Sony fans just scored another point in the eternal battle for console supremacy – Official NPD Group Australia data from retailers show that the PS3 has hit the number one spot for home console sales in Australia this year. Despite the PlayStation Network episode it’s been a strong year down under for Sony, with PS3 sales increasing by over 400% following a price drop on the 160GB and 320GB models.
No doubt plenty of those shiny new consoles will be spinning up an Uncharted 3 disc in the week to come – Drake’s Deception is probably the biggest exclusive release of the year for the PS3:
“The entertainment launch of UNCHARTED 3 will be an adrenalin rush –as this blockbuster title really blurs the boundaries between games and cinema. It’s set to be an epic adventure for PlayStation leading into Christmas!” Michael Ephraim, Managing Director SCE Aust.
Sony are no doubt hoping that Nathan Drake and his epic adventuring can help them hold onto the number one spot until the madness of the Christmas gaming season is over, and given the quality of the series so far, Drake’s Deception is not likely to disappoint. Naughty Dog’s third Drake adventure is released in Australia tomorrow, and promises to bring 3D, enhanced co-op and competitive multiplayer, new physics and visuals, and bigger and better set pieces to an already golden table. Check out the launch trailer below for a bit of a last minute appetiser.
So it looks like a solid end to the year for Sony Australia, bring on 2012 and the PlayStation Vita!
Some of you may be scratching your heads at the release of GoldenEye 007: Reloaded. Didn’t the remake of the original Nintendo 64 classic come out for Wii just a year ago?
Well, yes.
But this remake of a remake is coming out for your Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 today, and other than the improved high definition graphics, the game includes an all new single player mode called Mi6 Ops.
Similar in name and gameplay to Call of Duty’s Spec Ops, Mi6 Ops features a variety of single level missions which involve attack, defense, or stealth-based gameplay. The scores that you achieve on these Ops can then be posted to online leaderboards, though, sadly, these mission do not allow for cooperative gameplay.
All the details, along with some killer gameplay footage, are included in the video below.
For the upcoming retelling of the classic tactical strategy game, Syndicate, published by EA Games, a trailer has been released showcasing the games 4-Player Co-Op mode. The trailer is a highly entertaining watch and is sure to resonate with fans of the classic games a bit more postitively than it has currently.
As everyone knows, EA have remade the classic Syndicate into a modern day sci-fi FPS game; which many older fans feel has damaged the core concept of the game. However, the inclusion of 4-Player Co-Op may be enough to tide them back on-side.
Lastly, included on the Syndicate Facebook Page is a link to some very catchy remixes of the classic theme song. One by the very popular dubstep DJ Skrillex and another by Digitalism. So make sure you pick those up; even if you aren’t that into Syndicate, these songs are amazing.
Be sure to check out the Official Website, Trailer and Screenshots embedded below.
Nintendo Australia has announced a release date for the highly anticipated Mario Kart 7: Saturday December 3rd! Exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS, Mario Kart 7 brings all the exciting kart action to the palm of your hand in full 3D.
New competitive kart possibilities are available with kart customization, and players can now race underwater and glide over the tracks when the new Glider is deployed on big jumps. Mastering all these new features will allow players to discover shortcuts and beat your opponents to the finish line in true Mario Kart competitive action!
All your favorite items like the shells and invincible stars are back along with some new power-ups like the Super Leaf providing both offensive and defensive abilities that let players use a Tanooki tail to both protect them from incoming shells and to whip opponents off the track. The Toonooki tail is also making a return inSuper Mario 3D Land on November 24th also available for the Nintendo 3DS, which will bring a unique mix of classic and modern Mario gameplay. So if your a hardcore Mario fan, it seems like this is the best time to grab a Nintendo 3DS if you haven’t already!
EB Games are beginning to make a habit of this! After releasing Arkham City a few days early the Australian retailer have done the same thing with Sonic Generations, releasing the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions a day before their official November 3 shelf date:
Go get it Sonic fans! And while you’re at it make sure and give the good people at EB Games a calendar (and ask them how early Skyrim will be).
If, like me, you love the critically acclaimed Showtime series Dexter then this is something you’re going to want to pay attention to. If you aren’t already aware, there is a Facebook Dexter game from Ecko|Code (creators of the Weeds Facebook game, among other things), It closely follows the each new episode of Dexter as it is aired by Showtime, releasing new content as the story unfolds on our screens.
Today’s new missions for Dexter are:
1) There is a clue from the Doomsday Killer, in the latest victim’s “angel wings.” Now you need to go do further research.
2) Using a sketch of the potential Doomsday accomplice, you just need to ID the suspect without Debra and Brother Sam asking nosey questions.
3) Go through a potential serial killer’s books and find clues.
4) Get a suspect where you want him – then decide next steps. Mercy or a visit with the Dark Passenger?
But Ecko|Code aren’t just giving you new missions to play with as the story goes, they are also taking in community feedback and fixing bugs, as well as making some awesome improvements. These include being able to go back and reliving past missions, collecting dropped items by hovering over them with the cursor, and gaining an in-game ‘mask’ during missions.
Michael C. Hall voices the game, giving it another sense of the television show. The game itself is released the day after the episode and is based on real-time stealth gameplay and the suspense and adrenaline rush that the show thrives on.
Who said that TV was just for watching?
Want to join in? Head on over to the Facebook page HERE!
So the other day we gave you the regular roster list for THQ’s UFC Undisputed 3, and now we have the confirmed Pride Roster, featuring some fighters already on the roster but many new ones as well.
This isn’t just a simple switch from the octagon to a square ring as THQ have captured the brutality which Pride ensured, from soccer kicks to head stomps. The 33 fighters on the pride roster are:
Anderson Silva
Bob Sapp
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Dan Severn
Don Frye
Gary Goodridge
Gilbert Yvel
Heath Herring
Kevin Randleman
Mark Hunt
Mark Coleman
Mirko Crocop
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Mauricio Rua
Quinton Jackson
Rameau Sokoudjou
Vitor Belfort
Wanderlei Silva
Murilo Rua
Jens Pulver
Marcus Aurelio
Takanori Gomi
Chuck Liddell
Dan Henderson
Murilo Bustamante
Akihiro Gono
Carlos Newton
Denis Kang
Paulo Filho
Phil Baroni
Royce Gracie
Ryo Chonan
The UFC Undisputed 3 release date has been pushed to February 14th 2012.
Game: House of the Dead: Overkill — Extended Cut Publisher/Developer: SEGA/Headstrong Games Console(s): Playstation 3 Genre: Light gun rail shooter/Campy horror ESRB Rating: M for Mature Price:$39.99 – Buy it here
House of the Dead started out life as a light gun shooter in arcades across the country. As a matter of fact, I saw one of the House of the Dead arcade machines not too long ago in a theater. However, this series eventually came to life on home consoles through the Nintendo Wii in the form of the game: House of the Dead: Overkill. Now, a few years after its motion gaming debut, it has once again been resurrected for the PS3 and Playstation Move. This time around, House of the Dead: Overkill has 2 extra levels that were not in the Wii version and you can play it in 3 dimensions. Thus, the added moniker of “Extended Cut.”
The game opens with a stripper and a credit roll. Next, a deep voiced narrator introduces two officers of the law, Agent G (just G) and Detective Isaac Washington. You receive a brief bio on the villain you are to intercept in the coming mission and then BAM!, you are off shooting mutants (yes, they are mutants. Not zombies. Even if they sometimes appear to be coming of graveyards.) And that is pretty much what you need to know about the story in this game. Its crazy, off the walls and full of fantastic characters. Its stylish, edgy and offensive in all the right places. I laughed my head off whenever there was an exchange between the two main characters. The supporting cast also has just the right amount of crazy, meaning that although they may have moral problems, you can still identify with them and they are not so “out there” that you don’t understand what is going on. Overall, the story in the game is great and it reminds me of a fantastic, gory, pulpy comic book.
In addition to a stellar story experience, House of the Dead: Overkill has quality gameplay. Seeing as how the series has its roots in the light gun genre, it is no surprise that this game has very similar controls, albeit using the Playstation Move instead. You point with the Move, aim your on-screen gun and pull the trigger. That is it. This is an on-the-rails shooter, meaning you basically have no control over anything besides the reticule. However, that does not hold the game back at all. You can still collect items (like cash, health, collectibles, etc.) by shooting at them, and there are plenty of cinematic moments that keep everything rolling and on pace. For example, the game places you in high intensity situations, like rescuing a hostage, and it also has some very exciting boss battles. Just shooting the regular mutants throughout a level is also very fun.
If you don’t happen to have a Playstation Move though, rest assured that you can use a Dualshock controller. However, if you do have the Move, then I suggest you play the the game with that. Although my arms got tired and the in-game stats said I was just ever so slightly less accurate, it was much more amusing playing the game with the motion controls. It adds so much to the ambiance and feel of the game. Plus, navigating the menus and other user interface elements felt very clunky with the Dualshock.
There are only a few minor complaints I have with the game. First off, I hated how I could not manually reload my gun. Having to wait until I ran out of bullets was frustrating. Luckily the game was easy enough that I rarely ran into problems with this feature, but I still wish I could have done something about it. Secondly, although it is a lot of fun to headshot zombies mutants, and take down bosses without ever worrying about strategy, its tough to deny that I would have liked to have a bit more choice in deciding where to go and what strategies to use. However, if you are tired after a long day or just want a casual, mature (with a big “M”) night, then this game requires very little of you to have a great time. Just aim and fire. That being said, this game is only about 5 hours long. However, there are a few mini games, you can go back to beat high scores and there is a coop mode. Plus, there is a Directors Cut mode (where everything is harder) and quite a few different “effects” (think the Skulls from Halo) that can be turned on to enhance replays.
The sound effects and soundtrack to the game are great. They completely match the tone of the game. Although the voice acting sounds rough, I believe that that is what the developers were going for, and it definitely adds to the whole flavor of the game. The 70’s musical style also works to the game’s advantage. Be warned though: this game has a lot ‘o cussin’. Indeed, it is well on its way to receiving a Guinness World Record for being the most profane video game ever. So, if you are sensitive about that, you may want to tread cautiously when considering pulling out your wallet.
Being a updated for the PS3, this game obviously has HD graphics. However, they are not the most amazing graphics you will ever see. The character models for the most part look ok, as does the backgrounds and other pieces of the game world. Gore and blood as well some of the bosses look spectacular though. Its not the most eye popping experience ever, but is satisfactory. House of the Dead: Overkill has a popping and scratchy effect overlayed on top of the graphics (making them feel like an old school horror movie) and once again, this effect adds a lot to the tone of the game.
Overall, this is an enjoyable video game that is worth $40. It was clearly designed for the Playstation Move and that is a good thing. There is nothing more satisfying than poppin’ a freak in the head and feeling like you ACTUALLY had the skill to do that. Headstong made a budget title that is a romp to playthrough, especially with the PlayStation Move, and they did not skimp on atmosphere. This is a magnificent, grotesque shoot ’em up that is worthy of any gamer’s attention.
Sidera, a game low on graphics and fancy features but high on thinking, is now available on iTunes. The tagline for the game is ‘Before this, everything was easy’, and I have no doubt that it’ll probably live up to at least a part of that.
You play as a supernova, trying to wipe out all the stars and planets from the screen (if you have to explode then so does everyone else!) and each level is cleared after you achieve that. Touching a star or planet surrounding the supernova causes it to explode, forcing it in the opposite direction. Sound easy? Well, you have to use your smarts to make sure that with each explosion you’re setting yourself up right to demolish the rest of the screen. Send yourself in the wrong way and you’ll just be drifting in space.
Confused? Watch the gameplay video below! It won’t clear up too much confusion but it sure will spin you out to see just how many puzzles there are, ripe for the cracking.
Sidera is available on iPad, iPhone and iTouch for only $0.99 – BUY NOW
Dragons Vs Unicorns, the intensely cute multiplayer tower defence game that will be the debut release for Digital Harmony Games, has revealed the first minions for the game along with some screenshots.
While Dragons and Unicorns duke it out, minions are animals that have been dragged into the war and the only characters that can deal direct damage to towers without special abilities.
On the side of the Unicorns, there are kittens. Decked out in boxing gloves and with the ability to upgrade to ‘Tyson’ level, these kitties are sure to pack a punch.
In the opposite corner, with a hard shell and the highest summoning cost and lowest summoning cool down, is the turtle. He deals the most damage, rewards the most gold, and is sure to make that kitty do that pained yowling sound they do sometimes.
Dragons and Unicorns is set for release in early 2012 on iOS, Android, Mac and PC. Keep tuned to Capsule Computers for more information about this awesome looking game as it hits.
