EA Sports have published a trailer to accompany the upcoming release of the SSX demo, which hits the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network tomorrow.
So check out the video down below to get a bit of a preview of what you’ll be able to do once you download the demo and save yourself a bit of time trying to figure everything out.
Creative director Todd Batty revealed that the demo will allow you to play four events from the full game and also offers two tutorials. Zoe Payne will be the only playable character unless you “refer” the demo to a friend in which case you can unlock Mac Fraser.
SSX hits shelves in just over a week (Feb 28th for US, 1st for Australia and 2nd for Europe), so the demo should be enough to keep you going until then.
The Creative Director of the hotly anticipated Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Jean Marc Geoffroy, has done a nice little Q&A session where he goes into detail about the game’s cover system and animations.
There are many comparisons with other military shooters, what makes Ghost recon special and how do you address the FPS Vs Third Person debate.
Being a third person shooter allows us to put the player in the heart of the action while also creating a connection with the story. This perspective is more immersive in that it gives the player a different relationship with the character and team. It allows the player to engage more naturally with the protagonist, and in GRFS it gives an insight into the world of Special Forces.
In terms of actual gameplay it allows us to do several things, besides the added visceral and physicality of seeing your character, we have an advanced cover system. This allows you to have a secure position to plan your attack and to analyze the battlefield. It means you can recon and prey on your enemies. Obviously you also have the peek feature which allows you to see around corners or pop up easily from behind cover and pick off enemy targets.
The third person view also allows us to inject supportive elements such as the UAV drone more naturally. You can secure a cover position and throw up your drone to plan your attack or use the “Tag ‘em and bag ‘em” feature to have you and your unit carry out synchronized kills.
Finally, we wanted to make sure the player felt like they were playing a precise shooter. You are an elite operative and the experience is all about shooting. We were very conscious of how an FPS has that precision and that is why we have 3 states for the player to choose from. You have the OTS “Instinct” view, “Aim” and then “Scope” all workable simply and on the fly.
What else has been added to the Ghost Recon since the previous series?
We wanted to provide the player a modern “Recon” experience. The game was founded on similar principles described by Charles Alvin “Charlie” Beckwith. Some people know him as one of the founding fathers of Delta Force. He was responsible for changing the perception and functionality of Special Forces in the 70s. He created special units of elite soldiers, able to adapt to all situations effectively and in a highly autonomous manner.
What’s key with these types of units is that they are made up of highly trained warriors who carry out missions very differently than traditional soldiers. This is what we want the player to experience and we constructed the game with all of these principles in mind. Intel and information dictates how they will attack and deal with an operation whether it’s taking out a key target or rescuing a VIP. Throughout, we give you various gadgets, such as a drones, sensor grenades and added intel that are fun to experiment with and use on the battlefield.
The cover system also adds to this “preparation” and intel gathering phase. The cover system allows you to quickly identify your next cover position (using the augmented reality provided Via CROSS COM device; the blue projection over your eye) and move to it fast and fluidly. When you’re in danger of getting pinned down, this allows the player to reach a safer position as fast as possible. It is especially useful since covers are dynamic and can be destroyed with sustained enemy fire, leaving the player out in the open and vulnerable. The cover swap varies depending on your approach. If you cover swap in recon: your visual signature is very low and you can get close to enemies while keeping your cover. This allows you to flank quickly without being spotted and giving you a tactical advantage to start the fight.
GRFS is the only modern military shooter that allows you to pass from recon to action whenever you decide. It means the game supports true classic recon throughout, but the fight scenes are not scripted. The AI reacts to the situation and the player, not to what a designer decides will happen. This means when you approach a situation, you use your intel and tools to prepare and you trigger the fight that gives you a tactical advantage over the enemy. Just like the principles taught by Beckwith. It allows the player to push the limits of how they want to play.
Could you tell us a little more about the animation and what makes it special?
First, it’s about working with the best, most elite operatives. We aim to be the most authentic and realistic military shooter on the market. Authenticity is the foundation of both the franchise and of the Tom Clancy Universe. Throughout our motion capture, we worked with former Navy Seals who gave us guidance and helped us capture that precision and realistic movement. These are big guys, but their training and skills allow them to effectively move like cats, which is crucial to their survival in the field. This led us to creating over 2500 animations on the main character alone to ensure that the player really enjoys the movement and can identify with his Ghosts. There were two phrases that they used that always stuck out in my mind: “Be a predator don’t be the prey.” And my personal favorite, “Fast is smooth, but slow is f*cking slow” J
One of the most rewarding aspects of our animation system and something new to Ghost Recon, are the CQC attacks and Stealth kills. We are really proud of the character’s movements as he busts out some Krav Maga or Jujitsu moves to take down an enemy and finish them off. We also extended this into the Ghosts’ characteristics – things like little twitches, peeks, ducking their heads when under fire, all the things that real humans do naturally.
Our designers were very demanding and wanted to inject the best of everything, reactivity in the player’s movements, a wide range of moves that are compatible between all different stances and movement speeds. However, the most important was to achieve perfect accuracy in the character’s movements and aiming as we are a precision shooter above all! Much of the development in terms of our animation system was created to allow for this agility. The system uses a huge number of transition animations, mixes additive and procedural animations, inverse Kinematics and other tricks. This enables the animators and programmers to match the designers’ expectations in terms of functionality, reactivity, and realism. For the player it means they fully control an elite soldier of the future, who has a group of highly trained warriors backing him up. It means he feels part of an intelligent, elite unit that supports you and knows what they have to do.
How does the animation deal with the 20 million different varieties of Gun Customisation?
This was a real challenge with Gunsmith as our system has to adapt to the 20 million different variables. The fact is that real operatives in the field customize their guns, so we had to figure out how to do the same with our animations system. We are very pleased with how the system now adapts to each weapon, but it also allows the player to see the left to right shoulder swap. This may sound like a small detail, but it’s an important tactic that is primarily used by seals which allows for a better line of sight when peeking, or breaching.
Well there you have it folks! it sounds like this game will bring something fresh to the military shooter market. You can also view the latest trailer below.
News regarding the latest instalment of the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has revealed some very interesting information to the Sonic fanbase. Retro fans of Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 in particular will find reason to be excited about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Some of the revelations included those of screenshots, the return of the classic 2.5D Sonic 2 special stage and the announcement of a brand-new physics engine to replace the unfortunately questionable model from Episode 1. A recent update of the product page on the Xbox live marketplace has revealed to the world that not only will players be able to play as Sonic’s ever reliable sidekick Tails, but players will have the ability to play CO-OPERATIVELY in either Local or Online multiplayer! This is a feature not seen in use since ‘Shadow the Hedgehog’, in which a second player is able to take control of the sidekick character with the simple addition of a second controller. Only a few select Sonic games have implemented this feature in the past, and, as a hardcore Sonic devotee, it’s good to see the return of this feature.
While it was quickly removed from the marketplace, many fans were quick to copy it down into the information consuming miasma that is the internet. The leaked announcement from the marketplace can be found below, with a number of the afore mentioned screenshots.
The Sonic 4 Saga continues as Sonic reunites with Tails for all new collaborative play! Following the events of Episode I, Metal Sonic has returned to form a formidable alliance with Dr. Eggman! To face this new threat, Sonic will have to call upon an old friend to help him save the day! Joined by Tails, utilise ingenious combination moves and race across four brand new Zones, in order to put an end to their evil plans! Play alone, or with a friend locally (and online), in an evolution of Sonic 2′s collaborative gameplay! Unleash Sonic and Tails’ devastating joint attacks and combination moves to fight the united force of Metal Sonic and Dr. Eggman. Episode II features an all new game engine, bringing you updated physics and an original graphical style as you race through four unique Zones and a new Special Stage.
Raid Leader Developer: Crescent Moon Games/ Red Zebra Games Publisher: Crescent Moon Games Platform: iPhone(Reviewed)/ iPad Release: 9/2/12 Price: $0.99 – Available Here
Overview
You’re on a train home, eagerly waiting until you can sit down and play through hours of your favourite MMO or RPG. Your legs begin to shake, your hands start to twitch – all you can do is attempt to plan out attacks in your head. That is, until you reach down to your pocket and realize that you’ve recently purchased the latest iOS game from Crescent Moon Games and Red Zebra Games – Raid Leader. Raid Leader allows MMO/RPG fans a little taste of their favourite titles, not by creating a full length game with immersive story, but by taking elements of the genres and creating a unique strategy game ideal for gaming veterans wishing to practice their skills, or new comers willing to learn the ropes before taking the deep plunge into massive online worlds.
Story
It’s easy to interpret the story of Raid Leader either non-existent or ‘three heroes quest to rid Eldentir of evil. In doing so, one cuts the title completely short and is at risk of devaluing the 99-cent title for what it is – categorising it a casualisation of ‘hardcore’ game mechanics. The story is essentially the latter, the quest to rid the land of evil – told primarily through a few stills and text blurbs when the game is started. Yet, by keeping the story concise the developers have allowed for the story to be spoiled by cheesy story elements or predictable plot twists. Rather, it’s possible to just appreciate the title as a quest for self-improvement – which is what the game itself can be seen as. Giving players the option to replay levels and earn coins, to upgrade attacks, to try out numerous strategic plans, a long and arduous tale of progress is told. The story is pushed forward again by the visual style of map – moving from light to dark and a start to finish – ending with the victory of both the heroes and the players.
Gameplay
Raid Leader gives players control over three characters, a knight, a hunter and a priest. Each character will need to strategically utilise their unique skills in order to defeat a string of enemies. The majority of enemies appear in boss battles, spread across the land of Eldentir, with the odd exception of survival-based levels. The control system is highly intuitive, comprising of click and drag controls to move characters and a simple tap to unleash special attacks. Characters will automatically attack the enemy (or heal allies) they are targeted on, and it is up to the player to strategically move their characters away from danger or use special attacks, which will take different amounts of time to recharge. The upgrade system is a little watered down, with very few upgrades available for special attacks and not the widest range of attacks to purchase with in-game currency as there could be. The lack of character leveling up may also be a bit of a sting for RPG fans too. Yet, the basic essence is still alive and well – and utilised amazingly. Boss battles can go on for five minutes – five minutes of unleashing magic, healing allies, dodging attacks, setting off traps and hopefully claiming victory in the final seconds.
Visuals and Audio
The graphics are an odd little mix. When the game is opened players are greeted with a cartoony and friendly trio – the heroes. Immediately after, the world map appears, with a similar rendering of colours. But the graphics portray a much more serious game. There are animated clouds that float across the land of Eldentir that give it that extra little touch of an enclosed world. Once entering a boss battle/level, the world transforms into 3D – with the characters all able to roam around a small area. The heroes loose their cartoon-like appearance and take on a more serious form, which is a good thing too has some of the enemies look rather menacing. The original character design, especially for the enemies is particularly well done – especially considering the wide range in enemies there are to encounter throughout the game. The only thing that isn’t progressive through out the game is the audio. The soundtrack is the same for each level and the menu, and the sound effects don’t vary much between enemies or special attacks. However, I’m willing to overlook the repetitiveness because of the fact that the audio fits perfectly – I didn’t even notice the reuse of background music until I had to actually think about it.
Overall
Whether you’re a veteran MMO or RPG player, or new to the genre and wanting to introduce yourself to some of the mechanics – Raid Leader is the game for you. Scrap that, if you have an iOS device and want an excellent game, Raid Leader is the game for you. The interesting combination of game mechanics to create an entertaining and strategic string of boss battles will keep you tapping away for hours – even revisiting older levels just for the fun of it or to gain experience points. The graphics are progressive and look fantastic of both the iPhone and iPad – and with a universal application Apple fans are sure to reap the benefits of this well designed title. Whether you’re a gaming veteran or new to videogaming, especially MMO’s or RPG’s, this is an iOS title not to be missed.
The House of the Dead III Developer: Wow Entertainment Publisher: Sega Platform: Playstation 3 (via Playstation Network) Release Date: 14/02/2012 Price: $6.99
Overview
The House of the Dead III was originally an arcade game back in 2002. After ports onto the original Xbox, the PC and the Wii, the game makes its Playstation debut as a downloadable Playstation 3 title, with the next game, The House of the Dead 4, making its console debut on the Playstation Store later this year. The arcade rail shooter puts players into the shoes of either Lisa Rogan or G, both who have links with Thomas Rogan, who is the protagonist of the first game. With shotguns, plenty of zombies and Playstation Move support, will it unlock the inner zombie hunter within every gamer?
Story
The year is 2019 and civilisation has collapsed. You take control of either Lisa Rogan, daughter of ex-AMS and ex-captain agent Thomas Rogan, or a man who goes by the letter G, who had worked with Thomas Rogan before. Thomas Rogan was sent to investigate the EFI Research Facility with the theory that it may have been linked to the collapse of the world and all of civilisation. However, something happens in the facility and contact with Rogan is lost. It isn’t until two weeks later when Lisa and G arrive at the facility, hell bent to find out what happen to Thomas Rogan.
Even though there is a story behind it, don’t expect it to be a stellar one. In fact, it acts as motivation to kill the zombies and that’s that. Lisa and G have a connection to Thomas and are worried about his safety after they lose contact. That’s it. With the length of the game quite short, there isn’t time to divulge into the characters themselves, so no deep psychological torture here. As a horror story, it certainly suffers. The atmosphere isn’t there, thus not making the game scary. Then again, when does story have any importance in a game where you shoot zombies with a shotgun? There is back story for one Dr. Curien and his son, Daniel, through flashbacks. These flashbacks detail his motives before the infamous Curien Mansion case.
Gameplay
The House of the Dead 3 is your typical arcade rail shooter. Players must use a shotgun against a horde of zombies that take a life when the player is hit. Unlike the arcade version, however, the player does not need to use a light gun. The standard controller can be used. Three actions are only used in the arcade rail shooter. The analogue stick/ directional buttons are used to manoeuvre the cross-hair, the shoulder buttons shoot the shotgun and the action buttons are your reload buttons. However, if you do have a Playstation Move, then I would suggest using it, as it is quite accurate and responsive. It is the closest to the arcade experience with actions such as waving the Move controller across the screen and shaking it to reload the shotgun, close to the “off the screen” reloading that is accustomed with the arcade version of the game. If shaking the Move controller up and down is not your forte, then you can use the action buttons. Considering that the standard controllers have Sixaxis motion control, I am a little surprised that the shaking motion was not included in addition to one button reloading.
There are two modes of play: survival and time attack. Survival is basically going through the game and trying to beat it before you run out of lives and die. If you want two player action, then Survival is your only mode where partners are accepted. In Time Attack, it’s you against the clock as you shoot your way through the game, adding valuable seconds in order to survive. Time Attack is an addition over the arcade game, but was present for previous console ports. Both modes can be played for a position on an online leaderboard, but there is no online multiplayer. Trophies are also present, adding replay value to the game. Some of them, however, are beating a chapter, so you may grab a few during your first playthrough.
The range of zombies in the game is staggering. Of course, there are the typical zombies, like the fat, belching types and the overly jumpy ones, but there are also zombies this reviewer has not seen in his zombie shooting career. Zombies of that nature include cutlery throwing maniacs, zombies that look like overgrown versions of Cousin It and many more. Also expect the big type of zombie, such as one dressed as a security guard, as the boss battles of the game. These boss battles involves a light orange “Cancel” bar, underneath the green health bar of any boss, which must be drained in order to cancel an attack. These are the weak points of the boss, so it also does a little extra damage to the boss. If there is more than one weak point, then the bar will reflect that by adding extra sections in a different colour.
After each chapter, there is a ranking and grading system (different to the online leaderboard), assessing how you went in that particular chapter. The House of the Dead III was the first to use a ranking system in this capacity. During gameplay, you are rewarded with extra points depending on how fast you take down the zombies. These are Excellent, Good, Faster, and Twin Shot, where you take down two zombies with one bullet, which does happen at times. These, along with how you progress, contribute to a letter grade at the end of the chapter. These are, from best to worst, S, A, B, C, D and E. Gaining a high enough rank will give the player extra lives. An A rank gives one while a S rank gives two. Other ways to gain points are from different items found in crates and barrels, including coins that require the play to shoot multiple times and golden frogs. Gaining lives is different to. “Rescue” events occur once or twice during the chapters. The player must save their player from taking damage from a zombie, with the most threatening ones highlighted in red. If the player has the maximum number of lives (which can be set before the game begins), then it is added to the players total score. In terms of extra content, don’t expect much. Only additional difficulty levels and a short interview about the game are included.
Visuals and Audio
The visuals won’t blow anyone away, but they are slightly above average for an arcade port of a game from 2002. The enemy design shows both some imagination and a fall back to zombie clichés. Enemies I did like were the cutlery throwing maniacs and a massive sloth-like zombie which hangs on the inside of a cage. I was even surprise at the frame rate of the game, even if there was quite a bit of action. There was no noticeable slowdown, it held its ground. However, graphics of a port is usually a double-edge sword. The environments and the character models are basically retouched sixth generations graphics. It also lacks that creepy, scary feeling that it is meant to embrace.
While the graphics are not bad, the audio takes a hit. The soundtrack is not bad. There are horror clichés within the tracks, but some of them are quite upbeat, something I do not believe fits with a game like House of the Dead III. However, they are enjoyable. Voice acting isn’t bad but there is better in other games. What should have been polished before release, however, are the sound effects. Most of the zombies have the same groan, which made me grown quite a few times. The shougun effect is also quite bad. It cancels itself out after the halfway point, making sound like something is wedged right into that barrel.
Overall
The House of the Dead III is a great port of the arcade game. The Playstation Move support is accurate and responsive, which emulates the experience one finds when at the arcades. Features that were available for both the arcade and previous console ports are present with the addition of trophies, which will unleash the trophy hunter within all. Visuals aren’t bad but the audio could have been polished more. As an arcade shooter, this exceeds expectations. However, that is all I can say. In the broader scope of things, the lack of depth, as well as no online multiplayer and a lack of bite from the story, will turn gamers away. This is a game only for the hardcore zombie hunters.
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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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)
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 :
