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Leaderboard: Free-form space combat vs. on-the-rails shooter
If mankind's exploration into outer space has taught us anything at this point, it's that sooner or later we're going to need to strap big guns on our bubbles of life support and blast each other out of the cosmos. It's already a prevailing theme among MMOs, with titles like EVE Online, Star Trek Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Black Prophecy, and Battlestar Galactica Online allowing us to jump forward a few hundred years of technological growth so we can have some space shootin' fun. As of late there seems to be two camps developing regarding MMO space shooters. With the advent of SWTOR, some are warming up to the cinematic on-the-rails style of its space combat game. Tunnel shooters allow for a more scripted -- and potentially more exciting -- experience, and this type of combat has a long history in single-player games dating back to Starfox and before. Of course, the other camp just loathes rail shooters, much preferring the ability to fly anywhere one wants and engage in combat on one's own terms. The freedom of this style of space combat appeals to the inner individualist who doesn't want to conform to what everyone else is doing. In which camp have you struck your tent? Are you for free-form space combat or on-the-rails shooters? Let your vote be heard after the jump!
App review: Rage HD (iPhone)
The iOS App Store might already have its fair share of addictive and compelling games on offer, but when John Carmack comes calling with his latest megatextured shoot-em-up, you've got to sit up and pay attention. Rage HD: Mutant Bash TV isn't so much a full-fledged game in its own right as it is a teaser for the forthcoming Rage FPS for the PC, and yet even in its pretty limited running time, it managed to woo and thrill us with its visceral gameplay and arresting visuals. It's easily the best-looking game we've yet seen on a mobile device and provides a fine demonstration of just how far Apple's hardware -- on the iPhone 4, iPad, and fourth-gen iPod touch -- can be pushed when some appropriately adroit hands are at the graphical controls. But, of course, games are supposed to be fun to play, not just to look at, so why not join us after the break to see how well Rage HD handles its mutant-bashing duties?%Gallery-107875%
Rumor: The Old Republic space combat on rails?
Those of you looking for levels of complexity and immersion comparable to X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter or Star Wars Galaxies' Jump to Lightspeed might want to hold your horses prior to pinning your hopes on BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. The forthcoming MMORPG is rumored to feature space combat "on rails," which basically means it could be nothing more than a mini-game or a "tunnel shooter" that severely restricts player movement in the form of pre-set paths and goals. While this is currently unofficial information, you can find a detailed write-up at the German fansite known as Online Welten. Purportedly, site contributors were privy to an upcoming article in PC Action magazine which goes into detail about some of the mechanics. Check out the original article (auf Deutsch) or the Google-translated version.
Win Wii Points in Heavy Fire: Special Operations
Teyon is looking for the best of the best of the people who bought its WiiWare shooting game Heavy Fire: Special Operations. If your Wiimote marksmanship is outstanding enough -- or even if it isn't -- you can sign up for the most special operation of all: the one that gets you 2,000 Wii Points. The three highest-scoring players, and one randomly-selected contestant, will each be awarded 2,000 Wii Points. In order to submit your score, you have to visit the website and input the secret code the game spits out. You have until September 1! For reference, the current high score is 16,570 points.%Gallery-90068%
How to play Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
Nintendo presents this video as gameplay tips for Sin & Punishment: Star Successor players, but we think those who have yet to get into Treasure's latest explosive shooter stand to benefit more. For one thing, "get lots of coins and medals" is a gameplay tip we could probably all have intuited on our own. For another, this video works really well as an introduction to the various moves available in game: the different charge shots (Isa's, which sets off one massive explosion, and Kachi's, which can target multiple enemies), the dodge move, the melee attack. If you've been playing the game, you know this stuff, but if you have yet to experience it, this video will give you a pretty decent idea of how it works -- with a lot of boss fight footage as a nice bonus.
Iwata Asks Treasure about Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
In case you missed Siliconera's translation of the Iwata Asks interview with Treasure about Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, Nintendo of America has posted its own translation. And if you have read it, you'll appreciate Nintendo's updated translation of Iwata's statement that the N64 "was a machine that was hard to create things for and didn't work at all." Now that semi-infamous line -- probably more accurately -- states that "If you didn't do it well, it wouldn't work at all." Later in the interview, Nintendo producer Hitoshi Yamigami described the difficulty of working with Treasure on the first Sin & Punishment, given, well, the difficulty of Treasure games. "When I said, 'It's too difficult. I can't do it," they responded, 'Then you're not good enough to be in charge of this project.'" It took about a year for the team to finally determine that Sin & Punishment was, in fact, too difficult. For Star Successor, Nintendo's Yurie Hattori joined the project and initially found it too difficult as well, pushing to make the game more accessible. While she did prevail upon Treasure to streamline the experience with a tutorial, she eventually discovered the Treasure fan within her and ended up recommending that the difficulty be increased.
No Wii is safe from 'Attack of the Movies 3D'
Avatar may be the big buzz in 3D flicks these days, but for many, the technology is always going to be associated with monster movies and those red-and-blue anaglyph lenses. For those of us hopelessly infatuated with those ridiculous-looking lenses and cheesy movies, Majesco is publishing Attack of the Movies 3D for Wii. The on-rails shooter features set pieces heavily inspired by movies, for up to four players to blast point-and-click their way through. With your friends, you'll "battle large alien space cruisers, shoot underwater monsters, join the resistance against the machines and more" against enemies "culled from the annals of film history." And you'll get to do it in glorious red and blue -- the game includes four sets of 3D glasses! Attack of the Movies 3D is expected for release this spring.
The House of the Dead: Underpriced at Newegg
If you like film grain effects, shooting zombies, and getting cursed at, but you haven't picked up The House of the Dead: Overkill yet, this deal from Newegg is exactly what you've been waiting for. The online retailer has marked the game down to $12.99 (with free shipping). Be warned, there really is a lot of cursing. Even the first 15 minutes of the game sounds like someone stepped on Samuel L. Jackson's foot. That's what that M rating is about. Well, that and all the disgusting dead people exploding and stuff. [Via GoNintendo]
Sin and Punishment 2 trailers from the Japanese Nintendo Channel
Two exclusive trailers for Treasure's Sin and Punishment 2 have made it to Japan's Nintendo Channel in anticipation of the game's October 29 release. It's pretty much the opposite of the North American Nintendo Channel's most notable exclusive offering, the Nintendo Week show. At least, thanks to YouTube user Nintendaan's efforts, we can see the gorgeous gameplay footage.The first trailer is all gameplay, demonstrating the ability to shoot from the ground or fly at any time, and also revealing a Bangai-O Spirits-like ability to knock back large missiles. The second trailer is an unexpectedly somber (and incomprehensibly Japanese) overview of the story. Warning: don't get too excited about the story in any Treasure game.
Lock on to new Sin and Punishment 2 screens
We may die of an acute case of jealousy. Treasure's Sin and Punishment 2 is still on track to be released in Japan on October 29, and it still has that amazing box art. Dengeki has posted a nice selection of screens showing the spectacular visuals you'll be flying around, and shooting at. FYI, for the giant chicken monster-phobic: the giant chicken monster is only in one of the screens.We're looking forward to trying out the multiple control schemes available: both with pointing, in the form of Wiimote/Nunchuk and Zapper, and pointer-free with the GameCube Controller, Classic Controller, or Classic Controller Pro.
Sin and Punishment 2 flying into Japan October 29
The Japanese box art for Sin and Punishment 2, which appears to have been cropped out of a Famitsu scan by NeoGAFfer neo2046, is awesome. We're all thinking it: it's far too awesome to survive the trip overseas. This amazing art is doomed to be replaced with 3D character art upon its release in North America. But we can appreciate it now!We can also appreciate the tiny text at the bottom, which reveals a release date of October 29 in Japan. Nintendo of America has yet to update the "Q1 2010" date for North America -- a date that must have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now places this niche game, which we want to protect like a little baby, in the middle of a very dangerous game environment.
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: On rails edition
We thought we would be inundated with questions following E3, but it appears that you guys are still too shell-shocked from the Metroid: Other M trailer to speak. Or from the Wii Vitality Sensor reveal. We don't mind telling you, by the way, that we can't help but be delighted that Nintendo is making something that weird. And if you don't think it's a good idea, don't worry too much about it. It's Nintendo, after all, and the thing will end up being used in one game at most.Anyway, our question this week is about rail shooters. If you have a question for us, send an email to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!
Hands-on: Sin and Punishment 2
Nintendo's E3 booth is full of "Everybody's Games," games designed to be accessible to anyone and enjoyable without being frustrating. Well, it's full of "Everybody's Games" ... and a Treasure shooter. Sin and Punishment 2 doesn't seem to make any concessions to the Wii audience, with the usual frantic pace fans of Bangai-O, Ikaruga, and, well, Sin and Punishment expect, as well as some patently bizarre imagery and language at work. Refer to the giant chicken monster in the trailer above, called the, uh, Cock Keeper. Treasure's English has always been a bit awkward.
Dead Space: Extraction gameplay footage & prod interview
In the IGN video interview embedded after the break, Dead Space: Extraction producer Steve Papoutsis discusses the motivation for the "guided first-person experience" design for the Dead Space prequel, as well as the storyline, the controls, and the co-op modes. That's great, and of course it's wonderful to hear such ideals behind the game's design.But the real attraction here is footage. The video is interspersed with gameplay footage from Extraction, mostly consisting of the disarming (and dislegging) of creepy spider-dudes. In our estimation, at least, EA is delivering the graphics it needs to ensure that the game is appropriately atmospheric. And by "atmospheric" we mean "eeeeeeeee."
Dead Space Extraction's twist-off limbs
The latest Nintendo Power has a feature on Dead Space: Extraction, from which Nintendo D-Pad extracted one detail about the controls, which seem to prove that there is a motion element involved in gameplay, in addition to all the pointing. The Rivet Gun is used to shoot Rivet Blades and lop off limbs (the advertised "strategic dismemberment" aspect of the game). You aim it "perpendicular to the limb you are trying to cut off," which translates to twisting the Wiimote around to line up the shot. At least we now know the game isn't entirely point and click![Screen via Nintendo Power table of contents (pdf link)]
House of the Dead devs on Overkill's story, zombie appropriateness
Headstrong Games could have chosen to make The House of the Dead: Overkill pretty much on autopilot. Gun goes here, zombies go here, here's a village, and ... cue monotone Engrish exposition. And it would have been awesome! But Headstrong has actually put some thought into the setting and story, meshing characters and elements of the classic series (like Agent G of "G's bloodstains!" fame) with a totally new story and feel.Headstrong discusses the development of the game's story and locations in a video after the break. We especially like seeing how much attention was paid to creating different zombie designs appropriate to each game's location, if only because about 90% people's attention in the game will be directed at the zombal component.%Gallery-29952%
More awesome House of the Dead: Overkill art, European date
Click to embiggen. Wow. The build-up to House of the Dead: Overkill's release next month has resulted in some excellent art (be it in the form of comics, limited edition boxart, or swag), and here's something else Overkill-related to crave: this superb, grindhousey movie poster. We dearly hope Sega isn't intending to use this solely for the marketing of Overkill and then forget it forever, because this is precisely the kind of thing that needs to be on our walls. You can see a bigger version of this in our gallery, along with three new screens.Meanwhile, Sega has confirmed a very spooky European release date of Friday, February 13th. That's just in time to treat your loved one to a helping of black magic and violence! Don't forget your Hand Cannon.%Gallery-29952%
Official House of the Dead: Overkill Hand Cannon: shoot like G does
House of the Dead: Overkill players in the UK and Australia will have the option to play the game in a distinctly more badass, yet vaguely cosplayer-esque style, should they choose. Sega and peripheral company Venom will release a Wii gun shell modeled after the "Hand Cannons" the AMS agents in the game carry. Amazon.co.uk is taking preorders for the item, to be shipped on February 13 (two weeks before the February 28 date they claim for the game) at a price of £12.99 ($19).Australian zombie-haters have it even better: NeoGAFfer untoldhero (an accurate name if ever there was one) found a convincingly official-looking retail listing for a "Bang Bang Box" bundle containing the full Collector's Edition of the game, with the special sleeve and the comic book, as well as two Hand Cannons, for $89 AUD ($59 USD). That price has got to be a mistake. We've got a picture after the break of the heartbreakingly awesome package.Sadly, we've seen nothing about the Hand Cannon in the US. We fear that Sega's deal with Venom doesn't extend out of PAL territories.%Gallery-29952%
Link's Price Slashing
We thought that when the Wii Zapper bundle was released, Nintendo fans would hang on to Link's Crossbow Training and dump the included plastic handle, but it appears that the opposite is true. GameStop has just dropped the price of used copies of Link's Crossbow Training from five bucks to a ridiculous $2.99. The retailer is not currently offering used Zappers on their online store. At the amazingly low (seriously, like last year's Madden low) $2.99, Link's Crossbow Training is officially Worth It for pretty much everybody, provided they have even a passing interest in the Zelda series or in shooting at stuff. And with no Zapper, it's so much more compact! If you're planning to grab this from the online store, use coupon code CAG16 (for Cheap Ass Gamers) to get an additional 16% off the price.
Wii Warm Up: The House of the Dead: Overseas
The House of the Dead series is permeated by an impossible-to-identify "Seganess." Some combination of arcade-fast gameplay, silliness, and Engrish just makes it feel like a Sega game. For the latest entry in the franchise, Headstrong Games has taken over for Sega's Wow Entertainment (now Wow Overworks), exchanging the campy horror vibe for something a bit more '70s-action.With a new developer (from a new continent!) and a new style, do you think it's possible for Overkill to still feel like The House of the Dead? Or is the fresh coat of paint actually a good way to distance the new game from its predecessors?%Gallery-29952%
