Anyone who has ever played online knows that there are whole bunch of kids (and a few adults) online screaming obscenities and just being downright annoying. It is the main reason I’m always in party chat. Well, Rooster Teeth and Mega 64 have teamed up to bring us all a video that shows what happens to a real life soldier as he tries to shoot a target with annoying bad mouthing in his ears. While the video doesn’t actually prove anything it is quite funny.
Check out the video below to see the test for yourself.
Warning: May cause a traumatic reliving of previous bad mouthing experiences you have had online.
Splosion Man is simply an incredible game, and if you still don’t have it even after the most recent sale at only 160MSP you probably don’t play video games. The sale was perfectly timed in fact and coincided perfectly with Twisted Pixel’s announcement of a sequel to Splosion Man: Ms. Splosion Man!
Ms. Splosion Man accidentally created in the labs of Big Science after the scientists captured of the Splosion Man, and as the press release states: “Even if some sort of newer, stronger, better threat were created, our newest security measures and fiendish traps would be more than enough to contain it. We’ve made incredible advances in our technology over this past year…. Not that there would ever be a use for any of it.” So there is nothing to worry about, I am sure Ms. Splosion Man will be caught just as quickly, oh wait…
The press release continues: “everything has had functionality improvements and visual overhauls, and our company has expanded to some incredible new locations. It’s all pristine and beautiful…”
Big Science continued to reassure readers through the press release by stating, “What’s going to happen, some sort of freak accident in the after party that creates a “Ms. Splosion Man” mere seconds after Splosion Man’s capture? And then the Ms. Splosion Man goes on some monster tear in the fall of 2011? Yeah right.”
It seems to not have worked out too well. As you can see in this debut teaser trailer a new Sploding character has entered the scene to wreak havoc. Look out for Ms. Splosion Man, who will be new, improved and sploding onto XBLA in fall 2011.
A new schedule for this month has dropped and with it comes a small idea of everything available this month. These schedules are perfect and gives you a basic idea of what you need to save for or if there is even anything you want coming out.
There is a bunch on this list, but a few things that aren’t, include the Harms Way XBLA title coming free next week and the more than likely holiday sale that usually happens around this time of year. There are many others as well. This list is just a basic schedule.
Check out the schedule below and see if there is anything you are looking forward too.
Games for the Christmas Season
December 22: “A World of Keflings” (Ninja Bee/Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
December 29: “Raskulls” (Half Brick Studios/Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
January 5: “ilomilo” (SouthEnd Interactive/Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
Avatar Marketplace
December 2: NBA Collection
December 2: “Trials HD” (Microsoft Game Studios)
December 9: “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II” (LucasArts)
December 9: Holiday Collection
Xbox Live Arcade
December 1: “Unbound Saga” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
Deal of the Week
Week of November 29 – Insect Infestation:
“Worms™ 2: Armageddon” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil and South Africa)
“Assault Heroes” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 200 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa)
“Band of Bugs” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa)
“Earthworm Jim HD” (Gameloft) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Korea, Brazil and South Africa)
“Centipede & Millipede” (Atari) – 200 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Czech, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Korea, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and South Africa)
Week of December 6 – Winter Wonderland:
“Polar Panic” (Valcon Games) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil and South Africa)
Burton Snowboard – 120 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa)
Burton RED Hi Fi Helmet – 80 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa)
“Gingerbread Man” – 120 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa)
“Gears of War 2” Snowblind Map Pack (Microsoft Game Studios) – 160 Microsoft Points (60 percent off) and available worldwide (except Germany)
“3 on 3 NHL™ Arcade” (Electronic Arts) – 200 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil and South Africa)
Week of December 13 – Casual Arcade:
“Bejeweled 2” (PopCap) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, India, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and South Africa)
“UNO RUSH™” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and South Africa)
“Zuma” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 200 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Czech, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and South Africa)
“Tetris Splash” (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand
“Feeding Frenzy 2” (PopCap) – 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off) and available worldwide (except Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Singapore, Taiwan and South Africa)
Game Add-Ons
November 30: “Halo: Reach” Noble Map Pack (Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
December 1: “Trials HD” Big Thrills! Add-on (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
December 8: “Pinball FX 2” Marvel Comic Table Pack (Microsoft Game Studios) – 800 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
December 14: “Forza Motorsport 3” Community Choice Classics Pack (Microsoft Game Studios) – 400 Microsoft Points and available worldwide
Games On Demand
November 30: “BioShock 2” (2K Games) – Available worldwide (except Japan and Korea)
December 7: “Army of TWO™: The 40th Day” (Electronic Arts) – Available worldwide (except Japan, Korea, Brazil and South Africa)
December 14: “Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2” (Electronic Arts) – Available worldwide (except Japan, Korea, Brazil and South Africa)
Today I sat down with what could possibly be Gameloft’s finest game of 2010 – NOVA 2. Tapping the NOVA 2 icon on the iPhone 4 and watching the jaw dropping high definition intro movie totally had my attention and had me eager to get sucked into the action and save the universe this time from the clutches of an alien race called the Volterites. To give you a brief rundown of the story NOVA 2 takes place 6 years after the events depicted in NOVA. Humanity has been thrown into a civil war fought on one side by the central government of the Terran Orbitals and the Human Alien Alliance. Our hero Kal Wardin has once again retired and is now loving life living on the desert planet of Scorpius, among the villagers of that colony. As you know war never spares even the most peaceful of places and poor old Kal is called back to fight once again.
I have to say that straight off the bat NOVA 2 has to be one of the most visually stunning FPS I have seen on the Apple iPhone. The amount of detail that has gone into the level designs, character models and environments is outstanding. Gameloft have really hit the nail right on the head taking full advantage of the iPhones retina display.
After a dramatic video intro, the first level has you crash landing on an unknown beach. Here you’re taken through a quick tutorial and can select the type of control system that best suits your play style. Even though I wasn’t used to it – I would totally recommend using the Gyrometric control system. Once you get the hang of aiming with it, taking down those pesky aliens will be walk in the park. Well not necessarily, aiming is one thing but ultimately you’re going to have to use wit and skill to outsmart what looks like much improved AI enemies.
Speaking of AI the first real threat in the game appears pretty much as soon as take a few steps onto the beach. Known as a Volterite Psycher, this monstrosity uses an invisibility cloak and has the ability to pick up and throw large objects your way using its psychic telekinetic abilities. But don’t worry Captain Kal Wardin has a few tricks up his sleeve to combat this deadly foe and any other enemy that comes his way. Returning is his electromagnetic freeze pulse that will allow you to freeze enemies in their tracks, temporarily allowing you to plow into them with a barrage of bullets. Kal also has 2 new special powers, one is neat new melee attack you can select by switching between the electromagnetic pulse attack that allows you to use some sort of disc style blade. On regular enemies like the Red Fury Troopers one slice of this deadly looking weapon will end their pitiful existence. The second is a Slow time power – when activated the whole world around you is slowed down and you can get stuck into whoever’s been caught in the time freeze.
There are some ultra-cool weapons at your disposal in the game, switching to GOD mode I was able to unlock and test them all out. Some of the Alien style weaponry was a complete BLAST to use, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the names of each of the guns but they all handled very well especially the Plasma Gun, Lightening Gun and the Rail Gun (sorry not going to tell you what they do – no spoilers) The standard weapons are back like the assault rifle, you now have dual pistols as your lower end weapon, the snipers looks and feels the same as it did in the first one, an awesome automatic shotgun, a grenade launcher, a gun that looks very similar to the “Hammer Of Dawn” and a heat seeking rocket launcher that was very useful when taking down huge robotic mechas hell bent on blowing you into smithereens and YES this all happens within the first 5-10 mins of the first level !! I could only imagine what other action packed mayhem we can expect from the eleven other levels ahead (Campaign has twelve levels taking you to several orbitals = planets with various settings)
NOVA 2 will also have multiplayer (which I wasn’t able to test out) from what I was advised the game supports up to 10 players online compared to only 4 with the original NOVA. Along with a new ranking and PERK system, there are five different modes: Capture the flag, deathmatch and team deathmatch, Freeze Tag and Instagib. There will also be Exclusive multiplayer rewards that automatically unlock for veteran players who have played the first N.O.V.A. They are: The BAGS ( Bass Ass Gold Suit), starting with an advanced ranking that will automatically unlock advanced weapons and a special achievement. So if you want these cool rewards go out and download N.O.V.A right now from the iTunes store and get up to date with the story before N.O.V.A 2 comes out.
NOVA 2 looks and feels like nothing I have ever seen before on the Apple iPhone. With upgraded controls, graphically enhanced visuals, intelligent AI, an amazing array of new weapons.. PLUS did I mention you can also drive vehicles!! well now I did (damn I wanted to keep that a surprize) oh well that cat is also out of the bag as well Kal will be able ride motorbikes, mecha’s also shoot from a running jeep. If you craving a new FPS to take with you everywhere you go then NOVA 2 will be the game for you.
Expect deployment into the Orbital iTunes store in December hopefully before Christmas !!
Developer(s) Criterion Games Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Director(s) Craig Sullivan (creative director) Henry LaBounta (senior art director) Producer(s) Matt Webster Designer(s) Matt Follett Series Need for Speed Platform(s) PlayStation 3, Windows, Wii,Xbox 360, iPhone Release date(s) NA 16 November 2010 EU 19 November 2010 AUS 18 November 2010
Cops and Robbers is a pretty basic premise for a game, or in this case Cops and Racers, but it is one that Criterion games have taken to heart, forgetting past mistakes of the Need for Speed series and taking it back to basics, in a series of increasingly stressful races that demand that need for speed. It is also Criterions first foray into real life existing cars over arcade simulations so for the fans is Hot Pursuit a burnout, or is it paradise?
GAMEPLAY
To be fair, the game is a lot of fun. It may be arcadey, not all together realistic, but the execution is stripped back and very very tight. Not wanting to tread on any toes, or at least stray to far from what made the first Need for Speed so great almost 10 years ago, they have ignored almost all updates to the series prior and focused instead on a list of meta achievements and stats designed to one-up friends and evoke competition.
Starting the game up, the world map of Seacrest County is immediately similar to their previous title Burnout Paradise and it is not until picking cars that you realise, there is just a bit more detail here- sort of. Criterion have stepped out and inserted real-world cars into an unreal situation. There is a slew of luxury cars to play with from Porches and Lamborghini through to Aston Martin and concept cars or roadsters. The police variation are just as good, with a little less customisation, preferring a new paint job of existing models and some that are completely fictional.
The world map is pretty straight forward: Either start races as a “Racer” or compete to chase them down as the Police. There are three or four different types of courses, either ‘time trials’ where you have to escape in a certain time or catch someone within the limit, Hot Pursuits which allow weapons and have a ‘one v many” approach and the obligatory racers of many cars all trying to come first.
That just about sums it up- quite literally, which is surprising when you consider the depth to play on offer. There are two Career modes and for either the racer or the Cop you level up through 20, grinding ever closer to the Most Wanted level and unlocking harder races and better vehicles along the way. Although simple, with no vehicle customisation beyond some colour, no interaction on the map and some recycled music and maps, it is the weapons and autolog feature that make it worth while.
Autolog online
The Autolog is where the game exists, in this constantly updating and always persistent middle ground of online connection but offline racing. Every single race or action in the game is mapped against anyone of your friends who also have the game, and it becomes a consistent a real incentive to keep trying to beat their scores. Rather than just a leaderboard though, the game will actually throw out recommendations and rather than fictional racers to beat in made up race there is always your real world friends on hand. Each player has a wall, and through it you can msg other people of your friends, talk smack and generally let everyone know when you just beat their score by .01 seconds. There are photo options too, but require a camera and do not work with Kinects built in one.
Weapons in the game consist of spikes, radar jams, helicopters and turbo boosts or roadblocks, and despite the rather simple nature of the racing it can become rather strategic at the higher end to figure out when to use an EMP or a well placed spike trap, or combine a Helicopter together with said EMP to send a car sliding into an oncoming row of spikes.
Although Criterion have made a fun game, even more so online with 6 v 6 cops and Racers, which just degenerates into a mass of roadblocks and reverse driving, some issues remain that stop it from being the next big thing: Burnout Paradise really redefined arcade racing, and was so well supported and pure with a lot of content, 3D maps and a massive number of add ons and detail down to the type of races and cars used. While separating itself from the competition, Need for Speed is just a little too simple. There is no car customisation for what the series had become known for, very little music, maps recycle and everything- is automated. Almost every race will unlock a new vehicle, but there is no choice over when or what, you never have to buy cars and online is exploited with lower level players having much slower cars than anyone else in their race. On top there is a only a small variety of race types, that do get ever more complex, but are really just training for online shenanigans. The result is a double edge sword. Hot Pursuit is tight enough that it is easy to pick up and play and never takes itself too seriously. But despite all the achievements and friendly competition, the meat is in hot pursuit weapon take downs with time trials and races, rather boring.
GRAPHICS
For a game coming out, at the end of 2010 for a series that some people thought had no chance of redemption, Hot Pursuit never tries too hard to overstep itself or even step up to other games from this generation, instead it works and that is good enough for now (until the next one). Perhaps also, in said racing games there is a push back toward minimalist real-world racers over the gangster pimp my ride clones that were pushed out over the last 5 years.
Maps are clean and function either during the day or the night, and although there is morning and evening rides, it can be hard to tell the difference. Rain and thunder act as environmental obstacles and work well, with cars that are responsive to the weather effects.
Criterion play a fine balancing game between what is real or not though, with the underlying theme that Cops are arresting Racers for Speeding- not likely, when the Racer is a crumpled pile of mess, spinning out down the hill.
Yes, in the original seminal racer, Police would actually pull racers over to arrest them and you would see it, now each are as bad as each other preferring the ram me off the road approach. Also, if someone can tell me why a Racer roadblock is comprised of cop cars (when called in), just ruins that illusion a little bit.
On the flip side of these small infractions, the Cars are exceptional and generally stand out from the environment. Instantly recognisable each one at least tries to respond to it’s true to form speed and handling, with some rather detailed descriptions and prices matched to the year the car was launched.
Based on the rather small map of Seacrest County, some areas have snow some desert and some the standard forest and country. The maps are memorable only because they tend to repeat and are all together uninspired. Draw distance also is odd with a strong blur in the background that just blends into mountains or trees that lack colour and depth. All in all the world is serviceable and yet the shiny nice cars stand out against plain backgrounds and shortcuts which are not actually shortcuts and may lose you time (a nice strategy actually that makes you learn the maps).
SOUND
If the gameplay is stripped back and the graphics are good enough, then the music, needs improving. Only some races specifically have the option to play songs while all the Hot Pursuits have the same repeating “thrill” music that sounds like it was made for a movie car chase, but never quite hits that high. It’s a nice touch adding some suspense and danger to the situation but is at odds to the racing beats, only half of which were recognisable. Good music for cruising though it consists of a mix of soft rock, dance,pop, club and alt music, a far cry from the thumping bass ghetto and hip hop swearing tunes from previous games.
There is simply not enough of it and again, the set list can not be mixed,shuffled or looked at even in the menus or otherwise. Criterion while simplifying the game have removed key choices for the player that allow a more personal experience.
VALUE
The value of the game comes in how many other friends have the game also. Don’t expect split screen off-line either- this is an online experience as close to a Racing MMO as possible. Hot pursuit is a rent, that can be ground through quickly, but has high replay value and a lot of fun. The is no underestimating the thrill of trying to smash down racers as a cop, while the traps and roadblocks offer some tactical choice about when and how much to deploy them.
Sadly as final mistep, unless you have bought the game with a code to get online, renting may produce the problem of not being able to play due to the fact that despite having an XBOX Gold membership you need a code to log into the autolog feature. The game offers 2 days free but then times out which is rather disgusting considering. This means you can rent it, but not play online anyway (unless you are lucky enough to have the code stolen). It is not a code on the booklet and is frustrating that a separate login and cost is associated to play EA games online now.
CONCLUSION
Need for Speed is a return to form for the series, introducing younger players to what made the first game great, so many years ago. Despite some teething issues, which really shouldn’t occur in this day, even if it is a franchise re-boot, the gameplay is solid and a lot of fun. The need for speed is back- and the pursuit is hot.
With the third installment of Valkyria Chronicles to be released on January 27th for Japan, Sega has decided to release the opening movie for the game and from the looks of it, rather than begin before a war and have conflict break out shortly after, the war is already happening.
In the intro movie we see many members of the Gallian squad called “The Nameless.” We also see action happening immediately and troops marching into battle along with showing off many of the main characters including Reila whom you can see above. Also the movie features a song from Japanese singer May Nakabayashi otherwise known as May’n who has done countless anime openings and endings in the past, though this appears to be a new song from her.
No word yet of a Western release date for the third installment of the game, the second of which on the PSP but with the past two parts of the game already released in the West it is looking good for a third release.
Feel like busting some ghosts? Well if you have grown tired of Ghostbusters: The Video Game then you are in luck because Atari announced today to USA Today that they will be bringing up a downloadable Ghostbusters game to follow up on 2009’s full retail release. The game itself has been announced for Spring of 2011 and will be available for download on the XBLA, PSN, and PC.
Being developed by Wanako players will be given a top down action game that they can play with a total of four players either at home with them or online. There will be massive boss battles supposedly and characters will be able to drive the Ecto-3 which was a small let down in the last game when you found out that you could not. Bad news is that the original voice actors will not be returning to voice their characters, so that means no Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, or even Harold Ramis and what will Ghostbusters be without them?
There are plenty of ways to respond to PETA taking your creation and turning it into a marketing ploy against meat itself. Another way to react is to take the parody and run with it by putting the character into your own game and changing him around to suit your fancy. That is what Team Meat has done with their next PC Patch for Super Meat Boy.
Players will be able to play as Tofu Boy if they type in the phrase “petaphile” at the character selection screen. That way they can play as a “bit malnourished” Tofu Boy instead of the standard Meat Boy, but it is quite obviously that they have taken their own twist with the character as you can see above. If I was made of tofu too I would ask the same exact thing.
Remember last year how Dash of Destruction came out for free on the XLBA courtesy of Doritos and their Unlock Xbox promotion? Well this time around there is a more advanced game that will be coming courtesy of this project and it is called Harms Way. Harms way looks to mix Burnout and Call of Duty and provide an experience where driving skills are necessary but so are your gunning skills.
Justin Carpenter, creator of the game, has worked alongside Bongfish for a year developing the game and it is set to be released next week completely free. There is a trailer below for the game and when you do give it a download next week make sure that you go to Unlock Xbox so you can vote for the game itself. But regardless of that hey, a free game is a free game. Although it is worth mentioning that Dash of Destruction is no longer available on the XBLA so it does mean that this game could also be only momentarily free.
As many of you may or may not know, 2011 marks the next big movie for Marvel, Thor: God of Thunder. Well, like most comic book heroes that get the movie treatment, Thor is also going to be getting a video game due out to coincide with the movie’s release. Sega have officially announced today on their blog that they have signed Chris Hemsworth to voice the title role and Tom Hiddleston to voice Loki in the upcoming action adventure Thor: God of Thunder. Both actors will be playing the same parts in the movie and this is a bit of good news for those who like to have the real voice actors included in Movie/Video Game Crossovers.
“Bringing in Chris and Tom to star in Thor: God of Thunder gives us AAA talent that will create a truly cinematic interactive experience,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “Mighty Thor and the trickster Loki will face off with real emotion while giving fans visual and vocal continuity between the video game and film adaptations of the Marvel franchise.”
Thor: God of Thunder will take players through an original, epic-scale third-person action adventure for which Matt Fraction, the Eisner Award-winning writer and lead Thor comic book author, served as story consultant. In the game, Thor battles through the numerous worlds of Norse mythology to save Asgard. Players will wield the iconic Mjölnir, Thor’s legendary hammer, to fight enemies of an immense scale while controlling the elemental storm powers of lightning, thunder and wind to vanquish enemies. Thor must overcome monstrous foes lifted from the pages of the comics, including Ulik, Ymir and Surtur, as well as other daunting enemies.
I actually feel like I am getting some vibes from Wolverine here (as that game was great), and if you remember, that was a pretty decent game. I think as long as the quality is better than Iron Man 2 we could have a winner anyway and hopefully Thor in done right by Sega, which it is looking he will as the game is looking great. Thor: God of Thunder is scheduled to release in Spring of 2011 for all major consoles. For even more information, you can check out the official website here.
