The B.P.H.P.

Review: The Darkness II

2012-02-13T17:30:00.000-05:00

Developer-Digital Extremes
Publishers-2K Games
Release Date- February 7th, 2012
Price- $59.99 MSRP

The irresistible Darkness returns

The Darkness II continues the story of Jackie Estacado, a man who currently possesses the evil entity that is the Darkness, and takes place years after the events of the first game. Now the Don of his Uncle's crime family, Jackie slowly begins to adjust to life after he suppresses the Darkness when he is ambushed at dinner by armed men, who were under the orders of a mysterious group called the Brotherhood. While Jackie has kept the Darkness suppressed and doesn't want it out, he has no choice but to unleash it once again to combat the Brotherhood, who seem to know quite a bit about the Darkness. Jackie also has to deal with Jenny, who he still can not get out of his mind.

While the campaign is a bit shorter than the original game, it is still worth checking for fans of the comic and original game, as well as action game fans. Quad-wielding is a term used by the new developers, Digital Extremes, and fits the game perfectly, as you can use both darkness arms and dual-wield weapons, all at the same time. It sounds complicated, but it is set-up pretty well. The triggers are used for aiming and shooting both guns, while the bumpers control the separate demon arms. Upgrades are available too, and collected essence from kills and collecting relics help power up Jackie. Darklings return to aid Jackie, and can even be thrown at enemies, or just up in the air for hilarious reactions.

The look of the game has changed as well. It reminds me of Borderlands, with it's cel-shaded esque visuals, which help make it feel like a comic since the Darkness games are based off of one. It's really colorful but not enough to distract from what you're supposed to be doing, and helps amplify the violence as the game is pretty bloody. Executions are a back in a big way, and offer up more essence based on the variation of kills and executions used.

Competitive Multiplayer has been removed in the Darkness II, and instead there is Vendetta and Hitlist, two primarily co-op modes that help fill in bits of the main story. In these modes, you'll play as four unique characters who possess specific Darkness abilities. Jimmy Wilson for example, has the ability to summon Darklings while wielding his throwing axe, and the sword toting Inugami has the ability to create a swarm of darkness, giving players a chance to run in with his sword, the Kusanagi. Vendetta is the co-op story mode, while Hitlist focues on set missions to complete. Upgrading is available to co-op as well, and carries over when playing alone or with three others. No online pass either, so new, used, or rented, anyone can check out these modes.

The story mode took me about two days to finish, and I clocked in about 7-8 hours of play. The co-op mode actually seem to be a bit longer, and encourage re-playability. Speaking of re-playability, there is a New Game+ for the main campaign, so you can go through with all of your upgraded abilities and try them out on a higher difficulty.

Overall, The Darkness II is a solid sequel, but is less linear than the original game. Digital Extremes still wanted to cater to original fans, but also introduce the Darkness to new players, so that may be why certain elements of the original were changed.

I loved the first game and enjoyed the Darkness II, and would recommend it to players looking for something new and original fans who want to see the continuation of Jackie's story.

Xbox Live Top 20 (Week of Jan. 30th)

2012-02-13T14:16:00.005-05:00

Here are the top 20 games for Xbox Live for the week of January 30th. Things haven't changed too much since last week, but the Simpsons Arcade game garnered the top spot for Xbox Live Arcade. I wonder if this week's release of UFC Undisputed 3 and the Mass Effect 3 demo will make it on the list in the future.

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
3.)----FIFA 12
4.)----Skyrim
5.)----Battlefield 3
6.)----Halo: Reach
7.)----Modern Warfare 2
8.)----Gears of War 3
9.)----NBA 2K12
10.)---Madden NFL 12
11.)---GTA IV
12.)---Forza Motorsport 4
13.)---Saints Row: The Third
14.)---NHL 12
15.)---Halo 3
16.)---Assassin's Creed Revelations
17.)---Call of Duty 4
18.)---Red Dead Redemption
19.)---NBA 2K11
20.)---Batman: Arkham City

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----The Simpsons Arcade Game
2.)----Bastion
3.)----Fruit Ninja Kinect
4.)----Pinball FX2
5.)----REAL STEEL
6.)----Trials HD
7.)----Double Fine Happy Action Theater
8.)----Dungeon Defenders
9.)----Castle Crashers
10.)---NFL Blitz
11.)---DOOM
12.)---NBA JAM: On Fire Edition
13.)---Peggle
14.)---Full House Poker
15.)---Quarrel
16.)---Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
17.)---UNO
18.)---Sonic CD
19.)---Risk: Factions
20.)---Game Room

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday (2-8-12)

2012-02-08T08:28:00.002-05:00

Gotham City Impostors and Shank 2 are here! Impostors will set you back 1200 MSP ($15), while Shank 2 is 800 MSP ($10). I've been looking forward to both for a while, and can't wait to check them out later today.

"A 6 vs. 6 first person shooter, Gotham City Impostors is a multiplayer game unlike any other, giving players the opportunity to rebel against conformity as they customize their own characters. Posing as amateur vigilantes or villains, gamers create their own Bats and The Jokerz characters using unprecedented customization options including insane costumes, homebrewed gadgets and a wide range of traditional and imagined weapons."

Link To Trial- Gotham City Imposters Trial (1.91 GB)

Link To Full Game- Gotham City Imposters (1200 MSP)

"The fan-favorite 2D brawler is back in action with Shank™2. Shank is forced on the offensive wielding his trusty arsenal of weapons and combo moves to protect those close to him. Shank™2 raises the bar from the original, creating an amazing comic book visual style and combat system which redefines the 2D side-scrolling brawler."

Link To Trial- Shank 2 Trial (1.21 GB)

Link To Full Game- Shank 2 (800 MSP)

Review: Soul Calibur V

2012-02-07T20:45:00.002-05:00

Developer-NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
Publishers-NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
Release Date- January 31st, 2012
Price- $59.99 MSRP

The Soul continues to burn

Soul Calibur V encompasses every positive element from the previous games, and does a great job of catering to new and regular players. Many familiar characters return, as well as new faces and more options for creating your own fighter. Online play has been revamped, as well as the more focused story mode, even though it focuses on fewer characters this time. There’s only one special character this time, but it’s Ezio Auditore Da Firenze, so I can’t complain.

The game looks better than ever with crisp and colorful graphics to accompany the fast paced gameplay, where you have to learn when to counter or block an opponent, or prepare to initiate an onslaught of attacks. Each character as a specific special move that is easy to perform, as well as their own unique combinations that can be practiced in training mode. In terms of hours of gameplay you can expect with Soul Calibur V, I guess it depends on how much you enjoy fighting games. Story mode can be completed in about 3+ hours, Arcade mode is much quicker with only 6 stages, but tons of time could be spent online either against random opponents or friends.

Controls in SCV haven't changed too much since SCIV. Anyone could pick up and play, and probably perform some moves with ease. Soul Calibur has always been known to allow for careful input of moves, but you could also play it as a button masher that casual players can enjoy, and take on even the most skilled players. Winning not always guaranteed this way though. Enemey A.I when playing solo is pretty good, but cranking up the difficulty will make things tough fast, so starting on the normal mode for a while is a great way to figure out which character you would like to get better with.

If you enjoy creating custom fighters, there are even more options to really make a unique character. Besides the default accessories, more can be yours either by unlocking them, or purchasing the upcoming DLC packs which will include more options. Just like with SCIV, you'll be able to choose which character's 'soul' you would like to use. Basically you're modeling your character's moves after a default character, although you can't use Ezio.

The game already has a bit DLC available, but right now it's just small stuff like BGM's, or background music you can use on the various stages.

Fighting games are back and better than ever, and while most focus on hand-to-hand combat, it's always been fun to use Soul Calibur's various weapons and characters to mix up things a bit.

Soul Calibur V features great content for new and returning players, and one that fighting game fans should definitely check out.

Battle Lightining in Final Fantasy XIII-2!

2012-02-07T11:57:00.006-05:00

Final Fantasy XIII-2 stars Lightning's sister Serah, putting her in the main role of the game, but if you miss being able to use the heroine from XIII, you'll have a chance to use her in Final Fantasy XIII-2. But you'll have to beat her first.

With the Lightning & Amodar pack, you'll gain the opportunity to face Lighting in the Coliseum. If you're able to defeat her in battle, she'll become available to aid you!

Check out more below:

"Face Lightning and Lieutenant Amodar in the Coliseum! Use the crystals of defeated foes to summon them as allies in battle. The Coliseum appears in the Historia Crux (available from Chapter 2 onwards). To access this content, enter the Historia Crux and select "Coliseum -??? AF-"."

Link To Content- Opponent: Lightning & Amodar (240 MSP/ 16 MB)

Happy Release Day! (Darkness II & Kingdoms of Amalur)

2012-02-07T11:35:00.004-05:00

Today marks the release of the Darkness II and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. I enjoyed both demos of these games, and will be trying to check them out sometime.

Don't forget next week is the release of the Mass Effect 3 demo, which will give you items for Kingdoms of Amalur upon completion of the demo. For downloadable releases this week, Gotham City Impostors will be making it's way to the Sony Entertainment Network and Xbox Live, as well as Shank 2.

Check out the Simpsons Arcade Game!

2012-02-03T11:44:00.004-05:00

It's here! The classic arcade game featuring one of the longest running animated is now available on Xbox Live. Don't forget it'll be out next week for PS3, and if you've got PSN+, its free!

"The long-awaited home console port of the classic Simpsons arcade game is finally here! Join three of your friends as you chase down Smithers and Mr. Burns on the epic quest to save Maggie. Battle your way through 8 classic Springfield locations in this hilarious blast from the past!"

Link To Trial- The Simpsons Arcade Game trial (18 MB)

Link To Full Game- The Simpsons Arcade Game (800 MSP)

1st Impressions (Soul Calibur V)

2012-02-03T09:04:00.004-05:00

I would say that I’m a pretty casual fan of Soul Calibur. I’ve played them all, racking up tons of hours in each game, and still currently own Soul Calibur IV. When Soul Calibur V came from Gamefly, I was pretty excited to check it out. After playing for a couple hours and completing the story mode, it’s safe to say that the soul still burns.

Visuals in the SC games have always been really nice, and V is no different. Characters are nicely detailed, and the background environments have some cool things going on. I actually almost lost a match once just because I was checking out the background. There’s only one special character this time around, but it’s Ezio so you can’t go wrong with him. In a weird way he fits the SC universe very nicely. He’s got some awesome attacks as well as speed, but you’ll have to get in close if you want to pull off his best moves.

Online mode works pretty well, with 6 players being allowed in a lobby this time, and while you wait to play, you can watch the current fighters battle and chat with others if you like.

I’m going to play a bit more before my review, but so far Soul Calibur V is just as good as the previous versions.

Simpsons Arcade out tomorrow!

2012-02-02T14:01:00.002-05:00

The Simpsons Arcade game was a fun beat-em-up I played numerous times in the Arcade, and tomorrow it will be making it's way to XBLA. For 800 MSP ($10), you'll be able to play the game online with 4-player co-op and check out the Japanese version of the game.

For PlayStation 3 users, the game will arrive Tuesday, February 7th, and those who have PlayStation Plus will be able to snag the game for FREE!

THQ Details Season Pass content for UFC 3: Undisputed

2012-02-02T12:04:00.004-05:00

THQ has announced that UFC Undisputed 3 will be receiving a multitude of post-release content, and will give players a chance to save some money with their Season Pass. The content packs will include new fighters, class fight scenarios, and extra points for created characters.

Most of the content will have a price range of 1-10 dollars, but purchasing the $17 Season Pass will give you access to everything as soon as they are available.

Here are just a few of the things you can look forward to with the UFC 3 packs:

Fighter Packs

Fight of the Night Pack

Featuring UFC fighters renowned for having the most exciting fights of the night – Joe Lauzon, Rory MacDonald, Charles Oliveira and Sam Stout, along with former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson – the Fight of the Night Pack will be available for a suggested purchase cost of 400 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 or $4.99 USD via PlayStation Network in March 2012.

International Pack

Featuring UFC fighters "The Korean Zombie" Jung Chan-Sung, England's John Hathaway, Germany's Pascal Kraus, Australia's Kyle Noke and Italian Alessio Sakara, the International Pack will be available for a suggested purchase cost of 400 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 or $4.99 USD via PlayStation Network in April 2012.

Ultimate Fights Collections

Ultimate Submissions

The Ultimate Submissions collection, currently scheduled for release at launch and available free of charge on both videogame platforms, will include:
UFC 109: Mike Swick vs. Paulo Thiago
UFC 115: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Pat Barry
UFC 116: Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
UFC Fight Night 19: Nate Diaz vs. Melvin Guillard
UFC Fight Night 21: Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi

Ultimate Rivals

The Ultimate Rivals collection, currently scheduled for release at launch and available free of charge on both videogame platforms, will include:
UFC 92: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva
UFC 111: Georges St-Pierre vs. Dan Hardy
UFC 114: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
UFC 117: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
The Ultimate Fighter® Season 9: Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida

-Source-

Joystiq Xbox

1st Impressions (Final Fantasy XIII-2)

2012-02-01T09:33:00.004-05:00

So I picked up Final Fantasy XIII-2 on Tuesday, and played for about an hour, and then went back to Final Fantasy XIII. It's not what you think though! Final Fantasy XIII-2 starts off great, its just that I haven't beat XIII yet.

After putting in about 35 hours of XIII, playing XIII-2 immediately after all that I could see some of the positive changes made to the game. The combat is still fun, fast, and fluid, with an emphasis on speed since there is no real animation when switching Paradigms, so you can get to things like Ravager/Commando, or Sentinel/Sentinel faster.

I'm missing some of the characters already, but the focus on Serah and Noel seems to fit into the story based on how much XIII I've played so far.

The Random encounter system is very welcome and offers up a chance to start battle preemptively more often than XIII, and being able to use monsters like the demo showcases will be pretty cool.

Once I finish up on Final Fantasy XIII, I'll be going straight into XIII-2 with the story fresh in my mind which should help when it's time to review it. I hope to have a review up within a week or so, as long as the boss battles don't get too crazy!

Play RE6's demo Early with Purchase of Dragon's Dogma

2012-02-01T09:14:00.004-05:00

Capcom is enticing people to check out Dragon's Dogma when it releases May 22nd as it will include a one-time use code for the Resident Evil 6 demo. The code will give you the demo for 360 & PS3, with the demo itself coming out July 6th for 360, and September 4th for PS3. There wasn't much of an explanation on the delay for PS3, but there may be some sort of time-exclusivity between Microsoft & Capcom.

Dragon's Dogma looks like a really cool game. From what I know so far, you'll be tasked with downing some enormous creatures either alone or with friends. Sounds a bit like Shadow of the Colossus to me, so I'll definitely try to check it out.

Look for Dragon's Dogma on May 22nd!

XBLA Wednesday (2-1-12)

2012-02-01T09:00:00.005-05:00

Two new Kinect-only arcade games have been released today with Double Fine's Happy Action Theater and Rhythm Party. This week it's all about getting up and moving around with friends and family! Both games will set you back 800 MSP ($10):

"Are you annoyed at how little magic you are able to shoot from your fingers? Have you ever tried to get grandma to do the worm, but all she would do is just stand there? Have you ever noticed how your living room doesn’t have any hot lava in it? And who designed this living room anyway?! It doesn’t even have any buildings to smash! Well, Double Fine Happy Action Theater can solve all of these problems and more! You will also be able to clone yourself or hang out in a plate of jelly if you want. And when you’re done with that, maybe you will want to feed some pigeons or have a snowball fight. There are 18 amazing ways that Double Fine Action Theater will enhance your life! And up to 5 of your friends’ lives too! (ages 2 to 102)"

Link To Trial- Happy Action Theater Trial (322 MB)

Link To Full Game- Happy Action Theater (800 MSP)

"QUARREL is the most novel word game ever made. But don’t just take our word for it – grab it now and enter a universe where WORDS (11 points) literally speak louder than ACTIONS (8 points). Use a cool combination of word power and strategic cunning to crush your opponents and reign supreme. Come settle your differences with wordplay rather than swordplay; make verbal not chemical weapons; load up with letters not bullets and use chatter to batter your enemies into submission and rule the world. Compete to use your troops to make the highest-scoring word from the letters given then capture territories and conquer islands in this wholly original virtual board game."

Link To Trial- Rhythm Party Trial (816 MB)

Link To Full Game- Rhythm Party (800 MSP)

Check out the Syndicate & The First Templar Demos!

2012-01-31T10:07:00.003-05:00

The Syndicate demo is here, and you can check out the co-op with three others. Syndicate is a return to the series which began in 1993, so players from the original game can introduce the reboot to friends with the demo.

If you didn't get to check out The First Templar when it was released last year, there's now a demo out for it as well. It's actually a Games on Demand title as well, so you like it, you could download it and keep playing!

Check out more below on Syndicate & The First Templar!

"Syndicate is a re-imagination of the classic 1993 Syndicate game – a cyber punk FPS set in a dystopian world where large Syndicates rule and Business is War. In the 4-player co-op demo, team-up to take down rival Syndicate Cayman Global. Blast your way in and utilize your military grade DART6 chip to breach enemies and the environment as you battle for market dominance and your life. Some takeovers are more hostile than others."

Link to Content- Syndicate Co-op Demo (724 MB)

"The First Templar follows the story of a French Templar and his companion, a noble lady who has been proclaimed a heretic. Taking control over these two unlikely allies, the player must uncover the mysteries behind the Templar Order, play a role in a grand conspiracy, and discover the secret of the Holy Grail."

Link to Content- The First Templar Demo (1.09 GB)

Sine Mora will Feature Boss Designs by Mahiro Maeda

2012-01-30T15:47:00.003-05:00

Sine Mora is looking to be a very awesome game, with some heavy hitters contributing to the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title include Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka and Mahiro Maeda. Maeda has been involved with animated titles like Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and The Animatrix.

Remember that animated scene in Kill Bill Vol. 1? That was him too.

"Co-developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality, and published by Microsoft Studios, Sine Mora is dieselpunk shoot 'em up that provides a unique take on the genre, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with next-gen presentation, Sine Mora is a gorgeous shmup that appeals to both hardcore and casual gamers alike. Coming exclusively to XBLA, Sine Mora features over 60 combinations of planes, characters and time manipulation devices to complete every beautifully-crafted stage with scaling difficulty. All of this is set to an epic score of soaring heights, composed by Akira Yamaoka, acclaimed for his works on Shadows of the Damned and the Silent Hill series."

Look for Sine Mora later this year!

Xbox Live Top 20 (Week of Jan. 16th)

2012-01-27T08:20:00.003-05:00

Here are the top 20 games for Xbox Live for the week of January 16th. Call of Duty is doing strong as always, but it's nice to see more single-player games high on the list as well.

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
3.)----Skyrim
4.)----FIFA 12
5.)----Battlefield 3
6.)----Halo: Reach
7.)----Gears of War 3
8.)----Modern Warfare 2
9.)----Madden NFL 12
10.)---NBA 2K12
11.)---GTA IV
12.)---Saints Row: The Third
13.)---Forza Motorsport 3
14.)---NHL 12
15.)---Assassin's Creed Revelations
16.)---Halo 3
17.)---Batman: Arkham City
18.)---Call of Duty 4
19.)---Red Dead Redemption
20.)---NBA 2K11

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----Dungeon Defenders
2.)----Fruit Ninja Kinect
3.)----NFL Blitz
4.)----Pinball FX2
5.)----Doom
6.)----Castle Crashers
7.)----Trials HD
8.)----AMY
9.)----Peggle
10.)---NBA JAM: On Fire Edition
11.)---Real Steel
12.)---Orcs Must Die!
13.)---Full House Poker
14.)---Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
15.)---Haunt
16.)---Sonic CD
17.)---UNO
18.)---A Kingdom for Keflings
19.)---Toy Soldiers: Cold War
20.)---RISK: FACTIONS

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

XBLA Wednesday (1-25-12)

2012-01-25T08:31:00.002-05:00

Two new interesting games have been released today with Puddle and Quarrel. Puddle was a student project which was featured the IGF and Quarrel is a new take on word and puzzle games. Puddle will set you back 1200 MSP ($15), and Quarrel will be 800 MSP ($10):

"What began as a student project that won a Student Showcase prize at Independent Gaming Festival at GDC 2010 is now a full-fledged downloadable game experience like nothing you’ve ever played before. Guide puddles of fluid through a variety of novel, themed environments (the human body, a garden, a foundry, and more). But to do so, you must tilt the environment, balancing each fluid’s unique properties with the environmental factors of gravity, friction, and each course’s obstacles. "

Link To Trial- Puddle Trial (860 MB)

Link To Full Game- Puddle (800 MSP)

"QUARREL is the most novel word game ever made. But don’t just take our word for it – grab it now and enter a universe where WORDS (11 points) literally speak louder than ACTIONS (8 points). Use a cool combination of word power and strategic cunning to crush your opponents and reign supreme. Come settle your differences with wordplay rather than swordplay; make verbal not chemical weapons; load up with letters not bullets and use chatter to batter your enemies into submission and rule the world. Compete to use your troops to make the highest-scoring word from the letters given then capture territories and conquer islands in this wholly original virtual board game."

Link To Trial- Quarrel Trial (112 MB)

Link To Full Game- Quarrel (400 MSP)

Check out the UFC Undisputed 3 Demo!

2012-01-24T08:38:00.003-05:00

UFC Undisputed 3 is just around the corner, and today marks the first chance to check out how the game plays this time around. In the demo, you'll be able to check out Pride mode and see all the things fighters were able to do. If you like the demo, be sure to check out the retail version coming February 14th.

Check out more below:

"The best selling fighting franchise is back with UFC Undisputed 3. In this demo, play a round in the legendary Octagon and a round in PRIDE Mode, new to the franchise this year!"

Link To Content- UFC Undisputed 3 Demo (1.63 GB)

XBLA House Party 2012 Priced and Dated

2012-01-23T15:42:00.003-05:00

Microsoft has officially detailed the plans for the 2012 XBLA House Party. Starting first on February 15th, four titles in the Party will be released each week for four weeks. First is Warp for 800 MSP ($10), and then Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Nexuiz, and I am Alive, which will be 1200 MSP each ($15).

If you want them all, you'll be happy to know that purchasing all four games will get you 800 MSP to be deposited to you after buying all the titles. I'm really excited about I am Alive and Alan Wake, but will definetly check out the other two as well.

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Resident Evil 6 coming November of this year!

2012-01-19T17:09:00.004-05:00

Set to arrive sometime this November, Resident Evil 6 features longtime protagonists Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield. This three-minute long trailer has all kinds of cool details, so watch it below!

Review: LOTR - War in the North

2012-01-19T12:04:00.002-05:00

Developer-Snowblind Studios Inc.
Publishers-Warner Bros. Interactive Ent.
Release Date- November 1st, 2011
Price- $39.99 MSRP (Gamestop)

Meet the unsung heroes of the fellowship

War in the North is a co-op hack-and-slash action game, and features some decent RPG elements, Great visuals, and an original story woven into the LOTR trilogy. Rather than play as known characters of the LOTR lore, you'll play as three new characters who had a hand in the quest to destroy the One ring.

When Sauron's right hand commander starts causing trouble and attempts to recruit Dragons to aid in the impending battles, you're given the task of finding him and stopping his men from finding more reinforcements. I would say the game took about 15 hours which is pretty lengthy for a hack-and-slash, so I played in small portions since combat could repetitive at times. Co-op helps make the game more interesting and three players total can fight for the fellowship.

Controls are pretty simple in War in the North. The X and Y buttons are used for light and heavy attacks, while holding the trigger and using the face buttons gives you different abilities for each button. The left trigger is used for aiming, while right trigger fires your arrows. The three characters are a Human, Elf, and Dwarf. Each of the three characters have different abilities that you can use. Eradan is the human ranger who focuses on long-range combat and duel wielding, Andriel is the Elf who shoots magic projectiles while also being able to heal the party, and Farin the tough dwarf who utilizes a mix of short and long-range weapons in combat.

Skills are leveled up by gaining experience, and you're also able to choose whether to level up strength, dexterity, and stamina for health. By the time I reached the end of the game, I was level 21 and had a decent pair of armor on and weapons with nice abilities.

Besides the main quest, you're also able to venture off the linear path to tackle side-quests, and some are given by familiar faces, such as Bilbo Baggins & Gandolf.

There is plenty of loot to be found, and you're also able to purchase new weapons and armor from various stores, but most times in the game I've been able to find really good items from different treasure chests out in the environment.

Overall, Lord of The Rings: War in the North features an original story with familiar characters that features simple, but repetitive combat. Worth a look if you're a fan of hack-and-slash games but want something fun to play with friends.

Mass Effect 3 demo out Feb. 14th!

2012-01-18T09:48:00.005-05:00

Apologize to your significant other now. The Mass Effect 3 demo will be available on Valentine's day! The demo will include campaign and cooperative multiplayer content. It will be available for 360, PS3, and PC. Kinect support will also be included for the 360 demo.

There's been no word yet on whether those who purchased Battlefield 3 will get a chance to play as they were promised early access.

"The extensive demo will allow players to experience the all-out galactic war against an ancient alien race known as the Reapers from multiple fronts, including the mind-blowing opening attack on Earth that kicks off the single-player campaign."

-Source-
Joystiq

XBLA Wednesday (1-18-12)

2012-01-18T09:39:00.003-05:00

Two new spooky titled games have been released today with Scarygirl and Haunt. Scarygirl is a 2D platformer with a unique look, while Haunt is a Kinect-title that reminds me of the 7th guest for some reason. Scarygirl will set you back 1200 MSP ($15), and Haunt will be 800 MSP ($10):

"Scarygirl is a wondrous adventure through a beautifully-bizarre world based on the Scarygirl graphic novel created by acclaimed artist Nathan Jurevicius. Scarygirl, an abandoned girl, dressed like a pirate, with a tentacle arm, is sent on a quest to discover what happened to the Tree of Knowledge. Along the way, she’ll be aided by a giant octopus, a mystical kung-fu rabbit, and vendors who sell new attacks. She can also enter a shadowy version of the world to unleash truly wicked attacks."

Link To Trial- Scarygirl Trial (851 MB)

Link To Full Game- Scarygirl (1200 MSP)

"Welcome to Benjy's Mansion - a spooky haunted house where you are the first visitor for a generation! Haunt leverages the power of Kinect to enable you to freely explore the house using just your body as the controller - you'll need to stay on your toes in order to outsmart the mansion's host of fiendish ghosts and unravel the sinister secrets that shroud the mansion in mystery!"

Link To Trial- Haunt Trial (792 MB)

Link To Full Game- Haunt (800 MSP)

Check out the Darkness 2 & Kingdoms of Amalur Demos!

2012-01-17T12:19:00.005-05:00

Two cool new demos have been released today to check out. First up is the Darkness 2, which is the sequel to one of my favorite games and continues the story of Jackie and his struggle with the Darkness. Next is Action-RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which is being worked on by some great talent. There's also a cool thing going on the Amalur demo: Complete it and you'll be able to unlock content for Mass Effect 3! When the Mass Effect 3 demo releases, you'll also be able to unlock content for the full version of Kingdoms of Amalur, so both game demos have great incentives for the full releases. Pretty neat!

Check out more on Darkness 2 and Kingdoms of Amalur below:

"Embrace the Darkness and download the demo. Become Jackie Estacado and master your demons as you experience the thrill of Quad-Wielding: slash, grab and throw with your Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons."

Link To Content- The Darkness 2 (1.40 GB)

"The minds of New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston have combined to create Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a new role-playing game set in a world worth saving. Build the character you’ve always wanted and continuously evolve it to your style of play with the revolutionary Destiny system. Choose your path and battle through a master-crafted universe featuring some of the most intense, responsive, and customizable RPG combat ever."

Link To Content- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (1.90 GB)

The Fenix Rising Map Pack is here!

2012-01-17T09:13:00.003-05:00

Today marks the release of the third piece of content for Gears of War 3 in the form of Fenix Rising. This multiplayer focused pack features four new maps, one map remade from the original Gears of War, as well as new characters and achievements. Once again Season Pass owners can go ahead and download it, while others will need 800 MSP ($10). I hope the next pack will focus on Beast mode because so far there has been new co-op, horde, and multiplayer content.

Check out more on Fenix Rising below!

"If you own Gears of War 3 Season Pass DO NOT purchase this content here as you will be charged again. Fenix Rising Map Pack This pack adds five new multiplayer maps: Academy, Anvil, Depths, The Slab and a remake of Escalation from the original Gears of War. Also included are 250 Gamerscore and four new multiplayer characters; Recruit Clayton, Savage Marauder, and new variants of Thrashball Cole and Savage Kantus. SEASON PASS owners should only access this update from the in-game store to avoid a duplicate charge."

Link To Content- Fenix Rising Map Pack (258 MB/800 MSP)

Check out the Final Fantasy XIII-2 Demo!

2012-01-11T09:07:00.002-05:00

We're a few weeks away from the release of Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Square Enix has just released their demo which promises so display some of the new changes made to the game. So queue it up, and get ready for more Lightning!

"The unfolding drama of FINAL FANTASY XIII, released in 2010 and selling six million copies worldwide, continues in FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. Explore a richly developed world featuring both new and familiar faces, and an exciting and highly developed strategic battle system. In this ongoing saga, the future is about to change..."

Link To Content- FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 (1.29 GB)

XBLA Wednesday (1-11-12)

2012-01-11T09:06:00.001-05:00

PlayStation Network users will receive Amy next week due to the price change, but this week it makes its debut on XBLA. Part survival horror and part puzzler, Amy features two female protagonists as they attempt to escape the city from the outbreak. If you would like to check out the full version, you'll need 800 MSP ($10). Besides Amy, there's also a new version of the 1980's game choplifer titled Choplifter HD, and it includes Zombies. Yeah. It looks pretty neat, so be sure to check that one out too:

"The city is infected! Walking corpses sniff the air, flaring out anything still alive. There is only one thing keeping you from running for your life. A special little girl holds your hand... You're not going anywhere without her. AMY offers you a tense, innovative and immersive experience in survival horror gaming. Play two original characters who alone are desperately fragile, but united become a force capable of confronting the denizens of a living hell. Get ready to become infected."

Link To Trial- Amy Trial (1.55 GB)

Link To Full Game- Amy (800 MSP)

"In Choplifter HD, players take on the role of an up and coming rescue pilot asked to join the elite, international helicopter rescue team. Pilots will be trained to command a variety of helicopters with offensive capabilities including missiles and mini-guns, as well as a very vocal co-pilot. Combining reality with elements of fantasy, the more than 30 rescue missions will range from captured military prisoner extraction to saving survivors of viral outbreaks."

Link To Trial- Choplifter HD Trial (1.36 GB)

Link To Full Game- Choplifter HD (1200 MSP)

Review: Warhammer 40K - Space Marine

2012-01-10T14:20:00.001-05:00

Developer-Relic Entertainment
Publishers-THQ
Release Date- September 6th, 2011
Price- $31.99 MSRP (Gamestop)

Orks must die (and other enemies of man)

The Warhammer 40,000K series has been around for quite some time, expanding it's universe into different game genres. First were the popular strategy titles, then came the arcade twin-stick shooter, and now here is Space Marine, an 3rd person action title released in September of last year. I've recently had a chance to play the game, and glad I'm did as it contains some intense action as well as an established story that does a nice job of informing new players of the battle between Marines and Orks.

In Space Marine you'll play as Ultramarine Captain Titus, as he and his men seek Inquistor Drogan, an agent of the Imperial Inquisition who needs help with a weapon which he suggests can destroy all of the Orks. Of course things can't go as smoothly as they would like and you'll have to fight through many enemies, with Orks being the most prominent. The campaign on Normal difficulty took me around 8 hours to complete and proved to be quite challenging.

While you'll be able to use a varied amount of impressive weaponry, melee attacks were my favorite part of the game. The Space Marine's default weapon is the chainsword, a quick and deadly weapon which strikes through enemies in quick succession, and includes some really nice sound effects to accompany the weapon. You'll actually have to rely on melee attacks most of the game, as it is the best way to regain health. Rather than have regenerative health like most games have recently, Space Marine requires you to perform melee executions to regain lost health. Most of the time during my playthrough, I would dispatch the bigger foes as quickly as possible, and then perform executions on the smaller enemies to regain my health back.

After you've enjoyed the campaign, there's some fun multiplayer to be had with a few different options.

As this is a THQ published title, you'll need an online pass to full enjoy multiplayer, but you're able to at least play up until level 5 without any codes. Game modes consist of variants on deathmatch, team deathmatch, and objective based gameplay. You can level up your marine to better equip yourself for battle, and matches seemed to play pretty well online. It was also nice that there are still plenty of players on the game, and Relic has still been supporting the game with DLC updates, which included a free co-op mode to check out.

Space Marine has some great content, and caters to both new players and those familiar with the Warhammer media. It's spread across comics, books, and games, so if you really like Space Marine, you can get more out of the story by checking out the other Warhammer products. If you only check out Space Marine though, you'll find a great action-adventure title with great single & multiplayer content.

Check out the Asura's Wrath Demo!

2012-01-10T09:54:00.002-05:00

The Capcom published action title Asura's Wrath is almost here, and now there is a demo of the game to check out. It looks like it'll be a great action, and who wouldn't want to play as a demi-god?

"ASURA'S WRATH, the upcoming interactive cliffhanger-action game, lets you unleash your rage in two epic boss battles! Experience two of the game's episodes: In Episode 5, face off against the planet-sized Wyzen; and in Episode 11, clash with the powerful sword-wielding Augus on the surface of the moon! ASURA'S WRATH is a unique blend of action and drama. Immerse yourself in this unprecedented take on the action genre!"

Link To Content- ASURA'S WRATH (675 MB)

Alan Wake, I Am Alive apart of XBLA House Party 2012 lineup

2012-01-09T12:01:00.003-05:00

Microsoft will be having another XBLA House Party this year, and it has been confirmed that the lineup will include Alan Wake's American Nightmare from Remedy, Warp from EA, Nexuiz from Illfonic and Ubisoft's I Am Alive(yes!).

Check out the trailer below from Joystiq:

-Source-

Joystiq Xbox

Xbox Live Top 20 (Most played games of 2011)

2012-01-09T10:42:00.003-05:00

We're about a week into 2012, and Major Nelson has posted the most played games of 2011 which are based on the number of users connected via Xbox Live. Here's the list of retail and arcade games that were played the most in 2011.

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
2.)----Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
3.)----Modern Warfare 2
4.)----Halo: Reach
5.)----Battlefield 3
6.)----Skyrim
7.)----Gears of War 3
8.)----FIFA 12
9.)----FIFA Soccer 11
10.)---Madden NFL 12
11.)---GTA IV
12.)---NBA 2K11
13.)---Bad Company 2
14.)---Call of Duty 4
15.)---Battlefield 3 Beta
16.)---Halo 3
17.)---Gears of War 2
18.)---Forza 4
19.)---Red Dead Redemption
20.)---Call of Duty: WaW

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----Pinball FX2
2.)----Full House Poker
3.)----Castle Crashers
4.)----Fruit Ninja Kinect
5.)----From Dust
6.)----Trials HD
7.)----Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
8.)----Dead Rising 2: Case West
9.)----Torchlight
10.)---Toy Soldiers: Cold War
11.)---Plants vs. Zombies
12.)---Portal: Still Alive
13.)---Bastion
14.)---LIMBO
15.)---Game Room
16.)---Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
17.)---Peggle
18.)---Dungeons & Dragons Daggerdale
19.)---Battlefield 1943
20.)---Beyond Good & Evil HD

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Demo coming next week!

2012-01-06T15:01:00.002-05:00

Square Enix has announced that a demo for Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be released on Jan. 10th for PSN, and the 11th for 360.

No real details were revealed about what the demo will contain, but Square Enix will soon be releasing a post detailing the demo.

The full version of Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be released on January 31st.

-Source-

Square Enix blog

Review: Renegade Ops

2012-01-06T10:50:00.011-05:00

Developer-Avalanche
Publishers-SEGA
Release Date- September 13th, 2011
Price- $14.99 MSRP

Cool Down The Inferno

Renegade Ops is a top-down arcade twin-stick shooter in which you control one of four characters, or six if you purchase the two additional characters. Created by the developers of the Just Cause franchise, this game features lush visuals and explosive gameplay to accompany the late 80’s-90’s style action story.

After attacks in Paris and other areas of the world by the evil Inferno, the leaders of the world come together to figure how to peacefully solve the situation. War veteran General Grant finds that there is only one way to deal with the situation and decides to put together a team of elite soldiers tasked with stopping Inferno. The story is mostly told by comic book style cut-scenes that briefly set up the next mission. Characters are a bit over the top, but that seems to be the point. It’s pretty hilarious to fight Inferno again and again and have him claim that he’s unstoppable, but never actually provides a real challenge.

Controls are simple and intuitive. The left stick controls the vehicle, while the right controls the direction of your gunfire. Special attacks are mapped to the triggers, with the left featuring a character-specific ability, and the right being used for collected weaponry like the rocket launcher. Each character has a special ability that can be used to clear out your surrounding area, and get you out of a jam. The character I chose was Diz, and her special ability was an EMP blast. Upon leveling up in the game, I was able to decrease the cool-down period, and affect enemies’ vehicles for longer periods of time. Ranking up comes pretty quickly, and after completing the game and re-playing a few levels, I reached level 31 of 45 with most of the upgrades, and am going to go back and work on some achievements to rank up a bit more. Even after reaching a higher level, the game still proves to be a challenge.

Depending on your difficulty, you’ll have to worry about the amount of lives you’re given. Playing on normal will get you about 5 lives, and after losing them, you’ll have to restart the mission, but thankfully you still get to keep any experience earned throughout the mission. Easy gives you infinite lives, but you’ll have no chance to receive upgrades or level up in this mode. Hardcore mode gives you fewer lives, but a higher score multiplier so you can level up a bit faster. Throughout my play-through on normal, I only died a handful of times, and most occurred on the last mission.
There are 9 missions in the game, and each last about 8-15 minutes, so you can expect to complete the game in a handful of hours, but the score based structure and upgrades provide good incentive to return.

Co-op play in Renegade Ops consists of completing the missions together via online or split-screen. Four players can work together online, while locally you can only play with two.

Overall, Renegade Ops provides some intense action with some replay-ability attached to it thanks to leaderboards, experience to gain, and new upgrades to check out. Don’t let Inferno win! Check out the game and join the Renegades!

Gotham City Impostors Delayed, Amy launches next week

2012-01-05T16:13:00.003-05:00

First there was no official date for Amy's release, and then there was a confirmed date for Gotham City, but now things have changed just a bit. Amy will be launching next week on PSN and XBLA, while Gotham City Impostors has been delayed to February. No reaseon was given for the delay, but I'm a little glad since there were some tweaks to be had from the beta.

I've been pretty excited about Amy and next week it'll be available for 800 MSP ($10) for XBLA, but for PSN it will be $12.99.

Look for Gotham City Impostors sometime next month.

-Source(s)-

Xbox360achievements

Joystiq

Joystiq Xbox

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (1-4-12)

2012-01-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

For the first new Live Arcade game for 2012, it's a return to the football action of NFL blitz. This versions promises a return to the old style and seems to focus on quick and fun modes for everyone to enjoy.

Check out more below:

"The big hits and stellar plays are back with all-new NFL Blitz. Featuring a combination of the arcade-style gameplay that made the original a hit and the deep, immersive game modes of today, NFL Blitz is recharged with an energetic, football gaming experience. Whether battling your rival in a 7-on-7 grudge match, fighting your way through a season of the Blitz Gauntlet, or taking over the online Battle Boards in Blitz Battles, Every Game Is a Two-Minute Drill with NFL Blitz!"

Link To Trial- NFL Blitz Trial (1.81 GB)

Link To Full Game- NFL Blitz (1200 MSP)

My Top 10 Games of 2011

2011-12-31T18:28:00.006-05:00

It's almost 2012, and I just wanted to write a quick post wishing everyone a happy New Year and to briefly list my favorite games of 2011. I hope to make some changes on the blog for 2012, so here's to the new year!

1. Dead Space 2
-Pretty fun MP and great SP story

2. Portal 2
-Coop play was a blast and the story was funnier

3. Rayman Origins
-Awesome Platforming with excellent HD visuals

4. Dead Island
-Awesome Co-op and melee system

5. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
-So much to do and very worthy of $60

6. Gears of War 3
-Great conclusion to story and fun modes like Beast

7. Bastion
-Great combat and unique narration

8. Resident Evil 4 HD
-Great HD upgrade and just as great as I remember

9. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
-Great Visual Style, Soundtrack and gameplay

10. Batman Arkham City
-Awesome combat mechanics and open world gameplay

It's The 2011 Button Presser Awards!!

2011-12-22T00:02:00.001-05:00

2011 is just about over.

It started off strong with titles like Dead Space 2, Portal 2, and L.A. Noire, contained a drought of games in the summer except for the great XBLA titles, and finished strong in the fall with Gears of War 3, Uncharted 3, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, Saints Row: The Third, Batman Arkham City, and many, many more.

This year was all about sequels, indie hits, and a small amount of original titles, plus the Return of Rayman and a new dashboard for Xbox 360, and more details of the next consoles set to arrive in the next few years.

Call of Duty Shattered records once again, but has some good competition in the EA shooter Battlefield 3.

2011 was full of great games and many that I still want to play. In my opinion, here are the games that I saw as the best:

Best Playstation 3 Exclusive game

The Nominees-Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, inFamous 2, Killzone 3, LittleBigPlanet 2

And the winner is....Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception!!

Taking everything they've done with the previous two games in this series, Naughty Dog has crafted an amazing game that has successfully pleased the critics and their die hard fans. A recent update to the shooting was made based solely on player's feedback, showing that Naughty Dog cares about their fans and consumers. With many epic scenes and set pieces, Uncharted 3 shows how much better sequels can get.

Runner-Up

-inFamous 2-

Sucker Punch crafted a new hero with Cole Mcgrath, and changed him a bit until many voiced their opinions about his new look. After making him more like the original Cole, Sucker Punch finished and released inFamous 2 and gave players more of the combat that made the original game so fun as well as new powers for Cole to use. Also included was a mission creator so players could make their own types of minigames to create and share.

Best Xbox 360 Exclusive Game

The Nominees-Gears of War 3, Forza 4,Halo Anniversary

And the Winner is...Gears of War 3!!

Epic Games concluded the Gears Trilogy in a good way, one that satisfied fans and also set up a great multiplayer system to ensure players would be coming back long after the credits had rolled. With Beast, Horde, Arcade mode, and multiplayer, Gears of War 3 is the complete package and continues to entertain with it's DLC arrivals. A must have for Xbox players.

Runner-UP

-Halo Anniversary-

Bungie bid farewell to Halo, and Microsoft and 343 Industries are now in charge of the popular franchise. During E3 of this year, we were shown a glimpse of the future with Halo 4, but also a nice surprise with Halo Anniversary. With the ability to switch between old and new visuals, new secrets with the terminals, skulls to change Halo CE's gameplay, and maps remade in the Halo Reach engine, Anniversary has plenty of gaming to do and all for $39. As we wait for Halo 4, why not see how it all began?

Best Downloadable Game

The Nominees-Bastion,ilomilo, Stacking, Resident Evil 4 HD, Crysis

And the winner is....Bastion!!

"Kid's trying to think of words that truly explain how awesome Bastion is. The narration in the game really impressed him, as well as the action and rpg elements. Can't forget the visuals as well, so colorful and distinct. Kid says everyone must play Bastion, for it was the best downloadable game of 2011."

Thanks Mr. Narrator! Bastion truly was the best arcade and downloadable game I played. Supergiant games made a awesome game.

Runner-UP

-Crysis-

Crysis 2 was a great game, but I never got to play the original, so when it came to Games on Demand for $20, I just had to check it out. The story is pretty good, but the combat and visuals are what really stand out in this game. With a more open environment to play in like Far Cry, Crysis allows you to play in a few different ways. If you don't have a high-end PC, you can finally run Crysis with a simple download on your console.

Best "Bang for your Buck" Award

The Nominees- Skyrim, Modern Warfare 3, LittleBigPlanet 2, Resident Evil 4 HD

And the Winner is...The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim!!

Once you're done with the brief introduction to Skyrim, you're free to do whatever you want. You could explore the land, complete quests, or join a guild and experience a great plotline. No matter what you do, you'll have hours upon hours of fun. Skyrim has so much gameplay in it's one disc. If you want plenty of content and more for $60, Skyrim is your best bet.

Runner-UP

-Resident Evil 4 HD-

For $20 you could once again play through this Capcom classic. It didn't really matter how times you've played through it, Resident Evil 4 offers a high amount of replayability and allows you to keep all your weapons and outfits into the next playthrough. RE4 HD also includes Mercenaries, Separate Ways and Assignment Ada, giving you more to do after you experience the story.

Best Improved Sequel

The Nominees- Gears of War 3, Saints Row: The Third, Uncharted 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Dead Space 2, Batman Arkham City

And the winner is...Deus Ex: Human Revolution!!

Deus Ex: Invisible war was still fun to play, but it changed much of what the original game established. Human Revolution is nowhere near the non-linearity of the first two games, but it does still offer you a chance to explore. What is does best though is get you attached to the main character Adam Jensen as he strives to protect those he cares about while understanding the changes he must face when he gets augmented. With great action, visual style and music, Human Revolution really immersed you into the game. It may have came years after the previous versions, but you can how the time was spent to improve what people loved.

Runner-UP

-Gears of War 3-

Gears 3 finally added four player co-op, something players have always wanted, as well as making multiplayer a bit more approachable. While I still get killed left and right, it's nice to know that I'll still be progressing my stats for medals and experience. Gears 3 seems for like a game for hardcore and casual players so that everyone can have a good time no matter what mode they play in.

Co-op Game of the year

The Nominees- Dead Island, Gears of War 3, Saints Row: The Third, Portal 2, Halo Anniversary

And the Winner is....Portal 2!!

As fun as Portal is by yourself, it's even funner with a friend. With the ability to solve puzzles with two awesome characters in Atlas & P-Body, you also got to be watched and ridiculed by GLaDOS. Who wouldn't want that in a co-op game?

Runner-UP

-Dead Island-

An open world game with Zombies, 4 players co-op, the ability to give items was something that players couldn't pass up. Dead Island is better with friends, and it proved to be a great game. It didn't recreate the tone of the trailer, but it did prove that a new zombie co-op game could compete with the big dogs like Resident Evil 5 and Left 4 Dead.

Best/Weirdest game

(Catherine)

A game about self-respect and infidelity that had interesting gameplay, Catherine was one that didn't sell too well, but those that played it were happy that they did.

Best Demo This Year is Rayman Origins

Demos that I have really enjoyed usually do a few things: Get me more interested in the game, provide a chance to see how it plays, and makes me want to play the full version.

Rayman Origins demo successfully did all these things.

It not only provides fun gameplay for a younger audience, it also give older and core gamers a challenging new platformer. Rayman has always been popular, and I hope for people will check out this new game. The demo really made me more interested, so try it out and maybe the full version will become apart of your collection.

Hardest Game of the Year goes to Dark Souls!

Dark Souls doesn't surprise you with it's difficulty. From the beginning, you know you're in for a hard time, but this is part of the game's charm. If you've played Demon Souls, you'll be better prepared, but this game is far from a walk in the park. Those who complain about newer games being too easy should definitely try out Dark Souls.

Hardest 360 Achievement of The Year

"Seriously 3.0" (Gears of War 3)

An achievement so hard, I'm pretty sure no one has even done it yet. Not only do you have to get to level 100, you also have to gain Onyx medals for pretty much everything there is to do in gears. Seriously 3.0 isn't about kills anymore, it's about being the best and testing your skills as a COG.

Greatest Gaming Moment this Year

"The Ending Sequence of Portal 2" (Portal 2)

I'll try not to spoil this, but the ending part of Portal 2 is one of the coolest gaming moments ever. This was my reaction:

"What the? Can I do that? Really? Whoa!! Wow! How is that...Man Valve is awesome!!"

AND NOW FOR THE GAME OF THE YEAR:

The Nominees-Uncharted 3,Gears of War 3,Rayman Origins,Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Portal 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Batman Arkham City

And The Winner is... Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim!!!!

This was an extremely tough choice for me. 2011 had so many high quality games, but Bethesda's latest game is incredibly good. With so much to do and see, and the ability to level up skills by simply performing them, you're given freedom like no other game can offer. Skyrim proves singleplayer games are not dead and will never be.

Runner-Up

-Batman Arkham City-

Arkham Asylum was a previous game of the year, and Arkham City is a top quality game as well. It tweaked the great combat, added more characters from the Batman lore, and introduced a bigger environment to play in. Playing as Catwoman was fun, but being Batman is was makes this game so good. You truly become batman for about 10+ hours and Rocksteady has officially broken the sucky batman game curse.

Once again these are the awards and games I have chosen. Many games of 2011 deserve a look and although I didn't put them all on here, there are plenty out there other than the ones I included. 2011 was a huge year for games and 2012 should be awesome as well. Congrats to the Developers and Publishers for having their games released, Happy Holidays, and Here's to a great year of gaming in 2012!!!

Gears of War 3 Fenix Rising DLC Announced!

2011-12-21T11:00:00.004-05:00

January 17th will mark the release of the third piece of downloadable content for Gears of War 3. Titled Fenix Rising, the pack will feature five new maps inspired by locations from the game's campaign, and will also include four new character skins and a new system that allows players to rank up through level 100 multiple times to unlock exclusive emblems and weapon skins, essentially prestige mode for Gears 3.

Re-uppung will give you the following new skins based on how many times you have reached level 100:

Re-Up Plasma – Animated flowing plasma in gold.
Re-Up Omen – Shiny, red Omen.
Re-Up Electric – Animated, golden electric shocks.

When Fenix Rising is released, it will cost 800 MSP ($10) or a simple download if you have the Season Pass. The new maps can also be played in Horde and Beast too.

From Epic Games:

Academy –

The lineage of the Fenix family can be traced back along a distinguished line of military officers. Officer training at the Oracle Academy was simply the expected path for Marcus, and he had visited the grounds many times in expectation that he would walk the same path as his ancestors. But it was not to be, and Marcus broke with tradition to be with his best friends Dom and Carlos. Like any number of fine Seran traditions, the Academy is now lost to the invasion of the Locust Horde.

Anvil –

The fortress of Anvegad was called Anvil Gate because its impenetrable walls were forged in the fires of war. Huge cannons sat atop battlements that guarded sprawling walls running the line of the UIR borders. Marcus went there to find Hoffman, and they both thought that Anvil Gate would offer protection from the incoming forces of Locust and Lambent. They were wrong, and little remains other than the ruined shell of a once mighty fortress.

Depths –

The excessive opulence of Azura defied all normal reasoning. But Adam Fenix could see the cracks in the veneer of splendor from the moment he arrived at this underwater processing center. And all that beauty mattered not at all once he was held captive by the Locust. Out of options, he had to find a way to contact Marcus, and finally reveal the truths he’d been keeping to himself for all these many years.

Escalation –

Haldane Hall has been the home of the Fenix family for countless generations. But the only history that matters to Marcus’s are his memories of warm summer evenings spent with his mother, Elain, relaxing in the estate’s gardens. Sadly, all the estate’s history and beauty was lost when the Locust destroyed it in an attempt to kidnap his father.

The Slab –

Convicted for insubordination and treason, Marcus was incarcerated in Jacinto Maximum Security Prison. Known as “The Slab”, this prison is not a correctional facility – it’s a place where Sera’s worst offenders are locked up and forgotten. The inmates are brutal, parole is not an option, and the average life expectancy is about two years. But that was before the Locust showed up, and what couldn’t get worse, suddenly did. Now your life expectancy there is around 2 minutes.

List of new characters:

COG:

Recruit Clayton –

Clayton was born a Gear, grew up a Gear, and on the very day he became eligible, he signed himself up to become the capable, confident, and devoted Gear he’d always known he could be.

Thrashball Cole (Limited Edition) –

The Cole Train prefers to take the most direct path to the Locust Horde in any situation. What he lacks in finesse, he makes up in raw energy.

Locust:

Savage Marauder –

Locust Marauders were the first to form any sort of organization outside of the Hollow – if their brutal infighting and bloodthirsty raiding parties could truly be called organized.

Savage Kantus (Limited Edition) –

The Savage Kantus were profoundly impacted by the loss of the Hollow. They have reverted to a primal, shamanistic state, and their battle cries have taken a dark, melancholy turn. Few sounds are as terrifying to human ears.

Look for all this good stuff on January 17th of 2012!

Source-

Epic Games

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (12-21-11)

2011-12-21T10:46:00.004-05:00

This week for XBLA Wednesday includes only one game, but since it's Trine 2, that's not all bad. The sequel to the PC and PSN hit game features online play for up to three players to enjoy the game's campaign in co-op. It'll cost you 1200 MSP ($15) if you want to get the full version.

"Experience a world of stunning beauty, potent magic, and perilous adventure...one in which you may travel alone or with friends. Play as the powerful knight, the swift rogue, and the crafty wizard in this physics-based, action-platformer with 3-player local and online multiplayer. Make the most of each character's unique skills and tools to find your way through each puzzling stage of this breathtakingly beautiful adventure. Brought together by chance and bound by a powerful ancient magic, a knight, a thief, and a wizard must now work together to undo the spell cast upon them and defeat an undead army threatening the kingdom. Each is uniquely specialized; the knight is master of strength and steel, his mighty sword capable of felling any foe. The thief is fast and dextrous, highly proficient with bow and arrow. The wizard dominates his surroundings, manipulating the environment around him. Together, there is no enemy or obstacle that can stand in their way."

Link To Trial- Trine 2 Trial (1.09 GB)

Link To Full Game- Trine 2 (1200 MSP)

Review: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-12-20T12:04:00.003-05:00

A game worthy of the Dragonborn

28 hours. That's my current time spent the amazing world of Skyrim. In those 28 hours, I've ventured out, done many side-quests, and got to join the Dark Brotherhood, my favorite of the groups to join. I'm about level 26 with my Nord, and I mostly fend off foes using two-handed weapons and my various shouts. There's so much to see and do in Skyrim, and the fact that you can venture anywhere and play how you want really makes this a must-play RPG.

As you probably know, Dragons play a big role in Skyrim. These epic creatures soar through the sky and attack, forcing you to tread carefully when you're in their proximity. Upon defeating a Dragon, you then absorb it's power, giving you access to unlock more Dragon Shouts, powerful words that can only be used by Dragonborns. There are many different shouts to find, but to use more and more of them, you must be ready to absorb more dragons. If you really wanted to, you could simply evade the dragons and simply focus on side-quests, or just go and play the game in another way.

Another great element to this game is how you level up your skills. Want to gain more abilities and level up archery? All you have to do is use your bow & arrow. How about pick-pocketing? Just pick-pocket. It's as simple as that. Since there is no experience system, you can control what skills your character has by just performing them, and once you do level up, you gain a chance to increase your health, stamina, and magic, and then gain points to place into your skills. One skill for archery would be gaining the ability to zoom in further when aiming, which helps tune your shots, and furthers your archery skills. This way of increasing your skill is very cool, but can be easily exploited, as you could simple shoot your companions with arrows, wait until they regain their health back, and then shoot them again. It's not really the game's fault for that, it just shows how clever players can get when it comes to increasing their skills.

Skyrim is a massive game, but the map is easy to navigate and offers simple abilities such as adding waypoints to locations you wish to visit, and using black and white to distinguish whether you've been to a certain area. You'll be able to venture almost anywhere and be able to marvel at the amazing visuals in the game. As you walk into a village, you'll see people conversing with one another, workers making their coin for the day, dogs barking at newcomers, and children playing who also have lots to say about the events in their village.

When walking down a nice water stream you could probably see fish popping in and out of water as they attempt to go upstream. Wolves will also howl and tend to travel in pairs, forcing you to either fight, evade, or even calm them using magic skills. All of this wondering is brought together with the game's soundtrack that truly immerses you into the fantasy world.

Whether you spend 5 minutes or 5 hours in the game, you'll always be impressed with the amount of detail in the game.

No game is perfect, and Skyrim does have it's fault. With a world this big, it's easy to ignore the smaller glitches, but there are some problems I ran into that were pretty annoying, including freezing and auto-save issues. Updates are on the way, and I hope all of the problems will be addressed.

In comparison to the previous Elder Scrolls game and Fallout 3, Skyrim may be Bethesda's best game in creating an immersive and functional world. I've only heard a few repeating lines, and most voices I hear throughout the game are all unique, save for a few guards.

Skyrim is one of my favorite games of the year, and there's still so much to do in the world. I'm glad winter break is coming up, because I'll be able to explore Skyrim with less disturbances and scour the land for more goodies to collect.

Developer-Bethesda Game Studios
Publishers-Bethesda Softworks
Release Date- November 11th, 2011
Price- $59.99 MSRP

Review: Rayman Origins

2011-12-20T12:04:00.001-05:00

2D beauty redefined

Platformers have been on a rise as of late, but none look and play as good as Rayman Origins. That's my personal opinion, of course, but once you play the game you'll know why. The demo really impressed me and the game has been amazing so far. The controls are tight, the game slowly ramps up in difficulty, and you can play with friends. Sadly, the co-op is not online, but it's still a ton of fun.

Rayman Origins is one of the best games of 2011.

Rayman has been around since the PlayStation, and has always been pretty fun to play. Due to technical issues, the developers had a character with missing parts and only had floating hands and feet, but the look of Rayman was unique and he became a easily identifiable character.

Although Rayman is the main character you start with in Origins, you can also play as his pal Globox and an assortment of other characters. You'll have to team up and save the Glade of Dreams from the evils of the Darktoons, and save the little pink Electoons.

The game breaks down into worlds, and each world has about 6 or so levels where you'll casually venture throughout the land beating up bad guys and saving electoons. Each level has about 5 Electoons to find, and are collected by completing a level, finding them in secret areas, completing a level in a certain time, or by collecting enough little yellow orbs called Lums.

Each level also has Nymphs, magical ladies who are usually trapped when you find them. Upon freeing these lovely ladies, they'll grant you a new ability to use. Some start basic like sprinting or swimming, and then evolve like the ability to run up walls.

In platforming classic fashion, you'll also encounter a boss at the end of each world, which usually requires the use of your newly acquired abilities.

The visuals in this game are extremely well done. Pictures don't really do it justice. In motion, this game is on par with any good animated film, and the characters ooze charm as they run about the area.

The music in this game is great too. It's hard to describe as it combines many types of pieces together but they all work in unison to provide a playful soundtrack, and one that is sure to attract kids to the game. It may seem like a game for children, but Rayman Origins does became pretty difficult at certain points. As you progress from world to world, the required Electoons to continue increases, making you repeat levels as you try to perfect your runs and collect every thing possible to advance.

Frustrating as it may be sometimes, this is still a game worth checking out.

If you're still unsure about this game, download the demo or watch a trailer to see just how good the game looks in 2D HD. As good as it looks though, it plays even better. Everyone in the family will enjoy this game.

Developer-Ubisoft
Publishers-Ubisoft
Release Date- November 15th, 2011
Price- $59.99 MSRP

Review: Dead Rising 2: Off The Record

2011-12-20T12:02:00.001-05:00

A New (Photo) Opportunity for Frank West

Dead Rising 2 was a big success for Capcom. It introduced a new lead character in the awesome Chuck Greene, who was motivated to survive in order to keep his infected daughter Katie alive. Adding to the time-restraints, survivors and psychopaths, you also had to worry about getting Katie Zombrex, the official infection suppressor which only works for 24 hours at a time. It was fun, but many wondered why they chose to leave Frank West out. Although we got more of Frank in Case West, people felt it wasn't enough. Well about a year later, Capcom answered with Dead Rising 2: Off The Record.

In terms of Off The Record's story, it's pretty much the Dead Rising 2 story tweaked to include Frank. Terror is Reality plays into the game, as well as the conflicts with C.U.R.E, TIR host TK and his plans, and finding Zombrex since Frank has been infected.

After the famous reporter scored major points with the world after Willamette, his career and fame skyrocketed, but soon he became a passing fad. The outbreak was going global, and people were more concerned about protecting themselves than checking out stories and shows about Frank West.

Scrolling through channels on TV, Frank stops on a Terror is Reality commercial, sees the show a chance to get back into the spotlight.

The brief intro showing what Frank has been up to is pretty neat, but after that it is more or less the story of Dead Rising 2. While it is fun playing as Frank, if you've already played a good amount of DR2, Off the Record may not seem like a worthy purchase, but at $40 retail with the new sandbox mode and co-op, I would still suggest checking it out. Newcomers to Dead Rising 2 could start here and have a great time as well, especially if you've only played the original Dead Rising, or just prefer Frank over Chuck.

In terms of content, Off The Record has a few ways to play. The entire main game can be played in co-op, as well as the new sandbox mode. Sandbox allows you to explore Fortune City without any time-restraints, and places challenges all over the place, which include co-op and single player goals to complete.

Terror is Reality is gone from this game, but it's a mode that wasn't real critical to the game. Sandbox and Story co-op are contain a good amount of gameplay, and re-introduces the camera functions from the original game and Case West.

While saving survivors and defeating psychos is your best bet for gaining PP, taking photos can help out too. When survivors reunite or Psychos taunt you, you'll gain extra PP for those shots. The best part is that you have unlimited juice in the camera, so you no longer have to worry about finding camera batteries.

Off The Record is a good deal at $40, especially if you've never played Dead Rising 2. Sandbox and co-op are a blast, and you get to play as Frank again! Well, unless you don't like Frank that would be a downside. For returning players, sandbox is a good way to complete challenges and level up before going into story mode, and you get a new amusement park area called Uranus Zone to play around in.

Developer-Capcom Game Studio Vancouver
Publishers-CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Release Date- October 11th, 2011
Price- $39.99 MSRP

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (12-14-11)

2011-12-14T08:44:00.002-05:00

Today's releases for Xbox Live Arcade includes Sonic CD and the PSN hit Joe Danger: Special Edition. This version of the game features 20 achievements and more content all for $15 (1200 MSP). Sonic CD will cost cost $5 (400 MSP) There's also new content for Orcs Must Die!, Pinball FX 2, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Magic The Gathering, and the Gunstringer.

Check out more below:

Orcs Must Die! Lost Adventures 400 MSP
PBFX2 – Marvel Vengeance and Virtue Table Pack 800 MSP
Fruit Ninja Kinect – Holiday Pack Free
Magic the Gathering 2012: Deck Expansion Pack 2 240 MSP
The Gunstringer – Real Big Shootin’ 240 MSP

"A death-defying thrill-ride starring the world’s most determined stuntman, Joe Danger! Combo, boost and pull ludicrous stunts to fill Stadiums and put Joe back on the podium. Race against your friends or take on your rivals, the reckless Team Nasty. Leap school buses full of screaming kids and pools of ravenous sharks, as you attempt to wheelie your way into the record books in over 100 eye-poppingly gorgeous levels! Stunt, create, share! Drop into the sandbox to make your own Events and torment your friends with your devious creations. Special Edition is the ultimate fun packed version of the multi-awarding winning Joe Danger. Experiment with 30 insane level creations in the Laboratory and unlock some new friends, exclusive to Xbox 360!"

Link To Trial- Joe Danger:SE Trial (1.6 GB)

Link To Full Game- Joe Danger:SE (1200 MSP)

"It’s time to usher the past into the future in this enhanced recreation of Sonic CD! Sonic travels to the distant shores of Never Lake for the once-a-year appearance of Little Planet - a mysterious world where past, present, and future collide through the power of the Time Stones that lie hidden within it. His arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman, has come for the Time Stones and with them, will soon have the power to control time itself In order to put an end to Dr. Eggman’s nefarious schemes, Sonic must use the power of Little Planet to travel through time; breaking Dr. Eggman’s hold over the future by destroying his machines in the past and recovering the missing Time Stones! Featuring 16:9 widescreen, achievements, leaderboards and both the US and Japanese soundtracks, experience the adventure through time that introduced the world to Amy the Hedgehog and Eggman’s most evil creation, Metal Sonic."

Link To Trial- Sonic CD Trial (309 MB)

Link To Full Game- Sonic CD (400 MSP)

DLC Review: RAAM's Shadow

2011-12-13T19:29:00.006-05:00

All Eyes on Zeta

RAAM's Shadow is the second piece of content for Gears of War 3, and focuses on delivering new singleplayer/co-op action for the game. As a prequel to the original Gears of War, RAAM's Shadow introduces Zeta Squad as they attempt to evacuate citizens from the occurring Locust attack. Their plan gets a bit complicated once they hear of RAAM's arrival, but for players it's a chance to play as one of the baddest bosses in the Gears franchise.

RAAM's shadow is roughly about three hours, and gives you a chance to play as Gears comic star Micheal Barrick, as well as Tai, Kim, and new female COG Alicia Valera. It's a pretty straight-forward mission, and introduces a few new elements to the game, but it's careful enough not to stray too far from the established Gears formula. Emergence holes return, so keeping a frag or two handy will help just as it had in Gears 1 & 2.

When you get to play as RAAM, things get really cool. RAAM can utilize the Kryll and charge at human enemies when his blade, and the big even gets some new executions to perform on the unlucky COG who get in RAAM's way. He also gets backup too, with special Maulers and a Theron Elite who accompany RAAM on his mission for the Queen.

There are characters here that you'll know and love, and a few that pop in who will help explain why they do certain things in the Gears trilogy.

Besides a three hour campaign, RAAM's shadow allows you to play as Zeta squad and RAAM in multiplayer and horde, as well as new achievements and weapon skins.

Season Pass owners can simply download the content and play, so if you were wondering if it would be worth the $15 price I would say yes because it offers more Gears action, and the ability to play as the new characters in multiplayer and Horde.

The adventure with Zeta is fun and playing as RAAM is incredibly cool. A must play and download for Gears fans.

Developer- Epic Games, Inc
Publishers- Microsoft Studios
Release Date- December 13th, 2011
Price- $15 (1200 MSPoints)

RAAM's Shadow and Back to Karkand are here!

2011-12-13T10:35:00.002-05:00

Today's DLC releases includes content for RAAM's Shadow and Battlefield 3. Season Pass owners for both games can simply select the content from within the game's menu, and if you don't have a pass, each piece of content will cost $15 each (1200 MSP).

"If you own Gears of War 3 Season Pass DO NOT purchase this content here as you will be charged again. RAAM’s Shadow adds more than three hours of campaign gameplay, featuring missions on both sides of the Locust War. As the COG, play as the veterans of Zeta Squad: Tai, Minh, Valera, and Barrick. As the Locust, you are the fearsome General RAAM with all new executions and the power of the Kryllstorm. Also included are 250 Gamerscore, the Chocolate weapon skin pack, and six new character skins for Versus multiplayer."

Link To Content- RAAM's Shadow (2 GB)

"For purchasing the Limited Edition of Battlefield 3, you can grab your Back to Karkand expansion pack at no extra charge! Note that Back to Karkand requires the latest Multiplayer Update to play. Back to Karkand is a massive themed expansion pack. It features four of the most loved Battlefield maps ever, boldly reimagined with the power of the Frostbite 2 engine. It also gives you new weapons, vehicles, dog tags, and persistence in the form of all-new "assignments" to carry out on the battlefield. The maps included are Strike at Karkand, Gulf of Oman, Sharqi Peninsula, and Wake Island. All have been redesigned from Battlefield 2 as a return years later, changing the scenery and adding the powerful destruction that Frostbite 2 brings to the game."

Link To Content- Back To Karkand (108 KB)

Check out the King of Fighters XIII Demo!

2011-12-08T11:14:00.003-05:00

Fighting games have been really popular this, and today's release of the King of Fighters demo gives you a chance to check out the newest iteration. Check it out below!

"Consume your enemies with the flames of wrath until they turn into ashes! “THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII” comes to Xbox 360 as the ultimate versus fighting game, in an upgraded version of the original arcade game! Discover “Billy Kane” and “Saiki (Human Form)” console-exclusive additional characters that KOF fans surely cannot afford to miss, KOF XIII’s “Story Mode”, displayed as a visual novel (revealing numerous episodes unknown up until now), the high-quality “Online Versus Mode” for intense battles with other players via Xbox LIVE, a “Tutorial Mode” that even KOF novice players can enjoy, and many more game modes for thousands of hours of fun! However, it’s not finished yet! More additional content will be available to download at a later date such as “Iori with the Power of Flames” and more downloadable characters!? The final chapter of the “Ash Saga”, full of anger and betrayal, ends here!!"

Link To Content- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII (332.21 MB)

Microsoft Releases Xbox Live iOS app

2011-12-07T15:19:00.002-05:00

The Xbox LIVE dashboard was released yesterday after a slight delay, and Windows Phone users were also given the Xbox companion app to interact with their Xbox. Now Microsoft has released the official Xbox LIVE app for iOS owners, that is designed for all iOS devices.

"This free app will allow you to say connected to the Xbox LIVE community when you are away from you console. Some of the features include:

Read and send messages to friends
Manage your friends list, invite new friends
Read and Edit your full LIVE profile (name, bio, motto)
Change your avatar features/items with the avatar closet
View and compare your achievement progress with friends"

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Check out the GoldenEye 007: Reloaded Demo!

2011-12-07T10:20:00.003-05:00

If you've wanted a chance to check out Goldeneye Reloaded for 360 like myself, look no further! A demo of the game has just been released. It's almost a gig download, so make sure you've got some space if you want to check it out.

"Play through all the iconic movie moments re-imagined and updated for today’s gaming standards. Experience stunning visuals, a unique blend of action and stealth, and upgraded multiplayer. In the new MI6 Ops, test your 00 mettle in various agent skill challenges. Refined. Recharged. Reloaded."

Link To Content- GoldenEye 007™: Reloaded (921.48 MB)

Review: Xotic

2011-12-07T09:41:00.001-05:00

Galactic Nirvana

Xotic is a pretty interesting game. While low on story elements, it contains some fun shooting elements, an awesome soundtrack, and competitive scoring to be had with friends using the game's leaderboard system.

This game is coming from WXP games, and Xotic is their first Indie and PC release.

The goal of Xotic is to eliminate all enemies on each level to progress, but it's also important to focus increasing your score before moving on. There are many red orbs in the game called scab plants, and shooting these will also taking out the armed enemies will help your Terraform chain, which is your multiplier. You can get in on the action in each difficulty, but playing on a higher one is encouraged as you will receive an increase in your multiplier once your score is tallied up at the end of each level.

What makes this game unique from other similar shooting games is the way you can move around the game. By pressing the Right Analog stick, you can a hologram, which is a octagon-shaped shield which can be used as a portable platform, and I believe it doesn't have a limited number of use, so you can use it multiple times to gain access to higher areas where secrets may be.

The visuals are really neat in this game too, and are pretty colorful. It actually hindered me a few times when I was shooting the red orbs, and then would suddenly get hit by an enemy who didn't seem to really stand out from the bright colors, costing me death a few times.

After a level has been complete, you'll have a chance to upgrade your skills to better rack up points, and can go back to any level to improve your score and test out your new upgrades.

What I really enjoy in this game besides the fun & frantic action is the music. It's very futuristic and calming at the same time. There are techno hits in the game, but it's very original sounding and really make you feel like you're playing something different.

We're all probably deep in the many retail games out now, but when you want to just sit back and listen to some futuristic tracks and score power-ups to advance to next level, Xotic is one I would recommend.

Developer- WXP Games
Publishers- Valcon Games
Release Date- November 26th, 2011
Price- $9.99 (800 MSPoints)

This review is based on The XBLA version of Xotic, provided by the Publisher, Valcon Games. Xotic is available on Xbox Live Arcade for $10.

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (12-7-11)

2011-12-07T08:25:00.002-05:00

Today's releases is one that seems to be fun & educational in Apples to Apples. As the holiday break is peering around the corner, why not check out this neat looking trivia game.

Check out more below:

"Party-style fun is ripe for the picking as Apples to Apples™ the video game comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade! This game of hilarious comparisons is as simple as comparing “apples to apples” – just select the red card you think is most like the green card played by the judge. If the judge picks your card, you win the round. And everyone gets a chance to be the judge! Play online with up to 5 friends in Classic Mode or two variant modes – Baked Apples and Crab Apples! Choose from 26 hilarious Apple Avatars, enjoy environments like Space Apples and Carnival Apples, and collect Golden Apple Cards that mix up the game! Bursting with over 1000 red and green cards, Apples to Apples™ the video game provides endless hours of unpredictable, over-the-top fun! "

Link To Trial- Apples to Apples Trial (90 MB)

Link To Full Game- Apples to Apples (800 MSP)

Xbox Live Top 20 (Week of Nov. 21st)

2011-12-02T10:44:00.002-05:00

The top 20 list gets a little mixed up this time with Call of Duty taking the top two spots, but singleplayer games still have a place as Skyrim is the third most played game on Xbox Live. Awesome!

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
3.)----Skyrim
4.)----Battlefield 3
5.)----FIFA 12
6.)----Modern Warfare 2
7.)----Halo: Reach
8.)----Gears of War 3
9.)----Madden NFL 12
10.)---Saints Row: The Third
11.)---Assassin’s Creed Revelations
12.)---GTA IV
13.)---Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
14.)---Forza Motorsport 4
15.)---Batman: Arkham City
16.)---NBA 2K12
17.)---Halo 3
18.)---FIFA Soccer 11
19.)---NHL12
20.)---Call of Duty 4

How will the list change next time? Come back and find out!

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (11-30-11)

2011-11-30T08:22:00.001-05:00

Voltron is here! Today's releases in XBLA includes the classic show turned game, as well as an arcade version of the popular trivia game Scene it. Both games will cost you 800 MSP ($10) if you want to download them.

Check out more below:

"From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The Legend of Voltron. Defender of the Universe. A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil. Take control of your favorite Lion and join forces on Xbox LIVE to defend the Far Universe. Visit iconic locations from classic series including Arus and Planet Doom. Take on enemy forces in four different game modes. Battle Zarkon's minions in Survivor Mode as a pilot, engage in ground assaults in Lion Mode or cross the glalaxy in Space Mode, or coop with four friends in Voltron Mode to confront massive Robeasts! Voltron fans, Mega-Thrusters are go!"

Link To Trial- Voltron Trial (1.13 GB)

Link To Full Game- Voltron (800 MSP)

"Scene It? Movie Night is your ticket to an exciting movie trivia showdown, packed with clips from your classic favorites and the biggest box-office blockbusters. Show off your cinematic know-how with friends and family through 14 brain-twisting puzzle categories, and prove you’ve got what it takes in a fast-and-furious multiplayer showdown. Scene It? Movie Night includes Mega Movies, an action-packed collection of challenges focused on the biggest, most memorable, most “mega” films of all time! Play on your own, or compete against friends in 2-4 player multiplayer. With downloadable content available via Xbox LIVE Marketplace, players always have a fresh play experience."

Link To Trial- Scene It? Movie Night Trial (1.27 GB)

Link To Full Game- Scene It? Movie Night (800 MSP)

Review: Saints Row: The Third

2011-11-23T09:08:00.002-05:00

Once More Unto The Row

Saints Row: The Third doesn't take itself seriously, but it does contains some serious amount of fun. Whether you're playing through missions to progress the story, running around the city messing with pedestrians, or completing one of the many activities in the game, you're bound to have a blast with this over-the-top open world game. Saints Row 2 introduced more of the crazy gameplay elements to the series, and The Third rises the bar even further with more variety and twice as many crazy moments.

Things start off pretty intense in Saints Row: The Third. After taking over Stillwater once again, the Saints become huge icons and expand their name with marketed clothes, comics, movies, and even a energy drink. No matter how popular they have become, the Saints still have the itch to be criminals, and this eventually puts them in a predicament with Morning Star, one of the new groups who seek control of the Saints business. I wouldn't call them a gang because their reach is much higher and they seek to make a deal with the Saints before resulting to violence, but if the Saints just agreed there wouldn't be too much conflict in this game.

After some crazy things happen that are too awesome to spoil, the Saints find themselves in a new city called Steelport. While still being recognized as celebrities in a way, the Saints still have to work their way to the top. There are about 47 missions that take you through the story elements of Saints Row, and took me about 16 hours finish, with a nice chunk of that time completing other activities. I'm currently working on completing all of the activities and have since surpassed the 20 hour mark with the game.

The way you play the game has changed a little bit with Saints Row: The Third. The respect meter that required you to have a certain amount to continue more story missions has been replaced with a leveling system. When you level up, you unlock the ability to upgrade your character and could eventually have a character that receives no damage from bullets, wield infinite ammo guns, and have access to nitrous to any car you jump in.

It's nice that you're not forced to complete activities to advance the story, but they're still pretty fun to do. Favorites return like Trail-Blazing, Insurance Fraud, and Mayhem, and are accompanied by some new ones that help flesh out the mix of activities. Hitman missions and Vehicle Theft assignments return too, helping to add more things to the game. I usually hold off on a few of these after I complete the game, just so I still have a few things to do in the world after the credits roll.

There's also the new survival to play, called...ahem...Whored Mode. This survival mode takes place in different environments where you must take on waves of different enemies, most notably Ladies of the Night.

Player Customization is still a major element to the game, and now you can share your creations with friends. If you downloaded the Initiation Station, you could import your created characters as long as you visited the Saints Row website and made them available to share. Make sure you do this as there is an achievement to be had! There are also more stores to enter and even more variety in the types of outfits you can create for your character.

When initially making your character, you also have the choice of three male & female voices, and even a zombie voice to use for your character.

Competitive Multiplayer is gone in this game, with Co-op play being the sole multiplayer experience available. Purchasing used, renting, or borrowing the game will require players to pony up $10 for the Online Pass, which then grants the ability to play co-op and have a partner in horde mode.

Saints Row: Third looks better, plays better, and offer more options than it's predecessors and gives you plenty to do in it's open world. There's plenty to keep you playing hours after you've beaten the game, and with downloadable content coming down the line, it looks to offer up more wacky fun stuff soon.

Developer-Volition, Inc.
Publishers- THQ Inc.
Release Date- November 15th, 2011
Price- $59.99 MSRP

This review is based on the Xbox 360 version Saints Row: The Third

Check out the RAGE demo!

2011-11-22T10:50:00.002-05:00

RAGE was released last month to high & low reviews, but if you've wanted a chance to check out the game for yourself, there is now a demo for the game to play. RAGE is also being discounted this weekend, so if you enjoy the demo you could pick up the game and save some money too!

"Get RAGE for as low as $29.99! That’s up to 50% off the suggested retail price of $59.99! For a limited time only, Friday, Nov. 25 thru Sunday, Nov. 27 at participating retailers. Taxes extra where applicable. Other restrictions may apply. Check your favorite game retailer for details and participation. Welcome to Wellspring, a small oasis of civilization in the Wasteland. The Ghost Clan, a cult of murderous fanatics, has infiltrated the waterworks beneath the town with plans to poison the water supply, and you’re the only one with the weapons, talent and courage to stop them. Also while in Wellspring you can meet the townsfolk, try your hand in games of skill and chance, peruse the wares of the local vendors or hit the Speedway for some white-knuckle racing."

Link To Demo- RAGE (2.03 GB)

Xbox Live Dashboard Update coming Dec. 6th

2011-11-22T09:49:00.005-05:00

The Xbox LIVE Preview Program has been up & running for a few weeks now, but the official release for the new Xbox 360 Dashboard is just around the corner. Coming on Tuesday, December 6th, everyone will have access to the following new features:

* New personal and social features including Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile
* Beacons and Facebook Sharing
* Enhanced Family Settings
* Integrated voice and gesture controls across the dashboard and in apps
* Bing voice search (Available this year in the US, UK and CA)

Other new apps will also be added after the update releases, including UFC on Xbox Live, HBO Go, and Youtube.

-Source-
Major Nelson

Max Payne 3 Special Edition Announced

2011-11-21T13:34:00.002-05:00

Rockstar games has announced that Max Payne 3 will receive a special edition that will retail for $99. Starting now until January 15, 2012, you can preorder the edition which will include the following:

• A copy of Max Payne 3.

• 10” tall Collectible Max Payne Statue created in a collaboration between TriForce and Rockstar Games.

• Series of game-inspired Original Still Life Art Prints that depict some of Max Payne’s inner demons and vices.

• Copper and brass-plated iron, bullet-shaped Bullet Keychain featuring a screw-off back.

• Classic Multiplayer Character Pack of eight playable multiplayer characters for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer, including fan favorites from the original Max Payne and Max Payne 2 like Max Payne from Max Payne 2, Mona Sax and Vladimir Lem.

• Disorderly Conduct Multiplayer Weapons Pack for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer that includes the Hammerhead Auto Shotgun, G9 Grenade Launcher and Molotov cocktail.

• Max Payne 3 Official Soundtrack featuring the game’s instrumental score.

If you're looking to grab all of this content, be sure to get your preorder in soon!

-Source-

Rockstar Games Newswire

Xbox Live Top 20 (Week of November 7th)

2011-11-18T09:10:00.004-05:00

Modern Warfare 3 is now the number one most played game on Xbox Live, but that's not too much of a surprise. I'm happy to see that Skyrim is in the top ten, as it's one of the only strictly single-player games out there. I'm sure eventually Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Saints Row The Third will pop up soon.

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
3.)----Battlefield 3
4.)----Modern Warfare 2
5.)----Gears of War 3
6.)----FIFA 12
7.)----Skyrim
8.)----Halo: Reach
9.)----Madden NFL 12
10.)---GTA IV
11.)---Batman: Arkham City
12.)---Forza Motorsport 4
13.)---NBA 2K12
14.)---Call of Duty 4
15.)---FIFA Soccer 11
16.)---Halo 3
17.)---NHL12
18.)---NCAA Football 12
19.)---Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
20.)---Call of Duty: WaW

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: THE GAME
2.)----Pinball FX2
3.)----Dungeon Defenders
4.)----Fusion: Genesis
5.)----Fruit Ninja Kinect
6.)----Shinobi
7.)----REAL STEEL
8.)----LIMBO
9.)----Castle Crashers
10.)---Deadliest Warrior
11.)---NBA JAM: On Fire Edition
12.)---DAYTONA USA
13.)---Bejeweled 3
14.)---Trials HD
15.)---Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone
16.)---The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
17.)---Magic: The Gathering — Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
18.)---Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection
19.)---GUARDIAN HEROES
20.)---Peggle

How will the list change next time? Come back and find out!

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (11-16-11)

2011-11-16T10:31:00.003-05:00

With all the retail games getting a lot of attention nowadays, it's easy to forget about XBLA. But you can't! This week's release is a neat looking shooter called Xotic. I'm definitely gonna try out the trial and see how the game plays. You should too!

Check out more below:

"Think you know shooters? Think again. XOTIC is a completely new hybrid; rack up massive point chains, play on 23 levels, and compete globally. Create transparent aerial landing platforms while going for some arcade-style point pick-ups. Use power-ups to boost your abilities. And fire up eight upgradeable weapons to combat the minions of the Orb. All while roaming beautiful but mysterious environments. You’ll see stuff you’ve never seen before, because there’s never been a game like this before."

Link To Trial- Xotic Trial (518 MB)

Link To Full Game- Xotic (800 MSP)

Review: Modern Warfare 3

2011-11-14T16:25:00.001-05:00

The blockbuster series returns to finish their fight with Makarov

Modern Warfare 3 offers up some intense action in all of its modes. Whether you’re continuing the story to stop World War III and take down Makarov, taking on the many Spec Ops or survival missions, or just ranking up in multiplayer, Modern Warfare 3 proves to be the complete package for fans. From the main menu, you have three different options to choose from, so I thought I would separate my review into three sections as well:

Campaign

Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t really differ from the previous COD path, but that’s fine. You know what you’ll be getting here—the crazy action set pieces and 5 hour campaign wraps up things nicely with Soap, Captain Price, Makarov, and the many new players introduced throughout the campaign. There’s one moment where you’ll be asked whether you want to skip or play a controversial section, and there will be big moments around every corner. It’s still incredibly to fun to play, but Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t try anything new in terms of the campaign. If you have friends who want to know what Call of Duty is all about in terms of the story, you’d probably be fine loading up any of the missions. Action is well paced, and at 60fps, you’ll never have to worry about slowdown even during the most intense moments the game brings. I liked the campaign a lot, but at least for me it’s not the main attraction to Modern Warfare 3.

Spec Ops

Spec Ops is extremely fun. Taking place at certain moments of campaign missions, you play out scenarios where you have to complete specific goals in hopes of getting a 3-star rating. All of these can be played with up to two players, and there are even two missions where you must have a partner to proceed. Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer games have promised that besides new content for multiplayer, Spec Ops will receive DLC as well so there will be more missions once you get all of the initial stars.

The other side of Spec Ops is the new survival mode. Most games seem to have this type of mode nowadays, but like Halo's Firefight, Spec Ops Survival mixes in its own twist to the mode. With a separate ranking system from multiplayer, you're able to unlock new gear as you take on an endless waves of enemies, who constantly increase in variety and difficulty. Most beginning waves will consist of slow-moving enemies wielding shotguns, and eventually you could end up fighting off dogs with C4 attached to them, Juggernauts with riot-shields, and helicopter—all at the same time. Besides holding off the enemies, you'll have access to a weapon, explosive, and air-support shop, which can really help in the later waves.

Survival can only be played with two players which is a bit of a letdown, but its still fun nonetheless.

Multiplayer

The Multiplayer system we've enjoyed for years is back and better than ever. In Modern Warfare 3, there are 10 levels of prestige, and level 80 is now the cap. There are new and returning weapons to use, as well as new equipment, perks, and killstreaks. Speaking of those, the way you earn killstreaks differs a bit in this game. Racking up kills is still a good way to earn streaks, but you can now earn them with points, which changes things up quite a bit. Another new element to multiplayer is the strike packages, which feature various perks in each package. Assault, Support and Specialist all feature various killstreaks, and offer up different ways to unlock them. I usually stick with support, as you can still progress to earn your streaks even after you've been killed.

New modes help even out the multiplayer and one of my new additions is Kill Confirmed. This mode is similar to team deathmatch, only you must collect a dog-tag that your enemies drop after death. It can become a race to collect them, as a teammate of the enemy could snatch it before you, denying the kill for your team.

Multiplayer is everything you expect it to be and more, and allows for some private match madness by giving you plenty of options to choose from, including match types from Black Ops such as Gun Game.

When it does get fully operational, Call of Duty Elite will allow you to extend your multiplayer experience by offering up stats of your games, heatmaps, the ability to create clans, and compete for prizes provided you opt in on the $49 annual subscription service. That's almost the cost of Xbox Live gold, but Elite will also give you 20 pieces of dlc, and will give you content faster than waiting for the traditional map packs.

Overall, Modern Warfare 3 is the complete package. The multiplayer will be played for ages, as we wait another 2 years for Infinity Ward to return with their next Call of Duty. It's a great game, but one that won't super wow you if you're a Call of Duty veteran player.

Developer-Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Publishers- Activision
Release Date- November 8th, 2011
Price- $59.99 MSRP

This review is based on the Xbox 360 version Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

Check out the Rayman Origins Demo!

2011-11-09T11:58:00.003-05:00

Rayman was one of the first popular PlayStation platformers, and it's nice to see that Origins is coming pretty soon. Ubisoft has released a demo of the game, and it gives you a chance to sample some of the levels in the beautifully rendered environments.

"Download the demo of Rayman Origins and immerse yourself in this gorgeous 2D platfomer! Explore the lands of the Gibberish Jungle and Gourmand Land and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplay that captured the hearts of millions of fans."

Link To Demo- Rayman Origins (352 MB)

Review: War of the Worlds

2011-11-09T09:25:00.002-05:00

A difficult journey to the end

War of the Worlds was a popular Spielberg movie a few years back with Tom Cruise, but it was originally a book by H.G. Wells from 1898. The game contains many excerpts from the book, and it's narrated by the awesome Patrick Stewart. The narration in this game differs from recent XBLA release Bastion in the sense that you play the narrator as he attempts to escape London from the alien attackers.

It looks great, sounds great, and the controls are simple, but it's a pretty difficult game that feels like an old-school 2D platformer.

I was watching a video on this game and the developers were discussing their inspirations which included Flashback, one of my favorite games of all time. Flashback was a 2D survival platformer that appeared on many platforms including the SNES and recently on iOs devices. After playing War of the Worlds, I could see how Other Ocean was inspired by Flashback. Both games don't really hold your hand, so your mistakes usually equal to death, and it's up to you to get the timing and platforming down in order to advance to the next area.

If you do fail an area, the game reloads pretty quickly, so you can get back into the action and attempt to re-correct your mistakes in a timely fashion.

I think this game could be enjoyed from the perspective as the player and an observer as the narration is engaging enough and the visuals compliment the words that Patrick Stewart is reading.

Here's the main setup of the game: You'll have to traverse through various areas in London as you attempt to escape the Martians who have invaded without warning. There are areas with simple puzzles, and then you'll find places where things get more difficult. There's only one way to get by, and you've got to figure it out, or you can't continue forward. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, but the games does get pretty frustrating, so I would recommended walking away when you get stuck, and come back after a break. I've actually had to do that with many arcade games, including Limbo and Braid.

War of the Worlds has a nice presentation, great narrative, and is easy to play, but is still difficult to get through. Play in bursts, enjoy the narration by Patrick Stewart, and that's when the game shines. Hardcore 2D fans will enjoy this challenge, but everyone else should play in small quantities and come back when you've had a little break from the game.

Developer- Other Ocean
Publishers- Reverb Publishing, Paramount
Release Date- October 26th, 2011
Price- $9.99 (800 MSPoints)

This review is based on The XBLA version of The War of the Worlds, provided by the Publisher, Reverb Publishing. War of the Worlds is available on Xbox Live Arcade for $10.

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (11-9-11)

2011-11-09T09:04:00.003-05:00

Today for Xbox Live Arcade releases we've got the space shooter Fusion: Genesis, with connectivity to the Windows Phone game Fusion: Sentient. To get in on the action, the full version of Fusion: Genesis will cost 800 MSP ($10):

"Unravel a sinister conspiracy in a galaxy on the brink of civil war. Choose your side. Expose the truth. Become a hero. Follow six epic storylines as a trader, mercenary, peacekeeper, soldier, or seeker Explore an "always connected" dynamic environment Complete 100s of solo and co-op quests across 23 levels Fly over 100 ships with 1000s of upgrades Acquire 40 combat skills and 200 weapons Enjoy cooperative (1-4) and PvP (1-8) gameplay Connect with Fusion: Sentient on Windows Phone 7"

Link To Trial- Fusion: Genesis Trial (518 MB)

Link To Full Game- Fusion: Genesis (800 MSP)

Happy Release Day! (Modern Warfare 3)

2011-11-08T10:08:00.004-05:00

It's that time of the year.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is now available and looks to continue the domination of multiplayer across the platforms, while delivering an action packed campaign that picks up where Modern Warfare 2 ended.

I'm still unsure whether I would get an Elite membership, but I can't wait to pick up my copy and play. And to think in a few days we'll have Skyrim to play. Then next week with Assassin's Creed Revelations, Saints Row The Third, and Halo Anniversary. Jeez! It's a great (and expensive) time to be a gamer.

Have fun playing no matter what you pick up!

"Modern Warfare® is back. The best-selling first person action series of all-time returns with the epic sequel to multiple "Game of the Year" award winner, "Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 2." In the world’s darkest hour, are you willing to do what is necessary? Prepare yourself for a cinematic thrill-ride as only Call of Duty can deliver. Online, the definitive Multiplayer experience returns bigger and better than ever, loaded with new maps, modes and features. Co-Op play has evolved with all-new Spec-Ops missions and leaderboards, as well as Survival Mode, an action-packed combat progression unlike any other."

Rainbox 6 Patriots announced

2011-11-07T11:46:00.004-05:00

Ubisoft has announced that the latest in the Rainbow 6 series will be coming sometime in 2013 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Titled Patriots, the new game will include a dynamic single-player storyline based on modern-day terrorism and will allow players to experience the campaign from the perspective of multiple characters.

The previous Rainbow Six Vegas games were a lot of fun and offered up great single and multiplayer content, and I'm sure Patriots will no doubt do the same.

More details on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots will be available on November 30th, exclusively in the Official Xbox Magazine.

Alan Wake's next adventure will be a downloadable title

2011-11-04T09:01:00.005-04:00

The marketing for the Spike 2011 VGA's is just beginning to start, and Executive Producer and Gametrailers TV Host Geoff Keighley has announced several details about the upcoming show, including what's next for Remedy's Alan Wake.

Alan Wake will be coming to Xbox Live in the form of a Downloadable Title possibly called Night Springs. Remedy has stated that although it isn't a full sequel to the game, it is said to be full Alan Wake experience that could be episodic.

The original game was well received, but didn't sell to expectation. The original game can be bought at a decent price nowadays, so if you haven't checked it out yet, I definitely recommended it!

-Source-

Kotaku

Check out the LEGO Harry Potter 2 Demo!

2011-11-03T14:44:00.003-04:00

A demo for the upcoming LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 has been released. The previous LEGO Potter game was pretty fun, and I'm sure this version will be a worthy follow-up. Check out more below!

"The Battle is Building! Based on the last three Harry Potter books and final four films, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 takes players through Harry Potter's heroic adventures in the Muggle and wizarding worlds. From Privet Drive in Little Whinging to Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts™, players will encounter new faces, new challenges and more magic, preparing them for the ultimate face-off with Lord Voldemort™!"

Link To Demo- LEGO Harry Potter 2 (421 MB)

Xbox LIVE Top 20 (Week of Oct. 24th)

2011-11-03T08:11:00.005-04:00

The top 20 list has proven that people love shooters, as The top four games for Retail titles are all types of shooters. With Modern Warfare 3 out next week, I think it may be time to crown a new king of Xbox Live, but Black Ops has had an amazing run. It's also nice to see Dungeon Defenders being the most purchased Arcade since that game is a ton of fun. I also hope Skyrim will pop up in the top five next week too. Single player games still rock!

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
2.)----Modern Warfare 2
3.)----Battlefield 3
4.)----Gears of War 3
5.)----FIFA 12
6.)----Halo Reach
7.)----Batman: Arkham City
8.)----Madden NFL 12
9.)----Forza 4
10.)---GTA IV
11.)---Call of Duty 4
12.)---NBA 2K 12
13.)---FIFA Soccer 11
14.)---NHL12
15.)---Halo 3
16.)---Bad Company 2
17.)---Call of Duty: WaW
18.)---NCAA Football 12
19.)---Dead Island
20.)---Red Dead Redemption

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----Dungeon Defenders
2.)----DAYTONA USA
3.)----Pinball FX2
4.)----REAL STEEL
5.)----DEAD RISING 2: CASE WEST
6.)----DEAD RISING 2: CASE ZERO
7.)----Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone
8.)----Bejeweled 3
9.)----NBA JAM: On Fire Edition
10.)---Fruit Ninja Kinect
11.)---Castle Crashers
12.)---GUARDIAN HEROES
13.)---Orcs Must Die!
14.)---Toy Soldiers: Cold War
15.)---Trials HD
16.)---The War of the Worlds
17.)---Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
18.)---Magic: The Gathering — Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
19.)---Ultimate Mayhem
20.)---Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection

How will the list change next time? Come back and find out!

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Check out the GTA V Trailer!

2011-11-02T12:06:00.001-04:00

The wait for the game may be only beginning, but now we can check out the first trailer for the next GTA game. Watch below and enjoy!

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (11-2-11)

2011-11-02T08:39:00.003-04:00

Today for new releases to Xbox Live Arcade we have only one title called Burger Time World Tour. I'm already hungry. The game features some platforming action, multiplayer, and even some boss battle actions. Burger Time will cost 800 MSP ($10)

"An all-time arcade favorites gets a second helping as BurgerTime World Tour elevates classic gaming to the next-gen universe. Hero Peter Pepper returns and traverses the globe challenging chefs from around the world. Gamers will tackle 50 total levels and boss fights in each of the four environments. For the first time ever, the game will also feature online and split-screen multiplayer modes for four players with online leaderboard and avatar support. BurgerTime has never been more meaty!"

Link To Trial- Burger Time World Tour Trial (340 MB)

Link To Full Game- Burger Time World Tour (800 MSP)

Grab the Horde Command Pack now!

2011-11-01T15:18:00.003-04:00

The slightly delayed Horde Command Pack is now available to download. If you've got the season pass, just simply download the pack, otherwise it will cost 800 MSP ($10).

Check out more below:

"The COG grows stronger with new fortification levels and command posts in Horde, two new weapon skin packs, and three multiplayer characters: Bernie, Onyx Guard, and Big Rig Dizzy. Also included are 250 Achievement Points; two new maps for Horde players, Azura and Rustlung; and a remake of the most popular Horde map of all time, Blood Drive."

Link To Content- Horde Command Pack (800 MSP/ 1.42 MB)

Create your Saint with the Initiation Station!

2011-11-01T13:57:00.003-04:00

We're just a few short weeks from the release of Saints Row: The Third, and THQ has released an character creation application that allows you to make your Saint and have him, or her, or whatever you want ready for release.

After you've made your characters, you can then upload them to Saintsrow.com and share your creations with others.

Check out more below!

"Create, share, and download the most outlandish characters you've ever seen, then upload them for play in Saints Row: The Third. Inside every Sinner is a Saint."

Link To Content- Initiation Station (872 MB)

Check out the Nightwing Bundle Pack!

2011-11-01T09:35:00.004-04:00

Today marks the release of the Nightwing Bundle pack for Batman Arkham City, which features new challenge maps, and of course the ability to play as the awesome Nightwing. The pack will cost 560 MSP ($7):

"Download the fully playable Nightwing character. Nightwing comes complete with his own unique gadgets and special moves, and is playable in all challenge maps in the game, as well as two additional challenge maps that are included with the pack: Wayne Manor and Main Hall. The pack also contains a bonus Animated Nightwing character skin."

Link To Content- Nightwing Pack (560 MSP/ 109 MB)

Xbox LIVE Top 20 (Week of Oct. 17th)

2011-10-27T10:01:00.006-04:00

Xbox 360 Retail Titles

1.)----Call of Duty: Black Ops
2.)----Modern Warfare 2
3.)----Gears of War 3
4.)----FIFA 12
5.)----Halo: Reach
6.)----Forza Motorsport 4
7.)----Batman: Arkham City
8.)----Madden NFL 12
9.)----GTA IV
10.)---Battlefield: Bad Co. 2
11.)---NBA 2K12
12.)---Call of Duty 4
13.)---FIFA Soccer 11
14.)---NHL12
15.)---Dead Island
16.)---Halo 3
17.)---NEED FOR SPEED THE RUN Demo
18.)---NCAA Football 12
19.)---Call of Duty: WaW
20.)---Red Dead Redemption

Xbox Live Arcade Titles

1.)----Dungeon Defenders
2.)----REAL STEEL
3.)----Pinball FX2
4.)----Bejeweled 3
5.)----GUARDIAN HEROES
6.)----NBA JAM: On Fire Edition
7.)----Orcs Must Die!
8.)----Fruit Ninja Kinect
9.)----Castle Crashers
10.)---Zombie Apocalypse
11.)---Trials HD
12.)---Worms: Ultimate Mayhem
13.)---Toy Soldiers: Cold War
14.)---Magic: The Gathering — Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
15.)---Castlevania Harmony of Despair
16.)---Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection
17.)---Full House Poker
18.)---Burnout Crash!
19.)---Game Room
20.)---Shadow Complex

How will the list change next time? Come back and find out!

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (10-26-11)

2011-10-26T08:16:00.003-04:00

Today for new releases to Xbox Live Arcade we have three new game with War of the Worlds, Daytona USA, and the sequel to Zombie Apocalypse. Each game will cost 800 MSP each ($10):

"The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision of the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a 2D side-scrolling platformer, and narrated by the acclaimed actor, Patrick Stewart. "

Link To Trial- The War of the Worlds Trial (1.47 GB)

Link To Full Game- The War of the Worlds (800 MSP)

"Four unlikely heroes find themselves caught in a fight for their lives when the Zombie Apocalypse hits their Canadian community. Banding together for both humor and survival - and armed with everything from guns to cricket bats - the four must find a way off the island... together."

Link To Trial- Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone Trial (585 MB)

Link To Full Game- Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone (800 MSP)

"It’s time to get revved up with Daytona USA! Based on the classic arcade title, Daytona USA features enhanced graphics, tracks for all skill levels, and the original, hit soundtrack! Save your quarters - we’re bringing the arcade straight to your living room with steering wheel and multiplayer support. Challenge your friends with up to eight player online races or the whole world via Xbox LIVE leaderboards!"

Link To Trial- DAYTONA USA Trial (229 MB)

Link To Full Game- DAYTONA USA (800 MSP)

Grand Theft Auto V!

2011-10-25T08:21:00.003-04:00

It's coming!

Well, we all knew it would one day. Rockstar celebrated 10 years of GTA III this past week, and have showed the logo for the next game, Grand Theft Auto V. For more on the game, we'll have to wait until next Wednesday to watch the first trailer for the game.

Review: Dungeon Defenders

2011-10-24T18:06:00.000-04:00

Do you have what it takes to defend your Dungeon?

Dungeon Defenders combines elements from RPG and Tower-Defense games to craft a unique experience that is simple to play, but can be very deep and rewarding. Whether you're going solo to defend the Etheria crystals, playing with friends over Xbox Live or enjoying some 4-player split-screen action, Dungeon Defenders provides an engaging experience and really raises the bar for the Tower Defense genre.

At it's core, Dungeon Defenders task you with fending off waves of enemies while creating defensive structures to hold back the enemy, but the game becomes much more than that. Before combat begins, you're given a chance to prepare which is known as the Build Phase. During this time, you can set up traps, barriers, and other mechanics to aid in defending the Etheria crystals, and once this has been done, activate the crystal to begin the wave.

Now it's time for the Combat Phase. Even before this starts, you're able to get a tally of the number of enemies that will appear from each section, giving you a quick idea of where you should defend.

After you're ready to defend the Crystal, the real action begins. As you progress through each level, the waves of enemies increasingly become more difficult, but you also receive more mana, allowing you to repair and upgrade defenses faster to combat the increasing foes.

You'll have the ability to fight your foes with four classes that offer up some different gameplay. The Squire knight allows you to take your enemies head-on, while being able to defensively protect the others, the mage who is able to attack at a distance and support the team, the powerful monk who is nice combination of the mage and squire, and the archer huntress whose arrows really help in diminishing the enemy numbers.

It could be a little daunting defending the Crystal on your own, which makes Dungeon Defenders a great co-op experience. Up to four players can engage the enemy via online or split screen, and really shows that this game is made to be played with others. Each class of character can use various abilities to help their friends, and you really get more benefits of the game in co-op. Sharing is caring, and Dungeon Defenders allows you to trade or gift items with others, so you're all prepared to face the various creatures in the game.

While campaign mode was the main draw for me, there are also survival and challenge modes that offer up more loot with exclusive items. With four difficulties to choose from, anyone can enjoy any of the modes with their optimal difficulty level.

Dungeon Defenders takes all the great elements of other games that have Tower Defense-like gameplay, but improves on the base features of most of them. The recent released title Orcs must Die! is fun to play, but is strictly a solo only affair. Dungeon Defenders is the total Tower Defense package, and has plenty to keep you playing hours on end.

Developer- Trendy Entertainment
Publishers- Reverb Publishing, D3Publisher
Release Date- October 19, 2011
Price- $14.99 (1,200 MSPoints)

This review is based on The XBLA version of Dungeon Defenders, provided by the Publishers, Reverb Publishing, D3Publisher. Dungeon Defenders is available on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC for $15.

Review: Batman Arkham City

2011-10-24T17:35:00.000-04:00

Become Batman and defend Gotham by entering the dangerous Arkham City.

Batman Arkham Asylum really surprised people with it's quality, including myself. It was a critical and commercial success, and people were wondering if Rocksteady could strike magic again. Two years later, and here we are with Arkham City. The game not only surpasses Arkham Asylum in almost every aspect, it raises the bar for action games in general.

Batman's back, and he's ready to dish out some justice.

Picking up quite some time after the events of Arkham Asylum, Arkham City features a much bigger to take on your foes, and you'll definitely need the extra space, as many of Batman's most dangerous foes are scattered out in a former section of Gotham. Jokers' feeling a bit under the weather after his dance with the Titan formula, but still plays a big role in the game. Even with the Dark Knight's appearance in Arkham City, The Joker must also deal with the power struggle withing the prison as Penguin's and Two Face's men try to take over. All of this conflict is being carefully observed by Hugo Strange, who is the overseer of all in Arkham City.

The story mode has plenty of twists and turns, and some that really take your breath away. It took me about 9 hours to complete the game, although most of that completion was mainly focused on the main story, with only about 49% side-missions completed. Even after completing the main game, I was able to go back and complete these missions that were just as engaging as the main campaign missions.

Even with completing these missions, going back and completing challenges could easily eat up more hours of your time. With New Game +, challenges, and pre-order DLC being released in the coming months for everyone, Batman Arkham City could occupy your disc tray for quite some time.

With a small number tweaks being made to combat, Arkham City's main new feature is the ability to freely glide around Arkham City in order to complete your tasks. From the very beginning of the game you'll be able to glide around as you would expect, and even faster with more fluidity as you upgrade Batman's equipment. There's nothing quite like gliding high above the city, catching radio chatter of a Political Prisoner in need, and then swooping down to his location to save the day. You really get the true feel of being Batman in this game, which is very exhilarating.

The combat that proved to be very simple to use, yet could support expert tactics is back and better than ever. Countering can be done to multiple opponents, and almost all of your gadgets can be used to further your combat skills and tactics. There are new types of enemies in this game, so it's always cool to learn how to specifically take them down, while still being able to move around the area knocking out enemies with swift punches and kicks.

I'm not sure you could even finish a review of Arkham City without talking about the voice-acting. Kevin Conroy & Mark Hamill return as Batman and Joker, and are joined by other Batman veterans to voice their respected characters. It's not surprising to hear that Nolan North is in this game, but as the Penguin, his voice is almost unrecognizable. He does a really good job here, and even voice minor thugs that occupy Arkham City.

** Buying the game new or used from GameStop gives you a code to play as Catwoman. Her bits of gameplay are broken down into four chapters, that if installed before playing Arkham City, are put in between certain areas of Batman's story. Catwoman plays a bit faster than Batman and is able to get around the environment in a different way, so it was pretty fun to play as her. While not a necessity to the overall story, it does help to play her content mixed into the main story.

If not purchased new, her content costs 800 MSP ($10).

There's no doubt in my mind that Rocksteady has once again outdone themselves. Batman Arkham City is a must play for either Batman fans, or Action-Adventure games. You won't be disappointed with the Dark Knight's new game. A Definite 5/5 for me!

Developer- Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Publisher- WB Games Inc.
Release Date- October 18th, 2011
Price- $59.99 MSRP

-Image Sources-

Giantbomb

Xbox.com

War of the Worlds coming this Wednesday to XBLA!

2011-10-24T14:02:00.003-04:00

Other Ocean Interactive and Paramount Digital Entertainment's The War of the Worlds, is launching this Wednesday on Xbox Live, and at a later date for PSN and PC.

The War of the Worlds game is said to be a dark and breathtaking new vision inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel, but retold as a single player, 2D action-adventure game, which will be narrated by the greatest X-men and acclaimed actor Patrick Stewart.

"Set in London, the gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots. With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback, Out of This World and Prince of Persia, the game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation."

The War of the Worlds is will be available this Wednesday on XBLA 800 MSP ($10.00).

For more information about The War of the Worlds, check out The War of the Worlds official game site.

Looking back at GTA III (Happy 10th!)

2011-10-22T12:04:00.001-04:00

10 years ago today, Grand Theft Auto III was released on the PS2.

I actually remember its release at the time. I didn't have a PS2 then, so my friend brought his over, and we played for hours. Most of that initial gameplay wasn't even spent on completing missions, as we were having way too much fun driving around and going on rampages. After that brief chaos, we finally decided to play some of the missions, and became instantly engaged. While I didn't recognize it at the time, I was about 15 after all, GTA III had some top-notch gameplay, awesome voice acting and a nice story to follow along with the many surprising moments that happened throughout the game.

"I know a place on the edge of the Red Light District where we can lay low, but my hands are all messed up so you better drive, brother. " -8 Ball

The dialogue in the game is still pretty memorable. Who could forget the cast of crazy pedestrians saying things like "My mother's my sister!” and "Yep, I've been drinkin' again." The quote above involving the character 8-Ball was very early in the game, and gives you the first chance to drive as him and you escape from prison transfer. GTA III's intro was great as well, and helped set up why Claude is willing to work with the many colorful characters in Liberty City.

The way that Rockstar helps you in their games started in a way with GTA III. The small bits of text in the left corner of the screen as you progress in the game was far better than tutorials in my opinion as they didn't make you stop and read — They we're just there if you needed it.

Let's not forget the gameplay—we probably couldn't if we wanted too! It's everywhere nowadays! The basics that began in GTA III are still very prominent in current and upcoming major open-world titles. Driving to a destination, watching a brief cutscene, and then driving out to the mission and probably driving to eliminate someone who has dis-respected the many people you work for. It’s changed a bit now, but at the time, it was revolutionary. You knew exactly whom you were working for, and exactly what they wanted from you. You just had to go out into Liberty City and get things done.

Radio killed the Video Star

Another element that GTA III started was the audio content provide when in vehicles. After “borrowing” a car from an unsuspecting citizen, the HUD for the radio stations would appear, giving you a chance to listen to some tunes. Licensed tracks were all varied and featured both known & unknown artists, who most likely became known after having their music exposed to a brand new audience. The music was top-notch, but it’s hard to mention GTA without talking about Lazlow, the crazy Dj who takes calls from even crazier callers. Each call and commercial on the game was unique and very hilarious. The writing and voice acting really made you feel like you were actually listening to a real station.

We’ve had a few releases of Grand Theft Auto since 2001, but I’ll always remember who different GTA III was. The first 3D game and one of the best PS2 games around really put Rockstar on the map. As they begin to re-release GTA III on mobile devices, finish work on Max Payne 3, and prepare the final touches on L.A. Noire for PC, I hope they get to work on the next GTA game and never forget the formula they made with GTA III to improve their titles.

Happy 10th, Grand Theft Auto 3!!!

Ezio is coming to Soul Calibur V!

2011-10-21T08:31:00.003-04:00

The rumored new addition of Ezio Auditore da Firenze being a new character for Soul Calibur V was officially confirmed on Gametrailers TV last night. The Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations star will be available to use in both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

Below is the reveal of the character

-Source-

Gametrailers TV

RAAM's Shadow DLC coming Dec. 13th for Gears 3

2011-10-20T09:15:00.005-04:00

Microsoft and Epic Games have announced the second DLC pack for Gears of War 3 titled 'RAAM’s Shadow'. The second pack for Gears 3 will feature new campaign content that stars a cast of new and old characters and promises to give players three hours of gameplay set in a storyline that precedes the events of the first Gears of War. RAAM's Shadow will feature six new multiplayer characters, the Chocolate Weapon Set and increases the gamerscore tally by 250 Gamerscore.

RAAM’s Shadow will launch Dec. 13 for 1,200 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE, or a simple download as part of your Season Pass.

-Source-

Major Nelson's Blog

L.A. Noire Complete Edition is making it's way to consoles!

2011-10-20T08:27:00.003-04:00

Rockstar has announced today that the L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition, besides being released for PC, is also making it's way to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this November.

As with the PC version, L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition will feature all of the previously released DLC including the “Nicholson Electroplating” Arson case, the “Reefer Madness” Vice case, “The Consul’s Car” Traffic case, which was first a PS3 Exclusive, “The Naked City” Vice case which was a 360 exclusive, and “A Slip of the Tongue” Traffic case. The Badge Pursuit Challenges and all weapons and outfits released will also be included.

L.A. Noire is a great title that released earlier this year, and if you haven't had a chance to play it, I definitely recommend checking out this upcoming edition.

Look for it on store shelves on November 15th in the US, November 18th for Europe & Australia!

-Source-

Rockstar Games Newswire

Check out the GTA III Anniversary Trailer!

2011-10-19T12:37:00.004-04:00

Rockstar Games will be releasing GTA III on iOS devices for the 10th Anniversary of Grand Theft Auto III. The game is promised to look crisper, and feature intuitive touch screen controls. Look for it soon!

Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday (10-19-11)

2011-10-19T08:34:00.001-04:00

Today for new releases to Xbox Live Arcade there is a really neat looking co-op RPG from developer Trendy Entertainment, and another iteration of the puzzle phenom Bejeweled. Both of these games will cost 1200 MSP ($15):

"An ancient evil has been unleashed on the land of Etheria and it’s up to you to defend it in this online (and offline) action RPG! Create your own hero from one of four distinct classes to summon towers and traps and fight back hordes of enemies! Customize and level your hero by defeating enemies, looting equipment and upgrading your gear and pets. Take your character through multiple difficulty modes and challenge/survival missions to earn more experience & even better treasure. To top it off, you can do all of this with up to 4 friends on the same console or over Xbox LIVE! With the content of a full retail release and graphics powered by Unreal Engine 3, Dungeon Defenders is one of the true AAA downloadable titles available on Xbox LIVE!"

Link To Trial- Dungeon Defenders Trial (1.39 GB)

Link To Full Game- Dungeon Defenders (1200 MSP)

"The biggest, brightest Bejeweled ever! Discover all-new ways to play the world’s #1 puzzle game. Find your perfect match with 8 breathtaking game modes that meet all your moods. Enjoy the amazing sights and sounds, engage in endless gem-matching action, and soar to dazzling new heights! "

Link To Trial- Bejeweled 3 Trial (211 MB)

Link To Full Game- Bejeweled 3 (1200 MSP)

1st Impressions (Batman Arkham City)

2011-10-18T19:34:00.001-04:00

After a few hours of exploring Arkham City, its safe to say that RockSteady has outdone themselves. The freedom to glide and tackle missions at your leisure really allows you to play the game how you want too. As of right now, Batman Arkham City is fantastic!

As of right now, I've only done 9% of the story missions, and have tackled a few side-missions with about 70 and below percent done with each. They really mesh together so far, and are just as great as the main missions. Prior to starting the game, I downloaded the Catwoman pack as Kotaku recommended, and have played as her for a short bit. Compared to Batman, she is much faster and agile, so when switching between the two you can feel a change that's not just cosmetic.

So far, combat is just as good, if not better than Arkham Asylum, and the fantasic voice-acting still immerses you.

Overall, the game is really proving it was worth the wait. Look for my review in the near future!

Check out these new game demos!

2011-10-18T09:17:00.005-04:00

The new NFS game changes things up a bit with some Q-T-E action moments, and will focus on a main protagonist. It's a pretty drastic change to the Speed formula, but today marks a chance to see how it works with the Need For Speed: The Run Demo.

If you're more of a dancer than a racer, there's also a demo for Dance Central 2, which promises more multiplayer content and the ability to import your songs from Dance Central.

And finally there is a new demo for Sonic Generations which features Modern Sonic this time around.

Check out more below!

"It’s called The Run. An illicit, high-stakes race across the country. The only way to get your life back is to be the first from San Francisco to New York. No speed limits. No rules. No allies. All you have are your driving skills and sheer determination as you battle hundreds of the world’s most notorious drivers on the country’s most dangerous roads. In Need for Speed The Run, you’ll weave through dense urban centers, rocket down icy mountain passes and navigate narrow canyons at breakneck speeds, all the while evading a relentless police force prepared – and willing – to use lethal force to take you down."

Link To Demo- NEED FOR SPEED THE RUN (1.20 GB)

"Get ready for the sequel to the best-selling dance game for Kinect™ for Xbox 360®! Featuring another killer soundtrack, new simultaneous multiplayer and all-new dance crews, Dance Central™ 2 is sure to get your party started!"

Link To Demo- Dance Central 2 (1.31 GB)

"Race through the iconic Green Hill as Classic and Modern Sonics in this Sonic Generations demo. As Classic Sonic tackle a re-imagination of the original Sonic The Hedgehog level. Then grind along rails to escape giant enemies, boost round corkscrews and fly through the air, in a unique level designed to challenge Modern Sonic."

Link To Demo- Sonic Generations (647 MB)

New Saints Row trailer goes beyond the Battle Duty

2011-10-18T08:43:00.003-04:00

Saints Row: The Third's new trailer takes a stab at Battlefield 3 & Modern Warfare 3. It's pretty cool, so check out the video below!

Saints Row: The Third releases on November 15th

Happy Release Day! (Batman: Arkham City)

2011-10-18T08:33:00.001-04:00

The wait is finally over.

Batman Arkham City is now available and it looks to be even better that the 2009 hit game Arkham Asylum. Look for a 1st impressions from me later in the day, as well as a review sometime in the next week or two.

You've probably heard about the many pre-order costumes that are spread out across the major retailers, but don't fret as most of them will be released in packs starting in May. These packs will also include Robin and Nightwing, so you'll still get a chance to play as them, although it will cost some MSP.

I can't wait to dive into the game. Have fun playing!

"No escape from Arkham City…the sprawling super-prison in the heart of Gotham City, home to its most violent thugs and infamous super villains. With the lives of the innocent at stake, only one man can save them and bring justice to the streets of Gotham City…The Batman."

Find the 'Missing Link' in this Deus Ex content!

2011-10-18T08:27:00.004-04:00

Today marks the release of the first expansion pack for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Titled the missing link, the content is set to provide hours of gameplay and an unique setting on-board a mysterious ship. The pack will cost 1200 MSP ($15), but Eidos has stated it will be worth every penny.

"After being tortured by Belltower agents and having his augmentations disabled, Adam Jensen must rely solely on his basic capabilities to escape from a freighter, destined for an unknown location. While fighting for his survival on the ship, he uncovers another layer to the conspiracy that he never would have suspected. As Adam, befriend new, mysterious allies and fight ruthless enemies to discover what was happening in the shadows during the events of Deus Ex: Human Revolution!"

Link To Content- Deus Ex: H.R. - The Missing Link (1200 MSP/ 1.93 GB)

Devil May Cry HD Collection announced, includes the first three games!

2011-10-17T15:11:00.005-04:00

Capcom has announced that a Devil May Cry HD collection will be coming to PS3 and 360 in 2012. The collection will include the first three games, an HD touchup, and of course achievements to unlock! The original Devil May Cry games are tons of fun, and the collection will also include the Dante’s Awakening Edition of Devil May Cry 3. No date has been confirmed, but a price has been set -- $39.99 will get you these three classic games.

Check out the Comparion shots below!

NEW SHOT

ORIGINAL SHOT

-Source-

Official Capcom Website