If you happen to be a user of Netflix then you know how hard it is to scroll through the various movies and TV series alphabetically to simply find the one you wish to watch on your console system. However it so happens that if you are a PS3 user, you now have the option to easily skim through the various movies and TV series with the help of a search option added in today.
Joystiq managed to get a screenshot of the new update, and has shown that the search is definitely a handly little feature. Though those of us that use the Xbox 360 will still need to wait until November for this update, and the Wii has had zero mention of this being added in.
If you want to play along with some of your favorite DC heroes or villains then your chance is coming up soon. Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has released at Comic Con that DC Universe Online will be available for purchase to US residents starting November 2nd.
You can even go to the game’s official web site now and sign up to enter into the beta mode for the game, though your acceptance is not entirely guaranteed. If you happen to want to see more about the game, then watch below for a very long trailer from IGN. If I had the spare cash for this one, I would definitely be jumping at the chance. Even though you can not make your own superhero or villain you will be constantly surrounded by their presence within the universe.
Story
“Hydro Thunder Hurricane™ is the all new, full-featured sequel to the legendary arcade racer. Featuring rocket-powered speedboats blasting across amazing dynamic water, gorgeous visuals, and interactive environments packed with shortcuts and surprises, this is the adrenaline-drenched sequel fans have been waiting for. Pit your rocket powered speedboat against 15 opponents in single-player races and championships. Hone your speedboat skills in the new Ring Master and Gauntlet modes. Dive into intense multiplayer races with up to eight players over Xbox LIVE, up to four players locally, or even mix local and online games!”
Hydro Thunder Hurricane doesn’t have much of a story. You race through the levels that aren’t connected, and you unlock a bunch of boats based on the points you collect. Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a time trial game at its heart. The leaderboards and attempting to get the best time is what this game is all about.
Gameplay
Initially Hydro Thunder Hurricane may seem like a standard arcade racing game, but it really isn’t just that. There are multiple modes, multiple unlockables, leaderboards, and an online mode. This game has a lot to offer, it just may not have what everyone wants.
Hydro Thunder Hurricane is still a racing game. The thing about this game though, is that you aren’t really racing the AI. Instead of racing the AI you race the clock. The AI don’t even all start at the same spot as you, a lot of them start way ahead of you within the race. While you technically are racing the people, you just need to beat the time that each person is going to make when they cross the finish line.
There are multiple modes in the game. The modes include: Race, Ring challenges, Gauntlets and Championships. Races are just straight up races to come in first place. Ring Challenges require you to drive through the rings and get the best time on the track possible. Gauntlets require you to go through the level without hitting any of the explosives (this is my favorite game mode). Finally, championships require you to do a series of races one after the other and get good positions in order to move on.
Throughout the game you can unlock more boats, tracks, and skins for the boats. The boats and tracks are unlocked by getting credits which gain by coming in first, second, or third. The better you place and the harder the mode the more credits you earn. Extra skins for the boats are unlocked by doing certain tasks, such as finding all the hidden packages on a level or completing a certain stage in first place.
The game also features multiplayer, where you race against people online. The nice bit about the multiplayer in this game is that it allows up to 4 players to split screen and go online against other players around the world. You don’t see this kind of support very often, and it is a nice touch for people with children or brothers.
Audio & Graphics
The audio is pretty bad. The theme song is repetitive, the announcer is annoying, and the sound effects sound oddly familiar from a really old game. I don’t know if the audio was the last thing on the developers list of things to update or what happened with it. There isn’t really anything good to say about the audio, because it flat out isn’t that good.
The Graphics are nice for a revived classic. The developers seem to have attempted to keep the graphics as true as possible to the original. The levels are pretty cool in design, and there are many routes through each level. As you speed up the world around you blurs and while this is nice to simulate speed, it impairs your vision and makes driving the boat pretty hard.
Achievements
The Achievements in Hydro Thunder Hurricane Reward you quickly and then give you less and less achievement points the farther you get into the game. If you actually look at the achievements, everything seems backwards. The easy things reward huge chunks of gamerscore, and the hard things reward a small amount. It is nice for casual players that don’t like going for all the achievements, but for those that go for them all the work doesn’t seem worth the reward. Aside from a slight reward ratio problem, the overall achievement list is pretty nice and will get you playing everything and playing it all a lot to get all the achievements.
The Achievement List Is:
Splish Splash – 35 – Earn a bronze or better in any Single Player event.
It’s a Start – 20 – Earn a bronze trophy or better on every track in Single Player Race Mode.
Medal Master – 10 – Earn a bronze trophy or better in every event in the Single Player game.
Special Delivery – 5 – Collect 80 hidden packages.
Golden Delicious – 10 – Earn a gold trophy in every event in the Single Player game.
Taste My Wake – 10 – Take first in 10 online Multiplayer events.
People Person – 20 – Earn 10,000 credits playing online or local Multiplayer events.
Humans Gooood – 10 – Play a 4 way local Multiplayer race in which all the humans beat all the AI.
Ding Dong – 10 – Hit one buoy at every checkpoint while racing Lake Powell and still take first.
Spare Change – 35 – Earn 1,000 credits.
Cha Ching! – 25 – Earn 5,000 credits.
Loco For Thunder Pops – 10 – Earn 100,000 credits.
There are also 2 Avatar Awards. Check the video below for what they look like.
Hydro Thunder Hurricane T-shirt : Get 500 Credits
Razorback Toy Boat : get 18,500 Credits
Overview
Hydro Thunder Hurricane brings back everything that was loved about the originals, while adding new levels, modes, and other extras. The game at heart is more of a time trial based game, where you are racing against the clock rather than the other racers. There are other racers in Race mode, but they just get in the way. The game is all about finding the quickest route through the level and getting the best time on the leaderboards. There are things within the game that people will enjoy without the use of the leaderboards, but you will enjoy Hydro Thunder Hurricane a lot more if you are the type that likes to compete for the best time. While many people will enjoy the game at first, the leaderboards are what will keep people coming back.
I give Hydro Thunder Hurricane
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
