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Continuum Shift 2

For the last three years, Arc System Works and Aksys games have been trying to make a dent in the crowded fighting game market with their entirely original creation, "BlazBlue." Three updates later, and it looks like the battlers that reside in the The 13th Hierarchical City Kagutsuchi may be here to stay, reinforcing the idea that you can release a new 2D fighter in the West and have it catch on. "BlazBlue Continuum Shift II" is the latest update to the series, and its first full appearance on handheld systems.

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"Ratchet & Clank" games have always felt like they were meant for cooperative play. The entire series is based around the exploits of a pair of pals – a Lombax and a robot, respectively – and it's actually kind of weird that Insomniac is just now getting around to exploiting the franchise's inherent play-with-a-buddy theme. So, when I sat down on a couch in Sony's E3 booth last week with a member of the development team, it just felt right.

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BioShock Infinite

In case you missed our wrap-up yesterday, "BioShock Infinite" was our pick for the best game of E3 2011. One of the big reasons it stood out, apart from the remarkable visual style and intriguing storyline, was the sky-line. Used as the primary mode of transportation throughout the city of Columbia, you're going to be spending a lot of time riding the rails in "Infinite." But you're not just swinging a sweater over the top of the rail and hoping for the best? No, you've come equipped with a top-of-the-line sky-hook. And one lucky fan is now going home with it.

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The year was 1987. A twenty-four year old Hideo Kojima was just releasing the first chapter in what would become one the most beloved gaming franchises in history. "Metal Gear," a game about a special operative named Solid Snake infiltrating a mysterious zone known as Outer Heaven, was originally designed for the Japanese MSX2 home computer. Eventually, the game received the port treatment, landing on the more popular Nintendo Entertainment System.

Of course, Kojima wasn't involved with the NES version, and if you've ever actually seen both iterations, you're probably not surprised to learn that the designer was none-too-happy about the changes.

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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

An ideal time to first experience an atmospheric, artistic indie game is generally not in the midst of a loud, crowded party. I knew nothing about "Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet" when I stepped up to the demo station and slapped the headphones on during Microsoft's E3 showcase last week. It was far too loud for a PR representative to summarize the concept for me, so I had a rare moment in this industry where I was experiencing a game entirely without preface. It was one of the best experiences I had during E3 2011.

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Just last year, during E3 2010, David Jaffe took to the stage during Sony's press conference to announce that his team at Eat Sleep Play were working on another "Twisted Metal." Since the new game's title didn't have an obligatory sequel number or any other distinctive sub-name, I was kind of under the impression at the time that this new iteration was actually a reboot. Well, after finally getting a more in-depth look at the game during E3 this year, it doesn't appear that "Twisted Metal" is exactly a reboot, but it certainly is bringing some cool new features to the table.

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Platinum Games, the studio behind "Bayonetta," are hoping that you're up for some online brawling, filtered through their trademark over-the-top design style. "Anarchy Reigns" is in effect a successor to the team's 2009 black and white arcade beat-em-up, "MadWorld," but although they share some characters, almost everything else about this game feels new.

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Battlefield 3

"Battlefield 3" had its first playable showing at E3 last week, and the lengthy line to get into the demo was an indication of fan and press interest. Unfortunately, fans far away from the E3 festivities were having a decidedly different reaction towards the game. Seems that a promotion to encourage pre-orders in the UK will give exclusive weapon and equipment access to those who put money down on the game before release. Known as the "Physical Warfare Pack," it includes an exclusive LMG, a flash suppressor attachment and flechette ammo. Seems that fans aren't too happy about in being forced to pre-order a game if they're looking to get access to the full equipment arsenal.

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"Demon's Souls" holds a weird place in my heart. While it's easily one of the best role-playing games I've ever played, it's also the most frustrating. Dying – over and over and over – is just part of the experience, and there were times when I just stood up, walked away, and swore I was never going to abuse myself with the game ever again. Of course, I always went back.

After checking out its spiritual successor, "Dark Souls," it looks like my love-hate relationship with the franchise is about to multiply.

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BioShock Infinite

Now that the dust has settled from E3 2011, it's a good time to look back at the past week of insanity and think about which titles stood out from the pack. It's obviously a challenge when you're looking at early games, many of which are more than a year away from release, but despite all that, several titles had magnificent showings. Some were expected, others came totally out of nowhere, but all of these titles are well worth keeping an eye on.

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