Month: November 2008

Life as a Solo Gamer

In this day and age, it’s hard to be a lone ranger in the gaming community. So many games support multiplayer because, in fact, they would be lambasted for not having it. Sometimes I miss the days of long ago where I could play a game with no outside disturbances, no invites, just me and the game for hours on end while I have my own unique experience with it.

Over at Destructoid, there’s a cool article exploring this very topic. For people out there that don’t always enjoy multiplayer, it gets harder and harder to be a gamer in this day and age. I think it’s a terribly interesting topic, because it seems like the single player experience is even looked upon negatively by reviewers. “No multiplayer? No buy.”

Just recently I saw that Mirror’s Edge had been given negative scores by several gaming outlets because it didn’t have multiplayer. I mean, really? What did they want, 8 person slayer across Mirror’s Edge rooftops? Give me a break.

Continue reading Life as a Solo Gamer

Street Fighter II in LBP

Ah, the obligatory “someone put x in LBP” video, but even still, I never get tired of them. This LittleBigPlanet level features Street Fighter II’s Ken, Ryu, Zangief and even Blanca, engaging in battles. Pretty creative stuff, and yet another reminder that I’d never be able to do something as cool as this.

Bike Hero- Not so Real, Actually

Talk about a “there is no Santa Claus” moment in my adult life… Bike Hero was not created by crazy fans, but rather, an ad agency. While it doesn’t make what goes on in the video any less awesome, there was a part of me that was so inspired to see people making a tribute to something that they’re extremely in love with.

While I’m not going to be a guy to stand up and scream “fake” and be upset, I do wish that we knew when some of these things were ads. I feel bad for that kid that does go out and make something like Bike Hero (in terms of an awesome viral video) and gets panned by the Internet as being fake, when in fact it’s real.

What do you guys think? Fair or foul on Bike Hero not being real?

Source- GameCyte

GTA IV DLC: THE LOST AND THE DAMNED ON FEB. 17

USA Today scooped us all and has an article detailing GTA IV’s DLC, due out on Feb. 17th, 2009. It’s called “The Lost and the Damned” and will star Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City biker gang The Lost.

Dan Houser of Rockstar is quoted saying:

Johnny is a very different character than Niko, with a very different background. I can’t go into too much detail on the story, because we try not to give away too much plot before the game is released. But I can say that the story will show you a different side of Liberty City

No pricing details have been released yet.

So I don’t have a 360, but I am sure this will make its way to PS3…anyone set for another visit to Liberty City?

Source: USA Today

Fatality Versus Heroic Brutality

In case you were dying to know, here’s a video clip of every single fatality and heroic brutality finishing move in the new Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe game. While some of them are downright cool (I love the nostalgia of the arcade drop and Scorpion’s fire breathing), it’s sad that they couldn’t do more with what they had and just went with the all out gore. Either way, some of these are entertaining to watch. What’s your favorite?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToOv1yNU1h8[/youtube]

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix…whew…Next Week!

PS3Fanboy is confirming what many have suspected: the Cloverfield monster-sized titled Super Street Fighter II HD Remix…sorry, exhausted from typing…will be released on the PSN on Tuesday the 25th of November with the Xbox Live versions coming the next day.

  Continue reading Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix…whew…Next Week!

GTA IV PC’s Machinima Tools

GTA IV releases on the PC in December, bringing its destructive gameplay to desktop gaming around the world. One of the cool new features that will be coming to the PC version of the game, however, is the in-game video editor that allows you to piece together several 30-45 second clips that you can capture while you play.

With those clips, you have access to a video editor that allows you to place camera movements, text and more, all for upload to Rockstar Social, or you can even output them at 720p or 1080p for your own use. While I wasn’t too excited about the tools at first, Eurogamer has posted some quick clips showing little demos of what is available to you, option-wise, and I must say I’m pleased with the results…

Great, another game I might be picking up on Steam next month… What do you guys think? You can view some videos made with the editor at the link below.

Source- Eurogamer

NXE Hands On, Part 2: Netflix

So after experiencing some more actual time with the NXE, I felt it was necessary to provide an update. While I wasn’t too thrilled after my first exposure to it, last night I played Left 4 Dead for awhile and got to tinker quite a bit. I have to say, I really enjoy it.

For one, it’s faster to browse than the Dashboard was, by far. I remember sometimes I wouldn’t want to answer messages just because it was so slow to do that right in the middle of a game. With the NXE, browsing through the blades is quick and easy and feels just right.

In addition, I spent some time with the Netflix streaming last night… Let me say, if you have a Netflix subscription, the XBox 360 just got 10 times cooler. Adding movies to your instant queue is a breeze, and in no time at all, I was streaming HD TV shows (they’ve got a selection that includes things like 30 Rock, The Office, Heroes, etc) to my 360 instantly. The quality is spectacular, too. This is by far my favorite feature of the NXE now.

So how many of you have Netflix subscriptions and a 360 and will be using this to its full?

GamerSushi Asks: Would You Rather?

Since we’ve had a chance to get our hands on some of these long anticipated titles, it seemed only fitting for another version of “Would You Rather?”. We’re a big fan of how much you guys get involved on these.

In “Would You Rather’, I simply ask a series of questions, and you follow up with your responses. Give as much or as little explanation as you want with your answers.

Unless they suck. In that case, you will endure everlasting suffering at the hands of the video game ninjas. Trust me. They’re real.

Continue reading GamerSushi Asks: Would You Rather?

Mirrors Edge 2D Flash Game Kind of Rules

There’s a new Mirrors Edge 2D flash game out that is actually pretty sweet. It’s a joint project from Brad Borne and EA to bring the Mirrors Edge experience to the browser, and I’m surprised by just how fun it is. You can do a bunch of the normal moves of the game including sliding, jumping, wall kicks, etc.

Even though this is just a one level beta, I’m thoroughly impressed by what’s pulled off. It’s relatively difficult, but I’ve got to say that if the final game is anything like that, I’ll be playing it on my browser, that’s for sure. As for the real game, it’s still on the Gamefly queue. How many of you guys have gotten to play it? Thoughts?

Source- Borne Games

Left 4 Dead- Blood Harvest Gameplay

So I broke down and got Left 4 Dead on the 360. I don’t regret it, either. I had a blast playing it with my brother and a couple of friends tonight. The amount of zombies coming at you is just incredible, and you absolutely have to work together to survive. In honor of this momentous game, I’m posting some gameplay from later on, in the Blood Harvest act, where you are running from zombies in fields of corn. It ends with an epic showdown in a barn.

Fallout 3 Plus Google Maps Equals Sweet

Wow. I know I say it all the time, but I’m continually impressed by both the ingenuity of gamers and the way that they can help each other in community on these crazy tubes called the Internetz. For anyone that’s feeling overwhelmed by Fallout 3’s Capital Wasteland and all of its many places of exploration, some of the folks at Planet Fallout have built a google map edition.

Basically, you can find everything from NPC’s, easter eggs, to points of interest and all kinds of other stuff. You can even filter through the different groups, if you’re feeling extra spoiler-conscious. It’s really astonishing, even though the Wasteland isn’t nearly as big as Oblivion’s world, just how much is packed into the space.

Just clicking around is showing all kinds of cool stuff I didn’t know about, and I’m anxious to get in there and start exploring.

Source- Planet Fallout

The Last Remnant Does Mega Battles

Every time I think I’m not interested in The Last Remnant, Square goes and wows me with another trailer. I’ve said it before, but the graphics are the most stunning I’ve seen in an RPG to date (those are in-game cut scenes, people), and the combat actually looks entertaining. The voice acting is above par for more Square games, as well, so I really just don’t know how I feel. All I know is this trailer makes me want to play it. And it comes out on November 20th…

Am I crazy? Or is it just another JRPG that I should ignore?

Left 4 Dead Now Available On Steam

Ok all you crazy zombie nuts… Left 4 Dead, the game you’ve been waiting for, is now available on Steam. I know several people on my friends list who are already downloading this game, and going nuts about it as we speak. Or as I type this rather.

So, who’s grabbing this game today and playing the junk out of it? Weigh in on the version that you’re grabbing- PC or 360! Also, feel free to leave Steam/ Gamertags, so people can get together and start playing.

I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do about this game, and whether I’ll grab it on the 360, the PC, or both, just so I can play with my 360 friends and have all of the assets for possible use in the future on the PC…

Hands on with the NXE

So apparently, if you filled out an application for the NXE a few weeks back, you can already get online and grab your update for the XBox 360. I turned on my 360 earlier tonight and was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a new update, which then promptly replaced the old dashboard with the slick shiny new one.

All in all, while I like the way they’ve re-organized things, it all just seems overwhelmingly unnecessary, though I understand that something had to be done about all the clutter with the marketplace and the usability in general. I like the sleek look of it, and I can’t wait to test out the party system, which will let me bring several friends into games at once and do private chats with groups of people.
Continue reading Hands on with the NXE

Blood of Bahamut Trailer Has Colossi

So, the new DS RPG from Square titled “Blood of Bahamut” (there is no Final Fantasy in the title, my bad on that one) has a brand spanking new trailer out for it. The comparisons to Shadow of the Colossus look to be correct, as the trailer pits 2D sprites against these enormous stone and moss beasts. I like the style of it, but I’m not sure what I think of the gameplay just yet. Still, it’s an interesting concept. What do you guys think?

Fallout 3 Versus Oblivion

So we are several weeks into the holiday season of video game releases, and no doubt many of you are already piled too high with games to play. Myself, I just finished Saint’s Row 2 over the weekend and have just jumped into Fable II as of yesterday. One game that I’m putting on hold so I can savor it in its entirety is Fallout 3, which has been good to me when I’ve had a chance to play it.

I know a lot of people are curious about how it stacks up against say, Oblivion, so CVG has put together a little article that stacks the two against each other head to head in terms of eye candy, combat, questing and the worlds that the games take place in. Looks like Oblivion wins, in their eyes. Definitely worth a look if you’re into either game.

Personally, it seems that Oblivion had way more interesting quests (dark brotherhood, wow), but Fallout 3’s story is very immersive, as is the world of the wasteland. What about you guys, what do you think?

Source- CVG

Bragging Rights: Pwning Call of Duty 4

Do you ever finish a game and don’t know what to play next? Man, I agonize over this sometimes. Should I go back and play some more Oblivion, but if I do will I not want to play Fallout 3 when I get it for Christmas? Do I want to finish Final Fantasy X-2 or find more prizes in Little Big Planet? When in doubt, I play Call of Duty 4.
Continue reading Bragging Rights: Pwning Call of Duty 4

Today’s WTF: The Great Solid Snake Escape

Video games teach us to do lots of things. Drive exotic cars, love exotic women and even jump on the heads of turtles. In the case of a 42 year old Turkish man in Germany, they taught him how to pull off a prison escape.

That’s right, a dude escaped from prison last week using a cardboard box. How very Metal Gear Solid of him. He hid inside of it and loaded himself into a cargo truck, which promptly drove him from the grounds, where he cut through the tarp and leaped to his freedom. This is both hilarious and scary, but I can’t help but laugh just a little on the inside. Dramatization below:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJ9R0TU8-s[/youtube]

Source- Shacknews