If you loved the demo so much, and want to go out and pre-order the game; there are some things you should consider. The first being, which store are you going to pre-order from. Not all the stores are offering the same bonus, and the choice is quite difficult. Actually it isn’t that difficult since it is region based, but for those of you living in the UK; I feel sorry for you.
If you’re in the US GameStopis offering a fancy exclusive Maulkiller skin that comes with a pair of Silver Sabre Crystals for all pre-orders. Supposedly Maulkiller is created from the genetic material of Darth Maul and Starkiller; which sounds really cool.
If you’re in the UK on the other hand, you get a Storm Trooper if you pre-order fromGAME. Yeah, definitely not as cool; however, you supposedly also get a pair of White Sabre Crystals and an additional cinematic DVD instead.
So pick wisely, or not. In this case you probably should have picked a better place to live. Though the UK does have its benefits; just not when it comes to The Force Unleashed 2 pre-order bonuses.
This week sees a whole bunch of Mass Effect 2 content reduced in price. BothKasumi’s Stolen Memory DLCand theOverlord DLC are on sale for 400 Microsoft Points each. Any fan of of Mass Effect 2 could never say no to these deals, specially if you haven’t already picked them up.
For those people out there who love dressing up their avatar on the Xbox dashboard, there is even a few Mass Effect 2 related avatar items for sale. The Mass Effect 2 suit and helmet which have been reduced down this week to 160 points and 80 points.
Althoughthe Blood Dragon armour was initially advertised as part of this week’s Deal of the Week promotion, it is no longer for sale, and according to Major Nelson has been permanently removed for this week’s Deal of the Week. Too bad, maybe next time.
As for the Xbox Live Arcade titles released this week, there is the release of the free Pinball FX 2 which enables a free import of the tables you own from Pinball FX 1 and makes money by selling individually priced tables separately. Next there is there Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Episode 1 for 1,200 Microsoft Points. Keep in mind that this is only episode one, and future installments will be priced separately.
If none of these titles interest you and you’venot pre-ordered Dead Space 2, you could always pick up Dead Space: Ignition for 400 Microsoft Points.
Our great friends over at Fishpond have advised us that Sony have released a few more extra GT5: Signature Edition packs for pre-order. So if your a die hard fan of Gran Turismo and you want something that you can show off to your mates and also put in your collectables cabinet. Then don’t waste another minute. Click on the link below and pre-order it now. There is LIMITED STOCK .. so make sure you place your order in now before they all race past the finish line and into the hands of someone else.
**** SPECIAL OFFER **** Just for all our readers we have a special $10 code: Make sure you enter : CAPSULEC when you make your purchase and receive $10 of your next purchase. This is valid till the 20th of Nov (Each customer can purchase twice using this code, BUT it must be on a seperate sales and up to $40 spent)
* Special Signature Edition contoured metal case in black SLS AMG ‘Obsidian Black‘ paint finish.
* Exclusive branded SLS AMG 1:43 model car.
* GT Leather wallet including entry method into Signature Edition in-game competition to win real Mercedes SLS AMG vehicle (value €180 000)
* Branded USB key (containing GT and Mercedes trailers)
* Exclusive Polyphony designed dynamic theme
* 5 x Collector’s Edition ‘ChromeLine’ cars with performance enhancements and exclusive livery + 6 x pre-order ‘Stealth’ vehicles (with same enhancements).
* GT branded metal key fob
* Signature Edition coffee table book
* 200+ page drivers/strategy guide
Brain Dead 13 Developer:Digital Leisure Platform: iPhone (Reviewed), iPad Release Date: October 8, 2010 Price: $2.99 – Buy Now!!!!
Overview:
Brain Dead 13 may ring the bell with many gamers as it has been available on many platforms in the past. PS1, PC, even the Sega Saturn have been graced with its presence. Now we have the game available for the iPhone via Digital Leisure. Brain Dead 13 is a Full Motion Videogame, or an Interactive Movie and is a genre that has unfortunately fell from public eye. But Brain Dead 13 shows that this is truly a tragedy.
Story:
Lance is just a computer repairs expert who has been called out to perform a simple fix job. The only problem is that the people who have hired him are far from ordinary. The first sign that something may not be right is that the computer lies within a castle that is falling apart, not to mention the giant floating brain that is bragging that he will take over the world.
Dr. Nero Neurosis easily spills his plans of world domination when called a simple villain by Lance, leading to his hunchbacked minion Fritz chasing down Lance and trying to kill him. That isn’t Lance’s only problem as he will be not only faced with trying to stop Neurosis and escape with his life, the castle itself seems to be out for his life.
As a FMV, the story is the lifeblood of the experience and thankfully Brain Dead 13 supplies an interesting story that places a likable character in a desperate situation. Lance himself isn’t anybody extraordinary either as he dies quite often and due to very strange circumstances. Put him together with the many interesting characters you will find inside of the castle and the wacky deaths and you will find yourself constantly retrying to find the right path, or to uncover a new room inside of the castle so that you will see what could happen to Lance next.
Graphics:
If you are looking for a gorgeous graphical experience on your iPhone, then this is it. Everything that you do looks like it has been taken directly from a 90’s cartoon. The action as it plays out is very fluid even on slower iPhones and handles extremely well. Lance’s resurrection sequences can sometimes feel overused, but his death is always something interesting to see as there are at least a hundred ways to die inside of the game.
Gameplay:
Unfortunately there is not a whole lot to be said about actual gameplay within Brain Dead 13 in its own right. That is because as far as you interact with the game is a series of quick time events or direction selections as you direct Lance around the castle and avoid each death that is right around the corner. The controls are handled very nicely with a simple tap of the arrows provided but beyond that control is not necessary.
This isn’t truly a hindrance however. This is because even if you happen to die around that corner you just turned down, you will instantly be revived and given another chance. This leads to a difficult puzzle game as you navigate the castle that doesn’t have a truly punishing difficulty of starting over again at the beginning.
Overall:
FMVs (Full Motion Videogames) may not be available on today’s consoles, but that doesn’t stop the quality from appearing on the iPhone. Brain Dead 13 is quite enjoyable, and though it may appear frustrating at first, you will come to enjoy the randomness that is the game’s death system and find out how to help Lance escape the Dr. Neurosis. Though another small issue is that once you have figured out the right path to take, replay value does suffer slightly unless you want to see just how many ways Lance can meet his doom.
SEED 2 Vortex of War Developer: Chillingo Release Date: September 9, 2010 Price: On Sale for $0.99 – Buy Now!!!! (Usual price $2.99)
Overview:
After the success and well received acclaim the first SEED received when it made it’s AppStore debut a year ago, Chillingo brings us SEED 2. They have updated many features and continue the story of Litta as he tries to protect the world. There are many different RPGs that have made their way onto the AppStore now, and SEED 2 has the previous game to live up to as well. Though that may be something that it can not do.
Story:
Taking place only five years after the end of SEED Litta has grown accustomed to life on his home island. But as any RPG lover can tell you, having a simple and calm life after saving the world is impossible. One night as he sleeps he drams of his master. Feeling like he should leave and see how his old love Gina is doing on the mainland. Litta returns to the continent only to find his arch-nemesis from the first game has joined together with Sitan forces and has captured not only Gina, but the land itself in it’s cruel grip.
In the end the storyline is very suitable for the game itself, but doesn’t break any new ground. You do not have to have played the first SEED to understand what is going on, but it is extremely helpful if you do. Simply to have the extra backstory for the characters and fill in some of the blanks left open for newcomers to question. As a whole however the story is very well done and Litta continues on his path against his enemies wholeheartedly without any break in the storyline outside of sidequests. There never truly is a break from the plotline, nor convoluted storytelling here.
Graphics:
SEED 2: Vortex of War unfortunately starts to show the age of which it is graphically designed after. Using nostalgia to try and put to rests issues with the fact that the graphics are far from pretty to look at and extremely fuzzy. This isn’t helped either by the fact that the game has received a softening of the graphics to allow easier transition between areas and keep the game moving at a fast pace when the game is sped up.
The unfortunate fact of this is that the filter itself makes SEED 2 look worse for wear and unfortunately gets in the way of gameplay as it hinders not only normal gameplay, but makes items and menu navigation difficult.
Gameplay:
To play a game you have to be able to use the controls properly, otherwise playing becomes a challenge just to use the interface. Unfortunately playing SEED 2 falls into the challenge category. This is due to the fact that the game does not use a somewhat lenient joystick, but uses a D-pad to move your character around the map.
The problem with this D-pad is that it is very stiff and hard to manage. There are times that you will lose in battle simply because you could not move properly to attack the enemy, or couldn’t move away from the enemy. In real time battle, the controls should be very precise to allow for easy movement and better combat. Unfortunately this is not the case, as the heat of battle only makes things more difficult as you attempt to not only focus on the enemy, but make the game recognize your finger taps.
This is worsened further by the fact that the hotkeys where you place your skills and items are also very small, and are just as sensitive as the D-pad create problems that should be able to be avoided. Outside of the interface however, not much has changed since the first game.
In SEED 1 you were able to switch between character classes at any time, which was a nice feature as it allowed the player more freedom in their battle styles. SEED 2 still has this ability, but there are only three classes to choose from, a knight, mage, and gunner. These different classes all have special abilities and buffs for fighting, but to learn these skills you must perform side-quests in the various towns that you come across.
The way that the skills are handled can be very difficult, because unless the player is cautious in making sure they accept and complete each quest they come across, there is the chance they will miss out entirely on a skill and not be able to learn it later through leveling up or some other course of action.
Beyond leveling up the skills you learn, this is an RPG so you can expect to level up your character as well. This is handled as well as one would expect and each level up provides status points that you can apply to your character to build him however you wish to.
Earlier I mentioned that side-quests are how Litta eventually learns new skills for his different classes, and thankfully these quests are nice and diverse compared to standard fetch quests. These types of quests are of course still mixed in, but there are also scavenger hunt type quests and defending quests which spice up gameplay.
As you play through you find various bits of equipment that are not graphically impressive in their own right, but when equipped to Litta they change his appearance to match the armor which is a nice touch. Also most equipment is completely customizable, being able to refine it to make it stronger, and add slots and crystals to put special abilities into your weaponry.
Overall:
SEED 2 is a great RPG at its heart. The story is a great playthrough though it doesn’t break new ground in the terms of narrative. With plenty of customizable gear and the class switching battles never feel very dull. If only the interface and controls didn’t hold the game back as far as playability. Many players may be turned off by the hard to use controls and menu interface but if they manage to handle it, they are in for a long and enjoyable game.
Overview:
Clickgamer has brought some of the top casual games ever to the iPhone/iTouch. They continue to produce these types of games and have brought out their newest puzzle game; Pipe Rush. Has Clickgamer kept its blissful feel and great puzzle atmosphere in the new game? It sure feels like it has.
Graphics:
Everything that you will see in Pipe Rush is crisply drawn and easy to recognize. Each pipe is easy to distinguish and you have the ability to create nearly any type of pipe system that you want as long as it all is sealed. Pipe Rush even indicates whether or not the pipe you’re putting together will end up working, or if you have missed something. The random disasters are also very well designed and are very appealing when they happen as they throw a twist into the gameplay.
Gameplay:
Disaster has struck Pippa’s hometown. What disaster exactly? Don’t know but there are plenty that will be happening as you help Pippa fix the pipes in Pipe Rush. That is the extent of the story in the game, but this is a casual puzzler so that doesn’t really matter, what matters is whether or not it is enjoyable.
That is the definition of Pipe Rush’s simple gameplay. Enjoyable. As you begin each level you will have a certain starting point to begin with and pipes that are sporadically placed around the level that you have to connect to so that each house or building will receive water to it. The way you connect the different pipes together is entirely up to you, though there is a time bonus and a rating system per level to think about.
Pipes themselves though are made randomly from a pipe making machine. They travel down a conveyor belt where you can touch and drag towards where you want it to go, with it snapping together easily. You can even work ahead of yourself if you are feeling brave and want to take a big jump ahead which is a nice touch.
If your pipe conveyor belt happens to start getting full or if you do not want to use a certain pipe you can recycle it in a giant grinding machine, or rotate a pipe to fit by using your other hand to tap the rotate button. Certain pipes sparkle, and they will give you either dynamite, which destroys unwanted laid down pipes, and air drops which put a free pipe down wherever you want it. These are useful for when you make mistakes though sometimes are not needed.
There is a small problem when you have to place something in the bottom left corner of the screen next to the rotation button, as the game will think you are attempting to rotate the piece you are holding rather than place the pipe down, which can be frustrating in an otherwise great game. Also there are only a total of 15 different levels to play. Some levels are quite long but it does feel a bit short, though one can always expect that more may be added on a later date.
Overall:
Pipe Rush does everything right that a puzzle game should. It is fun, it is simple, and it is a great way to waste time and have a good time doing it. The graphics are very peppy and enjoyable, though if only there were more levels to enjoy at the moment. Controls are simple drag and drop, with only a tiny hindrance when placing pipes in the lower left corner. Otherwise Pipe Rush is definitely worth the money for a purchase and should not be passed up for puzzle fans.
Flip’s Twisted World is only a week away and if you have never heard of this upcoming 3D puzzle/platformer from Majesco, now is a great time to take notice. Demanding players to “think outside of the box”, Flip’s Twisted World as they navigate six bizarre puzzle worlds, such as a fractured castle, a dense booby-trapped jungle, and a labyrinth of subterranean caves. A flip of the WiiMote changes the environment around you as well adding a unique blend of gameplay and innovation.
In the game, Master Fulcrum’s curious apprentice, Flip, messes with the wrong magic artifact and gets sucked into a cubed universe. To escape, Flip must turn the world any which way he can to reveal new paths and overcome obstacles. While adventuring through five bizarre puzzle worlds – such as an arctic glacier and a clock tower in the sky – Flip must stop the destruction of the universe and restore The Master’s home to normal before he returns!
Adding to the already detailed and charming environments is a top grade soundtrack with a score from one of the biggest legends in video game music, Tommy Tallarico. Voice talent is also A-List with Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Anthony Stewart Head offering his vocal work to the game.
Flip honestly looks great and reminds me of some of the better platformer titles from the N64 era, but of course with much better graphics, music and innovative gameplay. You can check out the brand new trailer for Flip’s Twisted World below and it will be available October 19th exclusively for the Nintendo Wii.
Microsoft has finally brought us its version of a portable Xbox. Whats more, they have given us screenshots and release details for their smartphone and video game powerhouse! Lets take a look.
USA -AT&T
HTC Surround – Also available in Canada
Samsung Focus
LG Quantum -Also available in Canada and Mexico under the name LG Optimus and under each countries respective carriers.
USA -Tmobile
HTC HD7
DellVenue Pro
HTC Mozart
USA -Sprint
HTC 7 Pro
No Picture Available 🙁
For a complete list of phones available in Europe and Asia go to this link.
LG Optimus, HTC Mozart and HTC Trophy will be available in Australia under Telestra and Vodafone.
Now lets look at the UI and software for Windows Phone 7. These include Zune, Office and Xbox Live support (with Achievement support). Also included will be Facebook, Netflix (instant streaming), and many other features.
Finally, here is a list of games that has been announced so far:
Brick Breaker Revolution (Digital Chocolate)
Age of Zombies (Halfbrick)
Armor Valley (Protégé Games)
Asphalt 5 (Gameloft)
Assassins Creed (Gameloft)
Bejeweled™ LIVE (PopCap)
Bloons TD (Digital Goldfish)
Brain Challenge (Gameloft)
Bubble Town 2 (i-Play)
Butterfly ( Press Start Studio)
CarneyVale Showtime (MGS)
Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst (MGS)
De Blob Revolution (THQ)
Deal or No Deal 2010 (i-Play)
Earthworm Jim (Gameloft)
Fast & Furious 7 (i-Play)
Fight Game Rivals (Rough Cookie)
Finger Physics (Mobliss Inc.)
Flight Control (Namco Bandai)
Flowerz (Carbonated Games)
Frogger (Konami Digital Entertainment)
Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick)
Game Chest-Board (MGS)
Game Chest-Card (MGS)
Game Chest-Logic (MGS)
Game Chest-Solitaire (MGS)
GeoDefense (Critical Thought)
Ghostscape (Psionic)
Glow Artisan (Powerhead Games)
Glyder 2 (Glu Mobile)
Guitar Hero 5 (Glu Mobile)
Halo Waypoint (MGS)
Hexic Rush (Carbonated Games)
I Dig It (InMotion)
iBlast Moki (Godzilab)
ilomilo (MGS)
Implode XL (IUGO)
Iquarium (Infinite Dreams)
Jet Car Stunts (True Axis)
Let’s Golf 2 (Gameloft)
Little Wheel (One click dog)
Loondon (Flip N Tale)
Max and the Magic Marker (PressPlay)
Mini Squadron (Supermono Limited)
More Brain Exercise (Namco Bandai)
O.M.G. (Arkedo)
Puzzle Quest 2 (Namco Bandai)
Real Soccer 2 (Gameloft)
The Revenants (Chaotic Moon)
Rise of Glory (Revo Solutions)
Rocket Riot (Codeglue)
Splinter Cell Conviction (Gameloft)
Star Wars: Battle for Hoth (THQ)
Star Wars: Cantina (THQ)
The Harvest (MGS)
The Oregon Trail (Gameloft)
Tower Bloxx NY (Digital Chocolate)
Twin Blades (Press Start Studio)
UNO (Gameloft)
Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet (i-Play)
Zombie Attack! (IUGO)
Zombies!!!! (Babaroga)
Electronic Arts has also announced plans to bring Monopoly, The Sims 3, Need for Speed: Undercover and Tetris to the device.
What more do you want to see in the Windows Phone 7? I would like to see a Zune with all the features except the phone. Regardless, I am looking forward to the release. Look for the phone to hit this holiday. Keep it locked here for all the latest Windows Phone 7 news.
EA has announced that players pre-ordering Dead Space 2 will to treated to the downloadable prequel for absolutely nothing. However, it has been revealed that this will only be available in “participating retailers in North America.”
It’s a shame that this offer isn’t reciprocated in other parts of the world, but Dead Space 2 doesn’t release until January next year, so there could be time for an update in the deal.
Dead Space: Ignition releases tomorrow separately on PSN in US, with a Wednesday release on XBLA and EU PSN.
Does anybody know what the X in X-men means? I don’t know but i would guess extreme. Do you remember when you walked into the arcade, and knew exactly what you were going for? That X-men machine where you and three of your friends could tear up the Brotherhood all on the same big screen. If you do not remember its okay. It was put into the arcades in 1992. It was accliamed as one of the best x-men games to some and more than that to others. This classic is coming straight to your consoles. Cyclops, Colossus, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine are the heoros you can choose from. You take down sentinels and the big boys and girls of the Brotherhood of Evil mutants. Eventually as in the arcade game, you have to take down Magneto, the leader of the Brotherhood. 1-4 player local and 1-6 online player support. Drop in and drop out game play is also implemented. It is coming to XBLA and PSN in autumn. No pricing details yet. The game is going to have a HD makeover of course. Here are a few screens from the 92′ version. Smell the nolstalgia? I can already hear the X-men tv theme playing in my head.
![Gran Turismo 5 Signature Edition [PS3]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)
