2008-releases
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Screens: Gears of War 2 co-op, Horde, multiplayer
In case you hadn't heard, Gears of War 2 is hitting stores this week! Even though we spent the better part of last week offsite playing the entire game for our epic (no pun intended) 2-page review, we're pretty excited for the retail release. Still need some Gears 2 info and media to whet your appetite? Spot these images below that show off the split-screen co-op, intense Horde mode and some multiplayer combat -- complete with blinged out Gears 2 weaponry (the LE Lancer and midnight launch Hammerburst). November 7 cannot come fast enough ...%Gallery-35948%
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts demo on the XBLM
We woke up this morning and thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could build some kind of flying car?" As though they read our minds, Microsoft has released a demo for Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Clocking in at a hefty 1.07GB the demo allows gamers to play with the unique vehicle creation system that is the basis for many of the challenges in the upcoming platformer. Looking to flex your creative muscle? Hit the Marketplace and download the demo now. Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts ships on November 11, exclusively on the Xbox 360.
Video: Gears of War 2 launch trailer
In 10 days Gears of War 2 lands in stores and once again the COG soldiers do battle with the Locust horde in a fight to the death. 15 years after Emergence Day, Marcus and his super friends return to battle backed by an enhanced Unreal Engine 3, new weaponry and what Epic Games promises to be a memorable storyline. The launch trailer, as seen above, showcases snippets of the entire game and serves one major purpose ... completely aggravate gamers that it isn't November 7 right now as we type this post.Make sure to check out our in-depth hands-on with the first act of Gears of War 2 today but be warned there are some early game spoilers within!
GameStop pre-order nets early access to Left 4 Dead demo
Looking for an early start at the zombie apocalypse? According to its Left 4 Dead product page, GameStop is offering early access to the much discussed demo for the upcoming co-op shooter. From November 6 until November 11 pre-order customers will have access the demo which Valve's Doug Lombardi recently confirmed would include the first two maps of the first level (each level is five maps in length) of the game. There is no word when the demo will release for non pre-orders but with a few days between the end of the early access and the November 18 release of the game we anticipate it to be shortly before launch. Anticipate and hope is the same thing, right?[via Big Download]
Gears of War 2 is so gold, you don't know how gold it is
Hear that noise? It's the sound of hordes of fanboys scurrying toward their local game store in anticipation of Gears of War 2. Why the sudden dash toward retail? Gears of War 2 has gone gold, that's why.Developed by Epic Games, Gears of War 2 continues the adventures of Marcus Fenix and his ragtag team of military misfits in a quest to kick Locust butt. Promising a longer campaign experience than the original, Gears 2 has added more weapons, enemies and modes to give Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare a run for their money on the top of the Xbox Live most played list when it hits stores on November 7.We're not pre-reviewing the game or anything but we're going to go ahead and assume it'll sell like cakes. That are hot. Hotcakes, if you will.
Saint's Row 2 shows us the mayhem!
Every time we're sent a tip about a new clip from Saint's Row 2 the same thought crosses our mind, "Does it include Uncle Gary?" Unfortunately this clip doesn't but it somehow manages to be entertaining. Watch as, whoever is playing, poorly aims his or her way through causing the most destruction in The Row. Saint's Row 2 is just around the corner, who has it on their "DO WANT" list?
Shellshock 2 goes all gritty in Vietnam ... with zombies!
There are a few times the use of Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic track "Free Bird" are not cool to use. Showcasing a violent first-person shooter with zombie-like creatures in a Vietnam setting should be in the top three. However, Eidos have released a trailer for its upcoming shooter Shellshock 2: Blood Trails using that very tune. The Vietnam War is a difficult war to engage in the videogame world as it traditionally does poorly due to, at least in part, the blurry lines of good and evil. How do you combat those blurry lines? Infect people with some crazy disease that turns them nuttier than Mr. Peanut hence making it a monster shooter instead of a realistic one, of course!. Shellshock 2: Blood Trails hits the Xbox 360 this November.
Bionic Commando gets boxed up
This ain't your daddy's Bionic Commando. Actually, this really isn't even your Commando really, considering younger gamers have been reintroduced to the series with Bionic Commando Rearmed. Wait...who is this guy? The appropriately named action adventure features a dreaded-out Nathan Spencer as he battles a terrorist threat within the fictional Ascension City. Owners of Bionic Commando Rearmed also have the ability to play the game skinned as the original Nathan "Rad" Spencer using a code found within the game. Bionic Commando, from Swedish developer GRIN, is set to swing (pun!) into action this holiday season. Gallery: Bionic Commando
Origins of Faith: Trailer outlines the beginnings of Mirror's Edge
A flash-based trailer showcasing one of the most impressive looking titles to hit this holiday? OK, EA we'll bite. In a society seemingly ripped from the pages (in concept) from a George Orwell novel, Mirror's Edge is the story of a world where citizens are trained and controlled. After a failed resistance the city has grown sterile and without emotion but now a new group leaps from rooftop-to-rooftop in search of freedom from control. How does Mirror's Edge rank on your holiday buying list? Download in HD (98MB)
Fable 2 ships non-line, online co-op to be added later
Remember at E3 2008 when Peter Molyneux dropped the co-op over Xbox Live bomb during the Microsoft Press Briefing? Good times. Oh by the way, Fable 2 doesn't ship with online co-op. Microsoft's community team at the GamerScore Blog have dropped the news that Fable 2 will only ship with a single-player and local co-op experience but no need to grab your pitchforks and rioting boots because online will be added into the game later via an auto update. We suppose some people will be upset about it but considering the GSB team expects the co-op to be added soon after release, Microsoft hopes for an update within a week or release, we aren't freaking out yet. However, considering most reviews will take the omission into account we wouldn't be surprised to see Fable 2 take a few dings on the Metacritic front. If that means anything to you, at all.Gamerscore Blog ends the post by sending over a thank your from developer Lionhead for your understanding and patience. The team at Lionhead are very excited to have you play their grand RPG, so much so that the game went gold before, you know ... it was finished.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Tom Clancy's EndWar: Unit breakdown trailer
Time for a little more olds, today. Sure, this trailer landed earlier in the week but if you ever had any questions about Ubisoft's upcoming RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar, this trailer will answer them. Outlining the combat chain in EndWar, this trailer details each of the seven classes and discusses everything they can or cannot do.
Damnation trailer showcases vertical gameplay
One of the more interesting playable titles at PAX 2008, Damnation is a shooter based around one principle -- verticality. Taking the shooter beyond the horizontal space, the team at Blue Omega Entertainment hopes to bring something fresh to the shooter table when it launches this holiday season against some of the big kids like, Gears of War 2. Check out the trailer above and, if you are so inclined, you can even download a high-quality version from our baby-sister site Big Download.
E308: Lips and Scene It! Box Office Smash screens
You can't blame the day for progressing a little slowly on the news front considering the 'OMG' moments that we brought you yesterday. But there are a few things to discuss.Two of the titles announced yesterday have a strong focus on the casual market. Lips and Scene It! Box Office Smash may not be directed toward our audience but as party titles they both look interesting. Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action doesn't get enough love for how well made it was and with online play Scene It!2 should be a riot. Until you catch a glimpse of your friend checking IMDB.com through his Xbox Live Vision camera, that is. Lips is a singing game. Not much we can do with that on the 'funny' front. Here are the first official screenshots of each.%Gallery-27691%%Gallery-27692%
E308: Dead Space 'Loved Ones' trailer is crazy, freaky
During the Electronic Arts Press Conference yesterday, EA showed off some gameplay footage of Dead Space. After the developer guided demo through the upcoming survival horror title was over EA left gamers salivating and frightened with a teaser trailer. Each time we see it Dead Space looks more and more like a contender for the survival horror crown. Could it take Resident Evil and Silent Hill down a notch? Well, we'll have to wait for crappy Hollywood movies based on it to find out for sure. Dead Space lands in stores on October 21, 2008.%Gallery-21371%
E308: Rock Band 2 set-list revealed, song transfer 'under $5'
During the Microsoft Press Conference yesterday, Harmonix unveiled the full song set-list for Rock Band 2. Nearly doubling the set list size of the original release, Rock Band 2 will include 84 tracks (all master recordings) on the retail disc, plus there are plans to release an additional 20 tracks as free downloadable content after the game's release. The Rock Band 2 press release, which included the final set-list for the game, also mentions that Rock Band content from the original retail disc will be transferable to the sequel, but for a price. According to the release, "owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history!" A fee is required to unlock the content, which will be "under 5 dollars" according to the release. Also, as stated before, Rock Band 2 will support all downloadable content from the original Rock Band.Rock Band 2 is set to release exclusively on the Xbox 360 this September. With classic bands AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam and more added to the game, Rock Band 2 hasn't had us this excited about music since the invention of the compact disc. Wow. Totally just aged ourselves there.Full set-list for Rock Band 2 after the jump.
E308: Fable 2 screens and limited edition box art
Rounding down our media blitz for the evening are screenshots and concept art for Fable 2. From developer Lionhead Studios, the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive role-playing title is the sequel to the 2004 critically and commercially acclaimed game Fable on the original Xbox and PC.Along with the screens you can take a sneak peak at the artwork for the Limited Edition of Fable 2, which doesn't look at cool as the standard edition -- but it promises a bunch of additional items for your extra cash. Enjoy the screens, make a wallpaper of some kind or if you're feeling really creative you can utilize your Photoshop skills and use the heads of the X3F staff to make hilarious photos. it'll be like payback since most of us are playing the game tomorrow. Fable 2 is set to release this October.%Gallery-27643%%Gallery-27644%
E308: Gears of War 2 screens, renders and art
You'd think that since the Microsoft Press Conference was over we'd all curl up and think about the awesomeness. Naw! We still got a ton of stuff to show and tell you! So grab a cup of coffee for another content explosion.This update is all about Gears of War 2. Microsoft released a handful of news screens and concept art for the anticipated sequel today as well as a shot at the retail box art for the game. Word around the Twitter campfire is Cliff Bleszinski's original motto of "bigger, better and more badass" for Gears 2 has been replaced by "epic and intimate." This box art screams it.[Thanks, N'Gai for the quote]%Gallery-27627%%Gallery-27628%
E308: Fable 2 trailer
Finally confirming our long standing suspicion of online co-op, Fable 2 was a major focus for Microsoft during its E3 2008 press conference. The trailer shown, now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, showcases the storyline that weaves throughout the game. A tale of vengeance where you can choose to seek revenge for the wrongs done to you or rise above and help those in need. Fable 2 is set to hit stores this October.
Dead Space gets box'arted
You've gotta hand it to Electronic Arts. For all the flak they get in the industry they certainly try their hand at a ton of new IPs. OK, enough with the hand gag. Back on topic. Army of Two, Spore, Dead Space are a few new titles from the mega-publisher trying to shy away from being known as the annual release factory.As for Dead Space, the survival-horror space action-shooter, EA released an image of the box art a few days ago and boy is it grim. A severed hand floats in cold space searching for a body to call home. It makes sense when you think about it. The owner is probably dead and it is floating in space. Creative. Creepy, but creative.%Gallery-21371%
Rumor: Rock Band 2 setlist leak, part two
While we were already impressed by the originally leaked list of Rock Band 2 tracks, the latest leak has blown our collective minds. A thread on the Score Hero forums -- which has been locked and wiped by moderators for apparent NDA violations -- listed a new set of tracks for Rock Band 2. The listing comes from a user who claimed to have taken part in a play test of the game. It is plausable that the listing is legit due to the NDA violation discussion and subsequent moderation as well as the fact that the game is expected to be front and center at E3.As for the list? It includes such heavy hitters as "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine, "Peace Sells" by Megadeth, "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett and so much more. Jump in for the full listing, but make sure you're sitting down ... this one could knock you off your feet!
