E3 2011 Impressions: Star Trek

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E3 2011 Impressions: XCOM

by Brian Bentley [ Thursday, 16th of June 2011 - 06:13 PM ]

At last year’s E3, when I saw XCOM, I was loving the environments, the time period and the promise of strategic elements. What I was iffy on was the generic-feeling action game play. A year has passed and I walked into the 2K Games booth to see what progress 2K Marin has made on this re-imaging of the beloved franchise. This year the focus of the demonstration was the strategic aspects of combat in the field and the importance of decisions made through the course of the game. Everything is a factor – from choosing your mission, to who accompanies you on the mission, to how you tackle each scenario you encounter in the field. Read More...

Tags: XCOM, 2K Games, E3, 2K Marin, PC, E3 2011, XBox 360, PS3,

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E3 2011 Hands On: Twisted Metal

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Tuesday, 14th of June 2011 - 08:56 PM ]

So it has been a year since the new Twisted Metal was announced at E3 during the Sony press conference. It seems like it would be a good time to check in and see what the designers over at Eat Sleep Play have been doing since then. Yes there have been some fun new trailers and game play footage, but that doesn't give one a good feeling of how the game would handle. For that you need to place hands to controller. It was extremely fitting that the first location to get my godly hands on the game was in the arcade set up immediately after the Sony conference. Read More...

Tags: Twisted Metal, PlayStation, Eat Sleep Play, E3, 2011, Racing, PS3,

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E3 2011 Impressions: Torchlight II

by Brian Bentley [ Monday, 13th of June 2011 - 11:34 PM ]

When I stumbled upon Torchlight during 2009’s E3, I knew I had found something special. Of all the games I came away wowed by during that show, Torchlight was definitely one that stood out in my mind after the buzz wore off. Fast forward to 2011, as Runic Games attempts to make a repeat performance at E3 with Torchlight II. At first glance, you will feel a familiarity with Torchlight II. The art style hasn't changed dramatically, though they seemed to have spruced up some of the textures. Read More...

Tags: Torchlight II, Runic Games, E3, E3 2011, PC, Mac,

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E3 2011 Impressions: BioShock Infinite

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Monday, 13th of June 2011 - 09:34 PM ]

Hidden deep in the back of the 2K Games booth in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, we were led into a room that looked like an old hunter's club room - Animal heads on the walls, old fashioned lamps lighting the room and filled wall to wall with plush leather couches. It was as close to an opening in reality to take a step into Columbia (where Bioshock Infinite takes place) as I could imagine without Elizabeth opening a tear and pulling us through. Before I get into the bulk of the game footage we were shown, which consisted mostly of sky rail combat, let me catch some of you up on the story that is the lead up as well as the background. This is for those just now finding interest in the game. Read More...

Tags: BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games, 2K Games, E3, 2011, PS3, XBox, PC,

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Batman: Arkham City Just Got Sexier

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Tuesday, 7th of June 2011 - 06:51 AM ]

So it looks like the rumor about NOT being able to play as Catwoman in Batman: Arkham City is now busted. Submitted for your consumption, I give you a look at a bit of the game play as Catwoman in Batman: Arkham City. Straight from the horse's mouth, A.K.A. Rocksteady, to our eyes. Yes, I know that doesn't make visual sense, but just go with it. It doesn't show any form of Co-Op which leads me to believe that she is either going to have a small portion of the game set up like The Joker did in Arkham Asylum. It may be some extra missions, after game missions added to the game, or it could be similar but added into the main story arc of the game. Read More...

Tags: Batman Arkham City, E3, Warner Bros, Rocksteady Games, PS3, XBox, PC,

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Alice Is Launched Into That Returning Madness

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Sunday, 5th of June 2011 - 04:13 AM ]

Kind of weird that we are just under two weeks away from Alice: Madness Returns hitting shelves and we are getting a Launch Trailer. Not that it isn't appreciated, but I would expect a bit more hyping and teasing from EA before getting what is usually considered the last trailer before DLC type trailers. That is their usual motive when it comes to their PR department isn't it? Or is it only with games that are probably not going to do so well? Read More...

Tags: Alice, Madness Returns, American McGee, EA, Spicy Horse, PS3, XBox, PC,

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Alice Shows How The Madness Turned Into Hysteria

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Friday, 27th of May 2011 - 11:06 PM ]

It has been a while since I've played the original Alice but I really don't remember the combat to be as fast paced as the below clip for Alice Madness Returns shows. Not that I will complain because I remember that being an issue when I first played the original. It just seems like they twisted every part of the original just as much as the mind of Alice in the first place. Hmm… Maybe that is why… Or it could just be to appease the console players out there. Continuing down that rabbit hole, another interesting addition the game play looks to be the Hysteria mode. Read More...

Tags: Alice, Madness Returns, American McGee, EA, Spicy Horse, PS3, XBox, PC,

8301 Views

See How Dead Island Is Going To Handle

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Wednesday, 25th of May 2011 - 05:13 PM ]

So I thought the last video for Dead Island was going to be it before E3. Don't want to show off everything before the major convention now would we? But it would seem that the developers wanted to give Game Trailers a bit more to show off before their big E3 push. The video can be seen below. Before you move off to the video though, I'd like to make my normal comments. So bare with me. Or ignore these words and watch the clip. Read More...

Tags: Dead Island, Techland, Deep Silver, Zombies, Game Play, PS3, XBox, PC,

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Finally Some Prototype 2 Screens

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Thursday, 12th of May 2011 - 06:07 PM ]

Maybe it is just me, or because we are still a year out from launch, but the visuals for Prototype 2 don't seem to be going the way most sequels go. Usually there is some insane boost or extreme change in how things look. From the below screen I'd swear that they were take straight out of the first game. Not that it is a bad thing, but a little unexpected. I do have to say that some of these shots do have me raring to go back and play the original Prototype just because of how much fun I originally had. Read More...

Tags: Prototype 2, Activision, Radical Entertainment, PS3, XBox, PC,

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Dark Of The Moon Shows How Bumblebee Stings

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Monday, 9th of May 2011 - 10:42 PM ]

Unlike Mass Effect 3, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon is still on track for its June release. I mean it better be as Activision is trying to get it out in the same window as the upcoming film as well. A delay now would be retardababy. Or at least give us the promise that is not just a film tie-in and a real follow up to War For Cybertron. Well with the being on track and all, there are a few more screen shots from the game to take a look at. You can see them below. Read More...

Tags: Transformers, Dark Of The Moon, Activision, PS3, XBox, PC, DS, Wii,

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Bringing The Pain Like Max Payne 3

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Friday, 29th of April 2011 - 05:28 PM ]

So I'm confused now. Where are all the "demons" or drug induced hallucinations? For that matter Mark Wahlberg? That was what the franchise was all about wasn't it? The film wouldn't deviate that much would it? I defined the whole Max Payne franchise based on that film as I have never played any of the games before. That is a good reference isn't it? When have video game films ever been that far off from the original source? Read More...

Tags: Max Payne 3, Rockstar Games, PS3, XBox, PC,

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We Got A Look At Axel From Twisted Metal...Kind Of

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Thursday, 28th of April 2011 - 08:38 PM ]

Not only do we have a few shots of the Axel-like vehicle from Twisted Metal, but we also have a couple of game play clips of the multiplayer for the game. One kind of looks like the semi overtake races from Split/Second with a TM twist and the other a full arena style combat with a God Of War twist. At least that twist with all the spike traps and huge swinging spiked balls aimed to destroy your vehicle. I will say that what I've seen so far did have me flashing back to my early PS1 days with Twisted Metal though. Read More...

Tags: Twisted Metal, PlayStation, Eat Sleep Play, Game Play, Racing, Sony, PS3,

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Gears Of War 3 Beta Death Montage

by Matt Waitt [ Monday, 25th of April 2011 - 09:34 PM ]

YouTube user "Doominated" was kind enough to capture all the executions found in the Gears of War 3 Multiplayer Beta. The below highlight reel showcases some brutal, visceral and outright over the top executions ranging from brutal beat downs with bare hands to decapitations via a shield. As I watched this video, I cringed a lot. Not to mention some "OH, THAT'S MEAN!" and other screams of torment mixed in. Read More...

Tags: Gears Of War 3, Epic Games, Microsoft, Multiplayer, YouTube, XBox 360,

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Virtual Reality To An Extreme

by David 'Hades' Becker [ Friday, 22nd of April 2011 - 06:55 PM ]

In the pursuit of making games 100% immersive there are an ass ton of gadgets, gizmos and displays to make you feel truly in the middle of the action. That is what the whole motion controller craze and revitalization of 3D is all about isn't it? But no one will rest until you can fully experience the game world as if you were truly standing there and walking around it. That is what gamers enjoy isn't it? Moving around and having all of the game character's skills based on their own motor functions that don't require basic thumb presses. Read More...

Tags: Video Games, Virtual Reality, XIO, FPS, PC, Games,