FINALLY! After what seems like forever, the first official trailer for The Dark Knight Rises Official Trailer has found its way online! Opening in theaters on July 20, 2012, the Nolan’s highly-anticipated third and supposedly final Batman movie hints at the ‘breaking’ of Batman. The trailer leaves much to the imagination, focusing more on the burdens of Bruce Wayne rather than showing off much footage of Batman, Bane and Catwoman, so it’s probably safe to say that Christopher Nolan and his team probably have a lot more up their sleeves!
The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters on July 20, 2012.
It seems that our Australian friends will not have a chance to try out Starbreeze’s take on the Bullfrog property Syndicate. The reason for this is because the ratings board for Australia has been refused classification which means that it has been banned from being sold in stores altogether. You can find the statement here which was posted up today.
Unfortunately the Classification Board of Australia does not go into detail as to what was so inappropriate for Australian consumers and EA has yet to make a statement themselves, though we can expect to hear something from the company within the next week or so. Still, this may not be a death sentence for EA’s Syndicate, as they could either appeal the decision or censor the title’s offensive content to try and remove the offensive content.
Medieval Moves: Deadmun’s Quest Publisher:Sony Computer Entertainment Developer: Zindagi Games Platform: Playstation 3 / Move (reviewed) Release Date: Out Now Price: $38.40 (Available Here)
Overview
The Playstation Move is receiving a second wave of titles at the moment. I would say that Medieval Moves: Deadmun’s Quest is the leading title of this wave of games. You play as Prince Edmund and use the Move controller to swing, shoot and throw through hoards of skeletons. However, that is all there is to this game. Despite the sharpness and accuracy of the Move controller, the game will get repetitive. Adding to the flopping gameplay is the on rail design, which sucks out any freedom of exploration this game could have offered. The visuals and audio reflect the audience Sony is trying to capture and the story is pretty basic but fun.
Story
The game starts off with Prince Edmund, along with his ghostly friend King Edmund the Very First, participating in a training session (which happens to be the tutorial of the game). After an army of skeletons invade the castle, Edmund is forced to flee the scene, only to be stopped by an evil sorcerer by the name of Morgrimm. Due to the magic he exerts, everyone one in the land are now skeletons. This does include our hero Edmund, who now takes the name of Deadmund. His job is to defeat Morgrimm, reclaim an amulet stolen by Morgrimm and make everything right again.
Yes, the story does use typical fantasy tropes and clichés, but it does not mean that the story is bad. In fact, the story is quite fun. It is charming and quite humorous at times, usually from King Edmund the Very First. The writing can be witty but can also feel lazy because this is meant to be a kid’s game. This also means that some of the dialogue can be downright stupid, seeing that now days kid’s media equates to stupidity. Overall, the story, despite reliance on tropes, is quite fun and enjoyable.
Gameplay
This game is pure motion control, so the Playstation Move is required. The great thing is that the player will only need one in their hand. There is the option to play with a second Move controller. So, once who have the preferred amount of motion controllers, now it is time to play the game. The game is basically an on rail adventure with melee and ranged elements making up for the combat. Players will swing their sword, shoot arrows and use throwing stars to combat numerous foes. Weapons will be upgraded via scripted events, such as the receiving the Captain’s Sword early in the game. Players will also be involved in collecting various collectables. Coins and gems offer points for the player, as well as the task of collecting scrolls, which contain background information. Milk also plays an important role as well as it serves as the potion of the game. Milk isn’t sparse in the levels, so death is the last of the player’s worries. There are also puzzles, like turning gears and pulling levers, throughout the game.
The enemies in this game are basically the same (with minor differences), save a few bosses. They will act all the same, thus giving a feel of repetitiveness and believing that the task is just monotonous. The problem also lies in the fact that the player will be swarmed by the lowest of the enemies, which are just regular grunts. This is lazy design, as difficulty should not equate to piling multiple enemies onto the player. The player can not cover all sides of Edmund, so be prepared to be outflanked quite often. The one-on-one mini battles provide some relief but no challenge, as one will anticipate every move. They are open books, the big brute skeletons. The boss battles, although offering new enemies, have a rinse and repeat feel to them. They require no strategy to defeat, just find what needs to be done and repeat it until the player wins. It just brings out annoyance rather than satisfaction.
The motion control scheme works quite well, although there are minor inconveniences. Most of the time, the camera captures the precise ark of the sword swing. It also measures the power of the sword swing, punishing the player with a weak strike. The motions of using a bow, which is placing the Move controller behind the player like fetching an arrow from a quiver, works alright nine out of ten times. The player might encounter a situation where the camera does not register the motion, even though it was performed. This problem can also lie when attempting to heal oneself via a bottle of milk. One must hold the Move controller as if they are drinking a bottle of milk. However, at times, it would not register. This creates an atmosphere of frustration and annoyance for the player.
The main underlying problem of this game lies within the on rail element. This reviewer does recognise the audience being that of children and not of core gamers. However, that should not excuse the lack of freedom in this game. Considering its setting and combat system, a game like Medieval Moves cries out for exploration and adventure. Through the on rail design, the game lacks engagement to a certain extent. The fact that the player is allowed to take different paths at certain points of the game is more of a forced attempt by the developers to allow freedom within the game. All it does is shows not only that movement is important, but reinforces the repetitiveness of the gameplay. Yes, this is a game where playing for quite a period of time is not advised. The targeted audience would be the reason, but it shouldn’t isolate other audiences all together.
The game also offers multiplayer, believe it or not. There are both online and offline modes of play, but don’t expect a plethora of game modes. Instead, one would find only a couple to play with. They are not too bad for younger kids. What is a great positive is that the gameplay in the multiplayer modes don’t restrict the player with on rail gameplay, which is a welcoming change for those who grow weary with the lack of freedom in the single player story.
Overall, for who the game is meant for, then the gameplay is great. It is short burst action that will keep the kids entertained. However, the shallow combat system, tied up with the terrible decision to make it on rails and holding the player’s hand throughout the whole game, those looking for a great adventure game that utilities the Playstation Move might want to wait for the release Sorcery. Multiplayer offers respite from the on rails experience, though.
Visuals and Audio
The visuals for the game are not stunning, but they are not meant to be. The game has animated charm. It is a game for kids, so the game uses over the top facial expressions and crazy 3D models, including the enemies. What was quite good was the use of comic book panels as the cutscenes of the game. They were quite bright, something that seems to differ from the usual brown tints of more core gaming. The 2D models of the comic book cutscenes also look good. The environments never look dreary, even if it is a dark building. The over the top style adds charm and downright silliness to a game that does not want to take itself serious. That overall lack of seriousness is also reflected in the audio design and soundtrack of the game. The soundtrack creates its own charm, adding to the atmosphere of the game. The voice acting is decent, with each character given a voice which would suit each role. Overall, the visuals and audio work well in the context of the game’s audience.
Overall
This is a case where so much that can go right actually goes wrong. Medieval Moves had potential, but it goes to waste. Despite a fun story, visuals and audio that fit the overall atmosphere and context of the game and the multiplayer providing a breath of fresh air, the gameplay brings this game down. The repetitive nature of combat and the fact that the designers went with an on rail movement system will force players into cries of annoyance and frustration. This is coupled by the fact that the designers will create the game more difficult in a overwhelming way. Kids might enjoy it, but no one else would. This reviewer was looking forward to reviewing this game, but, upon playing it, he will question why he wanted to do it.
… With Battlefield 3 in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) area. These tournaments are found on the Alienware Arena website, and are labelled as battleground tournaments.
The first ever battleground tournament will be Battlefield 3, but there are plans to incorporate other games into the program in the future. The program allows for teams of players to compete over the summer for the top spots, invites to the invitational tournament, which will be an 8v8 team conquest battle with $2500 promised to the top 3 teams.
We’ve heard very little about Bravely Default: Flying Fairy since it was announced back at Tokyo Game Show, in fact all we have seen about the title so far has just been a few screenshots and a couple of minuscule details. Still, it appears that French site Gamekyo has managed to find a video from the title, albeit one that has a few small flaws.
The video, which you can see below, shows the main character walking around what appears to be a city map, but unfortunately he does little else. Also there is absolutely no sound in the video so it could simply be very early footage of the game as well. From the video we do see however the amazing graphics that the title boasts. Now we just need to wait and hope that more information and full footage is released by Square Enix.
T-80 Darts Developer: MKO Games Publisher: MKO Games Platforms: iPhone (reviewed), iPad, iPod Touch Release Date: 6 December, 2011 Price: $2.99 iPAD – HERE or $0.99 iPhone HERE
Overview
T-80 Darts, developed by French studio MKO Games, is a game that plays exactly as advertised by its name. Is this iOS conversion of the popular bar-side passtime a successful recreation, or has the bar closed early for T-80 Darts?
Gameplay
The controls behind T-80 Darts are simple – you slide the aim-slider down with one finger, and then tilt your iOS device to aim the shot at your preffered target on the dartboard. This control scheme really gets the best out of the iOS systems, and it’s surprisingly easy to pick up and play.
The rules of the standard game modes are the same as those in a regular game of darts. Players start with a score of either 301, 501, or 701 points and must then aim to lower the number down to zero in as few moves as possible. That’s achieved by aiming for higher scoring areas of the dartboard, particularly the bullseye, which is worth 50 points. Of course, each point-zone on the dartboard has narrow strips which, if you hit, will reward you with double or triple points.
There are two additional, more interesting takes on the typical dartboard gameplay as well: Around the Clock asks you to hit each of the numbers on the dartboard in order, increasing from 1 to 20, and then to finish it off with a bullseye. Cricket demands that players only hit numbers between 15 and 20, and also the bullseye, and they must do so three times on each to close out the game. Hitting the double or triple sections will close out numbers more quickly.
T-80 Darts features Game Center functionality so that scores can be uploaded onto shared leaderboards. These scores are based on how much time it takes you to finish off a round of whatever mode you’re playing. There’s also a versus mode that allows you and a friend to take turns against each other in any of the game modes.
There’s no question that the game is a great darts experience that fully takes advantage of the tilt and touch capabilities of iOS devices, but the fact that it’s so simple to use means that the game gets quite easy after a bit of practice. I found myself repeatedly lining up bullseyes, and while it feels good to look like a darts professional, different difficulty levels would have been appreciated. Hell, if players should elect to up the challenge, do so by making the on-screen dart thrower become comically inebriated, and thus his vision blurs and the aiming reticule expands and moves less accurately.
Audio & Visual
Graphically, the game brings something a little unique to the iOS marketplace in that it’s not two-dimensional, and doesn’t look like a cartoon. Rather, the three-dimensional pub in which the game is set is buzzing with detail, has a window you can actually see out of into a snowy street, and just generally gives off the atmosphere you’d feel in a small Irish pub.
The music also complements this Irish feel to the locale, with cheery tunes that would make a leprechaun dance. There’s a good thud when a dart hits the board, and a strangely, French-accented woman calls out the number of points you’ve scored.
In fact, it’s quite ironic that a French developer nailed the ambiance of an Irish pub so well, only to have it slightly jarred by the voice work. But, in my humble male opinion, there are few things better than listening to a French woman while hanging in an Irish bar. So I’ll happily accept the incongruence.
Overall
T-80 Darts is a game that succesfully condenses the essence of playing darts in a bar and puts it into a well-presented game. Its simple controls get the better of it, as it’s slightly to easy to master, but you’ll find that in short bursts, the game will keep you coming back because of those same simple controls and the charming ambiance. If you’ve got five minutes to kill, T-80 Darts provides good fun that’s easy to jump in and out of.
And it doesn’t have cutesy, small mammals or fuzzy avian bombardments.
Despite Alan Wake suffering from writer’s block since 2012, the series has made its way back into the light in recent weeks with a slew of new information and a brand new title expected on the XBLA. Alan Wake’s American Nightmare from Remedy has been given a bit more information today, such as the fact fans can expect it during the first quarter of 2012.
Also released was a new trailer and a few new screenshots and even the art for the title which can both be seen below. In the trailer we learn about a new mode known as “Fight till Dawn” which the player must survive as long as possible against the creatures of darkness and earn points by taking them out with weapons both old and new including “old stalwarts like the flare gun to wild new favorites like the nail gun and old school Remedy favorites like the Uzi.”
While Star Wars: The Old Republic has been heralded as the next big MMO for gamers to go to, it appears that just a few too many are going into the MMO for the servers to handle. In fact, so many people are playing that nearly everyone who wants to sign in and play their character has to wait in a queue before they can even access their server.
BioWare has heard the consumers’ problems and executive producer of live services Jeff Hickman has stated that “While we can’t promise that there won’t ever be queues, we can promise you that we are taking this matter seriously and constantly reviewing them to make sure that they are manageable and reasonable.” It is a bit disheartening that they are running in to issues already, but having a problem where too many people want to play your game sounds like a blessing BioWare wasn’t ready to accept.
Ever since the Wii U was revealed back at E3 2011 in June, we have seen absolutely nothing about the new platform from Nintendo which some have taken as a bad sign for the development of the system. It appears however that the iron curtain of Nintendo is getting ready to show the Wii U again in front of the press. Though those hoping for something new and improved will likely be disappointed.
In a statement to Joystiq, Nintendo reported that the company has been “working with the 2012 International CES management, will offer demos of the upcoming Wii U console to members of the media who did not see the system at the 2011 E3 Expo.” The company then went on to say that “Nintendo will not have a booth at CES, nor does it plan to include any games, experiences or information beyond what was available at the 2011 E3 Expo.” So… pretty much nothing new is being introduced but hey, at least they are still willing to show it off despite over six months of stagnation.
Sick of defending that same old boring castle? You should go outside and play more! Trendy Entertainment, Reverb Publishing, and D3Publisher are about to unleash the first part DLC for their exceedingly addictive downloadable title, Dungeon Defenders where players will be able to venture outside of their castles for the first time ever!
The Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards DLC is out now for Steam for only $3.99 (buy it here!) and will be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on December 21st. This is just the first of 4 packs however, so keep an eye out for more as each quest will each take players through an entirely new campaign map, PvP map and a new challenge mission with new new story cinematics, enemies, 10 all new weapons, a new pet, a new boss, and more!
Gamers can also buy the Complete Pack featuring all 4 parts of the Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards on Steam for a limited time for only $9.75 (retail $12.99). Not only will it grant players access to the content as it releases, but also early access to Nightmare Mode- an even harder difficulty mode which will eventually unlock all 4 DLC packs and incorporate all of the new enemies into the full campaign for PC owners.
Not excited yet? Check out the trailer below and see why you should be!
Note from the publishers: The 10 new weapons and pet will be patched into the Console version in the first patch early next year.
