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Silver Lining: NeverDead's transforming man
'Silver Lining' is a new column from freelancer Taylor Cocke dedicated to pointing to the pieces that showed the most potential in recently released, bad games. Even in the mediocre, we can find a silver lining. Games tend to take death rather lightly. Characters die constantly, extra lives are collected and wasted, and respawns are regularly infinite. NeverDead eschews it (almost) entirely, adding an interesting layer to core convention of death in games. As a whole, however, NeverDead is mostly a mess. Combat leans toward the tedious, and the dismemberment mechanic is poorly implemented and clunky. Even the story is paper-thin and mostly unfunny, in a genre not generally lauded for well-crafted narratives.But it could have worked. The concept of playing as the immortal Bryce Boltzmann is one that's fascinating, especially if he's unhappy with his blessing and/or curse. He's able to lose and reattach his limbs and head at will, even if it causes him a good amount of pain. He's bitter. Plus, the same demon that literally immortalized Boltzmann killed his wife in the process. With all the free time he has, it's understandable that he may be a little whacked in the head.We could have gotten a story about a man forced to abandon all hope, even if he does not have the means to do so physically. Instead, we got the story of a snarky, sneering jerk with no redeeming qualities.%Gallery-145558%
NeverDead gets Volume 2 DLC with another character, more challenges and skins
Konami's announced the second pack of downloadable content for NeverDead, continuing the trend of suitable titles with "Expansion Pack Volume 2." This pack also unlocks a new playable character (just like the first download), this time putting you behind the controller as NADA's Chief Sullivan. And while the first pack opened up new modes for the Asylum level, this one focuses on the Sewers, bringing Onslaught, Egg Hunt, and the Fragile Alliance challenges to that area of the game.There are two additional character costumes for the main character, to match the two new ones from the last pack. Expansion Pack Volume 2 will be available next week on February 28.%Gallery-148158%
NeverDead DLC coming Feb. 21 with new playable character and modes
Konami's making sure NeverDead lives up to its name with the first downloadable content pack, available on February 21. "NeverDead Expansion Pack Volume 1" will let you try a new playable character and play co-op challenges with pop star Nikki Summerfield. The pack will also let you visit an expanded version of the Asylum level, with three new challenges, including taking hold of "score zones," racing across the map through a series of traps and hazards, and a mode called Onslaught, in which you unlock the zone section-by-section by defeating enemies.The expansion will also give segmented hero Bryce Boltzmann two new costumes to dress up in, and you can see some shots of the content in the gallery below. Our NeverDead review called Summerfield a "whiny pop singer," but hey, maybe spending a little more time with her will make you see her in a whole new light.%Gallery-146738%
Neverdead review: Devil may try
Death and dismemberment are nothing new in the eternal battle between good and evil. As we are taught from a young age, the forces of evil are forever ravaged by those of good. Heads are severed, bodies split in twain, souls imprisoned. As a general rule, however, such terms are rarely applied to the hero.NeverDead attempts to buck the trend by giving us Bryce, an immortal demon slayer who finds himself constantly burned, electrocuted, stabbed, shot, sliced, digested and torn apart. Even when reduced to nothing but a rolling head, Bryce will always be ready for more. The question is whether you'll be ready too.%Gallery-125983%
Neverdead lives on retail shelves on January 31, 2012
Originally pegged for a February launch, Konami has pushed up the launch of Neverdead to January 31, 2012. The game, developed by Rebellion, was conceived by Shinta Nojiri, a game designer and director at Konami who has worked on several Metal Gear titles. Konami also revealed that DLC is planned for the game, though no specifics were given.
Rebellion (Rogue Warrior, AvP) seeking to emphasize quality, rebuild reputation
Rebellion, the studio behind Rogue Warrior and Aliens vs Predator, is looking to change its reputation for less-than-average quality. Speaking to Edge (via MCV), CEO Jason Kingsley says the company is trying to turn things around. "It's now a deliberate policy to move away from making games that might have been good for business, but not necessarily good for our reputation," Kingsley stated. "You're only as good as the deal you're offered. If someone says 'Can you make me a game in nine months?' then the answer is, 'Probably. But it won't be as good as a game where we've had creative input and the time to mature the idea.'" Rebellion is currently working on NeverDead and Sniper Elite V2. The road to redemption is a tricky one after high-profile incidents. Just ask Obsidian.
Konami media roundup: Silent Hill and so many Metal Gears
Konami's media offerings at Gamescom include a new look at the upcoming Silent Hill: Downpour. After the break, you'll find a gallery full of new screens that are creepy, dark, atmospheric, and dark. Konami also included new screenshots of all three updated games in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. You can really tell the difference between the graphical capabilities of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 when both have been amplified! There's also new media for Metal Gear Solid 3D, Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights, and more. Oh, and keep an eye out for a surprise guest appearance by Megadeth!
NeverDead preview: Still alive
Developer Shinta Nojiri has said that he wanted to try and make NeverDead a game where the protagionist just couldn't die, and indeed, in my short time with the game here at Comic-Con, despite my best efforts, I just couldn't kill Bryce Boltzmann. Which isn't to say that I didn't try. I inflicted a whole lot of violence upon the demon hunter, most of it actually self-inflicted. Within just the short demo, I pulled off limbs, electrocuted him, set him on fire, blew him up, dropped a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on him, let him be mauled by a demon, ripped his head off (and threw it in a fountain), and just generally tore him apart. But each time I did, he relentlessly persisted in living, re-assembling his limbs either just by rolling over them, or clicking in the L3 stick. You just can't kill this dude. %Gallery-125983%
NeverDead art shows off body parts
Rebellion's supernatural action title, NeverDead, has a unique hook: Its main character can fight even when his limbs have been severed. Part Devil May Cry, Bayonetta and even Dead to Rights, it also seems to share Splatterhouse's sphincter fixation. It's all pieced together in these new screens.
Never before seen NeverDead screens
We haven't seen hide nor hair nor severed chunk of Rebellion's wild-looking NeverDead for months. Now, on the eve (of the eve of) Halloween, we get a look at the game's lead, Bryce, using his arm as a club. We've gotta hand it to the guy: He's really risking life and limb! (Well, limb at least -- he's immortal.) %Gallery-106269%
NeverDead coming to Xbox 360 and PS3; new screens available now
Konami has finally confirmed which platforms Rebellion's never-say-die action game, NeverDead, will launch on: Xbox 360 and PS3, unsurprisingly enough. Tucked within the announcement were some new screens, direct from Gamescom 2010. Feel free to head into the gallery below to check out the new shots. Unlike our previous gallery, we're pretty sure these screens won't give you nightmares for the rest of your life. %Gallery-99889%
You'll lose your head over this NeverDead media
Revealed during today's Konami press conference, NeverDead looks like something that might have originated from the makers of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta -- but it's actually the work of UK-based Rebellion, the studio most recently responsible for Aliens vs. Predator. Its star is an immortal, gun-toting, wise-cracking gunslinger with the unusual ability to literally pull himself together if dismembered. The crazy concept -- and, in fact, the entire game design -- comes from the mind of Shinta Nojiri, a veteran Konami designer and the director of the Metal Gear Ac!d titles. We'd say he's lost his head, but Nojiri would probably find it, pop it back on and glare at us disapprovingly. Instead, we'll just point you toward the trailer after the break. %Gallery-95495%
NeverDead, a new Rebellion game for Konami
Hey, do you like Devil May Cry? Because during the Konami press conference, the publisher announced a new action game in the same vein of Capcom's series. It's called NeverDead, currently under development at Rebellion Studios. Even more interesting is that Konami's Shinta Nojiri, whose last game was Metal Gear Acid 2 for the PSP, is designing it. The game utilizes an interesting mechanic: immortality. The characters cannot die. The example shown during the press conference had a hero getting dismembered and physically pulling himself back together, into one piece. Gruesome! There was no mention of specific platforms.
