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Review: Red Steel 2
Click to enlarge I'm not going to sugar coat it: Red Steel 2 isn't a hardcore first-person shooter. In fact, it's not actually an FPS per se, unless you take the acronym to mean "First-Person Sword-er." What Ubisoft Paris has made here is an arcade-style game that most closely resembles a good old-fashioned hack-'n-slash side-scroller -- only viewed through the eyes of its protagonist. There's some light exploration -- even some hidden areas and items to be found -- but Red Steel 2 is, at its heart, a brawler that relies heavily on combos, special moves and finishers. There's some shooting, but it plays only the slightest supporting role to the main attraction: Swinging the Wiimote around like a sword and looking cool (on-screen, at least) in a stylized, sci-fi western world. %Gallery-88746%
Ubisoft prepping short film, a Ghost Recon: Future Soldier prequel
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ubisoft will release a short film ahead of the release of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. The film will be helmed by Francois Alaux and Herve de Crecy, the duo that just won an Academy Award for their short film Logorama. We're assuming the Ghost Recon film won't be quite as cheeky. The short, which will serve as a prequel to Future Soldier, will be a 20-minute live-action film, reportedly with a budget between $8–10 million. It's being written by Tim Sexton, co-writer of Children of Men. The project is in line with Ubisoft's ongoing strategy to expand its scope of media to include more than just video games. Last year, the company released the Assassin's Creed: Lineage short film series to promote Assassin's Creed II. Later in the year, Ubisoft Montreal's Yannis Mallat envisioned a future where Ubisoft crafts films and games using the same assets, which is precisely what it did with Lineage. Given the talent and financial backing behind the Future Soldier film, it looks like Mallat's future could be a bright one. [Via Big Download]
Red Steel 2 trailer is having a bad day
This latest Red Steel 2 trailer proves one thing: life is tough in the west. Sure, we've played enough Oregon Trail to know all about the dysentery that plagued the settlers of our old west, but did you know, even in alternate universes, the west is just as wild? Let's not discount the hardships a katana-wielding cowboy must face, folks. It really makes you reflect on what's important in life -- looking all badass. [Via Nintendo-Online]
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier to be present Holiday 2010
Or, it'll be a Holiday 2010 present, depending on how heavily you drop those hints and how desirable you find Ghost Recon: Future Soldier's "cutting-edge technology, prototype high-tech weaponry, and state-of-the-art single-player and multiplayer modes." Developed by the GRAW veterans at Ubisoft Paris, Future Soldier promises to "go beyond the core Ghost Recon franchise and deliver a fresh gameplay experience, with an unparalleled level of quality that will excite long-time fans and newcomers alike." Yes, this is definitely from a press release. A multiplayer beta is scheduled to start in Summer 2010, with invitations tied to another of Ubisoft's freshened franchises, Splinter Cell: Conviction (which is but a stone's throw away from release). The offer is currently extended only to the Xbox 360 version of Conviction -- and aside from Microsoft's system, no platforms have been explicitly mentioned in Future Soldier's announcement. He's from the future, so Facebook is a likely candidate. Update: According to one of Ubisoft's Twitter accounts, the "same experience, same development team and same release date" will be coming to PlayStation 3. Ubisoft's Kimi Matsuzaki also noted that PC details would come "later."
Red Steel 2 launches March 23 in US, March 26 in Europe
After pushing most of its anticipated titles from Fall 2009 into the new year (and some even further), Ubisoft has finally revealed when Red Steel 2 will exit the saloon doors and somersault onto retail store shelves. The latest trailer -- titled "Caldera" -- reveals the Wii-exclusive sequel will release on March 26 in Europe, while GameSpot confirms the game lands in the US on March 23, as previously suggested. Ubisoft plans to launch Red Steel 2 in two flavors: Standalone software for $50 and bundled with the Wii Motion Plus add-on for $60. GameStop preorder customers will also get exclusive access to two in-game swords. We're still smitten with the sequel's new manga-esque, East-meets-West visual style and "desert-bound, high-tech metropolis" setting, but we're also still holding our breath to see if Ubisoft can tweak the "canned" gameplay we experienced during our last hands-on with Red Steel 2.
GRAW and Splinter Cell: Double Agent infiltrate Games on Demand
Grab your night-vision goggles and strap on your Kevlar, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Splinter Cell: Double Agent have been added to Xbox Live's Games on Demand service. While GRAW is available in nearly all Xbox Live regions, Splinter Cell: Double Agent is only available to (most) European Xbox Live users. Prices vary by region, but we're confident in saying that no matter where you live, the asking price is probably too high for games that launched in 2006.
Just watch this trailer, and then Just Dance
The trailer for Ubisoft's just-dancing game Just Dance puts forth a pretty upbeat philosophy about life. No matter where you are -- the office, the convenience store, the, uh, 1950s -- it's the perfect time to turn on some dance pop from twenty years ago, turn into a glowing cartoon, and --Just Dance. Of course, Ubisoft would prefer that you just dance at home, by playing the Wii game this trailer is promoting, but you don't need to worry about details like that. You have one solitary obligation, and that is to dance. Due to its use of the Wii Remote, this game seems to emphasize arm movements in dance, contrasting with Dance Dance Revolution, which is based primarily on foot movements. We can't wait to see someone play both simultaneously.%Gallery-70594%
Ubisoft officially reveals 'Just Dance,' for people who don't mind looking like this
Originally discovered in a trademark, Ubisoft has announced Just Dance, a Wii game developed by Ubisoft Paris. While we had some interest in the title due to the possibility of it being Q? Entertainment's rhythm game project, the announcement shows that it ... isn't. Just Dance invites players to learn and mimic "real dance moves set to classic and modern songs across all genres they know and love," as CEO Yves Guillemot put it. Among the 30 licensed tracks: dance classics like "Groove Is In The Heart," "Pump Up the Jam," and "U Can't Touch This." But ... how do you do the MC Hammer dance in this game? Do you attach the Wiimote to your leg? Does it come with special parachute pants with a pocket for the controller?%Gallery-70594%
Red Steel 2 coming in holiday 2009
Click to embiggen. The Red Steel 2 media onslaught continues today with the official announcement from Ubisoft. There's not a lot new to talk about, but we did learn that Ubisoft Paris is on development and that we'll get to slice and shoot our way through the game this holiday season.They also sent along some not particularly enlightening concept art that you can see for yourself by clicking the snippet above.
Steamy Ghost Recon savings, 50% off the Complete Pack
This is not a drill. Keep your head low, your wallets open and your Steam account information at the ready, because this is an official weekend deal alert: The Ghost Recon Complete Pack is 50% off through Steam. For only $19.99 or roughly the cost of Tom Clancy's Fighter Wing guide, you can be the proud owner of all five PC versions of the Ghost Recon series including the original, Island Thunder, Desert Siege, GRAW and the latest installment, GRAW2. The money savings will expire prior to Monday, so make your "should I buy?" or "should I pass" decision in a timely manner. Please, try to keep an orderly line so the cashier can smoothly operate the checkout lane.
Ghost Recon's smoking file teases us
One of our eagle-eyed readers tipped us off to an interesting development on the official Ghost Recon site. Users are treated to a large smoking file flash overlay when the site is loaded up. It appears that some information still marks the burning folder but as it stands the entire thing is a mystery. With the recent release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2, the ownership agreement with Tom Clancy and the continued domination of Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Xbox Live (proving gamers want more than just Halo 3) is it possible this new smoking file could contain a gun? A gun called Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 3? [Thanks, Jbarnum]
Europe to get GRAW2 Legacy Edition in April
Yesterday, Ubisoft announced that a newly new and jam packed edition of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 would be hitting European territories this April called the GRAW2 Legacy Edition. This new Legacy Edition will feature all of the previously released GRAW2 downloadable content adding an additional 32 multiplayer maps, new game modes and new weapons to the classic (see: older) GRAW2 experience. Ubi didn't mention anything about pricing for the Legacy Edition, so one should expect it to fall in line with pricing for new releases. That said, is there really a point to releasing this Legacy Edition seeing that most of the die hard military shooter fanboys already moved on from GRAW2 to the oh so popular CoD4? Just saying ...
GRAW 2 co-op pack numero dos hits LIVE, doesn't [Update]
Update: The GRAW 2 Co-Op Collection 2 downloadable content is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace for 400MS Points weighing in at 976MB. Original Story: Time for your confusing story of the day kids. Today, Ubisoft's London office sent out a media alert letting the press know that the second anticipated GRAW 2 Co-op Collection pack has been released onto Xbox LIVE for 400 MS Points. The only thing is, it hasn't. Scouring Xbox Live Markeplace, at the time of this article, there is no sign of any downloadable co-op pack for the Tom Clancy-based hit -- other than the original co-op collection package. Loyal X3F Army soldiers will remember this isn't the first time Ubisoft's UK office jumped the gun on a GRAW 2 announcement. It looks like the release was premature, but it does answer some of the questions we had regarding the latest DLC for the critically acclaimed title. After releasing the first co-op collection for the hefty asking price of 800MS Points, Ubisoft throws out the latest expansion installment for half-price but doesn't skimp on the content. Adding five co-op missions that continue the story of the original DLC, 9 adversarial maps -- 7 remade from other games in the series and 2 new creations, and 8 brand new achievements to pad your gamerscore. We're waiting anxiously in the wings for Ubisoft to remind us that the shooter-war isn't just a two pony race. As soon as we learn the content has hit LIVE we'll let you know.
GRAW2 Co-op Collection 2 gets fully revealed
The achievements didn't lie, because today TeamXbox exclusively revealed yet another piece of GRAW2 downloadable content called Co-op Collection 2. Just like the Co-op Collection before it, this second set of DLC will feature five new missions (Bridges, Stronghold, Depot, Riverbed and Ghost Town), nine new adversarial maps (Bridges, Stronghold, Depot, Riverbed, Ghost Town, Roadblock, Island, Treatment Plant and Mining Camp) as well as eight additional achievements worth 125 Gamerscore. TeamXbox posted a pretty solid video preview of the Co-op Collection 2 which also tells us that the DLC can be downloaded right now off the XBLM. But after doing a quick XBLM look, no Co-op Collection 2 could be found. So, we'll just say release date and pricing are "pending".
New GRAW2 achievements means more DLC
For those of you who are still supporting the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter then you'll be glad to know that a set of eight new achievements totaling an additional 125 Gamerscore have been added to GRAW2. Funny thing about that is can't unlock them yet. The list of eight new achievements come straight from the bowels of Xbox.com and correspond to various GRAW2 co-op mission completions as well as killing tasks on any "GRAW 2: CC map". But know that these achievements are not the same ones released with last year's GRAW2 Co-Op Collection DLC, these are freshly new and totally unannounced co-op missions. So, that means only one thing to us: more DLC. We expect these new achievements to correspond to another round of paid (or free) GRAW2 DLC that will be making its way to the XBLM soon'ish. You are on alert. [Thanks, Brad]
Video: GRAW 2 co-op DLC
Hey, kids! Still playing that Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 game? Do you feel like you need something new? Maybe you saw the fancy, newfangled Co-op Collection content pack that was released yesterday, and maybe you found yourself wondering if it was worth 800 MS Points. You thought to yourself, "that's a lot of scratch," perhaps. Well, as usual, we're here to help. Ubisoft released a little teaser video that shows off all the levels available in the new content pack. The co-op campaign is comprised of 5 missions from previous Ghost Recon titles (3 from Ghost Recon, 2 from Ghost Recon: Island Thunder). The pack also includes four new adversarial maps, two of which are remakes of old favorites (Castle and Prison). Check out the video and see if it's worth opening your wallet.
Big GRAW 2 pack coming next month
It appears that Ubisoft's going to be ringing in Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday shopping season with a cornucopia (pilgrims FTW!) of content for tactical shooter Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. Sometime in late November, fans will be able to add five new missions that continue the story line and nine new multiplayer maps, seven of which are rehashed from old Ghost Recon games. Oh, and those who get the pack through Xbox Live will also have 125 more Gamerscore points available. The one big question that we don't have an answer for yet is price. But Ubisoft is supposed to put some new details out today, so we'll likely soon know if this Thanksgiving treat is the equivalent of delicious pumpkin pie or ... Jello salad.
GRAW 2 getting Co-Op Collection expansion
Ubisoft has plans to make GRAW 2 fresh again by releasing a new campaign / multiplayer expansion sometime later this month or early November. The GRAW 2 Co-Op Collection expansion includes five new campaign missions and nine new multiplayer maps while adding an additional 125 Gamerscore to the mix with nine achievements. Complete details on all the new campaign missions, maps and achievements can be viewed over at IGN, but after giving the expansion content a look over we still have one question on our mind. We wonder if the Co-Op Collection is going to be enough to draw us away from our current FPS gaming rotation and bring us back to GRAW 2.
Second GRAW 2 Throwback Pack is now free
Piggybacking the free release of the original Throwback Pack, Ubisoft has just made the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Throwback Pack 2 a free XBLM download! This second Throwback Pack features an additional seven remade multiplayer maps including Ghost Town, Aral Sea and Rocky Cove among others and features an additional gametype called Co-op Exfiltration. This multiplayer expansion was previously listed at 800 Microsoft points, so with a 100% discount making it free, we think you should give it a download. Free GRAW 2 Throwback Pack and Throwback Pack 2 ... life is good.
GRAW 2 gets free content pack
If you haven't loaded up Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 in a while, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you dig the disc out. Last week, the first "Throwback Pack" (originally 800 points in May) went free on the Marketplace. Today, there's a brand new throwback pack, the appropriately titled "Throwback Pack 2", that's absolutely free. The main draws here are seven levels that have been remastered from previous Ghost Recon games. But you'll also find a new mode to play around with, Co-op Exfiltration. Wow, from $15 for eight re-lit maps and 4 co-op missions to seven missions for free -- what a difference a year makes.
