Call of Duty Black Ops is looking to be one of this year’s biggest releases across all platforms. The Nintendo DS version is being developed elusively by n-Space and is starting to look to be a worthy handheld option for fans who want their Call of Duty fix on the go.
The DS version will put gamers in the boots of CIA-backed operatives that are dropped into the shadowy world of deniable operations with an expansive arsenal of weapons at their disposal.
“Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Nintendo DS is going to take the handheld Call of Duty experience to a new level,” said Dan O’Leary, n-Space Studio Head. “From taking the controls of an attack helicopter to flying an experimental stealth fighter jet, players will have a wealth of new features to utilize.”
Another feature that is sure to impress is the six-player online multiplayer mode with a new Perks System, as well as a unique two-player Co-Op mode and Arcade and Challenge Modes that allow gamers to replay the single-player missions to earn extra points to unlock additional achievements.
The portable handheld market is booming at the moment and this is a genius move to branch out the franchise. The news is still fresh but I would guess the M rating might not apply but that is still up in the air and is sure to be confirmed in the near future. Call of Duty: Black Ops drops on the DS on November 9th as well as the Xbox 360. Wii, PS3 and PC.
Ah, Samus Aran, one of the trademark Nintendo characters dating all the way back to the 8-Bit days on the NES. Fast forward 24 years later and we are now just one month away from the release of the newest Metroid title, Metroid: The Other M.
Samus has always been a special Nintendo character to me. She was one of the first female video game leads in history and the whole Metroid games were fun and really set the standard of the action genre. Samus has also always been mysterious in the fact that players really never got a large back story on her throughout the series. Metroid: Other M is going to change all of that with a whole new story and bring a complete fresh way to control gaming’s leading lady.
The story begins immediately following the events of Super Metroid, when a baby Metroid gave its life to protect Samus. With voice acting in English language and more than one hour of beautifully rendered cut-scenes in total throughout the game, Metroid: Other M is not simply fun to play but also exciting to watch. The seamless switch from cut-scenes to gameplay and the smooth transition between third-person and first-person perspectives make this the most cinematic experience you’ll have had in a Metroid game.
A solid story is not all fans will be receiving, as fans of Metroid Prime and the 2-D metroids will both be pleased to know the game features both first-person and 2-D style gameplay that can be switched by the touch of a button. First person mode will let you be more precise with your shots and let you scan any information off your surroundings while third-person view you will be able to take on swarms of enemies with Samus’ Beam weapon, aided by an auto-aim feature that makes gameplay in this perspective fast-paced and exciting. The game also features a first for the series, the new melee attacks which will allow Samus to get more up close and personal with enemies. Players can finish off any weak opponents with a lethal blow and even jump on enemies to perform the new Overblast attack that will be sure to add some new intensity to the game.
Another important feature in any Metroid title has been the huge environments to explore with different landscapes and upgradeable features. Other M promises to be strong in that area as well with top notch graphics for the Wii and and an immersive atmosphere.
Fans of the series are sure to be pleased as this game seems to be made for the made for them as well as a whole new generation of gamers. Team Ninja has joined together with Nintendo and have developed this new engine for the game from the ground up that looks to be familiar yet a whole new exciting way to play. Metroid: Other M releases on August 31st for the U.S. and September 3rd for Europe exclusively on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out the trailer and screenshots below.
Aerial combat fans rejoice! Ubisoft’s HAWX 2 will be released onto shelves for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on September 7th of this year. Though anyone who is going to play on the Wii will be having to wait another two months for the release on November 7th.
Unfortunately there has been no news of the game supporting any of the newest motion recognition systems, which would have been interesting to see on the PS3’s Move. Though it would be a bit weird to see how it would work with the kinect.
Only a few days ago Sega gave the green light on their movie game project Thor. They have now given us a very very very basic teaser about the game, with only a very little bit of movie footage and some teasing phrases written on Thor’s hammer itself.
The Spartan saga continues with the return of the famous hero Argos on the iPhone, now with optimized controls, new graphics, new power and weapons, and many more!
From the Official Website:
Sailing back from Hell after many battles, Argos finally reaches the shores of his homeland: Sparta. But no human leaves Hades’ kingdom alive without consequences. A new odyssey begins for our hero – a journey that will force him face the gods, his fate and his own choices to answer for his arrogance!
THE NEXT-GEN ACTION GAME ON iPhone & iPod touch
A thrilling, non-stop hack’n’slash game jam-packed with action and innovation.
– Furious combat against even more colossal enemies: more combos, more violence!
– Hold your breath all along your adventure: each level provides the player a new experience – a new weapon, a new gameplay, a new power and more.
– Improved interaction with the environment: break gates, climb cliffs, ruin temples and force your way through all obstacles!
OPTIMIZED CONTROL SCHEME FOR INTENSE ACTION
– Advanced action virtual pad: don’t just tap the screen – actually aim your attacks!
– New 360° jump control offering more freedom and enhanced platforming gameplay: jump anywhere, even during fights to perform air combos.
A NEW ADVENTURE, A NEW GRAPHICAL REVOLUTION
– 12 levels to explore, set up in 8 new majestic environments: from Sparta to the depths and heights of Earth.
– Unique and exclusive 3GS graphics providing additional 3D, light and relief effects.
WRITE A NEW PAGE OF ARGOS’ LEGEND
– New powers & new weapons: only the best gear will give you a chance to survive the challenges ahead.
– Fight and kill the mythical foes that dare cross your path. But be warned: stronger enemies will always be lurking.
– Only the bravest warriors are worthy of entering the Arena. Will you be good enough to face the ultimate challenge?
The adventure begins today, as the game’s already out, for just $6.99!
One series I have never grew tired of is Pokemon, I will proudly say I have already banked 150+ hours into my copy of Soul Silver for the Nintendo DS. Some exciting news today has been released by Pokemon Company International and Nintendo today, all trainers will be with Pokemon Heart Gold or Soul Silver will be able to participate in a new Wi-Fi Event for a limited time.
Starting on July 31st, players will be able to download the Enigma Stone from over a Wi-Fi connection enabling an event which will let you catch the one of the two legendary Pokemon, Latias or Latios, each at level 40. Players will also get the Soul Dew, a held item that powers up the Special Attack and Special Defense of Latios and Latias. You must have beaten the elite four, gotten the national pokedex and have two or fewer Wonder Cards to participate in the event.
This event ends August 27th, so hurry before the the time is up to be one step closer to catching them all!
Just when you thought that only Modern Warfare 2 has that “Hollywood feeling”, EA announced that Linkin Park will sing-along on Medal of Honor’s soundtrack. Yes, the same Linkin Park from the Transformers Movie. (not that it’s a bad thing)
Without further ado, here’s a one-of-a-kind trailer (as stated in a press conference), featuring “a unique first-of-its-kind mix of live footage and intense modern military action from the Medal of Honor game”. Pretty interesting…
Medal of Honor is due October 12th and October 15th in USA and Europe.
Well great news for all Dragon Age lovers. Even though Dragon Age 2 has been announed, Bioware isn’t planning to forget about Dragon Age 1, because their next piece of DLC has just been revealed, entitled “Golems of Amgarrak”. Seems like this DLC will be for the hardcore fans, because the difficulty will be more difficult than the rest of the game and it will have the hero fight his way though armies of golems (hence the title), focusing primarily on the combat side.
UPDATE: Official word from Bioware: The story will follow Jerrik, a dwarf in search for his lost brother Brogan. “Delve deep underground to save a missing dwarven expedition in search of ancient secrets for creating monstrous constructs. Only you can uncover the gruesome fate that befell them.”
Golems of Amgarrak is slated for August 10th for 5$ (PS3 and PC) and 400MSP (Xbox Live)
Game Name: Dive: The Medes Islands Secret Platforms: Nintendo WiiWare Download Service Publisher(s):Nintendo Developer(s):Cosmonaut Games Genre(s): Adventure Release Date: July 27, 2010 (U.S.) July 30, 2010 (EU) Price: 1000 Nintendo Wii Points ($10 USD)
Dive: The Medes Islands Secret is Cosmonaut Game’s latest game made elusively for the Nintendo WiiWare.
Story
This unique title starts you out as John Sanders, the main character who is trying to discover all of the many secrets and treasures hiding in the Medes Islands deep underwater. Each time you dive underwater, you must search of a special artifact or treasure across 10 locations and avoid the dangers of the deep. John has a tranquilizer gun handy as well to protect himself against sharks, poisonous jellyfish and many more hazards lurking in the underwater fortress. The story mainly plays out through John’s log, which updates after each stage is completed in text format. The whole set-up is extremely simple but works well considering the story is not what really makes this game stand out. I was interested in each log though and had a sense of accomplishment with each level I finished as you learn more about the Medes Islands and the treasures you collect as you complete the game.
Gameplay
I was really lost when I started actually playing Dive. I went in expecting more of an underwater exploring experience. I was half right in some ways, but also way off base on what I would find the more time I spent playing.
You take control of John Sanders with the WiiMote. All you need to do is hold the B button down to move, pointing the WiiMote in the direction you need to go while using the A button to shoot a dart from your tranquilizer gun. When I first took off with Dive, like I mentioned I was a bit lost because I really didn’t know where to go or really where to start my adventure. You see, Dive: The Medes Islands Secret has a secret itself, most I think would pass it off as an underwater exploring game like I did at first, but underneath is a polished adventure game that is both challenging and rewarding.
You are on an oxygen tank which depletes with damage taken or boosting for extra speed while swimming. Your dart gun is also your main protection which you can shoot at the marine wildlife to clear a path to go through. I ran out of darts and oxygen quickly, but the good news is you will be able to go to the shop and buy better equipment to fit each location’s layout. This is done through a currency system. Each time you find a treasure, you receive cash to spend later on at the shop. This method works well and any player should be able to quickly upgrade their way to their final wetsuits and equipment within the first half of the game.
Most games in this day and age hold your hand while playing, giving you directions of your destination ahead or providing a linear map with a preset path to follow. Dive is completely different from any of that though, as through each world, you literally have to dive into the ocean and find your own path through the crevices and ocean flora and fauna to find hidden treasures and the main treasure of each level. There are also many ways to die though, from the marine wildlife like sharks, jellyfish, and even a giant octopus. Adding to that, many plants and other poisonous flora that cover the walls of the underwater world can damage you at even a simple brush through. Because of this, trial and error is the best way to make it through the dangerous landscape. If you try to hurry through the game, I can not see you lasting very long as every environment is set up differently so you really don’t know what to expect if it is your first time playing.
I found the WiiMote to be precise on every movement I made and had no problem turning quickly or having to creep along side walls to avoid any dangerous fish or plants. The best way I could say how it plays out is kind of like the underwater levels in Donkey Kong Country, but imagine you have the controller to pull your character along and avoid the many perils of the sea. I found the whole set-up of how Dive played out to be innovative and original while also providing a decent challenge and requiring quite a bit of planning and strategy.
Sound & Graphics
The music in dive is fully orchestrated and is fitting with each underwater level. There are many different tunes that will play based on the situation you are in underwater. Every piece played brings life into the environments and enhances the feel for your surroundings bringing a more realistic experience. Sound effects are great as well for the most part, but I did feel some of the warning alerts were a bit loud and overshadowed the music in the game. The main part of any underwater game though is to feel like an underwater game, and the music and sound effects did just that, with the water sounds to the sounds of the main character and other wildlife swimming through the ocean.
The graphics are also stunning and really make this ocean landscape come alive. From a simple patch of coral to the moss on the rocky walls, every location is beaming with life and fully detailed which makes it easy to lose yourself in the game’s many environments. There is also plenty of color and movement going on while you explore the depths of the seafloor with fish swimming around in schools and Jellyfish slowly drifting through the sea. The darker locations run nicely, but some might find the torch provided for these areas to be too dim to see some of the dangers ahead. Besides that, I noticed no lag or any hiccups while playing and everything ran smooth and seemed to flow perfectly around my character which enhanced the experience even more.
Overview
I truly do not think this title is for certain gamers out there. Patience and trial and error play a huge role in every movement you make in “Dive”. My experience was completely unexpected as the gameplay offered something original and unique. The game was around 6 hours and each location was large and brought something new each time. Also adding to the replay value is various achievements you can aim to complete by accomplishing certain tasks in the game. For those who just want an ocean game to play I would recommend this game for the scenery of the oceanic environments alone, but for those who want something with an interesting and rewarding story as well as a great soundtrack and challenging gameplay, give Dive: The Medes Islands Secret a try. While there are a few flaws in this game, but the full experience makes this title feel realistic and worth the price of admission.
