesn’t try to reach all audiences, it doesn’t pander or even meander to outside it’s target demographic. Sure it doesn’t have any appeal to teens or adults, but it doesn’t need to. This is a children’s game with the goal of teaching them to type in the most enjoyable and educational way possible. In that regard Pokemon: Typing Adventure is a resounding success. It is fun, exciting and actually teaches in an engaging way. A lot of educational games feel as though you are back in class, Pokemon: Typing Adventure however hearkens back the feeling of watching a great children’s TV show, one of the ones that teaches lessons but still functions as more than that. There isn’t any better typing game on the market and it’s hard to imagine there could be one more fun than this. Pokemon: Typing Adventure is a learning experience that is genuinely fun, you can’t get much better than that.
February, the month of Chinese New Years and everyone’s favourite/most hated holiday of Valentine’s Day. Lets kick off the month on a good note with some great deals shall we?
Steam is running two weekend deals this week. Indie dungeon crawler Legend of Grimrock is 66% off. The game is a modern 3d twist on the classical old school dungeon crawler and worth a purchase for RPG fans. The price isn’t the best as it has shown up at 75% off during the last Steam Winter Sale. I highly recommend waiting until it shows up at 75% off before purchasing the game. Painkiller Hell & Damnation is also on sale for a hellish 66% off. Additionally, a free to play weekend for the multiplayer portions of the game is running until Sunday at 1pm PST. The game is a throwback to the old Quake style first person shooter. The sale prices will last until Monday at 10am PST as usual.
Greenman Gaming is flexing their muscles throwing a large sale this weekend. The sale will last until 4:00 pm GMT February 4th. Those looking to pre-order Dragonborn, the latest DLC for Skyrim can get it at 20% off. This is the lowest price I have seen so far for this particular DLC, so if you’re looking to play on day 1, this is your best bet. Strike Suit Zero and the Collector’s Edition is on sale for 20% off too. This classy space dog fighter meets mecha game ran a successful Kickstarter and features ship designs by Junji Okubo, the designer behind Appleseed: Ex Machina and Steel Battalion. Check out our review of Strike Suit Zero here. Sleeping Dogs and its twocontent DLCs 75% off. In addition, purchasing the base game will give you either $1.00 instant cashback or $2.00 store credit for a future purchase. This takes the crown as the best deal for Sleeping Dogs since the pricing error on Steam during the Winter Sale. Check out our review of Sleeping Dogs here. There are a whack load more weekend deals at Greenman Gaming including 25% off preorders for major games, check them all out here.
GOG.com is running a 20 game sale, knocking prices down by 60%. I recommend checking out Jagged Alliance, Port Royale 2, Combat Chess, and Sacred Gold in particular. All these games come in DRM free downloads. Check out the full sale here.
Get Games has the Total War Collections on sale for up to 75% off. The Total War series is a strategy fan favourite. If you have yet to play the series, I highly recommend trying the series out. Each collection features all the games, expansions, and DLCs in one package. Additionally, the Total War Grand Master Collection contains almost all the Total War games along with most of the DLCs for those games. Check out our review of the standalone expansion Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai here.
THQ games are still heavily discounted after the fall of the publisher. Darksiders II is on sale at Gametap for 80% off. Short of buying Darksiders II in a bundle, this has been the cheapest its been so far. Just a warning, it is not the best PC port. Sleeping Dogs was released at the same time and made the PC port of Darksiders II look slightly cheap. None the less, Darksiders II is a fantastic follow up to Darksiders. I recommend purchasing it if you don’t yet own the game. Check out our review of Darksiders II here.
With Steam’s new Greenlight feature, indie developers have been looking for ways to improve the visibility of their projects on Greenlight. Thus the Green Light Bundle was born. The latest Green Light Bundle features nine great indie games for $5.00 or how ever much you want to pay to support the developers. The games come in either DRM free downloads or Desura keys. Buyers are strongly encouraged to visit each game’s Greenlight page and give them a thumbs up. All games featured in the Green Light Bundle that manage to get onto Steam will provide free Steam keys to all buyers of the second Green Light Bundle.
The second bundle features first person haunting sim Paranormal, time management tower defense game Beware Planet Earth!, tile-dragging puzzler Hairy Tales, casual dungeon crawler Dwarf Quest, first person spearfishing sim Depth Hunter, 8 bit platformer Potatoman Seeks the Troof, beat ’em up game Megabyte Punch, side scrolling platformer Gear Jack, and strategy game Aeon Command. Buy your bundle here.
EA Mobile studio Firemonkeys released the latest development diary for Real Racing 3 onto YouTube today. The video features Community Manager Sam Mayo and Programmer Ptolemy Oberin get on camera to talk about the new Time Shifted Multiplayer feature in Real Racing 3. The mode allows players to race against each other whether they are online or not. The mode is a twist on the traditional ghost racing as the other drivers in Time Shifted Multiplayer behave like real drivers. All the times are collected on Game Center and Facebook allowing players to compete with friends and strangers from around the world.
Real Racing 3 will be released in February 2013 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Check out more about the game here.
IndieGameStand’s new 96 hour sale is 3D first person platforming puzzler Vitrum. Developed by 9heads Games, players will take on the roll of an android trapped in a desert laboratory. There are crystals scattered around the lab that provide the android with a variety of powers that will help it solve puzzles to get to the end of the level. There are over 45 stages included in the main campaign and a stage editor that will allow players to create and share their own levels for endless replayability.
IndieGameStand is a pay what you want system, with those who spend more than $1.00 receiving a Desura key. 9heads Games has chosen Child’s Play Charity as the recipient of a portion of the profits. Help get Vitrum Greenlighted by clicking here. Buy Vitrum here.
Today Namco Bandai must have felt that we weren’t getting enough One Piece in our lives because the company has chosen to dump over sixty new images ranging from screenshots to artwork from One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2. The massive collection of images, which can be seen below, feature the entire Straw Hat crew taking on waves of enemies and showing off their new unique skills.
Also shown off in these screenshots is the new playable character Eneru and the “Haki” battle element which as fans from the series know, can topple even the fiercest of enemies if used correctly. Currently One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 is set to be released sometime this summer on the PlayStation 3.
It is advised that you have at least a small amount of table space in order to play this game. This may be an issue to some who do not want a portable game that essentially defeats the purpose of portable gaming, but Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure is one of these games that defeats that purpose by being inherently lacking in portability. If you can get over this minor issue there shouldn’t be a problem with your experience. It would be strange however if you were planning on taking this keyboard around with you on the go.
Visuals and Audio:
EA Mobile studio Firemonkeys released the latest development diary for Real Racing 3 onto YouTube today. The video features Community Manager Sam Mayo and Programmer Ptolemy Oberin get on camera to talk about the new Time Shifted Multiplayer feature in Real Racing 3. The mode allows players to race against each other whether they are online or not. The mode is a twist on the traditional ghost racing as the other drivers in Time Shifted Multiplayer behave like real drivers. All the times are collected on Game Center and Facebook allowing players to compete with friends and strangers from around the world.
