Today Atlus USA released another trailer for their upcoming downloadable title God Mode. If you’ve been confused about what this undead game is about then perhaps this trailer may help you figure out a few things. Such as the fact that you’ll be facing off against dozens of undead enemies, leveling up with experience and gold and playing with your friends in 4-player co-op.
As you can see in this gameplay trailer, the game features some old-school action and a number of different factors and modifiers will make it so that matches will rarely ever happen the same way. Currently God Mode is set to be released sometime early in 2013 as a digital download for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace and Steam.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory won’t be skimping on the cameos and references to various things and these latest screenshots from NIS America are proof of that. As you can see in the images below, Neptunia can still summon a Keiji Inafune ship to destroy enemies and that is the least of the cameos we’ll see once the game is released on March 12th in North America exclusively on the PlayStation 3.
Besides Keiji Inafune and another person’s cameo appearance, the screenshots below mostly focus on the game’s revamped combat system, special attacks and a nice little bit of dialogue to close things out.
Today 2K Games and Irrational have released a new trailer as well as a few screenshots for BioShock Infinite. Both of these can be seen below and as for the video, it serves as a bit of brief introductory video to the type of things and events that we’ll be seeing once gamers step foot into the city in the sky, Columbia.
To be a bit more specific, the video shows the game’s main character Booker DeWitt arriving on Columbia in 1912 and he has been tasked with rescuing a girl named Elizabeth who possesses strange powers from a giant mechanical bird-like creature called Song Bird.
Pusher (2012) Studio:Vertigo Films/Embargo Films Publisher:Vendetta Films/Pinnacle Films Format:DVD (Screener Reviewed), Blu-Ray Release Date:March 13, 2013 Price: $32.95
Overview
Pusher is a 2012 British remake of the 1996 Danish original of the same name. The original was written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, 2011) and became a cult hit for it’s extremely raw and gritty cinematography, characters and performances. I have not seen the original trilogy, but am familiar with the plot itself. And Refn acts as executive producer on this remake, which is naturally encouraging. But does his presence automatically mean it’s a good take on his original screenplay?…
Story
The setting of 2012’s Pusher story has been transposed from Copenhagen to London. Frank (Richard Coyle) and his annoying buddy Tony (Bronson Webb) are going to meet a regular customer named Fitz (Paul Kaye) to sell some “product”. Frank loses his cool for a moment as Fitz doesn’t have the right amount of cash for the transaction, and so Frank takes the extra value of the product out of the plastic bag, wraps it inside a ripped magazine page and takes Fitz’s money for the rest.
It’s clear in that first transaction that Frank is doing this just to get by and will not budge on the price because he simply can not afford to. The two friends go on to have some fun out on the town that night. At one of the clubs they visit, Tony seems to be setting up a potential deal as Frank watches from across the dance floor. The next day, Tony alerts Frank to this mystery person’s interest in buying some “gear”. Frank organises a meeting with the man, finding out it’s his former prison-mate who just got out.
The man is interested in a large amount of cocaine, half a “key”, or kilo (how many slang terms are there for drugs?!), which Frank doesn’t have. So, he visits his biggest supplier, Serbian drug lord Milo (Zlatko Burić – the same actor who played the character in the 1996 original) to attain it. He already owes Milo money, but Milo gives him the coke in good faith that he will come straight back with the money to pay his debt, since it is such a huge deal.
This is where things start to turn sour for Frank, as the deal was a bust, and he ended up being swarmed by police who chased him into a nearby lake. He then proceeds to dump the product in said lake. Upon a bout of questioning that implied a friend snitched on Frank, he is let out of custody with no real proof against him and starts to spiral out of control; paranoid, angry and desperate to find the means to pay Milo back. As the film progresses, Frank descends into an increasingly deeper hole of desperation and fear.
Frank’s path to getting the cash he needs leads him to blackmail and intimidation of others, and also some very extreme behaviour as the clock ticks ever closer to the given deadline. Richard Coyle does a fantastic job playing a man with his life threatened and hanging in the balanced. Zlatko Burić is almost like The Godfather; strangely charismatic but evil at his core. His demeanor along with those of his henchmen, gradually change, but he somehow maintains this unpredictability in the performance throughout.
The only true disappointment for me as it relates to the plot/story is how the film begins and therefore how it ends, because the beginning is in fact a glimpse of the conclusion (almost like a flash-forward). The issue with the ending in particular is that it’s very sudden, vague and ambiguous. This isn’t a spoiler for the above reason, but Frank is basically chasing after a cab with his girlfriend in it. But the cab seems to come to a stand-still as he stares at her through the back passenger window. It may be symbolic (watch and you’ll understand), but it’s presented quite literally, which is what breeds the confusion.
Visuals & Audio
There’s something about English film-making that gives off a natural grittiness. It could be argued that it’s because of the constantly dreary weather in England that creates that darker mood, or that the low-budget only allows for cheaper equipment and so it’s not as glossy and “perfect”. But I actually believe it’s the influence of the actual drug sub-culture of urban England. Granted, drug and alcohol usage and abuse has been decreasing over the years, but it’s always affected its youth population.
Most English films I’ve seen deal with hard drug use. Pusher is no different, however with a higher budget and more resources at their disposal, the filmmakers have managed to create a somewhat more colourful visual tonality than the original. The original was very rough, filmed entirely on handheld cameras that you and I could go out and purchase. In essence, it was a much rawer film, partly due to those limitations, but also because that is what Refn intended.
Refn wanted an almost documental style, and this remake most definitely veers away from that type of directing. Director Luis Prieto employs some slick editing and more than a few jump cuts to express the panic and volatility of Frank’s mind and situation. It’s an overall cleaner experience, but still effective in portraying the instability of this life, doing well to not glamourise the lifestyle in the process.
The soundtrack was provided solely by British band Orbital, and it’s perfect. The duo specialise in electronica/dance, which may not sound like a fitting choice at first. But the soundtrack is pulsing and adrenaline filled, representing the drug/club culture shown in the film well. When it’s not being used in the club scenes, it helps create a thriller-like atmosphere, evoking a sense of anxiety – especially as Frank becomes increasingly desperate and scared.
Overall
We were given a screener to review, so we are unable to comment on the DVD extras and presentation that will be present on the final home media releases. We can only comment on the film itself, and I am happy to say that this remake treats the original screenplay with reverence and total respect. Richard Coyle gives a magnetic and powerful performance that truly carries the film, along with a great supporting cast.
The ending leaves a lot to be desired and is even more vague and abrupt than the original’s. There were also some horizontal lines/visual artifacting present, which were disappointingly abrasive, but I see it being a problem exclusive to these screeners. Nonetheless, Pusher is a compact, well acted, well shot remake that does itself justice and pays due respect to the original by not jarringly changing its plot.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 is nearing it’s annual release, and this version looks to have a lot going for it. First off, players can expect to see many community-driven enhancements that will significantly change the game, such as new swing styles, era specific equipment, and true ball physics.
That’s not all though, as EA have fully detailed what players can expect when we step up to the tee.
Go back in time and experience golf through the various eras, starting in the late 1800’s through present day. As users advance through the timeline, they will see and feel the true ball physics and equipment representative of each era. In the early eras, ball spin and trajectory are slower and lower in comparison to how the ball reacts to today’s equipment. Fans will be able to hit the links with retro golf clubs, such as Mashies, Brassies, Baffing Spoons, Jiggers and Niblicks. Pairing the old equipment with the true-to-life ball physics from those early years gives golf fans an authentic gameplay representation of what it was like to play a round in those eras.
Presentation elements in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 have been completely revamped to put players right into the action and emotion of a PGA TOUR broadcast. The first thing users will see is new situation specific data, scoring and a broadcast presentation package that emulates a tournament-like television experience. Additionally, statistics will surface throughout each round, letting you track your performance against the rest of the field in a variety of categories such as, driving distance, putts per hole and birdies. This year, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 will feature over 3,300 camera shots, including overhead, close-up and green-side angles in addition to many others. Even the look and feel of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 will shift alongside its real-life majors as players will also see the leaderboards that are distinct and synonymous with the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
Twenty four unique golfer swing styles are available this year, enabling players to customize gameplay to the next level. Users can tailor the career mode golfer by selecting power versus control, fade versus draw, trajectory and handedness. Players now have the opportunity to choose whether they want to be a power-draw hitter like Dustin Johnson or swing like Luke Donald who has pin point accuracy off the tee. Each pro golfer in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 has their own authentic swing style.
This year’s game features a new enhanced Strike Meter which enables gamers to hit the ball with consistency out of any lie with a properly executed stroke. The Strike Meter introduces a left to right movement to simulate scenarios players would face in real life, such as side hill lies which demand an altered reach, to create an authentic ball striking experience in any given situation.
A fifth difficulty setting has been added to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 this year. Simulation difficulty was designed for those players who want to experience what the PGA TOUR pros face each week. In Simulation difficulty, the swing meter, green grid, zoom to aim, along with other aids are turned off. This mode is the truest test of skill for the hardcore fans. With this difficulty setting, users can implement the new advanced shot shaping feature to work the ball and attack courses with creativity, just like the pros and Legends.
Check out the new footage down below to see all of this in action, and expect Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 to hit the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 this March.
Bethesda has released the best of their game sound tracks on iTunes. Seven of their most popular games’ soundtracks are now available for purchase. Listen to them on your iPod or iPhone and make every trip you take outside or around the house an epic adventure.
Here is the list of sound tracks available, each linked to the iTunes store. To purchase these soundtracks, just click on the album names bwlow and you’ll be taken directly to iTunes.
Today Sega of Japan has released a six minute long video showing off a number of the features that the PlayStation Vita version of Phantasy Star Online 2 will have once it is released in Japan on February 28th. The trailer can be seen below and you can begin hoping for a localization of the Vita version of the game.
Of course if it never does happen, don’t feel too bad because Sega has previously announced that the PC version of the free-to-play Phantasy Star Online 2 will be released in English for North America sometime in the future. You can check out the English version of the game’s official website here.
Microprose and Zombie Studios are releasing a new game with publisher Atari and although it is a third-person cover based shooter, it does offer plenty of innovation. Special Forces: Team X is focused on working as a team, so that players can work together in teams of 2-4 to take out and defeat the opposing team in 5 different game types.
What kind of innovation is Special Forces: Team X bringing? For one the map each game takes place on is determined not by voting for a given map, but instead by voting for specific environment pieces allowing for over 100 different combinations to change up gameplay. Additionally, the weapons used in the game get to use the official licensed names thanks to the partnership with Cybergun SA, as well as offering full customization.
Special Forces: Team X will be released February 6th on Xbox Live Arcade and PC, which those interested in getting it on Steam should consider pre-ordering as they can get it 10% off HERE.
EA Games have just now revealed a new trailer for the upcoming Battlefield 3 digital expansion titled Battlefield 3: End Game. The new trailer details the digital expansion and what Battlefield fans have to look forward to.
You can check out the trailer for Battlefield 3: End Game below. The new digital expansion reintroduces classic Battlefield multiplayer modes like Capture the Flag and Air Superiority. On top of that there will be new vehicles and weaponry for players to enjoy. It is simply a Battlefield fans wonderland!
Will you be getting Battlefield 3: End Game? What do you think of it? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
You can take a peak at what the Dead Space 3 story will be like in the new trailer below.
The story and atmosphere looks very different from the previous instalments in the game. There seems to be much more interaction between the player character and others, along with a higher action influence rather than a horror feel. The evolution of a game franchise can be either good or bad, but no one can say for sure if that is true for Dead Space until it comes out. For now we will enjoy the character interaction and the apparent love story that is part of the plot now. For more information on the Dead Space be sure to check out our hands on preview for the game here, and also our interview with John Calhoun Dead Space 3 Producer.
