The psyco and the mad mad man are back BABY !! YEAH !! .. Try out the demo that’s just gone live on Xbox Live Marketplace right now …
Play Kane & Lynch 2, a raw and brutal crime shooter that redefines the way you experience gaming, delivering an unmatched sense of realism and intensity. The Demo includes relentless action in single player and online multiplayer. Play as psychopath Lynch, wanted by the entire underworld and on the run in the backstreets and rooftops of Shanghai. Get to play Fragile Alliance, the acclaimed multiplayer heist game based on greed, betrayal & revenge, now extended with more risk and more rewards. Get in, steal the loot, and get out in 4 minutes, but trust no one, and I do mean NO ONE !!
Coming next month for download on PlayStation Network (AUD$15.95) and Xbox LIVE (800 Microsoft Points), the Legends and Killers Pack for Red Dead Redemption includes 8 new Multiplayer characters from Red Dead Revolver, plus 9 new Multiplayer map locations and the new Tomahawk projectile weapon which includes its own unique set of challenges.
Check out some new screens from the Legends & Killers Pack (you can also see them in HD over at the Red Dead Redemption Official Site’s DLC page), and stay tuned for more details including the release date announcement and more.
Look at the size of this guy just below and don’t you love his make-shift horns 😉 … this is one bull you don’t want to take by the horns !!
Assassins Creed Brotherhood, which is to be released later this year promises to add multi-player. This feature is sure to bring a breath of fresh air into the largely popular series with this installment. Players can choose one of a wide selection of characters with their own signature weapons and assassination techniques, and match their skills against other players from all over the world in different game modes.
The critically acclaimed single player experience of Assassin’s Creed is back and better than ever as Ezio returns in a powerful struggle against the powerful Templar Order. Now a legendary Master Assassin, he must journey to Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood that will rally to his side. Only by working together can the Assassins defeat their mortal enemies.
When the new multi-player feature for the franchise was announced at E3, fans of the series have been excited to hear and see more on how this works. Ubisoft released a trailer at this years comic-con which you can check out below that is sure to have any amateur assassin counting down the days until release.
Assassins Creed Brotherhood drops on November 16th for the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3. For more information you can go to the official website by clicking here.
When it comes to any form of entertainment and how to promote your product, sex sells. In a brilliant and quite appealing move from 2K games, “The Face of Playboy Swim 2010,” Sheridyn Fisher, has now been announced as the official ambassador for Mafia II. This news is due to the fact that Playboy and 2K games are to use more than 50 of their vintage covers and Centerfolds in Mafia II as part of the unique in-game integration.
Born, bred and based on the Central Coast of Australia, Sheridyn is known for her cute-as-a-Bunny look and her girl-next-door attitude. Now the new face of Playboy Swim Australia, she has won the hearts of many of her fans by just being her fun-loving self. Modelling professionally for over seven years, Sheridyn enjoys all aspects of her career but still considers herself a “tomboy at heart,” loving nothing more than playing her PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.
As part of her involvement with Mafia II, Sheridyn will be featured in an exclusive Mafia-inspired photo shoot with an Australian men’s magazine. She will also be making a special-guest appearance at the IGN Black Beta event that is being held at The Club on July 29, where gamers can register online to be one of the first in Australia to play Mafia II. In addition, the first 100 to attend the event will each receive a Mafia II t-shirt and a magazine copy of Sheridyn’s shoot.
Fisher had this to say on the announcement:
“I am thrilled to be an ambassador for Mafia II—it’s a great opportunity for me to release my inner geek!” said Sheridyn. “Mafia II is an awesome shooter, with an amazing story and environment – but my favourite bit is that you can collect more than 50 vintage Playboy Centerfolds! Being an avid gamer, I am so excited to be a part of the Mafia II Australian release and look forward to meeting other fans of the game at the Mafia II Black Beta Event.”
Marvel and Capcom, Street Fighter and Tekken, Mario and Sonic, Now Playboy and Mafia II. There is nothing wrong with adding some eye candy to mix into a solid title, especially when your main audience are men who are more than likely fans of the magazine or just “read them for the articles”. Either way, 2KGames is pulling out all the stops for this title which releases Australia and New Zealand on August 26, 2010 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC and for the U.S. on August 24th.
Game Name: Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Platforms: Nintendo Wii Publisher(s):Nintendo Developer(s):Treasure Genre(s): On Rail Shooter Release Date: June 27, 2010 (US) May 7, 2010 (EU) ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Price: $49.99(USD)
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is one of Nintendo’s most recent titles for the Wii and a follow-up to Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Earth which was only released in Japan for the Nintendo 64 and later released as a port for the Wii Virtual Console.
Story
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor has a decent story but it may be hard to follow for some. You take control of one of two main characters, Isa and Kachi. Isa Jo is a soldier protecting Kachi, a young girl who has amnesia while trying to escape from Nebulox, a group of enhanced humans. The story is told throughout many cut scenes with fully voiced dialogue. The story is original, rich, and complex but also can be really hard to follow at times as we never seen the first title in english.
One thing that was a huge plus is the character that these two protagonists have. Each are very easy to like and add charm to the game and really made me want to go further to get to know more about each of them as each has their own backstory you will discover the further you get into the game.
Gameplay
At the heart of Star Successor is the gameplay. You travel from one area to the next completely on rails while you control the character of your choice on the screen. Isa and Kachi play completely different so each brings a completely different experience to the table but the story stays the same no matter which character you are. One of the best features is that you can use the Wii-Mote/Nunchuck controls or use the Gamecube or Wii Classic Controller allowing the player with the most comfortable setup. I played with the Wii-Mote/Nunchuck setup on my run of the game.
The game plays like most rail shooters, but with the option of flying around the screen trying to dodge enemy incoming attacks. One of the most useful features is the melee which lets you take care of the foes when they are up close for an easy kill. Isa uses his sword-like weapon and Kachi has various kicks for this method. Players also have their standard gun which can be shot in rapid fire or charged to lock on to multiple enemies at once with a much more damaging shot. Strategy comes into play with every aspect of this, as you must dodge quickly and counter attacks to survive all while trying to hit the perfect shot off on an enemy. The difficulty can be controlled, and it gets harder as you go through the game. I died countless times but thanks to various checkpoints, was able to get right back in the action.
With each level I felt like I was playing something new as Star Successor is a title that knows how to switch it up to make things feel fresh. There are many bosses on each stage, each being different from the next. Controls for me worked extremely well and were precise. This is great to see as many shooters out there for the Wii can have a steep learning curve for you to have to get used for proper aim. I think anyone could pick this game up and play it easily without much prior experience. There are 7 Chapters in all in the game and with the scoring system with an online leaderboard, I found myself going back even after completion.
Sound & Graphics
The music in Star Successor fits perfectly with the environments but not the most memorable songs out there so while it is pleasant and easy to play to, it is nothing really noteworthy. The sound effects on the other hand were perfectly set to every enemy, attack, and I found really enhanced the overall experience in the game. There is also voice acting which is suited to each character fine and helps bring the characters to life as otherwise they might have been overshadowed by the top-notch game-play.
Graphics are some of the best I have seen on the Wii. Each area has something new and actively happening. Your eyes will be treated to a masterpiece as you notice all of the action on the screen for you to face and in the background the beautiful scenery is moving and brought to life by the colors and interesting creatures. Character models all look sharp and there will be floods of enemies to face at one time with no hiccups in gameplay leaving the game feeling smooth and polished. Each enemy is full of detail and not just some random sprite. I will say I did notice some plain looking areas within the game, going from one stunning world to a plain area made it seem lifeless compared to the stronger visual ones.
Overview
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor may not be for everyone. It was for me though. I feel like this game should be at least tried by all gamers as it truly is an experience. Even if you skip the cut-scenes to move past the story you could still get full enjoyment out of the title as the whole game puts you in a world that is visually stunning and feels like you are in a fast paced movie. I kept wanting to push through and found it hard to stop playing until the end as the gameplay is highly addicting and fun. For on rail titles I now have a high standard for what can happen on the Wii due to this title. If you want to find a game that has fast-paced action with likable characters and unique full of life environments, do not pass this one up!
Story “Crackdown 2, the sequel to the award-winning 2007 blockbuster Crackdown, is the ultimate open-world action experience developed by Ruffian Games exclusively for Xbox 360. Featuring over-the-top action, a massive living world, stylish graphics and unmatched online capabilities, Crackdown 2 is the most complete action experience on Xbox 360.
In the vertical, free-form world of Pacific City, tensions are high and escalating exponentially between the Agency and its opposing factions, the Cell and the Freaks. Returning to Pacific City as an advanced Agent, you are judge, jury and executioner as you reclaim the city and eliminate all threats, either solo or with friends on Xbox LIVE.
Building upon the groundbreaking success of its predecessor, Crackdown 2 elevates the open-world genre to unprecedented levels with the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences. Friends around the world will be able to sweep the streets of crime and lawlessness with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and restore justice to Pacific City—by any means necessary.”
Crackdown 2 is a sequel to the original Crackdown. You are returning to the same city, but it has been heavily damaged and buildings and streets are worse then you left them. Agents, Freaks, and Cell fight wherever you go. As an agent it is your job to reclaim the city and remove the Cell and Freak Factions from the equation.
Gameplay
A large chunk of the game consists of collecting things and doing a whole bunch of side quests. Orbs are scattered everywhere and collecting them will consume a huge chunk of your time as you explore the sandbox city. There are tons of things to do in the city that pretty much anyone can enjoy. Races, orbs, stunt rings, missions, tons of freaks to kill. There is a lot to do.
The main story missions are lacking, and just feel like the same thing over and over again. The worst part is that you don’t even get very hi in level by just doing the main missions. Along with repetitive missions, the overall story isn’t that good either. You never really get the feeling of accomplishment, because you are simply doing the same thing over and over and over again.
A large chunk of the game consists of leveling up your character. Based on what you do in the game, certain skills will level up. Some of the skills are cool, like raising your agility lets you jump farther and higher. The other skills give you better guns or vehicles, like driving, shooting, or explosives. Strength lets you pick up heavier things and hit harder. Saldy, melee combat is still pretty bad and not that fun. Stick with your guns and rocket launchers. BOOM!
The sandbox city lets you do pretty much anything you want to do. You don’t have to ever do what the game wants you to do. Just want to blow a whole bunch of people up? You can! Want to race friends around town? You can do that too! Want to take a helicopter and drag a chain of cars below you? You can even do that! You can do pretty much anything in Crackdown 2, and it is even more fun with a whole bunch of friends.
So many things to do, what better way to do it all then with a bunch of friends? Crackdown 2 lets you explore the entire city and do pretty much anything with up to 3 other friends. Bringing friends into the game makes everything a lot more fun. You can all do things together, or do it separate. The game keeps track of everyone’s collection status separately, so you only see the stuff you need and they only see the stuff they need. It is a nice touch and keeps Co-op a lot more inviting. Friends can jump in at any time, and the host sets permissions for who can join.
Audio & Graphics
The only noticeable audio is the Agency overlord voice. He will help you in the beginning by telling you what to do, but later in the game he just continually repeats himself, which gets kind of annoying. Explosions are pretty epic but everything else seems to be muffled and not as impressive as it could be.
For a sequel this game’s graphics look too similar to the first game, actually the graphics look like they should be from a game that came out 3 years ago. This may be for the sake of being able to put hundreds of freaks on the screen at one time, but then I would expect there to be no framrate lagg. Sadly, when things get wild and awesome, the moment is ruined by a terrible framerate that slows all the action down. The slowed framerate really ruins the fighting and shooting in the game.
Achievements
The achievements in Crackdown 2 pretty much require you to do everything possible in the game. Collect everything, do all the races, do all the missions, do everything. There are also a series of miscellaneous tasks such as causing a bunch of explosions in a small period of time, or ground pounding a whole bunch of freaks. There are even co-op achievements specifically designed to be achieved by you and a bunch of friends together. The great thing about the achievements in Crackdown 2 is you can get them all while online with a bunch of friends, you can all be exploring the city looking for your own specific orbs or you can collect the Xbox Live orbs together. Since each player only sees his own orbs, it lets everyone online do their own thing or help each other achieve the achievements. While the achievements in Crackdown 2 aren’t easy to achieve they are a lot of fun to achieve while playing with a bunch of friends.
Overview
Crackdown 2 is more of the same from the first game. If you loved the first game and are dying to get your hands on some more Crackdown goodness then pick up this sequel. While this game is a sequel it feels more like a revival rather than a full sequel. The Main quests are repetitive and pretty much just the same thing over and over again. Collecting everything is a lot of fun, and upgrading all your skills makes you feel powerful, but Crackdown 2 is pretty much just its Predecessor with a few additions. 4 player co-op is really nice, but the game just feels too much of the same stuff.
I give Crackdown 2
For centuries, the game of chess has been one of the most loved and treasured games around the world. There have been countless versions including many video games to come out featuring everything from the timeless classic board game to complete reincarnations that try to change it up for younger generations. There are literally thousands of people who have the game built into their daily routine. Sadly many younger gamers pass it off as too complicated or boring and never give chess much of a passing look. Either way, without chess we might not have half of the popular strategy games we do have today as most have evolved using the formula straight from the timeless classic.
Southpeak Games and Topware are bringing a stunning recreation of the classic to life with the new “Battle vs Chess” for every single current platform this summer. Yes, that means the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC and the Nintendo DS will all have the new title for chess lovers to look forward to.
The Features are set to include:
Multiple richly crafted army sets combined with six different gameboard envi-ronments introduce an unheard of visual complexity
Utilizing the famous Fritz11! chess software program, equipped with 10 distinct levels of difficulty, participants of all skill levels are provided with an appropri-ate degree of challenge
The state of the art 3D graphics engine powers the breath taking visuals through the incorporation of HDR and particle effects
Cinematic animated sequences pull players into the action of the game
The innovative fusion of professional chess software and action oriented fighting simulations result in a strategic action experience unlike anything before
For anyone wanting a fresh new approach at chess or that are just wanting to have a solid game to own that the whole family can get in on, this may be for you. Battle vs Chess is currently set for release on August 31st of this year.
Do you like Starcraft 2? Do you also like dolls – er- I mean action figures? Well blizzard has these awesome new action figures based on their StarCraft game. These toys look pretty cool, but I don’t think they are meant to be removed from the box.
The action figures include Terran Space Marine, Zeratul and Jim Raynor. They are set to go on sale around Spring 2011. I prefer sword replicas over action figures, but to all their own I guess.
Ah memories! Looking back I had fond memories of the Toy Story 2 game on the original Playstation with its fun gameplay and great graphics. However, time has not been kind to the game and thanks to the PSN a recent play through revealed that memories can’t always be trusted and some things are better left in the past. The graphics have aged badly and the gameplay feels so stiff that I wondered how I ever considered it playable let alone fun. So with my happy memories duly crushed I was greatly excited when Disney announced the multi-platform release of a new Toy Story videogame to launch alongside the third film in the series.
After months of anticipation I was quite literally like a little kid at Christmas when I finally got hold of the PS3 version and hoped that this was one movie tie-in that would live up to expectations in a genre where games often go to die!
Developed by Avalanche Software alongside the Xbox360, Wii and PC versions the Playstation 3 version of Toy Story 3 is distinctly a game of two halves, part platformer and part open world experience featuring a Sims-like play area for players to build upon and explore. The game does not strictly follow the narrative of the movie choosing instead to expand on certain story elements to give players a unique, varied and spoiler free Toy Story experience.
After a couple of fairly mundane loading screens and a brief introduction you are thrust straight into the game. The opening level is an all out wild west action adventure sequence which sees you, as Woody, trying to save a runaway train full of orphans whilst avoiding UFOs, alien attacks and the crumbling mountainside. After the blitzkrieg of this opening you are transported to the game board where you can choose to continue playing through the varied missions that make up the story or alternately head straight into the Toy Box mode.
With source material loved by all ages Avalanche has aimed to create a game that has true mass market appeal but therein also lays its biggest flaw. In trying to cater for everyone Toy Story 3 occasionally proves unbalanced with some areas far too easy and unsatisfying for older players and others just plain frustrating, particularly for younger players. Testing elements include a somewhat dodgy camera that fixes in unusual places making progress harder than it need be and occasionally unresponsive controls which see characters bouncing straight into walls for example rather than grabbing onto them as required. Whilst the difficulty level can be something of a roller coaster the frustration is quelled by the titles charm and roadblocked players can always entertain themselves in the Toy Box until a solution comes to mind, blood pressure returns to normal or adult help becomes available!
In story mode, the level set in a day care facility proved particularly tricky due to a wayward camera which seemed unable to angle itself in a position that was even remotely helpful. This level focuses on stealth with the player required to be on their toes whilst speedily slipping past moving patrol vehicles and avoiding nefarious toys acting as spotlights. One wrong step puts you right back to the beginning of the stage and due to the dodgy camera luck plays a huge part in how many attempts it will take to successfully progress making the experience repetitive.
On the flip side the amazing opening level is a real treat as is a later stage that sees you flying through space as Buzz Lightyear, zipping around asteroids and blowing up fast approaching robots with your arm laser. Another fast-paced level had Woody and Jessie attempting to free Hamm and other characters from a conveyor belt rapidly heading for the garbage disposal, prompting a sense of urgency and giddy excitement as you try and save the plastic pigs bacon!
Due to the skewed difficulty and occasionally unresponsive controls the story mode would seem to have little replay value but finding the generous amount of collectables scattered throughout each of the levels will enable players to unlock fun features in the Toy Box mode. Players might be best advised to gather as many of these as possible during the initial play through to prevent the need to traverse back through some of the more unforgiving sections but with so many collectibles some repeat play is almost inevitable
The much heralded Toy Box mode places you in an open world western themed Sims style affair. Here you will find numerous characters to interact with including many familiar faces notably little green aliens, Sticky Pete and, exclusively on the PS3, the evil Zurg from Toy Story 2 who is unlocked after enough coins are earned.
Despite its free-roaming appeal there are also plenty of structured missions available in this mode. Playing as Woody, Jessie or Buzz you are the town’s sheriff and as such residents will often call upon you for help and assistance in everything from painting houses and finding lost items to rounding up criminals and rescuing Mayor Hamm (again)!
The quests in the Toy Box mode are structured in such a way as to ease you into the range of activities and controls available to you and encourage experimentation. That said there is still a fair amount of text to deal with so younger children might find they become stuck if left alone, at least during the first couple of hours play. With multiple quests unlocking as soon as one is finished there is very quickly plenty to do and see but I still feel that younger players may be somewhat overwhelmed without guidance and it’s not as immediately intuitive as say the Lego games although both encourage cooperative play.
To the game’s credit younger players can simply ignore quests and choose instead to play around with interior and exterior design, dressing up characters, driving, racing, exploring or just generally causing mayhem! Players will find that Toy Box mode rewards experimentation and the longevity of the game is increased exponentially as a result. It is a very welcome addition to what could easily have been an enjoyable if short lived movie platformer and it could be argued that this is indeed the true heart of the game as it will undoubtedly receive more focus from many players once the story mode is bested.
Lackluster menus and loading times aside, Toy Story 3 is both polished and enjoyable with plenty to recommend and little to dissuade fans of the seminal motion picture trilogy or lovers of slick platforming adventure fare. The occasional tough level in the game’s story mode is counterbalanced by the inclusion of infinite lives and there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in this portion despite the short duration. The inclusion of the Toy Box mode is something of a masterstroke which should see players of all ages continue their Toy Story experience long after the platforming is forgotten. Non-linear and full of exciting possibilities it is the video game equivalent of an ongoing shopping spree at Toys R Us and the game offers you a rich and rewarding play area in which to interact, build, develop or simply just goof off to your heart’s content.
Throwing aliens into the town’s hairdressers only to find them exiting sporting a Elvis lookalike wig in this mode is more than worth the occasional gnashing of teeth and controller crushing as you attempt to grab collectible items in the story section! Catching robbers and throwing them in jail has also proven a fun activity amongst the little ones and the realisation that I was trying my best to hog the controller away from them for ‘just one more go’ is all I need to give this game a big, hearty recommendation.
Toy Story 3 beautifully captures the well loved Disney/Pixar characters with an attention to detail that not only brings them to life but keeps you compelled to stick around with these ‘old friends’ rather than leave them dangling midway through a level. Movement is fluid and voice acting absolutely spot on with everyone behaving exactly as you would expect. With its superb character animation, colourful scenery and bags of atmosphere this is certainly a game that no self respecting Toy Story fan should be without.
Woody, Buzz and the rest of the Toy Story gang are waiting for you now on all formats.
The PS3, Xbox360, Wii and PC versions were developed by Avalanche Software. The Nintendo DS version was developed by n-Space with Asobo Studio behind the PSP release.
