Posted 6/16/11 1:37 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Previews, Xbox 360
Right now, Kinect remains an unproven entity. Most people don't have the space to use it, and those that do generally find that there aren't enough games to justify the purchase. Microsoft clearly wants to turn the tide, as they dedicated the vast majority of their E3 press conference to showing the future of motion gaming. Despite that, they managed to skip my favorite Kinect game on the show floor: "Fruit Ninja Kinect."
Posted 6/15/11 10:55 am EST by Russ Frushtick in iPhone / iPad, Previews
There are two schools of thought when it comes to dollar games on iOS. The first, charge a dollar because anything more than that would feel like a rip-off. The second, charge a dollar for something worth way more than a dollar to boost sales and interest. I'm pleased to report that "Machine Gun Jetpack," the latest from Halfbrick Studios (the creators of "Fruit Ninja") falls into that second school of thought.
Posted 6/14/11 7:13 pm EST by Matt Clark in PC, Previews, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Last year, THQ and 4A Games released a creepy video game adaptation of Dmitry Glukhovsky's Russian novel, "Metro: 2033." The game's intense, atmospheric environments and engaging story earned it praise from many critics, but it was definitely more of a cult hit among consumers. Honestly, if you skipped that game, you missed out on one of the most interesting first-person shooter experiences I've ever witnessed. Now, THQ is hoping you're willing to go back underground with the upcoming release of "Metro: Last Light."
The great news is that the "Metro: Last Light" demo I checked out at E3 was every bit as eerie and atmospheric as the original game, but the combat itself is already looking better.
Posted 6/14/11 3:48 pm EST by Matt Clark in Previews, PS3
"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.
Posted 6/14/11 12:49 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in PC, Previews, Xbox 360
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.
Posted 6/13/11 7:51 pm EST by Matt Clark in Previews, PS3
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.
Posted 6/13/11 6:00 pm EST by Matt Clark in Previews, PS3, Xbox 360
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.
Posted 6/13/11 2:03 pm EST by Matt Clark in Previews, PS3, Uncategorized, Xbox 360
"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.
Posted 6/11/11 1:31 am EST by Matt Clark in Previews, Xbox 360
OK, I know what some of you are thinking: why in the world do you care about a Kinect game that has you dancing around your living room with furry Sesame Street characters? Yes, "Once Upon A Monster" is a licensed game based on a PBS children's show. Yes, it's primarily geared towards an audience that's likely much younger than you. But here's why you should care: this game is genuinely fun, filled with Double Fine's trademark humor, and is officially a part of an unfortunately diminutive number of games that have me excited about Kinect.
Posted 6/9/11 8:45 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in PC, Previews, PS3, Xbox 360
In "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," Infinity Ward's answer to all the demands for co-op play was Spec Ops mode. The mode basically featured a variety of encounters set across sections of the single player game which you could play with another person, with varied objectives like "Get to Point A without being spotted" or "Defend this point using airstrikes for 5 minutes." It was actually one hell of a fun mode, and it's returning in "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" in the form of Spec Ops Mission. But there's a new kind of Spec Ops mode in the new game: Survival.