Youtube user Borman18 has released a video that has one hour of game play footage for the cancelled Star Wars Battlefront 3. The game was being developed by UK studio Free Radical, and published by EA, but the project was cancelled due to Free Radical being purchased by Crytek back in 2009. The footage for Star Wars Battlefront 3 looks like the game did make it into the beta stages before it was cancelled, and looked months away from being finished. It is unknown whether Lucas Arts or EA will find someone to finish the game or whether it will stay in Development hell. What do you think about the footage, and do you think the game should be finished, and released?
The WWE started to advertise outside of WWE programming that Monday Night Raw will be going 3 hours each week starting July 23rd 3 weeks ago. The commercials are comedy skits, which makes it look like they are treating the third hour like a joke, but then again WWE has always been about the comedy since the early 2000’s. Raw going 3 hours does have some fan worried that it will go the way of WCW Nitro back in the 90’s. Which had a lot of promo’s rather then actual matches. Only time will tell what WWE will do during the 3 hours each Week. Raw will start 8pm Eastern once it starts going 3 hours. What do you think will happen when Raw goes 3 hours?
Focus Home Interactive have unveiled a quartet of new screenshots for the up and coming Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Frozen City. The handheld title is coming exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS in the final quarter of this year, and will see Sherlock trying to discover why his home city of London has suddenly been cut off from the rest of England by a giant snow storm.
The game has been specifically designed for the 3DS, and boasts a vibrant animated art style that sits very well on the good old aqua blue 3DS. The four screenshots released show off how the game handles the two screens, allowing for interactive puzzles without losing the story context above.
Gameplay looks set to follow the usual clue gathering mechanic of point and click puzzles and teasers, so if your hankering for a bit of Professor Laytonesque adventure with the original detective mastermind, keep your eyes peeled for Frozen City. Meanwhile click on the thumbnails below for a closer look at some more screenshots.
Anuman Interactive is throwing a huge sale to celebrate Independence Day in the United States. They are knocking down four of their biggest games on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch down to $0.99 for 48 hours.
Namco Bandai has released a new trailer of their Nintendo 3DS cross over title with both Capcom and Sega, which is entitled Project X Zone. The trailer showcases the different characters from the three publishers and how they will work in this collaborative project. The trailer is ten minutes long, the longest trailer this game has seen since it was announced earlier this year. Within the trailer, it is mentioned that the game will feature elements from over 25 titles, presumably from the games represented.
Project X Zone has a final release date of October 11 and a price of ¥6,280. A limited edition of the game will also be released . It will include a 48 page artbook and a soundtrack. These will be available in limited numbers and also as first prints, which means that, once they run out, they are gone. These first print limited editions will be the same price as the software only version. Below is the box art of the game, as well as the trailer.
Famitsu have released their scores for Level-5’s next portable game, Time Travelers, to be released on the Nintendo 3DS, Playstation Vita and Playstation Portable. The four reviewers focused on the Nintendo 3DS and Playstation Vita versions of the game as the Playstation Portable version will be released a week after the 3DS and Vita version. All reviewers were unanimously pleased with the title, with all four giving the game a score of 9 each. That gives the game a total of 36 out of 40.
Set in 2031, Time Travelers revolves around an event that will change the world forever. Eighteen years earlier, in 2013, central Tokyo was destroyed by the appearance of the “Lost Hole.” These two events may have a correlation with each other. Time Travelers is set for release on July 12 on the Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS in Japan. The Playstation Portable version will see a release a week later.
To players around the world on the PC platform as it has now officially been released by EA and Funcom. The game itself is retailing for $89.99AUD and is set in a world where conpiracy theories, myths and legends are all said to exist within.
Players can choose to be one of three secret organisations each vying for world domination – The Templars, The Illuminati and the Dragon. What sets this MMORPG apart from the rest is it’s unique modern day setting and it’s step away from traditional MMORPG builds.
“We are proud and very excited to launch The Secret World with Funcom,” said Sinjin Bain, Vice President, EA Partners. “This is truly a unique offering in the MMO genre, and we’re confident players are going to love exploring familiar locations in a real, contemporary world as they uncover the game’s many secrets and wonderful story.”
Players are able to travel around the world and confront various types of folklore legends, myths and other kinds of mysteries, such as fighting Count Dracula in the land of Transylvania. The game will also cost an additional $14.99 per month, as is par with most MMORPGs.
Be sure to check out the Official Site for more info.
Dungeon Twister Developer: Hydravision Entertainment Publisher: Hydravision Entertainment Platform: Playstation 3 (via PSN) Release Date: 04/07/2012 (C Price:$9.99
Overview
Dungeon Twister is the latest video game from Hydravision Entertainment, a French independent studio. Inspired by the board game of the same name, the player takes eight characters in a series of dungeons. While the developers promoted the game, this quote caught my attention: “Dungeon Twister is first and foremost a board game, before becoming a video game,” and this statement is closer to the truth than anyone would think. The gameplay is reflecting a board game rather than a video game and it has its good and bad moments. The visuals are great and the audio is as well. But, do expect a lack of story mode and a combat system that wants more out of it.
Gameplay
If you are familiar with the popular role playing game Dungeon & Dragons as well as chess, one of the oldest strategy games out there, then the gameplay of Dungeon Twisters will be quite easy to understand. With that said, don’t expect to be the master of the dungeon with the first game. Players will have to achieve victory by gathering five victory points. These victory points can be achieved with two different methods: slaying members of the opponent’s party or reaching to the end of the dungeon. Sounds simple, only it isn’t. The dungeon is laid out with elements such as pits and closed portcullis to hinder both parties in achieving their goal.
The layout of the game is a dungeon, hinted in the name. Using action points, players can move, initiate combat and use other actions. At the beginning of each turn, players must choose a card, which determines how much action points they will have for the turn. Some are not available at first but will be once the player continues the game. The action points can be used in various ways, some of which is quite unique. Each room will usually contain a rotation gear, which allows the player to turn the room by one quarter per action point, with a ¾ turn available for three action points. Jumping over pit falls and breaking a portcullis also require action points. Action points are gold, silver and bronze in Dungeon Twister, hence knowing the in and outs of the dungeon is a must. This makes for interesting games and complex strategy for those who learn. Yes, the learning curve may be unforgiving for new players, but the reward for hanging in there is worth it.
Expect four offline modes when the game boots up. For those who want to know the rules, then there is a training mode as well as an how to play section in the options menu. A quick play mode is also on offer, jumping straight into a game. There are two versions: simplified essentially places all characters and items in random spots. An advanced game changes that and allows the player to develop their own strategy by placing characters and items around the dungeon. Challenge mode offers players 20 challenges to complete and allow them to post their results on an online leaderboard. For those who want a story mode, however, then get ready to be disappointed. There is no story mode, with the challenge mode being the closest to one, or even a story. That is quite a disappointment because it really doesn’t add a reason to actually go back and play. It could also offer context with the world and provide a background of the characters. With that said, it is better to have no story than a bad story. Online Multiplayer is also available, with an online leaderboard for online matches.
Eight characters are available to be part of your team, all with their own abilities. These are Goblin, Mekanok, Wall-walker, Thief, Warrior, Cleric, Troll and Wizard. With the use of action points, each character can use a special ability which can turn the tide of battle. Warriors can break open a portcullis, while a Wall-walker can just move through walls. However, it is quite disappointing that these characters can not acquire levels and the combat system reflects that. Instead, combat is designed through cards, rather than a statistical system found in other strategy games. This isn’t the best way to decide battles in a video game like Dungeon Twisters. It is basically get the highest numerical amount with the cards to win the fight. Does the combat system work with the game? Yeah, it does. The design of the levels might actually work in favour of the combat system. If done in a traditional way, victory points may be easily obtainable for each side, thus creating an imbalanced system.
Strategy is key in Dungeon Twister. Expect a battering if the wrong strategy is implemented, but, find the right combination, reap in the rewards. With each character requiring both their unique abilities and a coherent plan, players will wisely spend their action points. The action point system makes players think on their toes while not breaking the game. Combat does suit the style of the game, but it feels basic. The lack of any story is also disappointing, but the same could be said if a bad story was included.
Visual/Audio
For a game like Dungeon Twister, don’t expect high detailed character models or elegant settings. It doesn’t mean that the visuals are an eyesore; it is just that the camera angle won’t allow it. With that said, there really isn’t that much to see. The dungeon is a multicoloured board game with squares to represent where the characters can move to. Walls will block the character’s passage. The pits are filled with excellent textured lava, with other elements well represented with recognisable designs. The style of the game, which is cartoonish, fits with the overall theme of the game. With that said, character portraits for their profiles are beautiful and elegant. The audio is quite interesting. In terms of the soundtrack, there are quite a few tracks available. The main theme is quite good, with an enchanting orchestra filling the player’s heart with raw emotion for battle. The sound effects and voice acting is also good.
Overall
Dungeon Twister is a fun strategy game. With that said, it is hard to recommend it for those quite new to the genre or unfamiliar to the board game. The learning curve is quite steep, but rewards persistence. The combat system, while fitting the game, could have been designed a little better, but the variety of strategy that can be implemented is quite staggering. The lack of a story mode is both a positive and a negative. While it is expected for games like Dungeon Twister to have a story mode, a bad story could weight the game down. Overall, Dungeon Twister is a great game for those who are great with strategy. For the others, maybe another strategy game should be looked at.
… after it’s successful victory at this years E3 conference held in LA. Hawken is a free-to-play mech shooter with a fast-paced and frenetic play style from publisher Meteor Games and developers Adhesive Games. The game is set to launch on the 12/12/12, which is the twelfth of the twelfth twenty-twelve, and is a repetitive number.
Fans looking to play the game at Comic-Con will have the opportunity to do so by visiting IGN’s (augh) booth on both Thursday and Saturday July 12th and 14th. On the Friday and Saturday, one of the teams creative directors, Khang Le, will be creating artworks at the Wacom booth for fans to watch and enjoy. The group Archaia will be showcasing the game on the show floor for the entirety of the event.
After Comic-Con, Hawken will also be in presence at the Gamescom event in Germany where it will probably be playable. We are also told that a new PR team has been put together for this occasion and is handled by the following – “three key players have joined the Meteor Entertainment team: Iris Andresdottir for all International, Aidan Minter in the UK, and Ashley Jenkins in Oceania.”
Just remember to check out the game at it’s official website where I believe there is a closed Beta registration happening right now.
Ah sale time, be still my beating heart. EA Mobile has announced that for the 4th of July they’re going to be having a huge sale, just to celebrate the freedom of speech, or fireworks, or whatever America loves to celebrate. And hey, I’ll celebrate America too if it means getting a massive discount on games.
From July 4th until the 9th iOS games will be available for up to 90% off their normal prices (and some are actually going for FREE). There is a huge range available, for a full list of the current sale titles head over to the EA Mobile Daily Deal site HERE. Some of the included titles include games such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Dead Space, Madden 12, and Fifa 12, on the iPad as well as iPhone and iTouch platforms.
Check out the trailer advertising the awesome sale below. What are you guys keen on getting? Is there anything sticking out for you that you’ve been waiting for, or that you suddenly want to impulse buy?
