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Universal gets back Scarface 2 rights without a fight
The world is yours once more, Universal. Well, at least the world of Scarface as it pertains video games. Variety reports that the rights to a sequel based on the famous film franchise reverted back to their original holder after the recent mass dumping of properties by Activision Blizzard. Vivendi and Radical Entertainment produced the original Scarface: The World is Yours, sales of which the Variety piece places at a hefty 2.5 million worldwide. The story also mentions that a sequel to the game was at one time in development, although its current status remains a mystery. It's possible, as Variety speculates, that Universal itself could resurrect the title internally now that it is actively developing its own titles, such as the forthcoming video game treatment of the Angelina Jolie action vehicle, Wanted. Perhaps our dream mob-sim-meets-Halo-clone, Scarface: The Universe is Yours, just might happen after all.
Scarface bound for Wii
Just so you know, it took every ounce of energy to resist the obvious headline, "Say hello to my Wii friend." The implication of such an unfortunately predictable line of text would be that Vivendi's Scarface is being ported to the Nintendo Wii. The latest issue of British magazine, Ngamer, subtly revealed the news by placing Tony Montana on the cover and asking, "Is this the closest thing to Grand Theft Auto on Wii?" As you might expect, the Wii version features point-and-shoot Wiimote controls, along with motion-sensitive (and delightfully limb-severing) chainsaw waving. Coupled with The Godfather's love for violent flailing, it seems the Wii is truly living up to its family console image. It's about time somebody put the "laughter" back into "manslaughter." [Thanks Ross.]
Metareview - Scarface: The World is Yours
It's been over twenty years since Al Pacino, Oliver Stone, and Brian DePalma gave us one of Hollywood's classic crime lords (and set the benchmark for f-bomb usage in a film). Given Rockstar's success with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, it's not surprising that someone decided to cash in on the original coked out vision of 80s Miami. Enter Sierra and Radical Entertainment's Scarface: The World is Yours, an extension of the movie that finds Tony Montana very much alive and out for revenge on the cock-a-roaches who destroyed his drug empire. Reviews suggest that the amount of enjoyment you get out of this game will depend on your patience with its mission structure. Tony doesn't break his balls for anyone, but some of the side missions in Scarface just might break yours. IGN (87/100) thought Tony's rage mode was the balls: "By performing a number of 'ballsy' moves, you'll fill the Balls meter. Targeting certain body parts (kidney, head, arms, groin, etc.) will earn you Balls, and taunting someone after you kill them will earn you even more. It's a great system that works almost flawlessly." Game Informer (85/100) felt immersed in the power struggles of a drug kingpin: "Unlike Grand Theft Auto, in which you're frequently at the mercy of powers much greater than yourself, Scarface allows you to blaze your own path to greatness. The epic scope and the sheer amount of money at stake give Scarface a sense of urgency that few games in this genre have achieved." GameSpot (64/100) was looking for more freedom of movement: "The developers accomplished the task of bringing Tony Montana back to life. But by taking the focus off of the gameplay elements that you'd want in an open-city game and putting it more on the game's bland mission design and all the dull side tasks you'll have to do to earn a reputation, Scarface doesn't play to its potential strengths."
Scarface joins next-gen cancellation list
It's hard out there for a gangsta. After the Sopranos just got the next-gen axe, Scarface follows suit and blows up plans for an Xbox 360 release. According to GameSpot, Vivendi has just announced that any chance for a 360 release is dunzo, but to make up for it, a PSP iteration of the game will come out this fall. While it's true the developers have been very mum on the next-gen version (in fact when we played the game not too long ago, they had told us there wouldn't be one), it was announced back in 2005 that it was considered. Well now it's official, no next-gen version. What's going on here people? Are we really starting to see the effects of large budgets for next-gen games exploding in developer's faces? Somewhere, a Nintendo exec is laughing.
Joystiq hands-on: Scarface not so meh
Going into today's meeting with Vivendi, my expectations on what Scarface -- which ships either in September or October for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC -- would be like were pretty low. I knew the basics of the game and had seen a trailer here and there, but assumed it would be just another paltry Grand Theft Auto clone/crappy movie license game. Lucky for Mr. Tony Montana, I was dead wrong. Still in its pre-beta form, but light years away from what it looked like at E3, the game is actually progressing nicely with solid controls and other elements to make any Scarface fan weep at the sight of its unbridled violence. Since most open-world third-person games claim to be different or improve upon the GTA formula, Scarface actually backs up its similar claim with a mix of what worked for GTA and betters what didn't. Check after the break for the full breakdown on a game that is surprisingly not as awful as you might expect.
Scarface babe roster announced
Say hello to Tony Montana's new friends. Meagan Good, Vida Guerra, Jillian Barberie, Amanda Righetti, and Diora Baird (not pictured) have been added to the voice cast of Vivendi's Scarface: The World is Yours. And while these lovely ladies are easier on the eyes than a coked-out Michelle Pfeiffer, or Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio with an afro, we'll only get to hear their pretty little voices -- no 3D likenesses are mentioned in the VU press release. Each femme fatale will help Tony gain respect as he fights to rebuild his criminal empire in 1980s Miami. Scarface will be released this Fall, bubble bath not included. [via TeamXbox]
Scarface will give you balls
The Vivendi booth in South Hall didn't have anything hands-on for Scarface (or at least, not that I saw) -- just two flat panels playing clips from the movie, and a big, sweeping staircase that led to an upstairs "screening" room, where we got to watch a demo of the ugly game. Oops, did I say "ugly?" I meant fugly. The graphics thing aside though, I can see how someone who liked the movie would like to "say hello to my little friend" in a game. The game picks up where the movie left off, with you, Tony Montana, up at the top of the staircase. Instead of getting shot and killed like in the movie, the first thing you have to do is turn around and kill the guy behind you before he kills you (otherwise, I guess you have to start over). After that, the game is all about building up your cocaine-trafficking empire, basically by using your cajones. You earn Balls points by intimidating others with the use of voice, or by doing balls-y things. Higher speed driving, more destructive shooting, and of course, being more of an a**hole as you cut deals with local shopkeepers to join your cocaine empire.
Crash & Spyro headline Vivendi E3 lineup
Vivendi revealed that new Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon games will be appearing in the publisher's E3 lineup, joined by some popular entertainment licenses. TimeShift, which was just acquired from Atari, will also be on hand. Here's the complete list of titles that will be featured at Vivendi's booth: 50 Cent: Bulletproof (PSP) Caesar IV (PC) Crash Boom Bang! (DS) Eragon (DS, GBA, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360) Freestyle Street Basketball (PC) Joint Task Force (PC) The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (DS, GBA, GameCube, PS2, Xbox) Miami Vice (PSP) Scarface: The World Is Yours (PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360) TimeShift (PC, Xbox 360) World in Conflict (PC)