shooter
Latest
Gears of War multiplayer breakdown
IGN scored the scoop on Gears of War multiplayer, and we cut the fluff, breaking it down like this:Modes: War Zone - 4-on-4 team deathmatch; no respawns Resurrection - 4-on-4 team deathmatch; downed players will revive after 30 seconds, unless finished off by opponents Execution - "Kill the Leader"; highest-ranked player on the team is the leader and can pick up weapons supporting players can't use Maps (all are small, many symmetrical): Canals Clocktower Escalation - series of terraces; one team starts at the top, the other at the bottom; bottom team aided by sniper pick-up Gridlock - narrow street with bombed out cars for cover (playable at E3) Fuel Depot - warehouse bases; cargo crates for cover Mansion - "haunted house"; destructible cover; choke points: courtyard and foyer Mausoleum - circular; a series of rings, the outer being a graveyard; design lends itself to match draws Roof Tops Tyro Station - watch out for the bullet train War Machine Extras: Health system - as you take damage, the Gears' skull will begin to appear on-screen; once it's all there, one more shot, and then light's out Magnum - high-powered pistol Hammer of Dawn - satellite laser strike
Metareview - Reservoir Dogs (PS2)
Ah yes, just the latest in an ever-growing succession of pitiful movie-to-game adaptations. There are exceptions -- Goldeneye, King Kong, and The Warriors come to mind -- but Reservoir Dogs is not one of them.What's most disappointing about Eidos and Volatile's misstep is that it wasn't developed under the time constraints of a current blockbuster tie-in license, but rather, it was an opportunity to pay homage to Tarantino's influential film. Fourteen years ago we would have expected a Reservoir Dogs game to be terrible, but now? C'mon guys, you gotta do better than this: Eurogamer (50/100) - "Tarantino's movie showed audiences just what could be achieved with no money but stacks of talent, while the game merely demonstrates what can be pulled off with current generation hardware and enough spare cash to snap up the rights to a cult movie." Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK (50/100) - "A bad idea executed only slightly better." [Oct 2006] IGN (30/100) - "At least you have the movie soundtrack to fall back on, but that isn't saying much." Update: Removed IGN (UK) review; replaced with IGN (US) review.[Also available on Xbox]
GRAW 2 on its way -- Assassin's Creed waits until late 2007
All right, I'll be honest -- I did play GRAW online multiplayer on the 360. I'll be honest again: I don't like FPS and I don't much care for online multiplayer. With that in mind, understand that I didn't like GRAW at all. Just a personal preference; I know many, many people like it a lot. So, when we read that Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 was taking the release slot of Assassin's Creed (4th quarter of fiscal year... probably around February) as well as Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. Basically, this means we can expect those two titles any time after March of '07 up to March of '08... whenever Ubisoft decides they need to "strengthen fiscal year 2007-2008"... basically whenever they need some money, then they'll release these games. That's kind of annoying, but it's business. Anyone bent out of shape? Ubisoft just replaced two high-profile titles with the sequel to a (subjective alert) mediocre FPS! It bends us out of shape. We want some stealthy killing with things other than high-powered rifles and lobbed grenades. Just for the record... Tom Clancy, stop. Personally, I'm sick of seeing your name tacked on to any modern/post-modern war game. Your plots are easy to generate, too (go down to #4).
Gears is gold, Emergence Day defined
We had a hunch Gears of War had gone gold. Today it was confirmed. To reflect this milestone, Microsoft and Epic have released a "Mad World"-laced promo trailer onto Xbox Live (available now). The trailer was first shown at X06 Canada and will lead the charge on TV and in movie theatres during the days leading up to November 12, or 'Emergence Day.'While many gamers will have Gears in hand on November 7, the following Sunday will play out as an Xbox Live extravaganza -- aside from being the official launch date. Gold members can jump into a 24-hour tournament (beginning at 12:01 a.m.), with the winner receiving a Gears-branded guitar (straight to eBay!) and an automatic bye to the finals of a future tourney. The thrashing tie-ins don't stop there, as game sessions with Megadeth and CliffyB, who's considered a rock star in certain circles, will also be online. Some prize giveaways, free downloads (gamer pic, theme, video), and an MTV infomercial round out the day.Helluva marketing blitz...[Via Press Release]
The "correct" Dead 'n' Furious trailer
Are you among the chosen few who laid eyes on the "leaked" footage earlier this year from Dead 'n' Furious? You remember that little debacle, with the hair-raising video. Oh, not hair-raising scary. It was just ... shall we say ... not so good? But Dream On Studio promised a "real" video later this year, and here it is. Tell us what you think. The video is nestled away after the jump.And here's a question -- if you're a convict and you pick up a buddy (via WiFi coop mode, which does sound like an awesome feature), just what exactly is your friend? A prison guard? Serial molester? Do you get to pick? These questions are totally valid ....
Gears of War achievements reveal new game details
Gears of War's 1000 gamer points will be distributed throughout 49 achievements. To earn these points, you'll have to beat all three difficulty levels (Casual, Hardcore, and Insane), and then beat the game again in co-op mode (using Dom); and at some point collect all the hidden COG tags (like 'dog tags'), taking out some particularly nasty Locust-types along the way. You'll also have to perfect the game's reload system and then take your skills online where, if you really must have every last point, like "Seriously ...", you'll need to amass 10,000 frags in ranked play.Browsing the list of Gears achievements does reveal some little known tidbits about the game (without revealing major spoilers): Single-player/co-op campaign is five acts, plus training level (the prison break) COG tags will be hidden, collectible items "Berserker" and "Corpser" are two of the Locust classes General RAAM is a boss Weapon names include: Boomshot, Torque Bow, Longshot, and Hammer of Dawn Gears was inspired by Brokeback Mountain, hence the "I Can't Quit You Dom" achievement [Thanks, Baker]
Japanese Red Steel trailer
So, apparently Western fellows like to have a little sushi with their shooters. Japanese guys, however, have to get their Red Steel on in a dramatically-lit boiler room. What is the lesson here? Red Steel isn't just a game, man. You have to have the proper environment. And while we still like the original master of intensity, this new video has some fights we haven't seen as well as hot grenade action, and you can't beat that with a stick. Follow the link for the video, as we can't embed it here.Anyone want to tell us what he's saying after the video? Where are you, dedicated Japanese translators?
Killzone Liberation PSP bundle invades France
One of our French readers, kingplayer, sent us a tip about a brand new PSP bundle hitting France (and maybe the rest of Europe?). Like the previous Korea-only Tekken pack, this bundle features some pretty sweet box art and... well, nothing else, really. Killzone will obviously be included in this particular bundle. It appears that Sony will also be providing a new bundle featuring Vice City Stories for release the week after. Our European fans can look out for the new packages on November 8th (for Killzone) and November 15th (for GTA).
Salamanders, TwinBees and more
Former blogger Rafael once said excited about Konami's classic compilation Gradius Collection: "We likey!" Well, it looks like Konami's planning to make Rafael likey for a long, long time, with new compilations of their other classic shooter series. The Salamander Collection and Parodius Collection will contain four titles each (with one bonus *secret* title for each compilation... ooh!). I'm personally psyched for Twinbee Collection, because it's by far the most recognizable of these hardcore shooters (it also has one more game than the other collections, for the budget-conscious).All three collections are planned to hit Japan in January for 4179 yen (less than $40), so importers should keep an eye out. Until then, educate yourself on these classic series by visiting Wikipedia.[Via 1UP; thanks, steve!]
Rumor: Metroid Prime 3, online play, and DS connectivity
We offer this one with a cornucopia of salt, because it may turn out to be one of those father's-brother's-friend's-cousin-said sort of deals, but it's just so delicious that we can't keep it to ourselves. An "anonymous reader" apparently tipped UK site Cubed3 that there are many reasons behind the delay of the Wii's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and some of them are quite interesting. Such as the fact that the game may include some sort of amorphous DS connectivity. The tipster also indicated that online play was being added for the Wii (o rly?), and there's word that the graphics are being further tweaked as well. Color us skeptical, but we'll keep an ear to the ground, because if any of this is true, it's a good day to be a Nintendo fan.[Via Nintendojo]
Rumor: Metroid Prime 3 and Wii/DS connectivity
We offer this one with a cornucopia of salt, because it may turn out to be one of those father's-brother's-friend's-cousin-said sort of deals, but it's just so delicious that we can't keep it to ourselves. An "anonymous reader" apparently tipped UK site Cubed3 that there are many reasons behind the delay of the Wii's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and some of them are quite interesting. Such as the fact that the game may include some sort of amorphous DS connectivity. The tipster also indicated that online play was being added. DS connectivity? Could be interesting, if true. We'll keep you posted.[Via Nintendojo]
Gears of War to ship with 10 multiplayer maps
Up from a proposed eight, ten multiplayer maps will ship with Gears of War, confirmed CliffyB. Coupled with two-player co-op over Xbox Live, does this number hit your sweet spot?In other Gears news, time is winding down on the 48-hour window Epic is using to grant visitors access to this promo site (pictured). What will happen when time expires? Our money's on another timed dose of viral marketing -- not an Xbox Live demo. But you can still dream ...
Wii CoD3 compared and contrasted
According to our patrons at Joystiq, who never let us in on any of their fun, the Wii's Call of Duty 3 may not boast the power of its rivals on the PS3 and 360, but it brings something far more important to the table: fun. Yes, an actual fun video game! Try not to wet yourself with glee. Joystiq's Kevin Kelly got to spend some time with all three, and has written up a great comparison of what each version can offer.Unlike the last minute twists and turns on the PS3 controller, the "Battle Actions" performed with the Wiimote and nunchuk feel natural, Kelly reports. It pulls you into the game. Does that mean we're all going to look like the guys in the various Red Steel trailers? Probably. Draw the shades and drop the blinds before you pick up the Wiimote. But while the Wii is kicking eight sorts of ass in the controls department, it's not all sunshine and roses. The Call of Duty franchise really benefits from online multiplayer, which is a feature we will not have. And the graphics are not quite up to the quality of the other consoles, though from the screenshot above, we're not seeing much to complain about.
Gears of War still buggy, complain 'Chainsaw' event attendees
Microsoft and New Line Cinema teamed up last night to show off their upcoming projects, which both feature chainsaws forced upon the human (or humanoid) figure. A "Match Made in Hell" provided the first opportunity for the public to get hands-on time with Gears of War multiplayer, but attendees had to sit through a screening of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning first.Two reports of the event (2old2play & Siliconera) have cited control issues, which affect the flow of gameplay. When asked if he thought Gears of War would be a hit, one attendee answered, "No not in this state. Not in its present form." With 'Emergence Day' just over a month away, should Microsoft be concerned? Our guess is that the event generated more than enough good PR to negate any complaints. The hype wave is gathering momentum. You gonna get swept up?
The weapons of Killzone: Liberation
If you've played the demo, you got a good taste of what to expect from the upcoming PSP-exclusive Killzone: Liberation. You can only carry one weapon at a time, meaning weapons selection is pretty crucial to the strategy of the game. Thankfully, there are crates that will supply you with the necessary tools you'll need (for example: a rocket launcher before a deadly battle against two tanks). GameTrailers.com has posted an excellent video feature, covering the various weapons in the game. Their favorite? A explosive crossbow, a la Darkwatch. They reveal details on how you can purchase new weapons, use C4, command your teammates to cover you with turret fire, ride a tank, and more. Chris found the game demo to be pretty damn good, and with all these gameplay features, it seems like the full game will not disappoint (hopefully). Killzone: Liberation hits stores on Halloween.
Gears of War previewed
Eurogamer has big hopes for Epic's Gears of War, posting a glowing preview of Microsoft's darling. You'd be hard pressed to comb out new details from the write-up, but Eurogamer does confirm what others have reported: intuitive gameplay and purdy visuals. The only issues that could hold this one back are the beefy-guy art style and predictable dialogue. Looks like Gears has already been stamped with Eurogamer's seal of approval.See also: X06: Gears of War impressions Xbox 360 impressions: Gears of War multiplayer
X06: Lost Planet multiplayer impressions
Capcom sure knows how to do an action game. That's the first thing that popped into my head when adding Lost Planet: Extreme Condition to my list of simple Capcom action games like Mega Man, Final Fight and Dead Rising that just seem perfectly tuned for hitting and/or killing stuff.The single-player demo at X06 was unfortunately the same one available on Xbox Live for months now, but a new multiplayer mode showed off how much better things can get with human opponents. It's basically a kill-or-be-killed deathmatch situation, but managing your health and heat energy as you fight adds a slight twist to the team-based standoffs. The play area seemed a little too large and barren for eight player deathmatch, but the open space allowed plenty of opportunity to double back and sneak up on unsuspecting opponents.Once you do find your target, tight, responsive controls make aiming a breeze and using the shoulder buttons to do quick 90 degree turns really helps with manuevering in the heat of the fight. Climbing into a vital suit and blasting away at the suddenly small-seeming opposition is great fun too, but the suit's plodding pace makes this less than viable as a long term strategy.The multiplayer mode seems like a solid addition to what is shaping up to be yet another impressive Capcom action game. Now how about giving us some more single player demo levels, huh?Previously: Lost Planet single player impressions from E3
Gears of War ain't easy, defends Epic
In response to concerns that Gears of War, with frequent checkpoints and regenerating health, is too easy, Epic's Mark Rein has chimed in over on Epic's forums. Rein has clarified that the Gears demo is set to "casual" (easy mode) and implies that first-time players will encounter plenty of challenge on harder difficulties.Games like Halo 2 and Call of Duty 2 have proved that regenerating health does not impede on our sense of accomplishment when we pwn Legendary or Veteran mode. Here's to hoping Gears follows in their footsteps -- and not down Prey's path.[Thanks, michael]
November OPM to feature Killzone demo
According to the latest RadiOPM, The next issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM), will also feature the Killzone: Liberation demo that's been extensively covered on the site. With distribution through OPM, and PlayStation Underground, it appears that Sony's really revving their marketing machine to hype this game. And why shouldn't they? The game's really good. [Via IGN Boards]
PSP Fanboy Review: Killzone: Liberation demo
While I was in Gamestop today picking up my copy of Saints Row, I noticed they received their demo copies of Killzone. After plopping down $5 big ones, it's now mine, and I've spent enough time with it to give you my take. First of all, I can't help but keep being reminded of Metal Gear while playing this game. With its isometric view, it looks a lot like Metal Gear Acid, but, thankfully, there are no damn cards involved in Killzone. But looking similar to Metal Gear Acid, which is beautiful in its on right, is not bad at all – oh hell no. Read on to see my full review.
