My friends and I go to movies like these all the time to make fun of them. We went to the Dragon Ball Z movie and had the entire theater roaring in laughter. We went to the Prince of Persia movie and were so disappointed that one of my friends fell asleep and I ended up texting someone the entire time. We even went to the Karate Kid movie but I ended up getting kicked out for starting a fight with a kid in front of me. His hair was poofy and it was just begging for popcorn to be thrown into it.
Anyway, my friends and I plan to go to the upcoming movie “The Last Airbender” and plan to have a good ole time making fun of it. We usually wait a few days so that we can be loud in the theater and not get into to much trouble.
In preparation for it, I decided to check out the animated series. You can add the entire series, all 3 seasons, to your netflix instant queue and watch them on your Xbox 360, WII, or PS3 (If you have a subscription and the disc for the WII or PS3). They are actually pretty good. I enjoyed myself the entire time and ended up watching the entire series in a few days.
It actually made me look forward to this movie, which releases July 2nd. By the looks of the trailer and the cast, the movie will only be covering the first season (book) of the show, which is the water book. I am slightly disappointed by this, because the best season is the third.
I’ll still probably be making fun of it though with my friends, nothing better then taking up the entire middle row and cracking wise remarks about the movie. Especially when the entire theater bursts out in laughter at your joke. After I watch it, I’ll tell you all how it was and if it is worth spending your money on. Anyone else going to watch it?
Below is the best trailer available, in my opinion.
Genre:Strategy Developer: The Creative Assembly Publisher: SEGA Release Date: Feb 25, 2010 Platform: PC (Reviewed) Price: $39.99 – Buy Now! System Requirements:Here!
Overview:
Creative Assembly backed by SEGA has brought RTS fans some of the greatest games in the forms of the Total War series. The pinnacle of their success was Empire: Total War which was one of the largest and most advanced RTS around today. Napoleon: Total War will be picking up the century after Empires left off, in the 19th century. Players will be placed in the Napoleonic era of France and dominate the known world (at that time).
Story:
There are four different campaigns to choose from within Napoleon: Total War. Three of which will place you in the role of Napoleon Bonaparte, while the fourth will have you facing down the namesake of the game. Two of the campaigns are unfortunately short and structured with very little room for maneuverability. This is because they follow the storyline of Napoleon’s younger days as a leader and are structured to follow a certain path.
All is not lost however as the final two campaigns; The Mastery of Europe and Campaigns of the Coalition provide the full openness of battle one would expect from a Total War game. Mastery of Europe will provide you with Napoleon at his strongest moment in history; where he began to take over the entire continent of Europe. On the other hand, you can play as the Coalition containing Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, and the Austrian Empire. In this mode you will level your guns at Napoleon in the hopes of destroying the Frenchman’s reign of power. You will have to decide which to choose, though both are available for play at any time. Will you conquer or protect? Or by conquering will you be protecting the people from themselves?
Graphics:
Being as this is a PC release the graphical capabilities of the game will result mostly upon your processor speed and your video chip. Though Napoleon: Total War has the capability to show over a thousand units on the screen at a time without the need for excessive system parameters. Not only that but each and every different type of unit is well designed and believably realistic in appearance.
The fog of war caused by the amazing smoke effects from musket and cannon fire is a nice addition as well as it reacts effectively to the surroundings. This can cause the battlefield to vanish momentarily simply due to the amount of shooting going on. When developers take enough time to incorporate smoke effects to such an extent; you know the details are amazing. And by far they are, as each environment you play in is extravagantly detailed so there are some heavy PC requirements for the top settings, though the recommended settings are listed above. However even on one of the higher quality PC’s frame rate will begin to suffer under heavy battling. So be prepared to modify your settings quite often depending on the situation.
Gameplay:
Now as I mentioned before the gameplay is split up into four separate campaign modes where you will be battling through. Initially the two campaigns of a younger Napoleon serve vaguely as a structured tutorial to Waterloo. While another campaign will feel just like a standard Total War game where you control Napoleon’s forces against the entirety of Europe and hold it as yours, defying all history. There is the additional campaign as well for fighting against the French and destroying Napoleon before he gains a foothold.
But enough about what was previously mentioned, onto the Generals and how they will play a part in your effort to either dominate or protect Europe. Generals are selected from a pre-determined roster and you may select a certain number to command your soldiers. Each General has their benefits and as in any real life battle, a good General can mean the turning point to a war.
There is a small issue though when it comes to the Generals in Napoleon; they are far too fragile. Generals die quite often throughout the game; and sometimes the old saying works best. Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die afterwords. Generals are able to be murdered either through assassination or plain combat; which ironically is quite like real life in that circumstance.
The turns for actions in Napoleon: Total War are only two weeks in length and the recruitment and enlisting procedure for even a unite of infantry takes longer than that, so the creation of soldiers takes a few turns but then again, wouldn’t it in real life as well? When your soldiers happen to die however, be it in battle or attrition they will slowly start to replenish as time passes. This will only occur while your in allied territory though, if you are in enemy territory you are on your own.
One interesting addition to the gameplay is the part of field attrition. This means that while your army is traveling or camping in the middle of an extremely hot desert or freezing cold winter, your army will start to die. As in any war in the past soldiers died often to the elements and this is no different. It requires thoughtful planning and watching of weather conditions to navigate safely into these territories and avoid the loss of your entire army just to the weather alone.
There is of course your standard way to die as a soldier too, and that is in combat. Ground combat takes place on small maps, which means combat happens much faster. There are still plenty of tactical uses that you can take advantage of, but overall it makes the battles happening more intense which is beneficial.
Ground combat does have an issue however when you begin fighting in an urban environment. There are times that while fighting and defending a city, your forces will be unable to shoot over a building which they clearly are able to. However the enemy AI itself stutters quite often during this battle. Artillery will occasionally stand there and do literally nothing. This occasionally happens in simple field battles, where the AI will suffer a momentary lapse of judgment and fail.
One amazing part of the game was the naval combat. The naval battles are some of the most enjoyable parts of the game, though occasionally they do take an excessive amount of time. During battle your ship can be repaired partially and fix up damage that would otherwise cause your ship to sink and cause an extreme loss of life and supplies. Ships have an extremely large amount of variety, and are balanced well. Ships with an excessive amount of armor will ride low in the water and travel slow, while ships with a large amount of firepower suffer higher damage because of the excessive cannon slots.
When you take over a province or a city you have a variety of options at your disposal. You can choose to either hold their land as a captive, loot the land and leave the people with nothing, or there is also the ability to liberate them and take them as your own people. Personally I preferred the later option as you do not need to expend forces to defend it, but it will angry your opponents much faster than normal, but then again your not trying to make friends are you?
Multiplayer:
Now for the multiplayer, which is a little unique in this version of the game. Friends on your Steam list and random strangers will have the option to randomly jump into your enemy AI’s position on the campaign. Which means on occasion you will be playing against a human opponent when you usually would be facing an AI player in campaign mode. This is good in ways but bad in others as some opponents you face will purposely mess up just to allow a simple fight, while others have a skill level much higher than your own and will defeat you.
There is also the option where you can have two different players join you in an allied campaign against the French armies. Bear in mind though that standard online battles will take a long time. This is due to the turn based way the game works and can cause long pauses in the gameplay. There is no major problem here nor a bug as it was meant to be played this way, but it does take away from your standard Campaign experience.
Overall:
Besides the occasional quirky AI and the heavy, but adjustable, graphical demand Napoleon: Total War is a must for any fan of the Total War series or even a fan of RTS. The structured campaigns help provide a helping hand to those who are just getting acclimated to the game, and the full campaign is one of the best you will find as you conquer or save the world.
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, probably the biggest PC release for 2010, will receive official peripherals from Razer soon.
The world’s leader on peripherals for PC gamers has joined forces with Blizzard Entertainment to introduce an entire suite of peripherals designed specifically for the release of Blizzard Entertainment’s highly anticipated real-time strategy (RTS) game StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Check it out!
Razer Spectre™ StarCraft II Gaming Mouse:
Razer Marauder™ StarCraft II Gaming Keyboard:
Razer Banshee™ StarCraft II Gaming Headset:
“We are all huge StarCraft players here at Razer, so we are really excited to give gamers a first glimpse at the StarCraft II gaming peripherals. The peripherals were created with our newly developed APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System and feature a gaming-optimized design inspired by the StarCraft universe to complement the on-screen action.”, said Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, president, Razer USA
All of the Razer StarCraft II gaming peripherals feature an APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System that provides the gamer with feedback on performance, providing a fully integrated gaming experience that responds directly to the player’s performance and speed. Each peripheral also features a gaming-optimized design with an emphasis on portability for tournament play, and is stylized with design elements from the StarCraft universe.
After some suspense and the game’s confirmation, Trine 2, the sequel to one of my favorite games from 2009, debuted at E3 2010 with some nice details and an beautiful trailer.
Trine 2 will features new skills for all the three character classes, they will come followed by new puzzles, new monster, and the best news: Trine 2 will feature online co-op mode, up to 3 friends can take the adventure online together this time!
The game’s release is set to Spring 2011, there’s no specified platform at the moment, but we can surely expect a PC version, probably one for the PSN too, and maybe a XBLA version this time.
Check out the game’s poster and one of the prettiest debut trailer:
Below is the Medal of Honor singleplayer E3 Trailer. With a multiplayer being developed by DICE this game could be really really good. What does everything think? The trailer makes singleplayer really good.
With the obvious way in which the iPhone lends itself to the point and click genre, it is a wonder that it’s a genre yet to be fully exerimented with. That is until 1112 came to be, a single-player point and click game that immerses the player from the moment you press ‘NEW GAME’. Even the menu screen adds atmosphere with the pitter-patter of the rainy backdrop. Furthermore as soon as the game starts, you are dropped (quite literally as your character, Louis Everett, plummets through the air) into a freaky nightmare. Immediately, you come to realise that something is not right, and that you are in for a lot of twists and turns.
The artwork is spectacular, and really suits the mysterious nature of the game. The music plays in a loop in the background although varies from place to place, some may find this continuous loop annoying, but you can’t deny it helps to build the atmosphere, and alongside the art-style gives the game real character. The characters are believable, if a little exaggerated, and small touches like what the characters do in the background while you look around, add to the authenticity. The story really is the strong point of this game, as with any decent point and click game, and the developers really deserve a pat on the back for the engaging plot, which to avoid spoiling any future players enjoyment, I will say nothing about.
The simple point and click system is fairly easy to pick up, and if it doesn’t come as instinct or you need a little help navigating certain menus, a helpful ‘HOW TO PLAY’ is only as far as the main menu. However, one of the problems I had with this game was the actual pointing and clicking. Frustratingly, the touch screen controls were sometimes unresponsive and with the vast array of interactive objects inhabiting each room, I found I was often pointing to one feature of the room, but the game was clicking another. Fortunately, the isn’t a catastrophic pitfall for the game due to the zoom system intergrated into 1112, it just means if you want to be accurate, you will need to zoom in to each object everytime.
In conclusion, 1112 displays an intricate art-style, and tension building music, which comliment the theme and content of the game. The engaging storyline should to have you hooked once you are in it’s grasp, right up until you reach the end. At which point of course you can purchase Episode 2, which is available now. Bear in mind though, that those used to rapid, action-packed titles may find this game a little slow, due to it’s point and click nature, so it’s not for everyone, and is all down to personal preference.
First we have a game for the PSP, now we have one for the DS, Atlus USA is really bringing the RPG enjoyment this year. They are bringing Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City for the DS. It will be coming to stores this Fall season. If you so happen to enjoy exploration and RPGs then Etrian Odyssey is right down your ally as you will be playing in the oceanic paradise which is the world of Etrian. There will be many types of dungeons to journey through that contain intense atmospheres which will keep you interested for hours. This one looks amazing, a full blown RPG coming to the DS with map customization? Stay tuned for a potential release date somewhere down the line.
Aram Jabbari also had much to say about Etrian Odyssey III:
The Etrian Odyssey series is renowned for successfully marrying deep roleplaying gameplay with a grand sense of adventure and the thrill of the unknown. The Drowned City, the third chapter in the fan-favorite franchise, takes the established exploration RPG gameplay a loving tribute to classic pen-and-paper and PC entries in the genre to exciting new frontiers. The seas off the coast of the city of Armoroad offer an exciting, mysterious unknown, filled with hidden dangers and bountiful treasures. With an entirely new host of character classes to customize and train, the addition of naval travel and exploration, and the unprecented introduction of cooperative local multiplayer content, Etrian Odyssey III isn’t content to simply continue the series; it seeks to redefine it.
If your curious as to what the storyline may be for Etrian Odyssey, wait no longer:
Off tranquil ocean shores, far below the surface of the sea, the city of Armoroad bears a secret. Rumor suggests that this coastal metropolis is less than it once was; much of it, they whisper, was lost to the unforgiving waters. Will you assemble and train a team of explorers to uncover once and for all what really lies beneath, or will you succumb to the innumerable dangers hidden in the abyssal depths?
There are some special features about this RPG that set it apart from your standard RPG, such as:
Create your unique team — A system of 10 new classes and sub-classes and a wealth of proprietary skills make developing the optimal party absorbing, tactical, and rewarding. A maximum of 30 possible member slots provide plenty of room to experiment. You decide where to apply members’ skill points: will you invest in sword mastery or learn a new healing spell?
Live and die by your map(-making) — When danger lurks around every corner, it is imperative to keep track of where you have been and what you found there. The streamlined map maker lets you draw paths, paint in terrain, and drag and drop icons. Watch the map grow bigger and more detailed under your hands as you capture every door, map, set of stairs, and secret pathway.
Adventure in the high seas — The ocean becomes a new stage for exploration as you take to the city of Armoroad to uncover the secret of why half of this once vibrant and technologically advanced metropolis sunk below the waves. Sail your ship, chart the ocean map, sink enemy vessels, and take on seagoing FOEs on your way to playing out one of three possible endings.
Wirelessly share with friends — Up to 5 friends can team up in special combat challenges over a local wireless connection to take down the toughest monsters living in the ocean. Additional options let you wirelessly trade items.
Atlus USA has revealed today that they will be bringing Knights in the Nightmare, which was a groundbreaking “bullet-hell” action and strategy RPG to the PSP in North America. When can you expect this amazing game to show up on store shelves? October 19, 2010 at a MSRP price of $29.99. You will also have the opportunity to purchase it on the PSN. There will be hectic gameplay constantly throughout your playing experience but you must also plan technical thoughts to destroy your opponents. Especially when it happens in a beautifully designed fantasy setting with a heart catching storyline.
Aram Jabbari, the Manager of Public Relations and Sales, was quoted saying:
“We’re proud to bring one of the most unique roleplaying experiences in recent memory to PSP system this fall. The many improvements this new version brings aside, Knights in the Nightmare, at its core, is one of those must-play gaming experiences, combining sumptuous 2D art and animations, a moving story, and some of the most novel combat mechanics ever into an irresistible portable package.”
We have the storyline for this amazing game right here, including some brand new never before seen features:
Somewhere between heaven and the underworld-in the center of a quiet lake-stood an ancient castle known as Aventheim. Without warning, denizens of the netherworld emerged and slaughtered the kingdom; nary a soul was left alive.
Within an abandoned, long-forgotten church deep in the woods, the Wisp is set free. Bereft of memory, it is drawn toward the monster-infested castle and re-awakens the souls of the vanquished knights, leading them back towards the fallen stronghold to confront the very forces of evil that took their lives.
An experience unlike any before it — Incorporating strategy RPG, real-time strategy, and shooter elements, you’ve never experienced a game like this. Control the Wisp and activate the souls of deceased knights to aid you in destroying foes on the map. Enemies fire bullets in multiple directions, making it vital for players to master the precise controls.
Over 100 characters to recruit — Find and recruit the ghosts of seven different classes of knights from your kingdom, and learn of their pasts, hopes, dreams, and untimely deaths. Sacrifice their souls to one another to balance their skills and create your ultimate party.
A tale thrice told — Exclusive to the PSP system version, the addition of Princess Yggdra as a third playable character means that gamers can experience the game’s dark and brooding tale through three unique perspectives, making for more replay value than ever before.
GamesIndustry Germany has managed to snag some amazing information from Oliver Kaltner from Microsoft Germany.
“I believe that the price point is not the critical topic, but something you need at the end of the communication in order to place a product properly into a market. From that standpoint pricing is an important topic for our target groups, our partners and, of course, also for us.
I also think it is the right decision not to determine price points now, because it distracts completely from our actual core story with all its possibilities in the area of gaming, movie, music and social entertainment. We firmly believe that we can offer an unique innovation.
Being responsible for the business in Germany, it comes in handy to still have certain flexibility. In eight weeks we are at Gamescom and we will know the price not later than that, because we will start to sell at retail.
From the looks of this all of those sites putting prices at $149.99 could be incorrect and simply doing this for placeholders. Or they could be dead on the money and Microsoft doesn’t want to release such a high price tag yet. Here is hoping that it will not end up costing that much in the end because if so they will be facing steep competition from the Playstation Move which runs at only a third of that price at $49.99
There is now a new single player video shown for Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood brought to use straight from Ubisoft and it even has commentary from the game’s producer. Bear in mind the video is seven and a half minutes long so be prepared to see a lot of things happening.
There are some new features shown as well, thankfully one of them is the ability to finally ride a horse through town, which is about time considering how we’ve all wanted to do that for a long time. Though it does not seem very assassin like.
Combat is more interesting and intense too with enemies coming from all sides instead of one at a time, be prepared to be dog piled this time around in the Brotherhood. There is even a bit of interesting cannon work revealed.
Catch the video below and expect Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood on September 7th for the 360, PS3, and PC.
