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Resident Evil Revelations Review

February 19, 2012

Resident Evil Revelations
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Price: $39.99 BUY NOW!

Overview
Resident Evil. Hearing those two words are synonymous with fear in the video game world. Resident Evil Revelations has been one of the most anticipated 3DS titles thus far, and after the sneak peak we seen when Mercenaries dropped last year, fans everywhere have been foaming at the mouth for the full monty to drop in handheld form. After the year of teases though, there are a lot of questions to be answered. Does the gameplay feel right on a handheld? Is this title truly scary? Most of all, does it live up to the mass amount of hype? Thankfully, I can start by answering yes to all three of those questions. Why, you may ask? Here is my review for Resident Evil Revelations.

Story
Revelations takes place before the events of Resident Evil 5, and for the most part puts players in control of Jill Valentine as she searches for her old partner Chris on an abandoned cruise ship known as the Queen Zenobia. Along with a new partner by the name of Parker, it is Jill’s task to investigate the mysterious vessel and find out why Chris and his feminine teammate Jessica have lost contact with the BSAA during their mission. Like previous entries, there are not many zombies to be found and B.O.W.s are yet again the main factor of fear within the game. This time however, the atmosphere has a much darker tone and Capcom have done well in bringing back that truly isolated feel we seen so prominently displayed during the first few titles in the series.

The plot unfolds in an episodic fashion, switching from the perspectives of Jill and Chris, with occasional moments to meet the two new bumbling protagonists by the names of Quint and Keith as they offer their assistance. As far as personality goes, Jill and Chris haven’t really changed in any manner, with both keeping their same brave, yet stubborn natures that most RE fans should expect. Capcom also nailed creating a bit of chemistry between the main two and their new comrades Parker and Jessica, as even though this is the debut for both, each felt like highly established characters from the start, with several moments of humor and fear sprinkled into dialogue sequences to keep the main narrative interesting and enjoyable until the end. Even though they don’t appear nearly as often, Quint and Keith have small playable chapters as well, but I really feel like their inclusion was both forgettable and unnecessary. I wanted to like the cheeky one-liners and playful banter between the two, but it just doesn’t fit well with Revelations’ setting and having to sit through a cutscene with these two clowns can really kill the mood within just a few seconds.

My biggest fear going in wasn’t really the story or the characters, but how the game would be paced. Most of the time when a console game goes portable, we get a much lighter, mission-based formula that makes the experience feel bite-sized and unfulfilling (Kingdom Hearts, looking at you here). Thankfully, that is not the case here. Most episodes end in with a high note and there are twists and turns throughout the story that make it hard to put the game down until the quite satisfying finish. The developers seemed to be well aware that this outing was for “gamers on the go” as well, and allow the player to get caught up on all of the previous events at the start of each episode. It’s a minor touch, but a brilliant one when you consider the battery life for the 3DS as well as the fact that this in fact on a portable version and many are not going to be playing for copious amounts of time.

Gameplay
If you have ever played any of the Resident Evil Franchise, you should have no problem picking up Revelations and getting a grip on the control scheme quickly. Each character is controlled in a third-person perspective, with the camera zooming into first-person during an attack. As expected, the slide pad works exceptionally at moving our protagonists forward and allows the player to get their character around each stage without much problem. Instead of a run button, players will just need to push the touch sensitive pad in the appropriate direction and quickly get out of harm’s way. Now by no means are you going to take off like a rocket, as all of the cast have the exact same feel, methods of control, and are generally slow, but these mechanics still mirror that of Resident Evil 4 and 5 closely, which was definitely a relief and a delight to see on a portable platform. If anything, the rather slow pacing works into Revelations’ favor, letting the player take in the rich setting while still performing up to par during the much more action-oriented segments. Dodging is also done with the slide-pad, which has the player quickly push away from an enemy to avoid getting impaled or their face sucked off. The picky timing for dodging adds a bit of a new learning curve into the mix, but after a short time these methods can be mastered and will feel like second nature.

When it comes to actually shooting, the same “stop and shoot” methods from the past are still very much present. Many have argued that this system is dated, but that’s what has made Resident Evil unique to start with as a franchise. Not knowing if an enemy is behind you while you are taking down a foe is always a tense moment, and Revelations’ is at it’s best when the player is surrounded and being forced to run through empty corridors just to catch their breath, not knowing if their demise awaits them behind a dark and dreary corner. Whenever the player needs to shoot at a target, all that is needed is to simply hold the “R” button to get the first-person perspective in place and fire away while aiming with the slide pad. The transition feels effortless and aside from a good number of the enemies being bullet sponges, I was able to conquer most bosses without any hiccups or reticule irritations.

The most effective new feature added to the experience is the Genesis. This device lets the player scan an area at any given moment, unveiling secret items, keys, and ammo. Much like shooting, the player can switch to their Genesis view with the press of a button and get a read on the entire room they are presently inhabiting. Herbs and ammo are not as plentiful as they used to be, which makes this tool feel pivotal for survival as one quick scan can provide what feels like a wealthy amount of results when all of your arsenal is currently on empty. Looking back, I feel like I spent more time scanning during the game than actually fighting. That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of enemies, as there are a good number, but much like Metroid Prime, this device was crafted to bring out the inner completionist in us all and offers up more reasons for exploration than we have ever had in a Resident Evil game. Pair this with Revelations’ many “find the key” puzzles, and you have something that could broaden this franchises as a whole even further in the future.

I mentioned earlier that all of the protagonists control in the same manner, but each have their own objectives to complete that attempt to keep the game feeling fresh. Jill’s segments are the main meat of the game, with Jill usually trying to make the ship functional enough to progress further as she searches for Chris. This means that the player will be doing a lot of searching and backtracking as they hunt for keys and switches to open that next door throughout the vessel, with plenty of heart-pumping boss battles to be found in-between. The other playable characters have different settings to explore that are located in an icy environment, offering a bit more variety as a whole due to the different enemies and more open surroundings. Other than a brief moment of swimming (which actually works well) and a few strategical moments of combat, there isn’t much left in terms of gameplay, but the well paced character switches work wonders when it comes to killing off those feelings of repetition.

If I have any gripe about Resident Evil Revelations, it would have to be the AI. In Resident Evil 5, Sheva was a worthy sidekick who could easily take down enemies, but also seemed to want to hog all of the ammo and herbs to herself. Parker and Jessica don’t pick up items in Revelations, so that’s a plus, but they also don’t offer much support in terms of combat. I would have many times where I would be completely surrounded, only to see Parker standing in a corner as if he were viewing my demise as some sort of spectacle. At times the enemy AI will target your partner and all of the hoards will flock to them (which eases the load), but let’s just say you should consider yourself on a solo mission from the start as the allies are a bit incompetent as a whole.

As you progress through Revelations, levels will begin to unlock for the “Raid” mode. These stages are more or less bite sized versions of what is found in the main game, but with an emphasis on score rather than progression. Raid mode is a game in itself, where players can play with each other (online or locally) throughout various missions. Players can level their characters, upgrade their arsenal, and customize their load-out to their liking as they gain points, with an extra option included to use Play Coins and Streetpassing to gain a further advantage against the mode’s much more dubious foes. There is a lot here for those who grow tired of replaying the main story, and Raid mode feels refreshing compared to the usual offerings of Mercenaries mode.

Visuals/Audio
The 3DS has been out for nearly a year now, and I can easily say the Resident Evil Revelations easily puts all other titles for the platform to shame with it’s incredible presentation. The Queen Zenobia itself can quickly bring back memories from the Arklay Mansion. Corridors are dimly lit and dried blood can be found spattered on walls, giving the player a feeling of unease as they slowly progress through each room. There is also a ton of detail to be found in the environment, with water reflecting lights that dangle above as you trudge your way to safety and paintings being coated in dirt and grime, giving us a bit of a story of how lively this vessel once was. I personally didn’t find the enemies to be too terrifying design-wise, but they still fit well into the many variants of zombies and infected we have seen in the past, and the atmosphere presented is sure to make even the bravest player tense up as they have an unexpected encounter.

The 3D effect isn’t eye-popping by any means, but it does prove worthy of mention as all of those elements I spoke of look sharper and the extra layer of depth can make each hallway feel much more claustrophobic. As far as the designs for the main character models, Chris and Jill look fantastic and look as if they were pulled straight off a modern console. Thankfully, one of my biggest gripes with Mercs 3D was also addressed in Revelations, as the frame rate is a lot smoother and enemies are actually given a steady animation pattern when approaching. There are brief moments of slowdown when waiting for a door to open, but I never had it occur during combat or any other time that mattered, so this complaint can be easily overlooked.

When it comes to the soundtrack, you should expect a ton of tunes that not only compliment the action, but also enhance the dread-filled atmosphere. A good portion of the time, no music is used at all and the game relies on it’s eerie sound effects to keep the player on edge. Small scares like hearing an enemy scream behind a locked door or whisper your name certainly can heighten the horror factor, and Revelations never goes too over-the-top to turn the experience in a cheese-fest. I also must give proper credit to the voice work that is present within the game, with Patricia Ja Lee doing a fantastic job of reprising her role as Jill Valentine and yet again capturing the persona of everyone’s favorite female protagonist exceptionally. Some voice work is a bit of a miss (Keith and Quint, you know who you are), but that is mainly due to the writing and not so much the actual actors.

Overall
Resident Evil as a franchise has become a staple in the video game industry as it usually sets the trend, rather than simply copying ideas. While Revelations doesn’t try to completely re-invent what we know about the beloved IP, it does go above and beyond to be a fantastic addition to it’s own namesake, and on a portable platform no less. Let’s face the fact, over the past few years, there hasn’t been a whole lot of “horror” in Resident Evil. Capcom seemed to have heard the cries of their fans though, and have finally let true fear replace intimidation by creating a rich and eerie environment for players to get lost in all over again with a story that flows perfectly into the lore of the franchise. The same old gameplay mechanics and narrative may not push the series further, but Resident Evil Revelations still stands strong on it’s own by being quite possibly the only portable title that requires you to leave the light on while playing.

Sakamichi no Apollon cast and characters revealed

Jahanzeb Khan

February 19, 2012

Sakamichi no Apollon is shaping to be one of the most unique slice of life anime to come out in years. Not only is it backed by the very same studio that gave us the highly popular Cowboy Bepop series, but just the premise alone sets it apart from anything else that is out there at the moment.

The anime takes place in Japan as it was during the 1960s, and that alone is going to be very interesting because we will get witness story telling and character development in a Japanese setting that is from modern day Otaku noise. No video games, no androgynous fetishes, no modern day Japanese pop culture references. This will be an interesting insight into a Japan that not many anime fans are fully aware of.

The show premiers sometime in April, in the meantime, check out the character and cast listing below:

Kaoru Nishimi (voiced by Ryohei Kimura)

Sentarō Kawabuchi (Yoshimasa Hosoya)

Ritsuko Mukae (Yuuka Nanri)

Yurika Fukahori (Aya Endo)

Junichi Katsuragi (Junichi Suwabe)

Mukai (Zenki Kitajima)

Seiji Matsuoka (Nobuhiko Okamoto)

Shigetora Maruo (Ayumu Murasae)

An adaptation of the manga, this anime is definitely going to be something special as the team includes individuals that have worked on classics like Cowboy Bepop, Ghost in the Shell, and Battleship Yamato.

Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings movie picked up by Funimation

Jahanzeb Khan

February 19, 2012

North American anime distributor, Funimation, has recently announced that they have picked up the localisation of Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings The Movie, and it will be released in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The movie was originally released in Japan under the name of Sengoku Basara: The Last Party in 2011. The plot of the movie picks up where the final final episode of Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings 2 left off, and continues the story after the fall of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Medieval Japan has now plunged into anarchy and Hideyoshi’s subordinate, Ishida Mitsunari, now seeks vengeance against Date Masamune.

If you were pleased with the localisation of the previous two series, then this movie should definitely be on your radar.

Razer Naga Hex Review

Benjamin Webb

February 19, 2012

Razer Naga Hex
Manufacturer: Razer
Device: Mouse
Price: $129.95
Purchase: Razerstore

Gamers, have you ever found yourself wanting your hotkeys closer to your mouse? How about on your mouse? Were you interested in the original Naga but decided that such a large number of buttons would be too daunting? Well maybe you will want to check out the Razer Naga Hex gaming mouse by Razer.

The Naga Hex is a very unusual mouse that performs comfortably and incredibly well for it is. And most surprisingly of all, the additional buttons lain down the side feel amazingly comfortable and easy to use. I actually found this out when I was playing an FPS’ of all things. The game was Battlefield 3 and, I can tell you, this mouse is a dream for that game. I mean, sure it isn’t as precise as the Imperator that i reviewed a little while back, but having those Naga controls on the side made switching weapons a seamless experience and severely outweighed the negatives brought on by the minor imprecision by a greatly disproportionate amount in favour of the positives.

Even further, I found that this mouse is particularly useful in games where you need to use a smaller sub-set of skills, or have a solid rotation on an action-bar. Anything with RPG and MMO in their genres are games which benefit from this mouse the most. For instance, I could easily use all of my Smugglers skills in Star Wars The Old Republic just by pressing my thumb around the buttons on the side, which made the combat feel much more fluid and dynamic. I will always be a clicker when it comes to MMORPGs, but, this mouse had me really considering switching to a different control scheme.

An issue that I found with my other mouses on the market is that they are either too bulky, too heavy or their DPI scales are so bad that you can’t throw them around the desk while trying to quick-scope that n0oB off to the left fast enough because the mouse spazzes out from moving it too quickly. Logitech seem to be the worst for this, couldn’t pull off a rocket jump because of the insanely high mouse speed making the game spazz out. This is one of the greatest reason why I like Razers products, they’re lightweight, they’re responsive and best of all and they’re simply the best at whatever it is that they’re built for.

Honestly I think that this is the reason that Razer is so successful in the peripheral market. Instead of having one mouse that tries to do everything well, they have a bunch of different peripherals that are more specialised in in one area over all others. Do you need a responsive mouse for an FPS’? Grab the Imperator. You need a mouse that’s accurate enough for an online hotkey based game, but need the buttons to be more accessible and readily available for quick use? Grab yourself the Naga Hex.

Now, something that I really disliked about this mouse is it’s topmost section, the bit that you put your hand over and press the left and right mouse buttons on. The faceplate perhaps? Anyway, the faceplate is made out of some kind of hard plasticy material that is quite aesthetically pleasing while it’s clean. However, in my week or so of having this mouse, there has been a significant build-up of grime and possibly deceased semen around the face, destroying the awesome look that had previously been established.

Like most Razer products, the Naga Hex features blinking lights that add a sci-fi feel to your workstation/desk. Even better, there are lights on the buttons and mouse wheel, neither of these blink and as such are solid lights that go well with the one blinking light on the top of the mouse.

What’s really quite amazing about Razer products is the fact that you can fine tune and customise your mouse using the Razer Synapse 2.0 package. The only problem with the package is that you need to be logged in to use it. I can see this becoming an issue for obtaining drivers that aren’t your Windows Update variety, which are needed for some Razer products. I’m not entirely sure why a minidisc wasn’t included with the package with the driver software pre-loaded into them. However, before installing the Synapse program, the mouse did work fine with the drivers from Windows Update, I just didn’t like the default buttons for the middle mouse buttons (M4 and M5) and wanted them to resemble my Imperators layout (Sensitivity up and down, as opposed to back and forward on a web-browser).

But honestly, having to be logged into the Synapse manager is just a minor gripe and is only really required for tuning your mouse, assuming that you don’t like the way it runs. I personally try to get all my mouses to match my reflexes, so this program was a must for me.

Lastly, as per standard Razer operation, the mouse is sold in a very lavish box, filled to the brim with included goodies. These goodies include stickers, instruction booklets, and other assorted curiosities that only serve to increase the value of your package. I also like sticking stickers on everything, so having even more of these Razer stickers is a huge plus to me. Even better, the package includes additional thumb rest thingies of various sizes which can be used to replace the rest in the middle of the Naga buttons on the side of the mouse. Personally, I found that the default size was perfect for me, but I can see why other players might want it to be smaller or larger depending on their preferences.

Overall the Razer Naga Hex is a pretty decent mouse that many players will find to improve their game dramatically. The mouse has virtually no learning curve and I could pick it up and use it with ease. I would just recommend this more for MMO’s or games like LoL or HoN, or even SC2 – as opposed to things like FPS’ games. But as I said, it helped me a lot during my rounds in Battlefield 3, so it’s really not at all that bad.

MasterAbbott’s iOS Game Suggestions #7

Philip Federico

February 19, 2012

Here we are again, MasterAbbott is back for this week’s iOS Game Suggestions. If you missed out on last week’s suggestions, click on the links below and check what cool games you should be picking up for your iOS along with the introduction and disclaimer on how my suggestions work, as I’m not going through the same old intro every week. (suggestions 1 has the disclaimer)

MasterAbbott’s iOS Game Suggestions

What I’ve also introduced is video game play footage (if it’s possible) on some of the iOS games I’ve suggested, you can check this out at the bottom of the article. Currently video game play footage for this week’s suggestions we have RobotGladi8tor & AntVenture, Cut The Rope Experiments and Starfighter Overkill check back in a few days there will be some more added. For now, if you jump into week 2 suggestions there are a few videos to check out.

Once again it’s been a great week on iTunes, so many amazing games were released, this week I’ve suggested well over my normal amount with a total of 15 great quality titles. As always for this week’s suggestions are all new titles that you should also take a look at to spend your hard earned iTunes cash / time on.

This week I’ve focused an both 99c games and titles over 99c as there were some awesome and unique games released. These titles are all well worth taking a look at. Now lets get down to business shall we.

For The Cheapskates – FREE GAMES

	Dino Puzzle For Toddlers & Kids – Price : FREE – Publisher –TapDev-Studio. (Are you looking for an appealing app to improve your 0-8 year old child’s concentration, cognitive abilities and memory? Then stop looking because Dino Puzzle is exactly the right decision for you! Dino Puzzle features, normal puzzles in three difficulty settings, set puzzles and solo Dino Puzzles in various difficulty settings.) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
	Big Win Soccer – Price : FREE – Publisher – Hothead Games Inc. (Welcome to world class football fun with Big Win Soccer! No matter what you call the “beautiful game”, Big Win Soccer is the game for everyone. CREATE your own unique dream team, COMPETE against opponents from around the world, WATCH your team battle it out on the pitch, BOOST your player’s passing, shooting, dribbling and other skills and get ready to hoist the Daily Trophy for the ultimate BIG WIN!) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
	Monooly Hotels – Price : FREE – Publisher – EA Mobile (ARE YOU A HOTEL MOGUL? Buy, build and manage MONOPOLY’s iconic hotels in this all-new MONOPOLY experience! Check-in to MONOPOLY Hotels – for FREE! LET THE MONEY ROLL IN – ONE ROOM AT a time, as you : Take control of MONOPOLY’s luxurious 5-star hotels, from Mediterranean to Boardwalk. Upgrade hotel rooms and attract VIP guests, like MR. POTATO HEAD and other HASBRO characters. Plus much much more.) runs on both iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE

For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games

MASTERABBOTT’s 99c Game Pick Of The Week

League Of Evil 2 – Price : $0.99 *limited time only * – Publisher – Ravenous Games (League of Evil 2 is the sequel for the award winning original, League of Evil, which came out February 3, 2011. League of Evil quickly became critically acclaimed due to the incredibly responsive touch screen controls. It has been featured on the App Store numerous times and even became award winning taking home! ) – runs on both iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW

AntVenture – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – To Design. (It’s going to take some careful planning to fish the ants out of this mess! Catch the 3 ants by clicking on objects in the room. Your cursor will change when something is usable: cogwheels mean it’s usable and a question mark means you have to solve something else to be able to use it!) runs on both iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW

For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99

	MASTERABBOTT’S Over 99c PICK OF THE WEEK Cut The Rope: Experiment HD – Price : $1.99 iPhone version also available for 99c (Publisher – ZeptopLab UK Limited (What on earth is Om Nom?! That’s what millions of fans of the widely acclaimed game, Cut the Rope, have been asking about the cute little monster who eats candy like its his job! That same question has a mad (but not bad) scientist studying the little creature that mysteriously arrived outside his house. Intrigued by Om Nom’s insatiable appetite for sweets, the Professor puts him through a series of experiments in this all-new game, a follow-up to one of the most original and fun-filled games on the App Store.) – runs on iPad. BUY NOW
	Room Break: Escape Now – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Gameday Inc. ( Room Break is an adventure game about escaping. The purpose of this game is simple. Users will be detained to certain places and situations and they need to open the door of each room and escape. Players need to figure out how to open the doors. Maybe, there are some unexpected tricks hidden.. But, it is not difficult at all. If you pay attention a little bit more, you will be able to find out all the hints that lead you to a successful break-out.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
	Quake Escape HD – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – V&D Capital (Will the Mayan predictions in 2012 come true? Some say that this is the end of the world while others foresee it as being only the start to worldly disasters! Quake Escape is set during the heart of these changes, where earthquakes run rampant, aftershocks increase in volume each day, and tsunamis take form worldwide.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
	Beat Sneak Bandit – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Simogo (When all the clocks in the world are stolen by Duke Clockface and the world is in chaos, it’ll be up to the Beat Sneak Bandit to steal them back! Rhythmadelic controls: Everything in this game moves rhythmically, just like the simple controls: Tap to the beat to sneak! Stealthalicious gameplay: Sneak past patrolling guards, security lights, trapdoors and all the other freaky stuff and contraptions the creepy Duke’s got in store for you!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
	Dracula The Last Sanctuary HD – Price : $4.49 – Publisher – Microids (Jonathan Harker returns in triumph from Transylvania after he saves Mina. But he can’t rest for long–Dracula has followed him up to London. A Point & Click adventure using 360° vision technology in every scene. The game is not a copycat portage of the PC version but an adaptation for touch screens and mobile platforms.) runs on both iPhone and iPad. BUY NOW
	Starfighter Overkill – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Rapid Turtle Games (Starfighter Overkill is an intense space shoot-em-up with unlimited waves of non-stop adrenaline pumping action.Blast away waves of alien spaceships, star panzers, destroyers and space fighters before facing the big bosses. Collect power-ups to upgrade your firepower. Use special weapons to quickly annihilate hordes of enemies. Boost your adrenaline by killing enemies and use the powerful air strike to blitz the enemy in a torrent of destruction.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
	RobotGladi8tor – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Speedbump Studios (Abandoned on a derelict space station for the amusement of viewers across the galaxy, you must battle the increasingly ferocious robots that occupy its labyrinthine depths, all while persuing revenge against the sadistic media mogul who has orchestrated your fate. RobotGladi8tor brings swipe-fighting to a new level, incorporating intense firt person battles, fully open-world exploration, challenging obstacles and a compelling story of revenge.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
	Pizza vs. Skeletons – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Riverman Media ( You’re BIG, You’re Tasty. You’re kicking some brittle undead A$$. Pizza vs. Skeletons is an epic, ridiculous, 2D platform game designed from the ground up for iOS. You control a 25 foot tall Pizza as it smashes through a horde of undead rivals on land, sea and in outer space.) runs on both iPhone and iPad. BUY NOW
	Mailmen – Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Ayopa Games (A mailman’s task is meant to be simple – pick up and deliver the mail, then return to base. In the leafy suburbs of Greenville, that job is tougher than expected. An array of pesky guard dogs, mind-bending puzzles and ingenious villains are trying to defeat our heroic Mailmen. Controlling them, you’ll need to use strategy, teamwork and unique special abilities to stay safe from angry canines!) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
	Jet Heroes XD – Price : $3.99 – Publisher – Noumena (Enjoy scrolling shooter games? Then this is a must have! See if you got what it takes to become the Ace in the skies! Take on flying missions and gain experience. More missions won, more fighters to choose from! You will need to muster all your dog fighting experiences to beat the Big Boss in the sky!!) runs on iPhone and iPad. BUY NOW

There you have it folks, these games should keep you busy for quite some time. I’ll be back next week for another dose of iOS goodness, in the meantime if anyone would also like to suggest their own suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below, or join the discussion in the forums. Check out the link below :

Remember kids, Play Hard Or Don’t Play At All!

Game Play Videos

Cut The Rope Experiments

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPPfBTcej7o[/pro-player]

RobotGladi8tor

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jqhMtFu8kQ[/pro-player]

AntVenture

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuaqbI4Fv8o[/pro-player]

Starfighter Overkill

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OATcVlQ44EY[/pro-player]

Exclusive Ghost Recon Future Soldier Australian & New Zealand Pre-Order Bonus

Roger Ma

February 19, 2012

Good news for Australian and New Zealand gamers, Ubisoft has revealed the pre-order bonuses for their upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Two different pre-order versions are available.

First up, the Signature Edition will be available exclusively from EB Games at the same price as the standard game.

The Signature Edition includes:

Steelbook Case
Two weapons: MK 14 Rifle and AK-47 Rifle
Two custom weapon skins: Tiger Stripe and Winter Digital
48 custom headgear skins
Moscow Suburbs’ Exclusive map

Meanwhile, gamers can also pre-order the Ghost Recon Future Soldier Collector’s Edition over at JB Hi Fi, GAME, EB Games and Mighty Ape.

The Collector’s Edition includes:

Limited Edition outer packaging
Embossed Steelbook case
Compressed “Ghost skull” t-shirt pack
Hardcover artbook
Ghost Recon Alpha live action movie on DVD
Lithographs Artwork cards
Two exclusive unlockable content codes – ULC #1 – M40 A5 for Ghost Scout/ULC #2 – Mn 91/30 for Bodark Scout

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is set to be released on May 24 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which gives you plenty of time to decide which pre-order bundle to get.

Rhythm Party Review

J. Bradshaw

February 19, 2012

Rhythm Party
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Platform(s): Xbox 360 (Reviewed)
Release date: February 1, 2011
Price: 800 Microsoft Points ($10) – Available Here

Overview
With the invention of Kinect, Microsoft promised us that we would be able to play through new experiences that would be totally unique and original. Most gamers were skeptical, and with good reason. Peripherals like this could open up new doors, but more often than not, it could also lead to store shelves being filled with shovelware when developers could have working on something more meaningful. Fortunately, although Kinect has had its share of rotten games, many of them have been quite good and the future for the hardware add-on is bright.

Rhythm Party is a new game for the Kinect that was published and developed by Konami. As you can guess from the title, it obviously fits into the dancing/music category of games. However, it adds a unusual twist to the genre. Is this twist a gimmick or a revolution? Does Rhythm Party reveal an exciting new type of gameplay, or is it destined to be forgotten? Find out in the following review.

Gameplay
I had no idea what to expect when I was assigned to review Rhythm Party. I had not been keeping up with, and I was not even aware it was coming. Once I started the download, I figured that this was yet another clone dancing game, trying to rip off Dance Central or Just Dance. I nurtured this thought all the way until I actually was standing in front of my TV waiting for the music to start. I even skipped all the text blocks that tried to explain what the game was like. I assumed that I would be mimicking dancers while trying to get high scores and that this game would track my moves less accurately and be a low budget experience.

Thankfully, I was wrong. Once the music started, Rhythm Party did not have me mimic anything. At first I was shocked and confused. There were only bubbles appearing on screen. Naturally, I tried to hit them, and then it became clear that that was the idea. However, I was still a little bit doubtful. Is this all the game amounts to, hitting bubbles in time with the music? Heck, it doesn’t t even care whether my hand or foot touches them. This game is too easy and boring.

After that, I tried another song. However, then I decided to challenge myself. I tried thinking of crazy ways to hit to the bubbles. I determined that as long as I had to play through this game, I might as well make it fun. And that is where the real magic of Rhythm Party begins. The game started giving me more points, encouraging me to hit bubbles on the ground with my hands and bubbles in the air with my feet. It awarded me for jumping all around and dancing like I just didn’t care. Plus, it made me look damn good while doing it. Mountains of special effects poured around me, as if I was in a music video. Combos started flying and I kept up the pace, although I was panting by the end. My virtual body onscreen was made to look as though it was pixelated, and it made me look I was an awesome break dancer. Thankfully, the video replay at the end proved that I looked like a total fool, as otherwise I would have been harboring some rather fantastical dreams.

Finally, I decided to check out the help section to see exactly how this game functioned. It explained things rather well. Think of this game as a skateboarding game. You get awarded for doing tricks and the better the trick, the better the score is. The more you keep in time with the music, the higher the score goes. The higher the combo, the better the graphics and special effects get. Once you really start dancing, different backgrounds and costumes will automatically come out and make the entire game a myriad of awesome visual experiences. It sounds weird, and it is, but it is fun.

One problem I had with the gameplay is that it made me so freakin’ tired. To perform a rhythm trick, I had to do squats, and to do a jumping trick required jumping, while other tricks required a variety of contortions. This game proved I have not been exercising, which was rather depressing. Other issues arise from the simplicity of the game. Most songs will require only about 3 plays to get the highest score and there are no other modes. Multi-player is also not included, although if it was, that might be really dangerous to everyone involved. The replay videos are also limited in scope and their role could have been expanded greatly.

Audio and Visuals
This may sound surprising, but the audio in the game is a low point. Although billing itself as a music game, Rhythm Party only has a few good songs. To make matters worse, there are only 10 songs included with the game. There is one free DLC pack, but the other two DLC packs currently available cost money. Clearly, Konami intends to make most of its money through DLC.

The other weird part about the tracks is that they cover a variety of musical tastes, from Vanilla Ice to J Pop to Lady Gaga. Although that is fine, it made the game seem less cohesive, as is if didn’t have a clear direction. Perhaps the lousy selection of tracks is also meant to force people to expand the game through DLC.

As mentioned, the visuals are outstanding. I really liked the creative direction that was displayed. Each song had plenty of interesting effects that could rain down, and they were all extremely creative. While your moving around, you probably won’t notice them all, but they were really well done. And while they may not pop as well as some high budget games, they certainly made the game a joy to play.

Overall
In conclusion, I loved this game, although I had a few caveats. The set list verged on atrocious, and I could not believe there were only 10 songs, with only about 3 really worth getting into. The UI was also terrible, and I had difficulty managing the menus. Microsoft has already set the standard for how gamers should interact with Kinect menus, and unless a developer comes with something truly better, like Harmonix did with Dance Central, this standard should be the same in all games. Nevertheless, these are fairly minor complaints. This game is good for getting a quick workout, having a party or just expressing yourself. It may not completely reinvent the genre, but it offers a new take on it. The visuals were engrossing and the gameplay was stellar. Although simple at times, the games relies on you. The more fun and crazy YOU get, the more fun and crazy it gets. Try the demo. It just might be your cup of tea.

1001 Touch Games Review

Jack Joly

February 19, 2012

1001 Touch Games
Publisher: Avanquest Software
Developer: Teyon
Genre: Mini-games
Platform: DS
Release Date: Out Now

Overview:
Picture a time before broadband. A time of dial-up connections, where connecting to the internet meant a bunch of weird noises, followed therein by a rush to get what you needed to do done as you were being charged by the minute until you disconnected – just like a phone call. Just to give you an idea of these prehistoric times, a google search of ‘funny cats’ would have probably only brought up 100 results. It was a time before internet memes, and a time before flash games.

I say this as 1001 Touch Games is a real throwback to how I started playing games. Although I may now feel more at home with a controller in my palms, technically speaking, I started out as a PC gamer. Without websites like freecoolflashgamesthatarereallyreallyfun.com, little boys had to turn to the then equivalent: mini-game compilation discs. And with these 1000 game dealios, most of the fun came from sorting the good from the bad. All this time later and 1001 Touch Games holds a similar appeal.

Gameplay:
Yes, the fun of 1001 Touch Games comes from finding the ones worth playing again, because with such a huge selection of games there are bound to be plenty of duds. You’ll be pleased to know, though, that the merits of the good ones outweigh the downsides presented by the stinkers. Amongst the rabble of low quality games and games you only play once are some fine games – the likes of which you see selling on their own as standalone games. Chess is just one such example. The version on this collection may be basic, but it does its job and it’s a game you could easily find selling on its own for the same price as this whole package. Then, considering it is one of many, it just goes to show the entertainment value on offer.

Before I plough on with the review though, I have a confession to make – or rather 1001 Touch Games has a confession to make: there aren’t 1001 different games available. It generates this total by including different variants of the same game; or different puzzles within the same game, such as in sudoku. Even with a slightly reduced total if you count only the individual games, it’s still surely the largest collection of mini-games on Nintendo DS. Ultimately, numbers aren’t important – and you could argue that 1001 is too many, anyhow – so where it counts is with the range of mini-games, not the figure. 1001 Touch Games certainly has range.

From sports games, card games and brain games to word searches, mini-sudoku, board games and all manner of match-3 puzzlers; the package has something to suit everybody’s tastes, with the menus divided into different genres of game to make finding the right type easier. Games can last for 30 seconds or less and be a one-go affair based on a popular flash game, or can last in excess of half an hour and have near enough limitless replay value. Much of the game’s replay value comes from chasing high scores as, sadly, there are no multiplayer options, although the previously mentioned variety added by game modes and game types within the same game extends the life of certain games.

Visuals & Audio:
The visuals aren’t the best, but have little bearing on your enjoyment of the game as they are easy to overlook. It’s good to see that the developers haven’t always played it safe with the same bog standard 2-D layout; some games are represented with a grainy three dimensional effect. The menus and music are both tacky, but are easily ignored or, in the case of the latter, turned off.

Overall:
As much as the figure ‘1001’ stretches the truth, the fact is that this package holds a huge number of games for such a small cartridge that, we must remember, is being played on a handheld machine. There may not be 1001 unique games, but it manages to achieve a decent range of game types regardless with the still-bursting number of games available. No multiplayer and a lack of online leader boards seem like real missed opportunities, as an element of competition could have extended the life of even simple darts game tenfold. Despite all being touch screen controlled it rarely stops being ‘pick up and play’ as it’s always simple enough to work out for yourself. Some games are awful, though this was a given, and the sprinkling of new-fangled classics and timeless games you are familiar with means, after all this time, it’s still fun to go through the reams of games to find your favourites. And if all that doesn’t win you over, a reduced price point coupled with the quantity of games makes it great value for money.

Mass Effect 3 Cinematic Trailer to air during The Walking Dead this Sunday

Travis Bruno

February 18, 2012

EA has revealed today that a new cinematic trailer for Mass Effect 3 will air during this Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead” on AMC. For those who don’t know, The Walking Dead follows the journey of a group of survivors trying to stay alive in a world full of zombies. The TV series’ mid-season debut last Sunday drew in over 10 million viewers, quite a feat for a cable television show.

As such it only makes sense that EA chose the second episode of this widely popular television show to premiere their new minute and a half long commercial for Mass Effect 3 which is called “Take Earth Back.” Those who can’t wait until this Sunday can catch a teaser for the commercial below, but the true test of one’s patience is the wait for Mass Effect 3 to be released to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on March 6th.

Check out the first screenshots of Sleeping Dogs

Travis Bruno

February 18, 2012

While normally pictures of sleeping dogs may usually make people say “awww,” these Sleeping Dogs screenshots are anything but cute. Today Square Enix has revealed the first screenshots of their upcoming Sleeping Dogs video game. For those who missed Square Enix’s announcement, Sleeping Dogs is the new name of True Crime: Hong Kong.

The screenshots themselves can be seen below, some of which featuring the main character Wei Shen who is an undercover police officer who is attempting to take down the Hong Kong triads. Those looking to pick up the game will need to wait until sometime later this year on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

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