Let's be honest, NFS Undercover was bad, and EA knew it, that's why they handed development of the latest game in the series to Slightly Mad Studios, who had previously made the GTR series. The game encounters problems that aren't necessarily it's own fault. The driving is good, great even, the issue is that both Forza 3 and Gran Turismo 5 are coming out around the corner, and with most people's opinions about Need For Speed soured by the last iteration, it'll be hard to convince them to go with Shift. That said, EA does a really good job. It's nice to see EA ditch the ridiculous story mode (IE: undercover cop looking to bust an illegal drug trade by infiltrating some illegal street racing club) in favor of what a racing game should be about: THE RACING. Read More...

Another week of download releases by Nintendo means another week of low-hanging fruit for criticism on the choices for DSiWare downloads. Also included in this week is another Commodore 64 game for Virtual Console. At this point, I wish there was a defensible position to take on some of these choices for DLC. We have five releases this week across the three platforms. The lone Virtual Console title, Last Ninja 2, is from the Commodore 64. Read More...

Are you ready to get WET? Artificial Mind and Movement, the game's developers, sure hope you are. WET has been in the works for a long time, originally set to release under Sierra, but eventually dropped when acquired by Activision. It finally found its home amongst Bethesda Softworks. So will you dip your hands into this title and get them WET? WET, this is a shortened term for wetworks, which involves a messy job that involves hands being wet with blood. This is where our heroine, Rubi Malone (voiced by Eliza Dushku), comes into the picture. Read More...

NHL 10. NHL 09 was hands down the best hockey game of all time, and NHL 10 builds on that. So it's not as much of a leap from NHL 09 as Madden 10 was to Madden 09, but it is a big step in the right direction. And perhaps not taking a leap from NHL 09, which won a slew of sports game of the year awards, is a good thing. NHL 10 keeps the tradition that NHL 09 had, mix in a fairly realistic mode (an ultra realistic mode can be played in the game, with 20 minute periods and everything) with enough arcadiness to not turn off casual players, and have yourself some fun. The graphics are the same as is the audio, another job well done by Gary Thorne and Bill Clement (although they probably only spent about 5 hours recording the new audio), and the new crowd sounds make it feel that much more real. Read More...

Yesterday Microsoft and Activision announced that a special Modern Warfare 2-themed Xbox 360. 250 gig hard drive, two wireless controllers, a wired headset and a copy of the game for 400 dollars. Amazon.com has a list of what is in the box: Limited Edition Xbox 360 Console with exclusive Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Design Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Standard Edition (Rated "M" for Mature.) 250GB HD 2 Black Wireless Controllers 1 Black Xbox 360 Wired Headset 1 Ethernet Cable 1 Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable Free one month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold (Xbox LIVE Silver subscription is included with console) Free Netflix trial offer The men and women working at Microsoft who got this deal done are getting promotions this Christmas. Having a themed console for what will probably be the best selling game of the year and strong contender for Game of the Year is a huge boon for Microsoft. Read More...

So I'll be honest and tell you that I have yet to watch the video below. In fact, I refuse to watch it. But that shouldn't stop me from letting other people who want to watch it from enjoying it. In case you haven't skipped my words yet and just clicked play, the video below is the first 5 minutes and 46 seconds of what you can expect to be at the beginning of Brütal Legend. The opening cinematic to be exact. Why have I not watched this clip yet? Read More...

At first glance, Section 8 looks like a Halo wannabe. At second glance it looks like a Tribes wannabe. At third glance it looks like a Battlefield wannabe. I'm not saying that a game that plays like those 3 games would be bad (heck, it'd probably be the best online shooter ever), but Section 8 seems to be lackluster in areas that each of those 3 game excelled in. The problem with that is while that Section 8 may be a solid game, the fact is that people are going to be playing the other 3 games that it is trying to emulate. Section 8 is a multiplayer only game, don't be fooled by the Corde's story campaign mode, it's basically a glorified bot mode with some random bits of story thrown about. Read More...

Unless you are new to Metal and the internet, you have heard of Brütal Legend. How could you have not with how much PR this game is getting. It was the topic of the entire two hour infomercial for Brütal legend and all things Jack Black Video Game Awards this year, which was just the start of it all. It has been a topic at every game and "geek" convention this year. You could not have missed a single thing for it. Read More...

It had been months since I last turned my Wii on, but that all changed with a single release for the system. Muramasa: The Demon Blade has arrived from Ignition Entertainment and I couldn’t have a better reason to utilize my Wii. Muramasa is the latest 2D Action RPG title developed by Vanilla Ware, the team behind Odin Sphere on the Playstation 2. The game revolves around two main characters, both set out on their own unique journeys. Momohime is a young princess who has had her soul forced out and body possessed by the demon Jinkuro. Read More...

Just in case you didn't know by now that Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is coming out in under week, the great video protectionists at Activision have pumped out am awesome trailer showing off what we can all expect to be playing over the next few weeks. Something to wet our whistles in anticipation for this game. As if the Juggernaut video hasn't been enough right? Right? Read More...

"Ever want to watch your Xbox Live Avatar plummet helplessly through the air and smash into things? Well now you can in the humorously cruel new game "Avatar Drop"! You and your friends can experience the side-splitting hilarity of watching your digital alter-egos bump, scream and crash their way through random obstacles." This is the official description of this indie title by the name of Avatar Drop. Now, from that description it sounds like Xbox Live has found it’s equivalent to Playstation favorite, “Pain. Read More...

#1 Toys"R"Us is brilliant #2 You have a place to get rid of all your old stuff #3 You can use it to get new stuff #4 "I'm a big kid now" Toys"R"Us is launching a new video game trade in program where you can trade any game ever made into gift cards. Yes thats right, wipe off all those old systems in your attic, get your Virtual Boys, NES, and Sega Master systems. There's money just sitting around waiting to be had. Toys"R"Us announced today they would be launching their new trade in program beginning September 13th nationwide. Read More...

No doubt you have read the "shocking" details of Courtney Love's acrid Twitter response to Kurt Cobain's likeness being used in Guitar Hero 5. Then, you were enthralled by the report of shots fired back by Activision that Love, in fact, was the individual who signed the contract to use the likeness. And THEN you no doubt realized...you don't care. Read More...

While the last developer's diary made it seem that Dante's Inferno was going to be full of Poo Jokes, this new one starts to add the creep back into hell. No I don't think that the monsters of Gluttony pooing on me is all that creepy. I also didn't think that they would be able to get creepy with the fourth circle, Greed, but this new video adds a little more depth, pun intended, on Dante. Not so much on the Greed. In this Dev. Read More...

If there was ever a character designed to literally walk right through Charles Xavier’s X-men, it was the Juggernaut. Cain Marko was originally Charles’ older step-brother. A deep resentment for Xavier grew in Cain due to, among other things, Cain’s own father treating Xavier better than he did Cain. Of course this was merely a façade to keep Xavier’s mother happy. By marrying her, Cain’s father instantly gained access to the immense estate owned by Xavier’s father. Read More...