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New games this week: Mercenaries 2 edition
We hate to be the ones to break the news to you, but, with the season still three weeks away, the fall onslaught has officially begun. The biggest release is the oft-delayed Mercenaries 2, sure, put you've also got a new Viva Pinata, Trouble in Paradise, and Facebreaker, which ... well, at least it has Snoop Dogg in it. See the rest of the week's releases right after the jump. %Gallery-1961%
Mercenaries 2 gets a Flash version
If you find yourself unable to wait until the Aug. 31 release of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, we may have the perfect soothing balm for you: Armor Games and EA's Mercenaries 2: World (Nearly) In Flames. It's exactly like the console versions of Mercenaries 2, except it's free! (And it's made in Flash. And it's two dimensional. But other than that? Exactly the same.) OK, so maybe it's not as technically impressive, but we could think of many worse ways to kill some time until the real release than with this solid, old-school diversion. Enjoy.
Mercenaries 2 co-op developer walkthrough
We'll be honest: most of the staff at Joystiq has a serious medical condition that makes us physically unable to resist good co-op gameplay. We can't do it. It's a serious condition. There's only two known treatments: 1) massive amounts of mind-altering pharmaceuticals or 2) co-op video games. Sometimes, we're forced to seek out the former when there aren't any co-op games on the ol' release calendar while other times there are games like Mercenaries 2: World in Flames that would appear to provide enough co-op gameplay to keep us drug-free for a long time. Above you've got another Mercenaries 2 developer walkthrough, this time sharing the wonders of the game's co-op functionality. Don't mean to brag, but we've already played it. That means you'll want to pay attention, lest you miss things like "drop-in," "drop-out," "campaign," and "explosion." Say, does anyone have an early copy of Castle Crashers, we're really hurting over here ...
Joystiq hands-on: Mercenaries 2 online co-op
Click to enlarge blow up So many things in life are just that much better when enjoyed with a friend. Ice skating, canoeing, inline skating ... grappling a helicopter to escape the blast of a nuclear bunker buster strike you've just called in. That last scenario – and more! – is exactly what we experienced during a recent game of Mercenaries 2 online co-op with developer Pandemic Studios. Unfortunately, there's no "Hi-Five!" peripheral (yet) for the 360 or it would have gotten plenty of use during our brazenly over-the-top cooperative mass destruction of a virtual Venezuela. %Gallery-29596%
Joystiq interview: Mercenaries 2 senior producer Jonathan Zamkoff
We spent some time with the eagerly awaited Mercenaries 2: World in Flames at Electronic Arts recently, and we can safely say that it's a lot of fun blowing crap up in this game. In fact, if they dropped the storyline (you're chasing a druglord) altogether and called this game Blowing Sh*t Up!, we'd still buy it. Senior Producer Jonathan Zamkoff answered several of our questions about the game after we took a breath to check for scorch marks and shrapnel wounds. We'll be spending a lot more hands-on time with this one at E3, so look for more coverage next week. In the meantime, check after the break to find out why they hope driving won't suck in this one... although they don't explain why this screenshot looks like Motorstorm 2: Save Your Own Ass. %Gallery-27307%
Mercenaries 2 delivers the goods with 'Improvise' trailer
After what feels like countless delays, the new trailer for Mercenaries 2 rekindles our hope that the latest release date of Aug. 31 for the game actually sticks. The video gives examples of a couple different ways to complete missions within the game, from being all stealth-like to just going in guns blazing. There's something disturbingly satisfying about the idea that, if a mission goes south while trying to sneak through it, the option of just flipping out and destroying everything is still on the table. Check out the video after the break.
TurpsterVision: An MM-No?
Every Tuesday think "T" for Turpster and take the "a" in "day", capitalise it, remove the little bit in the middle, turn it upside down and you get a "V". Put the two together and you'll have TV for TurpsterVision -- the best Internet video podcast on Massively! (Never mind that business about it being the only video podcast on Massively...) I've made my name here at Massively reviewing MMOs; it's what I do. This week brought to my attention that not all the games here at Massively are as massive as you might believe – no I haven't gone and reviewed a game where you play as a tiny ant fighting other tiny ants...on a grain of sand. Though I must admit that it sounds like a totally awesome idea! It would rock, so consider it copyrighted. Instead, using my patented Random Augmented Nuclear Dart Yaw machine, or the R.A.N.D.Y Machine for short, I have managed to select a game that I don't think quite belongs here.
Rogue Trooper serves a cold dish of revenge on the Wii
Reef Entertainment recently announced that a Rogue Trooper game will be headed to the Wii, subtitled The Quartz Massacre. If you haven't heard of Rogue Trooper before, it features a bad-ass, blue-skinned soldier who likes to take revenge on people that mess with him and his comrades. He can also assign himself the skills and "personalities" of fallen friends, thanks to a spiffy futuristic biochip.The plot for The Quartz Massacre is the same for that of the 2006 Rogue Trooper releases (available for the original Xbox, the PS2, and PCs), leading many to reasonably speculate that this Wii version will be a port. Reef promises that the Wii's controller will add more immersion to the third-person shooter, though (à la Resident Evil 4, we assume), and Rebellion is also reported to have added tweaks and polish its last-gen endeavors.We have mixed feelings about this game: on the one hand, the console could use more shooters of this nature, but on the other hand, it already has a full plate of ports. Since we didn't play the well-reviewed, last-gen iteration of Rogue Trooper, however, we're willing to be open-minded. If Rebellion can pull off a fun and polished game, we'll have no qualms.[Via Destructoid]
Vogster Entertainment introduces CrimeCraft
CrimeCraft, a "gritty, crime drama MMO", has just been announced by Vogster Entertainment for your enjoyment. Hopefully no company will have an objection to the name.Vogster has yet to release in-depth information for the game, but their website points to a third-person shooter MMO that pushes cooperation via a fleshed out economy and territory control. They've already licensed out the Unreal Engine for the game, so we can expect some fun with physics and a polished graphics system.Vogster has announced that CrimeCraft will include five classes and feature an advanced character customization system, as well as allow players to evolve their characters through special fighting skills. Gangs will be able to claim control of territory and defend their holds from rival gangs, all while running from the police.Right now though, the game looks to be a version of All Points Bulletin except minus the police and with alot more dystopia. The game is set in a city where crime controls the streets and the cops can do little more than shrug and bunker down in specially sectioned off areas. Sounds to this blogger like someone needs to call out the tanks.We'll be following CrimeCraft and giving you more information as it's released. Until then, enjoy their teaser site.[Via TenTonHammer]
Killzone Liberation joins the Greatest Hits lineup
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters isn't the only PSP game being slashed down to the budget price of $20. The top-down shooter, Killzone Liberation is also joining the bestselling Greatest Hits lineup. This is a terrific deal for a solid action game. Certainly, Sony's trying to raise a bit of awareness before that little PS3 game comes out. You know, that game called Killzone 2. For those that pick up Liberation, don't forget to pick up the free bit of DLC for the game: it includes Infrastructure multiplayer and an additional single player chapter. %Gallery-20189%
Mercenaries 2 blowing up August 31
We already knew that Mercenaries 2: World in Flames was headed for a delay, but now we know exactly how long we're going to have to wait. IGN is reporting today that the new date is August 31. We know! That seems like forever! They might as well make the date Nevervember the 37th. The waiting isn't made any easier by this new trailer, which caters to that facet of our personalties games so often ignore: The part of us that likes to blow stuff up. ... Listen, we're sorry we got so upset earlier, we don't know what came over us. Just, please, for our sake, no more delays, OK? Please? [Thanks, Jonah]
THQ details Red Faction: Guerrilla as 'open-world' third-person shooter
THQ's confirmation of third entry in the sci-fi series Red Faction earlier in February was decidedly light on details beyond the fact that development duties were once again being handled by Volition and that the game would cater to players on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. THQ has now revealed that the upcoming sequel will adopt a numberless title, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and will feature a return to Mars 50 years after the last game with an environment described as "open-world" -- but then again what isn't these days?The biggest change, however, is the series' move from first to third person, with THQ's Brad Carraway describing the gameplay as focused on "fast-paced guerrilla warfare style combat" and "true physics-based destruction." We're trying to look impressed, but again it's more rare to find a game these days that doesn't boast some level of physics-based shenanigans than not. "Robust" multiplayer modes are also promised, but by now the ordinariness of it all has started to make our eyes glaze over as we wait for Red Faction: Guerrilla's release sometime during THQ's 2009 fiscal year.
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames delayed (again)
Shacknews reports that Pandemic Studios' action-packed Venezuela-wrecking shooter, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, has been struck with another delay, this one sending it careening into publisher EA's 2009 fiscal year. Though the game "is likely to ship this year," the official release period now stretches from April 2008 to March 2009. The news follows several rumors which suggested that EA would show gamers no Mercenaries until August. We'll let you know as soon as official release date debris details come hurtling through our office window.
Mercenaries 2 viral videos = Tough guy + The Office
Pandemic put together a small set of viral videos promoting its mercifully delayed Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. The mockumentary is The Office-esque and follows the exploits of Jim Holston, a "real" mercenary who visits the Pandemic studios to "check out the game." There is no Mercenaries 2 gameplay footage or launch announcement in the videos that we can see, the first episode is above with the other three found after the break. If you like cringe-humor created by awkward situations then you may find a few moments of laugh-out-loud humor in the videos. We'll never view motion capture technology the same way again after seeing what Holston does to the Pandemic receptionist.
Killzone: Liberation patch finally available
After countless months of waiting, the promised Killzone: Liberation patch is finally available for download. The patch includes an extension of the single-player campaign (Chapter 5), and new multiplayer options -- such as the hotly anticipated Infrastructure mode, which allows players to compete against other PSP players around the globe. The download is available through the game's in-game menu and can also be found at the newly revamped killzone.com website. [Thanks, Lucas]
Killzone Command Center opens, but where's the expansion?
Remember the Killzone downloadable content that we were supposed to get nearly ten months ago? This free expansion will expand the single player campaign and offer a crucial upgrade to the multiplayer: Infrastructure support. After a successful beta test, we assumed that the patch would come soon, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Delay after delay has plagued this free download, and even as the new Killzone Command Center website opens today, we still don't see the expansion available for download. So, what gives? Sure, the site is pretty, but we were expecting more. According to Gameplanet Store NZ, the expansion will finally come out on May 21st. We don't have official confirmation of this release date, but this is one of the few hints we have to work with. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer until Killzone fans get another fix. [Via Sony Protection Group. Thanks, Jack!]
Killzone Infrastructure gets delayed, but now supports headset
Killzone fans want Infrastructure support--and they want it now! Unfortunately, it appears that this downloadable addition has been delayed yet again. According to a PlayStation forum post, "We still have too many bugs that need fixing before we can be 100% happy with the patch. We want it to be as good as possible and releasing it right now would not be fair on you guys, so we have decided to postpone it a couple of weeks." In the midst of bad news, there's still some good: the single-player extension will be free, and the multiplayer mode will support microphone use, so you can taunt other players online: "Good news is, we have the all clear to make Chapter 5 a free download. We have been expecting this and have been 99.9% sure it would be, but we could not announce it without the blessing of the higher ups. Also I want to confirm that it will allow Voice comms for those with headsets, but that is all I want to tell you about it right now. " This Killzone patch cannot come soon enough. [Via PSP-Vault] See also: Killzone: Liberation downloadable demo
Deal of the Day: Killzone gets cheap
Amazon.com has a somewhat random deal today: Killzone: Liberation is now available for $26.48 with free shipping. Now's probably a good time to pick up the game, considering how a new Infrastructure multiplayer patch will be publically available soon. PSP Fanboy commenters will be quick to note that Killzone is one of their favorite games on the system: would you like to join them? [Via CAG]
Killzone multiplayer beta participants selected
Those who signed up for the Killzone multiplayer beta and haven't checked their e-mail in a while, may want to sort through the porn and pills spam, because you may have been selected to participate. I know this because I got selected and readers have e-mailed us to say they were also selected. While I'm under non-disclosure about the specifics of the multiplayer, I can say if you're a fan of Killzone: Liberation than you'll love the multiplayer. Don't feel too bad if you weren't selected for the beta, the multiplayer should be made available to everyone soon and we'll be sure to let you know when that day comes. [ Thanks Kevin ]
More Killzone multiplayer beta invites sent out
Reader Szs315 shot us an e-mail to let us know that Sony is now widening the Killzone multiplayer beta. I actually got an invite to sign up for the beta and so I did. Now I just have to wait and see if Sony loves me enough to allow me to participate. If they snub me on this, they better let me in on that Home beta. Readers who want to partake can go to http://pspbeta.us.playstation.com on their PSP's browser. Then cross your fingers, wear a rabbit foot and write a 7 on your forehead in hopes to boost your chances of getting into the beta. [ Thanks Szs315 ]
