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New Wolfenstein 'featurette' features more stuff you already know
Alright, look, Activision -- we've seen quite enough of Wolfenstein already. What with the recent comic strips and the constant stream of trailers since last July, it feels like we're writing something about BJ Blazkowicz every day. For the most part, the trailers have become fairly repetitive at this point -- lucky you, this one's a "featurette." We were wondering to ourselves -- after watching the four minutes of torturous explanation in the video above -- what does "featurette" mean, exactly? Dictionary.com calls it a "short movie." Though we wouldn't exactly classify the video above as a "short movie," it is short and there are moving things in it, so we guess it'll have to do while we wait for the game to release a week later than expected.%Gallery-27813%
Activision confirms delay of Wolfenstein to 'week beginning August 17'
(click to mecha-Hitler size) Joystiq received official word from Activision this afternoon that, corroborating recent retailer listings, the upcoming Raven Software-developed Wolfenstein reboot is being pushed back to "the week beginning August 17." Earlier today, Shacknews discovered listings on GameStop and Amazon's websites proposing a two week delay, with the game presumably arriving on store shelves August 18. According to Activision, the new release date is "to facilitate a simultaneous global release window" -- we're hoping that's all a ruse and Raven's actually sneaking in Wolfenstein 3D's amazing final boss.The good news? The game still features a horde of Nazis, lining up to meet their fate at the business end of your peacemaker. The bad news? It's also still a fairly generic shooter set in World War II (albeit an alternate reality version). With any luck, a demo for the game will be hitting Xbox Live and PlayStation Network just before the game's release and you can find out for yourself just how much (or how little) you need to get your feet into B.J. Blazkowicz's shoes.%Gallery-27813%
Cheese stick: second Wolfenstein motion comic recounts 'Spear of Destiny'
On the one hand, we think it's kind of cool that Activision is producing a series of short "video graphic novels" retelling the events of past Wolfenstein games leading up to the series' latest installment. On the other, we have to say that they're simply awful OK, they're sort of funny. Released today, the second cheese-tastic chapter brings Spear of Destiny: A Wolfenstein Adventure to life through the magic of red & black Flash animation. For the uninitiated -- or, more likely, those who watch the comic and can't figure out what's happening -- this game actually served as a prequel to the first Wolfenstein and had players on a mission to steal the (drum roll, please) Spear of Destiny (a.k.a. the Holy Lance) from the Nazis before they could use it ... for evil!The comic ends with series protagonist William "B.J." Blazkowicz using the fancy stick to slay a demon, an act that somehow manages to come off more hokey than heroic. That had to be what they were going for, right?
Singularity sucked into Q1 2010
First-person time manipulation news now, with a brief note from Activision alerting us to a delay in the release of Raven Software's Singularity, which was previously slated for a late 2009 arrival. It seems the publisher has wisely decided to push the sci-fi adventure back into March 2010 -- and well out of the way of Modern Warfare 2's commercially crushing tank treads."The level of excitement for Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 coming out of E3 well exceeded our expectations and therefore we have decided to move Raven's upcoming sci-fi first person action title, Singularity, from 2009 to Q1 2010," an Activision spokesperson declared. "We believe that the March quarter will provide a better opportunity to establish the new cutting-edge action IP as a "must-have" title and clears the way for Modern Warfare 2 to dominate this holiday season."Thanks for taking one for the team, Singularity! Now, if you Assassin's Creeds and Splinter Cells and BioShocks could just skooch over a tad ...%Gallery-45668%
Wolfenstein includes comprehensive Nazi death stat tracker
Stat tracking is nothing new for FPS games, but we have to hand it to Raven for being thorough. According to MTV Multiplayer, the upcoming Wolfenstein keeps track of not only how many Nazis you kill, but the manner in which they died. Multiplayer asserts that it saw a stat screen at 36 percent completion, which noted that 639 kills had been made. Using some simple math, the blog calculated that a total of 1638.4 Nazis will meet their doom by the end of the game.Now, we hate to criticize, but that's assuming the rate of Nazi influx is constant, which it almost assuredly is not. Still, regardless of exactly how many have fallen by the end, we take comfort in the fact that we'll know exactly how many were dissolved, dismembered, burned and electrocuted. Strangely, the game doesn't appear to keep track of the number that have killed the old fashioned way: with a bullet.
Activision: Singularity demo is 'absolutely critical'
Singularity producer Kekoa Lee-Creel recently spoke with Develop about the upcoming FPS, and while the majority of the interview is comprised of details we mostly knew, one tidbit of info will come as a delight to those anxiously awaiting Raven Software's flux-fest: it seems there will be a demo for the game prior to its release. Activision views the demo release as "absolutely critical" to the game's success, as Lee-Creel believes there is no better way to convey how good a game feels than to let folks get their hands on it. Well, we'd have to agree with that, but mostly because we like getting free stuff. You guys don't want to see us at a grocery store on free sample day, we assure you.%Gallery-45668%
Latest Wolfenstein trailer looks at what lurks in the shadows
Assassins are usually very discreet and very deadly, and those found in upcoming Wolfenstein appear to be no different. In the trailer above, we get a good glimpse at what these near-invisible, blade-wielding stalkers can do (see: stab you silly). Thankfully, BJ has his trusty Veil Sight to help him spot what's hiding around him, and lots of guns to put these baddies down.And because we couldn't waste this gem of a one-liner: Assassins do it in the dark.
Impressions: Singularity
Raven Software's Brian Raffel took us through Singularity recently, and we finally got closer look at the time warping shooter that feels like the lovechild of Raven's very own Wolfenstein and 2K's Bioshock, with a bit of Hellboy tossed in for good measure. Just watch the way you can toss things around with your Time Manipulation Device, and you'll see what we mean.We haven't heard much about the game since it was announced and briefly teased at Activision's non-E3 press event last year. Thankfully it's come a lot further, and is beginning to show signs of life. Read on for our impressions of the game after seeing it in action, complete with new screens in the gallery below. With any luck it will erase the past and make us say "Timeshift who?" %Gallery-64511%
Wolfenstein E3 trailer returns to familiar territory
Admittedly, there are plenty of new things in Wolfenstein. Veil Sight, a bigger, badder Nazi opposition, and new, destructive weapons are just a few of these things. But, as much as things change, some things stay the same, including protagonist BJ Blazkowicz and his penchant to shoot first and ask later. You know, if BJ tried to talk it out instead of resorting to violence at the drop of a Nazi helmet, he might have less problems in his life. But, then again, if that was the case, you wouldn't be reading this amazing post on Joystiq.com.
Crash the castle, 'Wolfenstein' ships August 4
Activision has announced the first-person shooter Wolfenstein will hit store shelves on August 4. As is customary, Wolfenstein will put players behind the gun of American soldier BJ Blazkowicz as he battles a horde of horrific monsters (also known as Nazis) as well as actual supernatural beasts.Originally announced as an Xbox 360 timed-exclusive at Microsoft's X05 event in Amsterdam, the Raven Software developed sequel to the classic franchise will be made available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. A World War II-era cameo from Wolverine (also developed by Raven) has yet to be confirmed.%Gallery-27813%
Doom, Heretic and Hexen: Now gibbing demons in-browser
Hey, how's it going? Having a nice day? Got a busy schedule, huh? Lots of work to do, right? We're sorry to hear that -- see, here's how we see the next week or so playing out: You'll fire up this recent, spot-on Flash port of Doom, Heretic and Hexen. You'll play them until you're about to starve to death. You'll eat. You'll repeat steps 2 and 3 until, regrettably, you forget to do step 3. Seriously, folks -- a Newgrounds Flash aficionado (simply named "Mike") has created one of the most accurate, free-est ports of three of id's gibbiest shooters (or wand-ers, in Heretic and Hexen's case). We highly suggest checking them out.[Via Rock Paper Shotgun]
Wolverine commercial has glaring error
Now that Wolverine is finally available --and pretty decent, as it turns out -- Activision has seen fit to release a new live-action commercial to promote the game. Admittedly, the commercial is actually kind of cool. It reminds us a bit of Neill Blomkamp's Halo 3 shorts, and we particularly dig its first-person grittiness. There is, however, one fatal flaw. Why on earth would Wolverine bash his way out of a cage? We know Wolvy's got some rage issues, but you'd think he'd have the presence of mind to use his claws to cut open the cage instead of ramming it. It would save time, time that could be spent dismembering people. Come on, Activision, details matter.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine claws its way to 2nd in UK charts
You may wonder why we always report on the second-best game in the UK. Well, it's because nothing ever beats Wii Fit there. You're united by the power of the Balance Board! So, we're forced to talk about the runner-up every week, and this week sees a new king on the almost-throne: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena wore the crown last week, but Chart-Track data shows that it was a short-lived reign, with the residents of the UK coming out in droves to partake in some snikting and shockingly violent gameplay. %Gallery-44056%
Joystiq Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Uncaged Edition)
One thousand three hundred and fifty five people: murdered. Okay, some of them were unfeeling killer robots, but even after eliminating every piece of scrap metal from the virtual cemetery, you're left with a considerable number of motionless bodies by the end of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Or at least things that, when reassembled, vaguely resemble bodies. Wolverine is a game that exudes excess and revels in recklessness. The design mirrors that of its protagonist, an unhinged brute who lops off limbs, tears apart helicopters and frequently howls at the camera. Oh, and he apparently has a lot of fun, too. Like God of War and its ilk, Wolverine is at its best when it feels like all limitations have been dissolved, along with any possibility of you succumbing to a mere army of opponents. Even distance becomes an ex-factor, with an always satisfying lunge maneuver planting you in someone's chest before they can do something futile -- like shooting you. %Gallery-44056%
Raven Software wants to make a Deadpool game
The developer behind X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Raven Software, is anxious to try its hand at another Marvel character, Deadpool. The slapstick, loud-mouthed mercenary would be the perfect subject for a new game, Wolverine project lead Dan Vondrak told UGO. Vondrak says Raven Software loves Deadpool and his "smartass attitude." Vondrak says that if the company is able to pursue a new project starring Deadpool, it would be the Deadpool from comics and not the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. We don't have to tell you how comforting that thought is. We're imagining a game like Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard, but, you know, decent.
Wolverine demo available now on Xbox 360
It appears the demo for X-Men Origins: Wolverine is available now on Xbox 360. Go experience the thrills of watching Wolverine cut bad guys into meaty chunks and shove them head-first into ... well, you'll see. Don't be fooled, gamer parents out there: Activision may have the PG-13 rated movie's title on the box, but this game is certainly rated Mature and likely not suitable for the kiddies. Definitely take Wolverine for a test drive if you're up for an intense God of War experience set in the Marvel universe.
New Singularity vids show off environments and 'aging' features
Raven Software and Activision have seen fit to provide us with a couple of trailers showing off their upcoming console FPS, Singularity. These videos reveal a couple of the game's environments and give us a glimpse into the game's major gimmick: time/age manipulation. It's looking fairly interesting, though some of those time effects are a little jarring -- repairing the conveniently placed pieces of environmental cover, for example. We'll give it the benefit of the doubt for now, however. It can't be much worse than that other time manipulation FPS.
Latest X-Men Origins: Wolverine diary goes behind the claws
The developers behind X-Men Origins: Wolverine have been an outspoken bunch. In its latest dev diary, Raven Software discusses the settings for conflicts that shaped our little feral boy into the 'bub'-spewing man of today. We can sympathize, guys. While Logan is in the spotlight, taking down helicopters like he's 50 Cent or something, nobody will pay much attention to the detail of the forest around him. Just know that we appreciate it, and have placed your latest video past the break.%Gallery-44056%
Latest Wolverine vid picks at Sabretooth
We remind you to repeat a special mantra as you watch yet another behind-the-scenes video from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That mantra is very simple: It's only a licensed game. Just say it over and over again. It's only a licensed game. It's only a licensed game. It won't be any good. Keep repeating that while watching the video above, which focuses on the game's story, particularly that of Sabretooth. In the upcoming film, Sabretooth is actually portrayed as Wolverine's brother, which makes for some ... interesting family dynamics. The video also takes a quick look at both Gambit and The Blob. So, again, just remember to keep repeating the mantra ...
Joystiq hands-on: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
When we first got our hands on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the fiercest of Charles Xavier's mutant do-gooders was carving his way through South America in a game that played like a mix of God of War and Uncharted. And we liked it. We've now played a near final version -- once again starting out in the jungle -- and, well, we still like it. Luckily we got to see a lot more of what players are in for and found that, while Kratos probably has grounds for a civil suit, there are definitely plenty of unique elements to help Wolverine's adventure stand on its own. %Gallery-49406%
