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Dark Messiah of Might and Magic intro vid
The single player demo for Ubisoft's Dark Messiah of Might and Magic has been available for a few days now, and while Joystiq readers have applauded the Source-powered visuals and physics, they are less impressed with the game's AI. This is unfortunate, since both GameSpot and IGN spoke favorably of the gameplay in last month's previews. However, Arkane Studios still has another six weeks to get Dark Messiah into ship shape, and you can voice your concerns at the game's online forum. In the meantime, GameTrailers has posted the CGI intro for your viewing pleasure.
Half-Life 2 confirmed for Xbox 360, PS3
Speaking at EA's annual summer press event, Valve's Gabe Newell revealed that Half-Life 2 would be headed to the Xbox 360 and PS3, bolstered with extra content and presumably, plenty of opportunities to kill people with high velocity toilets. The full console package will be comprised of Half-Life 2, Episode One, Episode Two, Team Fortress 2 (it still exists!) and an entirely new title, Portal. According to Gamespot, Team Fortress 2 now sports a cartoonish art style and a 60's spy feel akin to that of Monolith's No One Lives Forever -- certainly a description you'd never expect to be about a game from Valve. The developer is also trying new things with Portal, which incorporates a rather imaginative gun and encourages you to blast Prey-like portals into floors and walls for all manner of object shifting, puzzle solving hijinx. The console versions of Half-Life 2 (along with all the extra goodies) are expected to launch alongside the PC game's second episodic expansion. Barring unforeseen code thefts and other delays, that means they'll be out by the end of the year. [Thanks Easy_G and icemorebutts!] Previously: Internet survey lists Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360
A pair of Dark Messiah previews
With Ubisoft's Dark Messiah of Might and Magic arriving in two months, GameSpot and IGN have taken the lead in providing extensive previews of the Source-powered FPS-RPG hybrid. Both reviewers had a chance to play the E3 demo and were equally impressed with the efforts of developer Arkane Studios. Messiah appears to be solid in the AI department, while the battle effects and environmental interaction are also pleasing. Multiplayer previews will follow in the next few weeks.See also: Arkane sets up shop in Austin Dark Messiah enemy profiles, new screens Arkane discusses Dark Messiah
Half-Life 2: Episodes Two and Three confirmed
As we wait patiently for next week's release of Half-Life 2: Episode One, Valve has confirmed that Episode Two will ship by the end of the year, and will be the subject of a sneak peek included with the first expansion. Meanwhile, Episode Three is already in development and has been confirmed for a late 2007 release. How many of you have purchased SiN Episodes: Emergence, or BioWare's Neverwinter Nights premium modules? What other franchises would you like to see deliver episodic content? See also: HL2: Episode One site is up, with plot details, Half-Life 2 storyline cheat sheet
