TWO GREAT BARGAINS FROM FISHPOND GRAB THEM BEFORE PRE-ORDER STOCKS RUN OUT !!
StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.
Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company’s world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.
Beautiful, compelling, and at times unforgiving, Demons Souls is the hardcore RPG experience PS3 owners have been waiting for since the platforms launch. Revolutionary online features define your adventure like never before, presenting seamless interconnectivity that serves in every instance to enhance the single-player game. Unprecedented in its depth and subtlety, peerless in its relentlessly challenging gameplay, Demons Souls is the ultimate action RPG.
Story “Rediscover the grooviest action game of all time in full hi-def glory with Earthworm Jim HD! For the first time, grab friends and combine your wormy powers in four-player co-op locally or online. Explore all the original levels, experience wild gameplay, and rock to the remastered cult soundtrack. There’s even more to discover with brand new enemies to blast into pieces and never-before-seen locations. Now that’s groooovy!” [Via Xbox.com]
There is a slight story contained within Earthworm Jim HD, but it is miniscule. There was an earthworm named Jim that was being attacked by a bird. Elsewhere there was a space battle, and an alien shot down another alien causing an awesome spacesuit to fall from space right onto the earthworm. The spacesuit causes the earthworm to become awesome and equips him with a pistol. Earthworm Jim then goes around saving the world and the princess. Yes, there is a princess supposedly.
The game Earthworm Jim HD is quite disjointed and the only travel sequence is a repetitive Warp Speed rocket level. At least there is something to signify that you are going to a new level. Randomly appearing inside the lower intestines after being underwater wouldn’t make any sense. You will go from a junkyard to the bowels of hell in a heartbeat, and it is never explained why but that is just part of the charm of Earthworm Jim HD.
Gameplay The gameplay in Earthworm Jim HD is straightforward, but not always easy. The goal of every level is to either get to the end or beat the boss. Each level is extremely weird, but in a good way. Distorted levels and scenery creates extremely interesting levels. From a hi-tech computer lab with robot spiders, to an underwater sea lab with giant hamsters; there is a huge amount of locations that you will explore as your progress to beat the game.
There is a singleplayer and a multiplayer mode in Earthworm Jim HD. The singleplayer campaign can be beat in under an hour if you rush through it and the length of the multiplayer levels are dependent on if your teammates are good or not. Multiplayer is a lot of fun and its addition to Earthworm Jim HD is welcomed. The game will frustrate you a lot, even on the easier settings. A majority of the game consists of running and gunning down enemies, but there are a few levels where you pilot a submarine and a bunch of other levels where you will race through space. The space races actually get pretty annoying, but if you win you don’t have to fight the Psy-Crow boss over and over again.
The developers have tried to keep the fans of Earthworm Jim happy, and in turn haven’t changed much in the overall game. They added a multiplayer and also 3 bonuses levels (which have a special guest appearance which is extremely funny, but I’m not going to tell you what it is); however, the overall experience is exactly the same but on a bigger screen and with better graphics. If you loved the original game this remake won’t disappoint, but on the other hand if you are new to the game it doesn’t compete well with modern platformers. The experience is solid but does absolutely nothing to try to bring in new players.
The major thing that hurts this game as a platformer is the annoying controls that haven’t changed from the original. Shooting your gun, using the submarine, or even using your whip move are all very annoying. They are hard to aim or control and causes a great headache trying to use them. While firing the gun or using your whip move you will miss a lot. The easiest work around for the gun is to start firing it and then slowly move the joystick so that it aims towards someone and hits them hopefully. You also can’t jump and shoot at the same time. The whip on the other hand is a different matter, using it will just require a whole bunch of attempts because it has a mind of its own. You may be aiming one way, but where that whip wants to go is most likely not the same direction.
Audio & Graphics The audio in Earthworm Jim HD has all been remastered for this HD remake. The voice acting as well as the soundtrack will remind classic players about the original version while still sounding good enough for new players to enjoy the experience. The graphics have also been redone in hi definition. While the game looks fancier then the original the levels are still confusing and hard to master. Like the original, it is still difficult to tell what parts are the actual level and what parts are the background. For instance, some spikes hurt you while others are located in the background as scenery, new players will have trouble telling the difference.
Achievements The achievements in Earthworm Jim HD are varied and challenging. A majority of them can be achieved by simply doing a playthrough on normal. There are also a few online achievements that can be boosted or achieved normally. The two hard achievements that will take time are the “Superhero!” and “Earthworm Never Dies” achievements. These two achievements are very hard, and require you to beat the game on the hardest setting in a certain amount of time or without dying. They are possible, but will require a lot of patience and restarting. Other than those two, the achievements are completely manageable and should be an easy 130g at least.
The Achievement List Is:
Bin Collector –10 – Kill Billy the Bin in New Junk City
Atom Raider – 10 – Collect 100 atoms (without exiting the game)
Atom Jefferson – 15 – Collect 500 atoms (without exiting the game)
Groovy Leader – 25 – Be “No.1” in each Xbox LIVE multiplayer level
Canadian Stunt – 5 – Use the whip to swing from any moose head in Single Player mode
Superhero! – 35 – Get through Single Player mode in Original difficulty in one sitting in under 50 minutes
Banker Whipper – 5 – Whip the banker twice in What The Heck?
Space Collector – 15 – Collect more than 100 Blue Orbs (without exiting the game)
Super Space Collector – 20 – Collect more than 300 Blue Orbs (without exiting the game)
Snot an Achievement – 10 – Launch the cow in New Junk City
Earthworm Never Dies – 35 – Clear Single Player mode in Original difficulty in one sitting without losing a life
World Partnership – 15 – Complete all the Xbox LIVE multiplayer game levels
There are also 2 avatar awards in Earthworm Jim HD, see the video below
Earthworm Jim’s Spacesuit – Complete one of the three bonus levels
Earthworm Jim’s Groovy Shirt – Beat the mid-boss in New Junk City
Overview
Earthworm Jim HD is an awesome remake of the original game with some new extras tagging along. Although the single player campaign can be beaten in under an hour; Co-op, Leaderboards, and 4 different difficulty levels give Earthworm Jim HD a bunch of replay value. The only thing that hurts Earthworm Jim HD is the complicated and annoying controls, as well as the difficulty telling what is the level and what is the background. Earthworm Jim HD is still a fun game and if you loved the original you will love this HD remake. There was a lot of trouble put into the game to make it better than a simple remake and it clearly shows. I give Earthworm Jim HD
The trailer below shows off Twisted Pixel’s upcoming game, Comic Jumper.
The trailer does more than simply show off gameplay; however, it also tells us that there will free gamerpics, a premium theme, avatar awards, and DLC to unlock. Everyone loves free stuff!
Comic Jumper is looking better and better.
The DLC that you can unlock is actually for Splosion Man. You’ll get one free single-player and one free multiplayer level for Splosion Man. I wonder if they are adding achievements too? I loved Splosion Man!
3D Realms finally confirmed that Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project would be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade.
The game is set to release on Wednesday June 23rd, the remake of the 2002 title, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, will hit the Xbox Live Arcade at a sweet 800 Microsoft points.
Sony has released the first ever Stereoscopic 3D games on the PS3. This is going to allow players to experience some of their favorite titles in a brand new format that they were unable to before. Not only that but there will be a chance to purchase all of the newly 3D updated titles in one big pack. The Stereoscopic 3D Collection will include WipEout HD, SuperStardust HD, PAIN, and they also will be including a demo of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. The package itself will cost $49.95AU, and is available on the PlayStation Store.
Don’t despair however if you already own the games, in our previous article then your games will most likely have already received the update to 3D capability. Except for PAIN of course which has a small fee attached. But if you were to purchase the Collection, it will include the aforementioned games and the descriptions of each one if you have not played them yet below.
WipEout HD
It’s come a long way since it was first published on PlayStation in 1995, and now cult classic WipEout HD moves into another racing dimension. The stereoscopic 3D Collection will include the full game, with the exception of the separately sold Fury(DLC), so you can experience the adrenalin rush of navigating the twists and turns of futuristic racetracks at breathtaking speeds like never before.
PAIN
Give a whole host of annoying characters and the odd celebrity their just desserts in this incredibly addictive PlayStation®Network favourite that lets you fling them from a giant catapult into walls, windows, tanks of gas, piles of tyres…and the occasional clown. The stereoscopic 3D Collection will include the Downtown area and tutorial along with three modes, including two new modes created specifically with stereoscopic 3D in mind, Alien Toss and Ice Blocks. If you already have the game then Alien Toss and Ice Blocks will be a supplemental DLC download at $4.95 a piece, but come free with the pack.
SuperStardust HD
Bringing intense, intergalactic shooting action into another dimension, SuperStardust HD will transport you into a spectacular space setting where you’ll fight to obliterate gigantic asteroids as they rain down into terrestrial orbit and threaten to destroy entire planets. Experience asteroids fly past you as you navigate the deadly battleground – only a battle on a cosmic level will save the indigenous life below from destruction.
MotorStorm 3D Pacific Rift Demo
Available exclusively as part of the stereoscopic 3D Collection, MotorStorm®: Pacific Rift in stereoscopic 3D is where you’ll experience the ride of your life. The demo puts you in the driver’s seat of a buggy for a one track, single player race around the deadly Kanaloa Bay for a dangerously real battle against ruthless opponents. Brutal off road racing on PS3 just became more real.
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WipEout HD
It’s come a long way since it was first published on PlayStation in 1995, and now cult classic WipEout HD moves into another racing dimension. The stereoscopic 3D Collection will include the full game, with the exception of the separately sold Fury downloadable content (DLC), so you can experience the adrenalin rush of navigating the twists and turns of futuristic racetracks at breathtaking speeds like never before.
PAIN
Give a whole host of annoying characters and the odd celebrity their just desserts in this incredibly addictive PlayStation®Network favourite that lets you fling them from a giant catapult into walls, windows, tanks of gas, piles of tyres…and the occasional clown. The stereoscopic 3D Collection will include the Downtown area and tutorial along with three modes, including two new modes created specifically with stereoscopic 3D in mind, Alien Toss and Ice Blocks[1].
SuperStardust HD
Bringing intense, intergalactic shooting action into another dimension, SuperStardust HD will transport you into a spectacular space setting where you’ll fight to obliterate gigantic asteroids as they rain down into terrestrial orbit and threaten to destroy entire planets. Experience asteroids fly past you as you navigate the deadly battleground – only a battle on a cosmic level will save the indigenous life below from destruction.
MotorStorm 3D Pacific Rift Demo
Available exclusively as part of the stereoscopic 3D Collection, MotorStorm®: Pacific Rift in stereoscopic 3D is where you’ll experience the ride of your life. The demo puts you in the driver’s seat of a buggy for a one track, single player race around the deadly Kanaloa Bay for a dangerously real battle against ruthless opponents. Brutal off road racing on PS3 just became more real.
For everyone that is unable to go to E3 next week, I have good news! There is going to be a huge game sale at the same time. Buy yourself some Microsoft points and enjoy the huge list of games on sale. I’m 100% sure you can spend all 1600 Microsoft points on some awesome games! If you already have every single one of the games listed below then I bet you haven’t beaten them all.
Deal of the Week (Week commencing June 14th):
Shadow Complex – 560 Microsoft points (53% off).
Trials HD – 560 Microsoft points (53% off).
Marvel vs Capcom 2 – 560 Microsoft points (53% off).
TMNT Turtles in Time HD – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Splosion Man – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
The One Week E3 Sale – June 16 – 22.
A Kingdom for Keflings – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Alien Hominid HD – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Banjo Tooie – 800 Microsoft points (33% off).
Bionic Commando Rearmed – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Bomberman LIVE – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Braid – 800 Microsoft points (33% off).
Castle Crashers – 800 Microsoft points (33% off).
Castlevania Symphony of the Night – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
Contra – 240 Microsoft points (40% off).
Crystal Defenders – 400 Microsoft points (50% off).
What if you could have an advantage over other survivors of the apocalypse this upcoming Fall when Fallout: New Vegas arrives? Well if you pre-order from the companies below you will be given a code to download each specific pack and recieve a bit of an advantage over the rest. Personally I like the Tribal Pack, the throwing spear and machete definitely have a good primal feeling sound to them, exactly what you will need to survive. Expect to see Fallout: New Vegas hitting shelves this October. Which one of these would you prefer to take? The Classic pack is nice for those who enjoyed the very first game, but I am a bit curious if there will be any bonuses for certain actions taken in Fallout 3.
The Classic Pack (Gamestop) contains:
Armored Vault 13 Suit – Extensively patched up and dotted with piecemeal armor, this outfit is an homage to the classic ending of the original Fallout.
Vault 13 Canteen – This handy device is useful for staving off dehydration and providing a small amount of healing in the Mojave Wasteland.
Weathered 10mm Pistol – A well-worn 10mm pistol that packs an extra punch despite its modest size.
5 Stimpaks – Food and water are good for long-term healing, but when the fighting is fierce, Stimpaks help keep Wastelanders upright.
The Tribal Pack (Amazon) contains:
Tribal Raiding Armor – Pieced together from scraps of armor, this outfit provides protection without impacting mobility.
Broad Machete – This heavy-bladed melee weapon does high damage against limbs and can quickly deal out a flurry of attacks.
5 Bleak Venom doses – Useful on any Melee Weapon, Bleak Venom makes short of work of most living targets.
10 Throwing Spears – If you would like to silently pin an enemy’s head to a wall, Throwing Spears are the way to do it.
The Caravan Pack (Steam & Wal-Mart) contains:
Lightweight Leather Armor – This hand-modified suit of leather armor reduces its overall weight without impacting its ability to protect.
Sturdy Caravan Shotgun – Despite its rough appearance, this Caravan Shotgun will reliably fire 20 gauge shells until the Brahmin come home.
4 Repair Kits – Useful for repairing any outfit or weapon, Repair Kits are a valuable tool for any caravaner.
Binoculars – The Mojave Wasteland is a dangerous place, but with these trusty Binoculars you’ll be able to spot trouble coming.
The Mercenary Pack (Best Buy) contains:
Lightweight Metal Armor – Modified for long-range travel, this Metal Armor sacrifices some protection for mobility and overall weight.
Mercenary’s Grenade Rifle – Though similar to other 40mm Grenade Rifles in the Mojave Wasteland, this model has a faster reload cycle.
3 Super Stimpaks – When you absolutely, positively, need to keep your blood inside your body, Super Stimpaks fix you up in no time.
3 Doctors Bags – Mercenaries and broken limbs go together like Iguana-on-a-Stick and Nuka Cola. Thankfully, these Doctors Bags take a bit of sting out of the inevitable crushed skull.
Now I don’t know about you guys but I haven’t been the biggest of fans of the Mortal Kombat movies but after watching this short film, it’s won me over and got me all pumped up for what could hopefully be the first R RATED Mortal Kombat movie. It’s about time too !!
According to Latinoreview.com here are some finer details.
It’s directed by Kevin Tancharoen, who directed FAME last year. Jacks is played by Michael Jai White, Michael look awesome as Jacks, his previous work was Undisputed II and Spawn.
Then we have the beautiful Sonya Blade who is played by Jeri Ryanwho EVERYONE in the world knows plays Seven of Nine in Star Trek Voyager. Baraka is played by Lateef Crowder, previous work was on Undisputed III.
Ian Anthony Dalewho also will be playing Kazuya in the soon to be released TEKKEN will be playing as Scorpion and looks BADASS !!
Now fight scenes are very important when it comes to fighting movies. The choreography will be done by Larnell Stovall. Larnell has choreographed such movies as Undisputed III and has be labeled one of the best fight choreographers in the business.
Now click on the Play button and get excited … FINISH HIM !!
SEGA announced today that the hit Dreamcast games Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure are going to be arriving on both the XBLA and PSN later in the year. The games appear to be unchanged from the originals in terms of gameplay but they have had graphical enhancements and the sound improved to better entice today’s gamers. Then of course you will also be seeing Achievements and Trophies because no game is allowed to be without those now, as well as Leaderboards.
SEGA will be showing these games both at E3 at their booth, and it has been hinted at that these two classics are only the first to come of many Dreamcast releases. Here is hoping that they bring back Skies of Arcadia and adapt that to the XBLA and PSN eh? Which Dreamcast titles would you love to see on the current generation of systems? How about Seaman?
Looks like Atlus is being a bit vague in how they are releasing their news for E3 this upcoming week.
They have showed us that Trine 2 which they are co-developing with Frozenbyte is coming out, though this is hardly a surprise to anyone is it? Considering that they have announced their partnership just a few days ago themselves.
On top of Trine 2 there will also be showings for Etrain Odyssey III: The Drowned City and Rock of Ages. Also they have released Knights in the Nightmare which will be showing up on the PSP only.
There was also the mention of a few secrets that they could be holding back from us that they will unveil at E3. Wonder what these could be? We will see next week when they unveil everything that they have in store for us.
STARCRAFT 2 : WINGS OF LIBERTY : PC – $79.99
