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Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2010
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow There are more than a few complaints floating around that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow isn't a real Castlevania title. I would argue that Lords of Shadow is more Castlevania than many recent entries in the series. I think fans tend to forget (or overlook) that Castlevania began as a linear action title. For me, the series has never been about completing the map. It's about exploring wonderful and sinister places, which Lords of Shadow packs in spades. When I played the 8-bit Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest as a child, I saw lots of blocky pixels, but what I imagined is perfectly represented by Lords of Shadow. From stinking bogs to dark forests and forgotten castles, all is so meticulously and lovingly crafted that my seven-year-old self was enthralled with every moment. I'll take that over the same 13-year-old sprites any day.
Raziel and Kain settle their differences in Guardian of Light trailer
We can't remember all the transgressions Kain and Raziel have carried out against one another (didn't dude rip other dude's wings off and throw him into hell?), but we're happy to see them working together for a common goal in the Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light DLC trailer below.
Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light half off, Kane and Lynch character packs available today on XBLM
As part of Xbox LIve's "Countdown to 2011," today's deal is the excellent downloadable title Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light at 50 percent off, which means the co-op adventure can be yours for 600 Microsoft Points (that's $7.50). That's quite inexpensive for some time with Lady Croft. We'd say "cheap," but she ain't cheap. Also available today is the free Kane & Lynch character pack for Guardian of LIght. Don't ask questions, just let the weird wash over you. Finally, there's a dose of randomness with a pet monkey for your Avatar, half off for 120 MSP ($1.50). "He's not horrible. He's lovely. He's a lovely little monkey." %Gallery-87912%
World's largest iPhone appears in London with Lara Croft
It's not unusual to see large things in London. The London Eye (AKA Millennium Wheel) was the largest Ferris Wheel in the world for a time and still looms over the London skyline, and a large inflatable pig was buoyed over the Battersea Power Station in 1976 for an album cover shoot for Pink Floyd. The tradition continued this week, when visitors to the St. Pancras International Train Station in London were greeted by a huge iPhone. The iPhone was created as a way to advertise the launch of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a new US$6.99 ($9.99 for the iPad edition) game app. The über-iPhone was created from 56 iPads, and people in the first crowd to see the advertisement got to depart with iPads that were given away. Considering that a good number of our friends in the U.K. are currently stuck at train stations, airports, or home due to snowy winter weather, we're hoping that they spend their time reading TUAW and playing with their iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
New games flood App Store before impending holiday release freeze
The App Store is in constant danger of new release bombardments, sure, but many companies adhere to a regular, weekly bombing run beginning each Wednesday, through the wee hours of the night (UTC), dropping their new iPhone and iPad games on Apple's marketplace while many of us are snoozing. Last night was no exception -- actually, scratch that. It was exceptional! Pending the start of the "iTunes Connect Holiday Shutdown" next Thursday -- a six-day lockout period when developers will be unable to release or update apps, including games -- an army of companies, armed with their big holiday releases (for little iDevices), launched a massive attack on the App Store last night. What began as a few warning shots yesterday grew into a full-on assault, led by Gameloft's crisp clones, NOVA 2 and Shadow Guardian, and Square Enix's surprise (and apparently rushed) port of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Even Sega couldn't resist launching a few more classics in Altered Beast and Sonic Spinball. And what's this ... Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3? Hey, if Street Fighter IV worked ... Pursue our complete list of new release highlights after the break, and then make double-sure "Santa" knows you've been good enough for an iTunes gift card this year.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light exploring iDevices tomorrow
New Zealand's iTunes App Store revealed Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad well before the game's official announcement in North America -- a tweet from Crystal Dynamic's global brand director Karl Stewart soon after confirmed its veracity. The game will arrive tomorrow for $6.99 (iPhone) and $9.99 (iPad), and its content is said to be unchanged from the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network game released to critical fanfare earlier this year. Two-player co-op is included, and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options will be at your disposal. As far as the recently released DLC for the game is concerned, however, it's not clear whether or not it'll end up on the App Store version -- we've asked Crystal Dynamics to clarify [see below]. Lara and Totec's now mobile adventure will be available to North Americans starting tomorrow morning at 12:01AM EST. Update: A Crystal Dynamics representative confirmed that the DLC from Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network iterations of the game is not included with the iOS version.%Gallery-111443%
Get into Harms Way, Doritos Crash Course and Bomberman Battlefest on XBLA today
The two final contenders in the Doritos-sponsored "Unlock Xbox" game design contest have been fully realized and released as Xbox Live Arcade games today, for free. Until December 26, you can cast your vote for either Doritos Cash Course (download) or Harms Way (download) through the Xbox Unlock ad on the Dashboard, with the winner to be announced on December 29 and offered a 50G (that's dollars, not Achievement points) part-time, game consulting gig with Doritos. Perhaps overshadowed by the flavorful showdown, the previously announced Bomberman Live sequel, Battlefest (download), is also available on the Arcade today for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Additionally, the third Lara Croft: GoL challenge pack add-on, "A Hazardous Reunion" (download), has been released for 400 points ($5), along with the "Marvel Pinball" tables (download/trial) for Pinball FX 2, priced at 800 points. Update: The Costume Quest DLC "Grubbins on Ice" (download) has also been released today for 400 points.
December XBLA deal: Buy two games, get 400 MS Points free
In yet another Xbox Live Arcade deal, Microsoft is now offering a free batch of 400 MS Points for purchasing two qualifying XBLA games. Don't run off downloading games just yet though, because you'll need to head over to the Xbox Live Events page and download the Arcade Offer gamer picture to register for the giveaway first (the direct link to the gamer picture is currently broken, but it's the first one listed on the events page). Once that's done, snag two of the games listed after the break (including favorites like Limbo, Lara Croft, Monday Night Combat, Super Meat Boy and more). Within four weeks, the free points will be added to registered Live accounts automatically or sent as redemption code via email. If you're planning to pick up any of the eligible games, you might as well get some free points too, right? The promotion ends December 20, so get to it. [Thanks, Grand Kerfuffle]
Kane & Lynch and Kain & Raziel buddy up in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light DLC
Ever wondered what playing through Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light would be like if Lara was Adam 'Kane' Marcus and Totec was James Seth Lynch, eponymous characters of the Kane & Lynch series? According to a hack of the PC version that popped up on YouTube – along with a helpful confirmation straight from developer Crystal Dynamics' Twitter account – soon enough you'll be able to experience such bizarreness firsthand as both characters will be available for download at some point in the future (remember: before the end of 2010). Also revealed was that other Kane from CrystalD's past: Kain and Raziel (of Legacy of Kain series fame) will be the second character pack. Names are also put to the second and third content expansions: "Things That Go Boom" (number two) and "Hazardous Reunion" (number three). PS3 owners can actually buy the second pack right now, as of last week's update. The YouTube clip after the break shows a bit of our old friends Kain and Raziel in action ... for the first time in seven years. Quick, someone explain YouTube to them! [Note: Crystal Dynamics is asking fans to tweet their choice for which character pack should come first. Instead, we're going to ask you to decide in our totally scientific poll, just below.]%Poll-56348%
Lara Croft co-op patch arrives for PC
PC players of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light despairing about the lack of online play can now see a bit of sunshine coming in through a crack in a cave wall. Just one day after the release of the co-op-enabling patch for the PSN version, developer Crystal Dynamics tweeted that it's now available through Steam as well. Since PC gamers have been waiting the longest (by an admittedly slim margin), your PC pals should be the happiest about the arrival of online play. You should notice an extra spring in their steps leaps across chasms and an unmistakable joie de vivre in the way they clamber up walls using your ad-hoc spear handholds.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light online patch now available on PS3
Just seven short weeks after its release, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is finally a finished game on the PS3. Crystal Dynamics just announced that the title's online co-op title update has finally gone live, meaning we're just a PC patch away from the game reaching its full potential on all platforms. It's not that we're unhappy for the update -- we are -- but it's been an exercise in frustration seeing Crystal Dynamics get so close to knocking one out of the park only to have missing features pluck it from the air at the last second. ... Oh man, did we just complete a successful sports metaphor? Don't worry, we won't get NBA Jam-style swelled heads. Holy crap, that's a double! And a double's a thing in baseball, right? So three! Okay, two-and-a-half.
Free Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light DLC arrives Oct. 27 on 360
Those of you hopping in to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on Xbox 360 tomorrow will find not only the newly added ability to play with a buddy online, but also the first of the game's DLC packs, "All the Trappings." (You'll remember it as a way of saying, "Hey, sorry we sold you our game before we implemented all of the features we promised.") The new area and its combination of puzzles and combat challenges will be free for 30 days. Plans for online support in the PS3 and PC versions are still unannounced, but if Square Enix tries to charge you guys for "All the Trappings," we promise to support all of you in a well-earned freak out.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light online co-op patch due next week for Xbox 360
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light owners will finally discover online co-op on Xbox when the long-awaited patch is implemented October 27. Crystal Dynamics just announced the news and noted that the update for PS3 and PC is "coming later, stay tuned." The company also reiterated that the first DLC pack would be free "to say thanks for your patience." Guardian of Light was one of the standout downloadable titles of the summer, despite missing a key feature at launch. It was originally intended to be patched in during September, but Lady Croft slept in and missed the date. %Gallery-97021%
PSN Tuesday: Lara Croft, Deathspank, Claptrap's New Robot Revolution
The PSN update has quite some quality downloadable games this week. Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light not only arrives, but it adds a whole featured section on the PSN. There's also Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue and Swords & Solidiers. Fans of Borderlands should also take a look at the game's final piece of DLC, "Claptrap's New Robot Revolution." Although, remember, if you haven't already invested in the game's DLC, the Borderlands Game of the Year Edition will be out October 12. Check out the full PSN update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light PS3 and PC won't launch with online co-op
Much like their Xbox-playing counterparts, folks hoping to do some remote Tomb Raiding with an online pal on PS3 and PC will have to cool their jets for a bit. According to a press release from Crystal Dynamics, the PS3 and PC versions of the Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light are still slated to arrive on September 28 -- however, contrary to what was previously promised, the new versions will not have online co-op capabilities until "a later date." A Crystal Dynamics representative explained the 360 online co-op update will go live "in the very near future." We've followed up to find out if it will arrive alongside the new versions, as was announced last month. We've also contacted Crystal Dynamics to get a better idea of what "a later date" entails for the PS3 and PC versions. For the developer's sake, we sure hope it means "before we plan to launch all those DLC expansions later this year."
Castlevania HD, Lara Croft, Monday Night Combat sales analyzed
Gamasutra has posted its Xbox Live Arcade sales analysis for August, and the results appear mixed for the final three Summer of Arcade titles. While the piece notes that every 2009 Summer of Arcade title managed to garner 80,000 players in their respective first weeks, this year's batch is less consistent. Based on leaderboard data, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair had only 44,601 players in its first week, with sales declining each following week to close out the month with just over 75,000 players. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light -- perhaps due to the lack of online co-op -- befell a similar fate, acquiring 44,733 players in its first week and adding 22,498 more the following week to cap off August with 67,231 players. Meanwhile, Monday Night Combat -- which launched between Castlevania and Lara Croft -- debuted with over 86,000 players, followed by strong additions the next two weeks for a total of nearly 172,000 in August. Granted, these numbers are all culled from leaderboards and don't necessarily translate directly to sales, it seems like this year's Summer of Arcade failed to drum up the same interest as last year's event, which packed in the likes of Shadow Complex, 'Splosion Man, and Trials HD. Check out the full article on Gamasutra for more stats than you can shake a slice of bacon at.
Amazon no longer selling Xbox Live Arcade games, as GameStop begins to offer them
Just one year after launching a retail portal for Xbox Live content, Amazon is "no longer selling Xbox Live Arcade game codes," according to a statement on the site's Xbox Live page. Following a prompt on the same page to buy Castle Crashers for Xbox 360, for example, shoppers will find the item listed as "Currently unavailable," with a notice adding, "We don't know when or if this item will be available again." It's unclear why Amazon discontinued its Xbox Live program, considering the retailer continues to sell codes for games on PlayStation Network and Nintendo's WiiWare service. "You can continue to purchase Xbox Live points on Amazon.com and those points can be redeemed through your Xbox 360 console to purchase any of the games that were previously available," Amazon notes. (Those points can also be redeemed through the Xbox.com Marketplace, which does not offer standalone content codes for sale.) In related news, Microsoft has partnered with GameStop to sell Xbox Live content codes in stores. Following a recent trial, codes for more than 45 downloadable games and add-ons will be offered in the retailer's locations nationwide, including the XBLA Summer of Arcade selection Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. With supposedly only "15 percent" of gamers buying downloadable games, GameStop President Tony Bartel told USA Today's Game Hunters that "the marketing and selling of downloadable content in store as a meaningful way to participate and expand the sales of digital content, providing the customer with a richer gaming experience." Essentially, the brick-and-mortar exposure should make more people aware that downloadable games exist in the first place -- something Amazon.com might not do so well.
First Lara Croft DLC pack free for 30 days on Xbox 360
Presumably to make the sting of that delayed online co-op less painful, Square Enix will offer the first DLC release for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light to Xbox 360 players for free -- for one month. "...We will be offering the first DLC pack for free for the first 30 days, exclusively on the Xbox 360," Crystal Dynamics general manager Darrell Gallagher said in a press release, "so that gamers can get a taste of some of the exciting extras we have in store." This DLC pack is the first of five. Square Enix didn't announce a release date for the DLC, but it wouldn't be much of a conciliatory measure if it didn't arrive before the September 28 release of the online patch.
Review: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
When Lara Croft triumphantly steps out into the sunlight, precious trinket held aloft, everyone cheers (and momentarily overlooks the dead Royal Bengal tiger at her feet). But that immortal moment of success always overshadows a lonely line of work, fraught with deadly pits, unstoppable boulders and hideous creatures. Nobody ever talks about that unglamorous time Lara broke a hip inside the tomb of Qeutzalopec and had to chew on a giant spider leg for three weeks. In temporarily putting the Tomb Raider brand aside, Crystal Dynamics has finally given gaming's iconic action archaeologist a helping hand. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light introduces an unexplored social element into a franchise that I've come to adore for its sense of isolation and discovery. A second player, acting as Aztec guardian Totec, necessarily disrupts that atmosphere, but also facilitates unplanned moments of creativity. Enter: Spider Bowling.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will not have online co-op until Sept. 28
We hope you've got space for Lara Croft and one guardian of light on your couch, because that's where the heroic pair will find themselves on August 18th. Developer Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that when Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light launches on Xbox Live Arcade, concluding Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion, it will only support offline co-op. Online co-op, as well as Xbox Live standards like full leaderboard support and voice chat functionality, will be introduced via a free update on September 28. On the same day, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will arrive on PlayStation Network and Steam. The baffling omission of the online component appears to have been made at the last minute, with Crystal Dynamics global brand director Karl Stewart telling Joystiq, "We made a decision recently because we were focusing on how we can deliver the best possible experience to the players. If we had launched with online co-op, we wouldn't feel comfortable that it was the best possible experience for the player." Though online co-op had been promoted and promised since the game's announcement, Stewart claims that "nothing underhanded" influenced the decision. "This is our first digital title and we want to make sure we deliver the best possible experience to players." It's a tough decision: delay the game on Xbox Live Arcade and miss out on Summer of Arcade promotion, or get an imperfect version in front of players first. Either way, it's a disappointing scenario for all parties involved, including Microsoft. You can play Lara Croft on Xbox Live Arcade first -- but not on Xbox Live at first.
