The B.P.H.P.

Two New games will arrive on Wednesday to check out. Both games will cost 800 Points ($10.00) Defense Grid: The Awakening and Yo-Ho Kablammo:



Defense Grid: The Awakening


















"The definitive tower defense game for Xbox LIVE®, Defense Grid: The Awakening is easy to pick up, engrossing to play, and hard to set down. Strategically place your towers on the map to prevent alien enemies from stealing your power cores. Play for just fifteen minutes or several hours! This award-winning game includes 10 hours of story play with 20 unique maps in the Awakening campaign, four bonus Borderlands maps, a wide variety of tower and enemy types, an interactive soundtrack, plus over 100 unlockable challenge modes adding dozens of hours of additional fun. Protect the Cores!"




Yo-Ho Kablammo




















"Immerse yourself in the fully 3-D pirate world of Yo-Ho Kablammo. Master your vessel and take to the seas in this frantic action-packed game. Blast your foes with cannon fire, collect numerous power-ups to give you the upper hand, and collect the spoils of your victory. Set your sails and navigate a variety of ships all with unique playing styles.

Play the single player challenges or battle your friends in multiplayer madness online and offline, to show who the true pirate is. Only one can survive in these ruthless times, will it be you? Your ship awaits, captain!"

Pretty Awesome, right? Don't forget the Ballad of Gay Tony trailer debuts Tomorrow!




Source-Rockstar Games

In Honor of Pax this week, that stands for Penny Arcade Expo if you didn't know, the Deal of the week starting today is On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two.

Normally 1200 Points ($15.00), Gold Member can pick up the game for 800 Points ($10.00). Not a bad this week. Check it out:

"Want more crazy dialogue and outrageous enemies? Upgrade to the full version of On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two to see the mystery continue and Gabe and Tycho banter in classic Penny Arcade style. Plus, there are leaderboard rankings and achievements to earn, so get started now!"

Link To DEAL-Sign in As Gold Member

Link To Demo-Trial Version

Batman Arkham Asylum has so many great elements from the best video-games and puts them into a form that is perfectly suited for Batman game.

The game begins with Batman driving to Arkham Asylum with the Joker in his custody, and once he arrives to check him in, he realizes the Joker wanted to be caught and then the Clown Prince of Crime begins his plan to take over the Asylum. From the start, it is Batman's goal to stop the Joker and the rest of the super villain inmates while utilizing his gadgets to accomplish this.



The gameplay consists of exploring the massive Asylum, completing missions to further your goal of reaching the joker, silently taking out enemies from time to time, and engaging in fun and fluid combat scenarios when the enemies begin to surround the Dark Knight. The game does a great job of mixing up the gameplay which in turn makes for a less repetitive and more enjoyable game.



The game also has a metroid feel to it, with many areas in the game inaccessible until you acquire the right gadgets to reach them. Most of Batman's greatest gadgets, including the always useful Batarang, all make an appearance and can be used in many fun ways.

There are also times when you must silently take out armed enemies in certain parts of the game and these events make you truly feel like Batman. The game also has a fun challenge mode that includes combat and predator scenarios so you can rack up points and practice your combat skills while having all while having your score posted to the leaderboards and checking out where you rank against the other Arkham Asylum players around the world.



The games' presentation is top notch as well, with the unreal engine showing the world of batman in an amazing way, and the amazing voice cast that includes Batman alumni Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, who both make Batman Arkham Asylum a very special treat to the fans. Gadgets sound the way you would expect, and the sounds of punches and gliding add to the very immersive world. This is a game that even those that dislike Batman should definitely play.



The game also has a Bioshock feel to it, with tons of interview tapes scattered around the world that help get a sense of the game's villains, and tons of Riddler trophies and Riddles to solve that help round out the investigative gameplay. Batman is truly a detective in this game, something that other batman games never really embraced.



The achievements/trophies in this game are also pretty cool as well, with many being unlocked by defeating bosses and progressing through the game, and others focusing on the game's challenge modes. Beating the game twice netted me about 600+ gamerscore, but I was missing most of the Riddler associated achievements, since there are tons to find.



Overall, this is a must play and a sure candidate for the various 2009 Game of the year awards.









+ Amazing presentation, gameplay, and voice overs throughout the entire game
+ Game truly makes you feel like Batman
+ Fun challenge mode and additional Downloadable Content down the line

- A few annoying enemy moments, but nothing Major
- Not a negative, but wish there was some kind of unique multiplayer
Bring- A playable Joker to the Xbox 360 version!

I write these Reviews on Giantbomb because their system for writing and importing pictures is fun and easy. All pictures for my reviews are courtesy of the Giantbomb users that upload them. Giantbomb

These first few shots that come from gta4.net show that The Ballad of gay tony is gonna have lots of explosive shootouts. The pics also show what appear to be a new weapon and vehicle. The Ballad of Gay Tony will be available this October.

Happy Friday! Here's a few new things to check out today:

Transformers 2 Demo

"The all-new Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen™ Demo – with Multiplayer! Download now to control a variety of TRANSFORMERS characters taken from the largest roster of AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS in a single game. Bring the war online and battle with or against friends in Team Deathmatch, one of the full game’s many Multiplayer Maps and Modes! Hone your skills offline in a mission from one of the game’s two full Single Player Campaigns. Try the demo to see why you should buy the game today! All-new Character and Map Pack Plus Game Add-on also available! Download the demo."


The Transformers 2 Demo will take up 835 MB of Space

Link To Demo-Transformers 2 Demo
























Transformers 2: Character and Map Pack Plus

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen gets BIGGER with new characters, maps, achievements and Expert mode. Enter battle in single player and multiplayer with 11 new characters from the movie & Generation One series. Three new multiplayer maps take the online battle to new locations. Expert mode makes the single player campaigns more challenging for experienced users – including new leaderboards."

The Character and Map Pack Plus content will cost 800 Points ($10.00) and will take up 331 MB of Space.

Link To Content-Character and Map Pack Plus

























The Force Unleashed: STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED TATOOINE MISSION PACK

"Artoo-detoo and See-Threepio have crash-landed on Tatooine carrying important data that the Apprentice (“Starkiller”) must intercept. After fighting Jawas, Tusken Raiders, and Jabba the Hutt's minions, Starkiller must battle the famed bounty hunter Boba Fett before engaging in a final confrontation with one of the galaxy’s last remaining Jedi!"

The Tatooine Mission Pack will cost 800 Points ($10.00) and will take up 837 MB of Space

Link To Content-Tatooine Mission Pack

RockStar has just announced when we can see the first trailer for the Ballad of Gay Tony. Coming Tuesday September 1st, we will get to see Rock Star's second expansion to Grand Theft Auto IV.



"Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City includes both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony together on disc exclusively for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and will be available worldwide on October 29th."

Source-Rockstar News

Two New Demos are available now to check out. Well kinda. Both of these games have both had demos in the past, but for Fight Night, a new demo is to show how the controls and allow you to play as the cover athletes Ali and Tyson. For FEAR 2, the new demo allows you to check out the upcoming single player expansion. It's kind of like a demo for DLC. Sounds pretty cool! Check out theses new demos:


"EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. With an all new physics based gameplay engine, unique and differentiated boxer styles, the fastest and most true to life representation of the “Sweet Science”, and the most impressive boxer roster ever including the return of the legendary Iron Mike Tyson, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 takes video game boxing and fighting to an entirely new level. Play as the legendary heavyweights Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali to see who would win the ultimate showdown. Or relive the Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao match. The demo features the final tuned product with the addition of the button configuration and a body spamming fix."

The Fight Night Round Demo will take up MB of Space

Link To Demo-Fight Night Round 4 Demo (New)























"Download the demo today and get a taste of F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn, the latest FEAR 2 single-player DLC campaign! This all new single-player campaign lets you experience events in the full game from an all new perspective: that of Replica Soldier Foxtrot 813. Fight through brand new environments and uncover the paranormal secret surrounding your Replica Squad. Struggle to locate who is contradicting your direct orders from Replica Command; you just might recognize it’s a familiar face..."

F.E.A.R 2 Reborn Demo will take up 670 MB of Space

Link To Demo-F.E.A.R 2 Reborn Demo

This week we have three new arcade game to check out. First is NBA 2K10 Draft Combine, which allow you to create a player and take him through the draft, which when NBA 2K10 releases, that player will be ready to go. Think of this like the Fable II pub games working with Fable II. Also we have Watchmen Part II and Invincible Tiger. All of these look pretty interesting, so check their trials and see if you like them:

NBA 2K10 Draft Combine

"Enhance your NBA 2K10 experience with this exclusive game from 2K Sports that allows you to create your own custom NBA player and live the life of an NBA hopeful going through the real NBA Draft Combine in Chicago’s Attack Gym. Improve your game through drills and Draft Combine scrimmages to increase your NBA draft stock; then pick up a copy of NBA 2K10 to find your created player waiting for you in the all-new My Player mode to experience the NBA Draft and begin your path to NBA stardom."
will cost 400 ($5.00) Points and will take up 362 MB of Space

Link To Trial-NBA 2K10 Draft Trial
Link To Full Game-NBA 2K10 Draft Full Game

























WATCHMEN PART 2

"It’s June 1977, and any day now the passage of the Keene Act will outlaw all masked vigilantes not sanctioned by the government. Rorschach has uncovered a mysterious missing person’s case together with the help of Nite Owl the pair has set out to find the young girl. Their search takes them deep into the depraved, sleazy corners of the city and eventually face-to-face with the mysterious Twilight Lady. The seedy underbelly of New York beckons… will you take the call?"


will cost 1200 ($15.00) Points and will take up 888 MB of Space

Link To Trial-Watchmen Part II Trial
Link To Full Game-Watchmen Part II Full Game






















Invincible Tiger

"Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is here and it's packed with nonstop kung fu action! Prepare yourself for the first Digital 3D title on Xbox LIVE Arcade that offers a more immersive experience than ever before! Use all of your best combos and lightning fast dodge techniques to destroy your opponents and protect the Star of Destiny.Travel to a variety of beautiful locations while rocking out to the funky 70’s soundtrack. Play cooperatively with a friend at home or online and teach your foes the true meaning of pain. Feel closer to the action than ever before as the 3D features thrust the action right into your living room. Kung fu action, beautiful environments, awesome music, cooperative play and 3D all in one download! Buy it now!"


will cost 1200 ($15.00) Points and will take up 263 MB of Space

Link To Trial-Invincible Tiger Trial
Link To Full Game-Invincible Tiger Full Game

Try WET on Xbox Live (New Demo)

WET, the Bethesda published game, has just had a demo released on Xbox Live . To me, the game felt like a mix between Max Payne, Devil May Cry, and even a little Prince of Persia thrown in. Check out the details:

"WET is a highly-stylized third person shooter that seamlessly blends gun play, sword kills and over-the-top acrobatics to create the ultimate interactive action experience. The game allows you to shoot anywhere, anytime. You will have the freedom to shoot while running, sliding down ladders, sliding across the floor, or performing any number of acrobatic moves. Featuring an ironic mix of humor and violence, unique retro film visual treatment, and original 70’s inspired music, WET is a third-person shooter experience unlike any other."

The WET demo will take up 632 MB of Space

Link To Demo- WET Demo

The rumored DLC and the achievements reveal of Pinnacle Station were true. This new piece of down-loadable content for Mass Effect is available now! Also available are Mass Effect outfits for your Avatars. Details Below:

"Test the limits of your combat prowess aboard a remote, top-secret Alliance space station. Do you have what it takes to hold the top spot amongst the best of the best? This module includes a new land-able space station, 13 exciting combat scenarios, and approximately 2-3 hours of game play. Required: you must achieve Spectre status before embarking on this mission."

The Pinnacle Station will cost 400 Points ($5.00) and will take up 246 MB of Space

Link To Content-Mass Effect Pinnacle Station















































"Become one of the galaxy's elite spectres and suit up in Commander Shepard's armor."

320 Points

Link to Outfit-Male Outfit

































"Suit up your Avatar and join the Alliance. Be prepared to fight the Geth anywhere in Xbox LIVE."

320 Points


Link To Outfit-Female Outfit


































"The ultimate in Geth protection, don't leave home without it."

160 Points

Link To Helmet-Female Helmet

1 Call of Duty: WaW
2 Halo 3
3 Call of Duty 4
4 Gears of War 2
5 Madden NFL 10
6 LOST PLANET 2 Co-op Demo
7 GTA IV
8 Shadow Complex
9 Trials HD
10 FIFA 09

World At War keeps it's lead once again. Over one million downloads for Map Pack 3 seems to help too. The Lost Planet 2 Demo was the 6th most played game online, something that Too Human and The Force Unleashed have done before. Pretty Cool!

Also, Shadow Complex and Trials HD are also on the list and #8 and #9, with Shadow Complex being the most bought game for Xbox Live Arcade. If you haven't played it yet, check out the demo for it. How will the list change next week? Come back and find out!






















Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)

1 Shadow Complex
2 Trials HD
3 Battlefield 1943
4 Marvel vs. Capcom 2
5 Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
6 Splosion Man
7 Castle Crashers
8 Worms 2: Armageddon
9 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
10 UNO











Source (Major Nelson)

Watchmen The End is Nigh Part II will be out this week on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Points ($15.00). It's cheaper than the first episode, but GameStop is now selling the retail box that came out when the movie released for $19.99 instead of the original price of $29.99. So if you bought the first one as a download and don't want to buy it again with the disc, then check out the down-loadable version of part II:


"It’s June 1977, and any day now the passage of the Keene Act will outlaw all masked vigilantes not sanctioned by the government. Rorschach has uncovered a mysterious missing person’s case together with the help of Nite Owl the pair has set out to find the young girl. Their search takes them deep into the depraved, sleazy corners of the city and eventually face-to-face with the mysterious Twilight Lady. The seedy underbelly of New York beckons… will you take the call?"

After only discounting a theme last week for the Xbox Live Deal, Microsoft have made Grand Theft Auto: The Lost & Damned the deal for this week. You can now get the content for 25% off the usual price, a nice cut for a great GTA Episode.

Normally priced at 1600 Points ($20.00), Gold Members can purchase the add-on for 1200 Points ($15.00), a great price for a really fun expansion. 2 GB of Space will be required, so make some room if you plan to buy it.

"Johnny is a veteran member of The Lost, a notorious biker gang. Johnny has been creating business opportunities for The Lost in Liberty City, but his first loyalty must be to the patch he wears on his back and to Billy Grey, the club’s President. However, when Billy returns from rehab hell-bent on bloodshed and debauchery, Johnny finds himself in the middle of a vicious turf war with rival gangs for control of a city torn apart by violence and corruption. Can the brotherhood survive?"

Link To Content (The Lost & Damned)

Toejam and Earl! Can't wait to play this when it comes out. I hope it will be 400 Points with online play, because that's how much I have right now. Jammin!

"The Fans have spoken, and now it's time to welcome ToeJam & Earl ti the next level as it joins our other Sega classics on XBLA! In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Sega Genesis, and because you demanded it, look for this fan favorite to release on Xbox LIVE soon."

Source (Genesis Poll)

Summer is almost over, but the games never stop rolling out. I'm really looking forward to Batman Arkham Asylum this week, what about you? Here a few releasing starting tomorrow:

Batman Arkham Asylum/ August 25th/ $59.99
















Raven Squad/ August 25th/ $49.99
















Metroid Prime Trilogy/ Nintendo Wii/ August 24th/ $49.99


















Dissidia Final Fantasy/ August 25th/ $39.99
















Professor Layton & The Diabolical Box/ Nintendo DS/ August 24th / $34.99















Picture and Release Dates (Source)

The Next Downloadable Content for Castle Crashers is soon on it's way. The Necromantic Pack will include The Necromancer and The Cult Minion. The Pack will also include Dragonhead Animal Orb, as well as two new weapons, the NG Skull Mace and long awaited Chainsaw.


No Date and price yet, but the Behemoth says more details will be told soon. I'm Guessing August 27th, the year anniversary for Castle Crashers being released on Xbox Live Arcade.























Source (The Behemoth Blog)

Mass Effect may have come out in 2007 with only one piece of down-loadable content, but it seems it may be finally getting more. Three New Achievements have been revealed:



Undisputed 50g-Complete Ahern's survival mission







New Sheriff in Town 50g-Take first place in any combat scenario on Pinnacle Station







Best of the Best 50-gTake first place in 12 combat scenarios on Pinnacle Station


Source Xbox 360 Achievments

The demos keep coming! This time there is a demo out for Section 8. I don't know too much about this game, but a demo is great way to find out!






















"Section 8 is an intense first-person shooter that gives players unprecedented strategic control over the battlefield, employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries to dynamically alter the flow of combat. Set in the distant future when humanity is facing a growing insurrection among its colonies, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry to turn the tide."

Section 8 Demo (839 MB)

Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling has posted on his blog about how Modern Warfare 2 is utilizing a technique called texture streaming.

"A major component in the new engine tech that has the greatest impact on these enhancements is our new hi-res Texture Streaming functionality. Texture streaming allows our designers the freedom to make much larger environments, like the scene below, while also increasing the amount of detail on the characters, and environments in the vicinity of the player."

Wanna see how it works? Check out this Screen-shot:























Now This One:




















Can you see the differences? To me, everything looks much sharper and crisp in the second Picture and in Motion, it must look pretty awesome. I can NOT WAIT for this game!!

Source Fourzerotwo

From August 22nd to September 19th, Microsoft and Bungie will have a this transport vehicle (The Above Picture) Driving around the U.S in order to give gamers a chance to play Fire-fight Mode in Halo 3: ODST. For the full details, check out the link below.


Check here for Cities and Locations (Major Nelson Blog)