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Fret Nice

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:31:34 +0000

Game Description:The Vibrant Chordblasters have been touring the world and spreading their unique style of music, which constantly has won over new fans. That is, until it gets into the ears of the Hair Bängers. They are vicious hard rocking people who, upon hearing the new type of music, go on an outrageous rampage in disgust, invading the whole world trying to spread their own heavy metal music and heavy metal h…air wherever they go. With the whole world blaming the Vibrant Chordblasters for angering the Hair Bängers, the band has no other choice but to chase all of the Hair Bängers back to Heavy Metal Kingdom using the most powerful weapon in the world… Rock’n'roll

Got a bunch of plastic guitars laying around your game room? Downloadable platformer Fret Nice uses your strums and Star Power in a way that you’ve never seen before. But despite the funky control scheme, Fret Nice doesn’t stray too far from side-scrolling conventions.

Got a bunch of plastic guitars laying around your game room? Downloadable platformer Fret Nice uses your strums and Star Power in a way that you’ve never seen before. But despite the funky control scheme, Fret Nice doesn’t stray too far from side-scrolling conventions.

Moved By Music

Thanks to games like Braid, Castle Crashers, A Boy And His Blob and many more, it’s clear that the side-scrolling 2D is experiencing something of a renaissance. Each of these games tries to do its own unique thing while staying true to the core of old-school gaming. Now, you can add the new downloadable title Fret Nice to that list. Like all of the aforementioned games, Fret Nice is, at its core, a standard side-scrolling platforming game, with one interesting twist: You can play the game entirely with a Guitar Hero or Rock Band guitar controller. The first and third fret keys move you left and right, while tilting the guitar neck up in the “Star Power/Overdrive” motion makes you jump. While you’re in the air, playing the guitar creates riffs that destroy your enemies. Each chord corresponds to a feature on the enemies’ faces and you have to match their features with your music to destroy them.

If it sounds weird, well, that’s because it is.

The Guitar isn’t a Hero

Perhaps because of its strangeness, Fret Nice is a hard game not to like. The music/facial feature matching gameplay sounds cumbersome, but actually works quite well in practice. As you’d expect from a game with music as a weapon, the soundtrack is great and features the kind of catchy original gaming tunes that are far too rare in the days of licensed beats. The cut-out visual style that’s reminiscent of Lucidity is stylish and cool.

Unfortunately, the guitar-controller gimmick at the heart of the game is the weakest thing about it. It works, but it’s also clunky and occasionally frustrating. Using the guitar tilt sensor to jump is a cumbersome control choice that doesn’t always respond as quickly as you’d like and other controls such as running or climbing just feel off. Fortunately, you can play Fret Nice with a standard controller. It feels much smoother with a traditional gamepad, but that also removes the most unique thing about the game, so you’re left with a passable but generally unremarkable platformer.

For Those About to Rock

As much as I liked Fret Nice’s visuals, music and boss fights, I wish that developer Pieces Interactive took more risks with the gameplay than just the control method. Fret Nice’s levels are very standard multi-path platforming affairs, and unlocking new stages via medal-earning gets old fast, as you’ll typically have to replay the same stage over and over just to get to the next one. The inclusion of co-op is a plus, as is the ability to customize your characters. But when all is said and done, Fret Nice’s gameplay just doesn’t rock as hard as it should. Pardon the pun, but it’s a nice little game. Too bad nice doesn’t go that far in the world of rock n’ roll.

Source:g4tv.com

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Vancouver 2010 – The Official Game of the Olympic Winter Games (Xbox 360)

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:20:42 +0000

Game Description: Vancouver 2010 is an authentic simulation of a host of events from the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on the adrenalin rush that comes from the extreme speed of winter sports. Including the all new challenge mode, it will allow players to immerse themselves in the world’s greatest sporting event like never before.

In February, the world’s greatest Winter Olympic athletes will descend on Vancouver for 16 days of competition and with that comes the obligatory licensed game. SEGA’s Vancouver 2010 is a game that will show you just how hard some winter Olympic events can be and will give you a whole new level of respect for what these athletes go through in an effort to bring home the gold.

Unfortunately, what 2010 will not give you is an immersive Olympic experience that in any way makes you feel like you’re living the event, nor will it provide the variety of sports that makes the winter Olympics such an interesting and diverse event every four years.

Spanning The Globe

Ever since Summer Games hit the Commodore 64 in 1984, the Olympics have been a staple of the gaming world, providing a reliable entry into the market whenever there is a companion real-life event to market. These games have been of varying quality, but, for the most part, have often been disparaged as lightweight efforts.

Vancouver 2010 is an anomaly within the trend of subpar Olympic video games. The overall quality of the game is solid, with very well-done graphics and a streamlined presentation that gets you right into the action. However, it does this without any of the pomp associated with the actual Olympic Games. Because of this, 2010 feels like a collection of winter sports that comes without any of the context that makes the Olympics so much fun to watch.

To Bring You A Constant Variety of Sports?

Vancouver 2010’s biggest issue is the lack of variety provided in the 14 events that are represented in the game. Of them, fully half are of the alpine downhill variety, whether that be downhill skiing, slalom, or snowboarding. There are also three sled-based events, including bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Add to that two speed skating events, ladies aerials and ski jumping and you have the completed list.

In the past, some of the most fun you could have playing an Olympic video game was by doing some of the more bizarre events, such as the skiing and shooting spectacular that is the biathlon and the endurance festival that is cross-country skiing. Vancouver 2010 would benefit from some of that variety, since so many of the events in the game are so close to each other thematically.

The events are also similar to each other in terms of gameplay. If you learn to ski in one event, you pretty much have the hang of the other six. It’s the same with the sledding-based games. The requisite button-mashing makes speed skating a buzzkill and the aerials and ski jumping feature tactical effort that suck the fun right out of them. Luckily, tutorials are provided at the beginning of each event–every time–so if you can’t remember how to do a certain thing, you can relearn at your leisure.

The Thrill of Victory

That’s not to say that there’s no fun to be had in playing Vancouver 2010. The alpine events show you, perhaps for the first time, how very reckless and dangerous it seems to hurtle down a mountain at 100 MPH. Sledding will give you a good sense of what it’s like to always be just one small mistake from biting it and sliding a half mile down a frozen tube either on your face or with a giant sled nearly crushing you to death. You’ll feel those speeds and a sense of thrill as you try and carve a big turn, fully exposed, without crashing disastrously into some sort of barrier.

The best part of Vancouver 2010, hands down, is the set of challenges that you are presented on the side. Whether you’re trying to maintain a constant speed of 70 MPH in a bobsleigh, or trying to avoid snowmen while finishing a slalom course, these challenges really ask you to master the gameplay and yield a fun experience that will keep those achievement grabbers happy.

The Agony of Defeat

What’s not so good is the Olympic presentation, or rather, lack thereof. The rules are simple: you (and three other people, be they on your couch or online), choose a country to represent and you’re off to the Games. One event, one very short medal ceremony, and that’s all there is to it. It would have been nice to be able to stack a series of events together to make for a more encompassing experience, and for there to be some sort of commentary or run-through voiceover. Instead, you get some very middle-of-the-road anonymous pop punk music to accompany your journey.

The end result is that the meat of the game doesn’t feel very Olympic so much as it feels like a series of slapped-together events. Also, there is very little to encourage you to continue playing. The events are, in a word, hard. So hard, in fact, that you’ll likely give up on trying to win a gold medal and just head back to the challenges, which seem to make more sense as far as a learning curve goes.

And the Bronze Medal Goes To…

In the end, the most frustrating thing about Vancouver 2010 isn’t what’s in the game, but what’s not. There’s enough good content on disc that it’s not a total debacle, but at the same time, perhaps not enough to justify the $50 price tag. It’s a shame, because a little more depth and a commitment to make the game feel more like the Winter Olympics would have resulted in a gold-medal effort. What we’re left with, instead, seems average at best.

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Guitar Hero: Van Halen (Xbox 360)

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:56:17 +0000

Van Halen have long been on everyone’s wishlist to play in ‘Guitar Hero,’ and, finally, they have their own game. ‘Guitar Hero: Van Halen’ is chock full of golden oldies, but also comes with some other artists of questionable taste, and is missing some key elements.

As the result of some odd timing, Van Halen and video games have been linked together in my mind for years now. It was the release of Greatest Hits: Volume I that really got me into the band and their older catalog, which was also approximately the time I was heavily invested in Super Mario 64. So what would happen is that “Unchained” would be the musical backdrop to me working my way up Tick Tock Clock and the game’s most challenging stars. Don’t ask me why, but it worked. So the idea of Guitar Hero: Van Halen hits my sweet spot.

Why Can’t This Be Love?

The execution? Frustrating, to say the least. Learning prior to release that the entirety of the Sammy Hagar era, aka “Van Hagar,” instantly disqualified it as a tribute to the band’s entire history, and while the group isn’t really worthy of a Beatles-esque reverence, chronicling the in-fighting and drama of Van Halen would have made for some interesting window dressing. Sadly, the egos involved wouldn’t have allowed for it, which is also why long-time bassist Michael Anthony is replaced by current band bass player and 18-year old son of Eddie Van Halen, Wolfgang. The Anthony omission is purely visual, but no Hagar means no “Right Now,” “Why Can’t This Be Love?”, or “Poundcake.”

So This Is Love?

And instead of Van Hagar, the set list is filled out with some truly, truly terrible musical choices. Alter Bridge (i.e. former members of Creed). Yellowcard. Blink-182. Fountains of Wayne. Bands and songs that have absolutely nothing to do with the spirit or sound of Van Halen (or even the late 70s/early 80s era of music in general). Even the respectable artists that were included like Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, and Queens of the Stone Age don’t make sense within the context of the game. Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” and “I Want It All” by Queen are great songs that are fun to play, but we are here for Van Halen.

To further illustrate the point, go to the iTunes Store and listen to the sample from “And the Cradle Will Rock,” followed immediately by “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind. It’s been reported that the person responsible for these selections was actually Wolfgang Van Halen. If that was the case, perhaps the game’s producers would have been better off lying about being unable to secure the licensing rights.

Feel Your Love Tonight

The upside is that you can skip right past these songs in Quick Play, and if you’re working through the Career mode, you’ll only find yourself short of stars a few times, and you can pick the lesser of the available musical evils to get what you need to progress. And of course, the biggest upside is that the selection of early Van Halen tracks included in the game is really, really good. Few bands justify a stand-alone experience, but when it comes to the original essence of Guitar Hero, you’d be hard pressed to find chords, licks and riffs more appropriate than those of Eddie Van Halen. The sound quality of the recordings is excellent at louder volumes (a requirement, really), and the note layouts do their best to replicate/imitate/provoke Eddie’s creative and unorthodox playing style by making liberal use of the touch-only notes and sustained notes. Michael Anthony’s bass lines (as unfortunately played by Wolfgang) are equally as interesting, though obviously not as complex as the guitar leads. Not being a proficient drummer, I couldn’t accurately evaluate the percussion part of the game, but Van Halen’s combined rhythm section has always been the backbone of their catalog.

Personal favorites such as “Dance the Night Away,” “Panama,” and “Jamie’s Cryin’” were as enjoyable as expected, while I developed a newly-found appreciation for songs I was less familiar with like “Somebody Get Me A Doctor,” “Spanish Fly,” and the power drill-generated “Intruder” as the intro to “(Oh) Pretty Woman.” My Greatest Hits itch was definitely scratched.

Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love

It’s disappointing that even though GH: VH is shipping after GH5, it doesn’t use that game’s engine, which means no drop-in/drop-out play. The return of the creepy “Chuck E. Cheese” animatronic character models is also sad to see, and is particularly disturbing when a deformed and aged David Lee Roth starts whispering about his legendary promiscuity to the camera. The signature toe-touching leap from the drum riser during “Jump” is significantly less cool, and given DLR’s age, also fairly unrealistic.

Cosmetic affronts can be mostly ignored, but the inability to export the tracks in Guitar Hero: Van Halen to your collection in Guitar Hero: World Tour or Guitar Hero 5 is unacceptable, and raises the larger issue here: this should have been downloadable content packaged with a Van Halen aesthetic. If you’re not going to make the experience about the full history of the band — sordid and ego-laden as it may be — then cut out the junk filler and give us “Best of David Lee Roth era” to download directly…or even sell on a cheaper disc, as $60/$50 (as of retail release) for the package as it currently exists is too much to ask.

It’s a shame that the music has to suffer as a result of decisions made in a board room, because these songs truly are rock-and-roll classics and perfect for the Guitar Hero treatment. But like the band itself these days, there’s way too much baggage attached.

Source:g4tv.com

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Bayonetta (Xbox 360)

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:53:27 +0000

Game Description: The spiritual successor to his Devil May Cry series, creator Hideki Kamiya returns to the 3D beat-’em-up genre. The titular Bayonetta is a shape-shifting witch who attacks with a devastating and stylish combo of magic, handguns, and her lengthy hair.

Sega’s twitch action game evokes the best elements of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden while contributing its own unique flair to the genre. Even a hackneyed storyline and awful voice acting can’t keep down Bayonetta’s exceptional combat system.

The struggle to describe what Bayonetta truly is proves to be as chaotic as the fast-paced action that drives Platinum Games’ hack n’ slash title. It’s a love letter to PS2-era action games and Sega classics as well as a subtle jab at Capcom all in one fell swoop. The story might be about as coherent as someone describing an anime series after a three-day meth binge, yet the gameplay shines through, thanks to smart combat and great setpieces. At times, it evokes (and outpaces) the likes of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. There hasn’t been a game quite as schizophrenic in its presentation in quite some time, nor has there been one nearly as well-executed.

The DMC comparisons largely stem from Platinum’s pedigree as a dev house full of ex-Capcom creative directors, one of which is Hideki Kamiya, DMC’s designer. It’s far too easy to cynically dismiss it as a clone of Kamiya’s prior effort, and it’s unfair. The level of depth in Bayonetta points to a fusion of classic hack n’ slash gameplay with a far deeper scope thanks to tech that didn’t exist when DMC dropped in 2001. Achievement and trophy hunting aside, you’ll need to replay this one time and time again to hit the bottom of the well. It’s a game designed from the top down with repeat plays in mind.

As the titular heroine, you’ll step into the gun-toting heels of Bayonetta, a 500 year-old witch in a mystical land where witches have the faces of supermodels and the legs of Shaquille O’Neal. It’s a good thing the game points out that witches aren’t human — Bayonetta’s physical characteristics are a freakish caricature of femininity. She’s awakened from a twenty-year slumber with a nasty case of amnesia. Somewhere along the way, she starts picking up the pieces of the past, and it involves hideous angels trying to kill her. She has a rival, the silver-haired Jeanne (who with her red jumpsuit and motorcycle, might remind you of someone familiar), and enemies the size of small buildings trying to crush her. Thankfully, she can use her long locks to conjure demons that appear to be borrowed from the Final Fantasy Book of Summons to crush hideous cherubs and two-headed dragons with Renaissance masks for an ass. And that’s just one of the first bosses you’ll encounter.

Bewm Chicka Wah Wah

It’s peculiar that the game takes such a fetishistic approach to its heroine; like adult entertainment, Bayonetta’s plot is largely a vehicle for an orgiastic display of high-energy combat action. The story unravels as though The Divine Comedy Cliff’s Notes occupied the same space in Kamiya’s bathroom as an issue of Maxim. Is it poor translation? Is it a disjointed plot? Either way, it’s quite bad, whether you get the winking irony of God Hand or you take your gaming entertainment at face value. There’s supplemental literature you can pick up along the way (similar to how Capcom’s action classics conveyed backstory), but it doesn’t do much to enrich a rather hackneyed tale. Even if some of the game’s cutscenes only span around five minutes, many feel more agonizing than Metal Gear Solid 4’s most exasperating moments. And God forbid your significant other walk in on one of several awkward cinematic moments focused on Bayonetta sucking a lollipop or bending over to pick something up. The game’s camera angles border on gynecological at times when focusing on her. I’m far from the most politically correct person, but I winced on more than one occasion at the degree of cheesecake on display.

And Now, For Something Completely Different

But once you’re in control of Bayonetta, the plot contrivances and piss-poor dialogue fly out the window. Suddenly, nothing matters but nailing combos and dodging attacks to activate Witch Time. The feature is arguably the best part of the combat, since it allows you to fluidly string together big hitting combinations and open up vulnerabilities in enemy defense. It’s a great counterattack mechanism, and it takes some time to get used to the rhythm of knowing when a dodge is merely moving you out of the way, or when you’ve hit the opportunity to activate Witch Time. Bayonetta also has the ability to pull off finishers on her opponents. In some cases, she can summon a guillotine, and in others, she can crush angels with tombstones or giant bells. There’s a specific finisher for each enemy type.

In addition, Bayonetta’s verse system breaks down your performance on a moment-by-moment basis. Battles and big sequences define the verses in each level. It’ll take a lot to complete each verse and during the first playthrough, you’ll likely disappoint the game’s high standards. Not to worry, though. The combat is lean and tight enough that replay value is here if you’re an ardent fan of this genre, and you’ll probably back track to repeat verses for better rankings. Like other games on the genre, Bayonetta can purchase upgrades, such as new hand-to-hand combat moves, stronger weapons, and ultimately expensive amulets that give her special perks. The amulet cost is yet another incentive to play through again and earn enough money to deck out Bayonetta’s abilities.

Throw Me a Frickin’ Bone Here!

If there’s a minus to the elegant combat system, it lies in some unintuitive, head-scratching moments. As you play, you’re under pressure to play well. If you die (or worse, use any power ups), it’s a penalty against your overall level score and bonus rewards. Unfortunately, Bayonetta is chock-full of “trial by death” moments on your first playthrough, many of which would’ve been totally preventable had the team implemented even the slightest warning. While no one’s asking for the game to hold them by the hand, there are sections where you genuinely won’t be able to figure out what in the hell the game wants you to do until you’re on the verge of death. In some boss fights, one-hit kills come without much warning, and you’ll finish the stage with the lowest rank possible. Undoubtedly, hardcore gamers fluent in the genre will get it, and will likely clear the game far ahead of my initial 18-hour playthrough. The final fight of the game, however, will prove maddening for most. I never spike controllers. I made an exception for the finale.

Bayonetta Laughs At Your Silly Dice Puzzles

Frustrations aside, the setpieces in Bayonetta are a sight to behold. The combat is great on its own, but thankfully the Platinum team saw fit to add some great moments to change the pace. Few are dead weight. Bayonetta must run up the sides of skyscrapers and along the tentacles of giant monstrosities, and in a great segment, re-board a jumbo jet after being ejected mid-flight alongside a half-dozen cargo containers. Other moments evoke Sega classics such as Hang-On and Space Harrier. Although it’ll take some tries to figure out how boss fights tick, they’re satisfyingly larger-than-life. Alongside satisfying combat and unique setpieces, Bayonetta is full of gorgeously designed environments and villains. Whether the team made the deliberate choice to design humanoid characters highly generic-looking remains to be seen, but the bosses never ceased to leave me asking “what the #$^@ is that” in the majority of my encounters.

Fire Extinguisher

A great deal of fuss has been made regarding the performance difference between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, but the argument can be resolved quite simply: in this case, if you have both consoles, buy it on Xbox 360. Load times are worse on PS3 and at times, the action looks muddier, but in all honesty, PS3 owners shouldn’t skip the game solely because textures aren’t as good or the game loads every time you pause. Bayonetta is great no matter what platform you have, and at the end of the day, both Xbox 360 and PS3 owners should be happy stuffing angelic warriors into iron maidens.

In Other Words…

Bayonetta is a wonderful experience that I emphatically recommend for fans of the genre. Granted, the objectification and ogling of the titular character can be rather uncomfortable at times (the end credits and post-credits should be watched in solitude, if only to save yourself heaps of awkward explanation) and the awful storyline reads like an elementary school child’s book report on The Divine Comedy, but like (ahem) adult entertainment, plot is secondary to action. And in that sense, the team at Platinum Games has truly forged a refreshing new entry in the hack n’ slash action genre. Hopefully, Capcom and Team Ninja are taking notes. Bayonetta shoots for the moon and succeeds.

Source:g4tv.com

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X-Play’s Golden Mullet Awards Behind-The-Scenes Photos

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:58:56 +0000

Now that X-Play has announced an indisputable list of the year’s best games, it’s time to unfurl the cursed scroll with the names of the hands down worst video games of 2009 and dole out, what are essentially the Razzies of the gaming world, The Golden Mullet Awards. Tune in at 6PM ET to see which games have earned the ignominious honor and make sure to take a look at these behind-the-scenes pictures of the award show.

Source:ezinearticles.com

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Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (Xbox 360)

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:12:58 +0000

Game Description: In this second downloadable episode for the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV, players are exposed to the glitzy excesses of Liberty City through the eyes of Luis Lopez, main thug of famed night club titan Tony Prince (aka “Gay Tony”). Featuring new vehicles, new songs, new weapons and much more, the last chapter promises to bring the GTAIV saga to an explosive and brilliant conclusion

The Grand Theft Auto story arc comes to a close with The Ballad of Gay Tony, an experience that shows off yet another side to Liberty City. As Luis Lopez, the business partner and iron fist of club promoter “Gay Tony” Prince, you’re thrust into a twisted scenario of excess and betrayal that will test your resolve. Oh, and along the way, you’ll blow up more stuff than you ever did in The Lost and Damned (which is also available with Gay Tony on the Episodes from Liberty City disc) or GTA4.

At this point, there’s a good chance that you know if you’re in the target audience for The Ballad of Gay Tony. If you wrote off Grand Theft Auto IV before finishing “Three Leaf Clover,” there’s a chance that you might overlook Rockstar North’s final effort in the Liberty City story arc. And that would be a shame. Although I found The Lost & Damned to be a more unsavory experience than GTA4, Gay Tony fires on all cylinders and delivers both solid storytelling and the same sort of over-the-top mayhem found in the best moments of GTA: San Andreas. It’s arguably the finest episodic content found in a console game this year.

Gay Tony tells the story of Luis Lopez, business partner and enforcer for aging club promoter “Gay Tony” Prince, who’s managed to rack up millions in debt to various unsavory figures. Tony might own the two hottest gay and straight clubs in Liberty City, but he’s up to his eyeballs in IOUs. Ex-con Luis inevitably gets wrapped up in odd jobs to keep the mob off Tony’s back. Fortunately for you and me, those odd jobs usually involve big guns, fast cars, and huge explosions.

After a grim rendering of the immigrant experience and the grittiness of an urban biker gang, Gay Tony’s focus on the ups and downs of Liberty City’s nightlife contrasts effectively with the darker elements of The Lost and Damned. Rockstar’s biting social commentary — from getting personal with a bitchy celebrity blogger to spoofing a Twitter-obsessed culture — is decidedly spot-on. It’s much funnier and irreverent than the prior games, and the rather upbeat finale sends off Liberty City with a sunny smile and a wave.

This. Is. Fierce.

Structurally, it seems that with Gay Tony, Rockstar North has struck the right chord between satisfying GTA fans who want story to go alongside their mayhem and giving giddy pseudo-anarchists something to pull them back into the fray from the likes of the Saints Row series. Yes, there are sticky bombs that do ridiculous damage and automatic shotgun with explosive shells, and yet, these super-powered explosives have credible context within Luis’ missions. I won’t spoil the context for base-jumping, but rest assured that the activity is cleverly woven into Luis’ missions.

Big explosions aside, there are other elements within Gay Tony that point to advancements that would’ve made GTA4 more forgiving to some gamers. If you’re killed mid-mission, there’s now an in-mission checkpoint system that ensures that you won’t need to repeat the tedium of driving to a start point and re-playing moments over and over. I can’t remember how many times I hung onto a “replay” text message long enough to cab it over to a weapons shop, load up on body armor, and jump back into the checkpoint of a nasty firefight. It’s a sorely needed element that I’m glad Rockstar North has addressed.

Relive It All

Also, in a decidedly self-reflexive move, Gay Tony borrows the mission replay feature from GTA: Chinatown Wars (which borrowed liberally from GTA4) to allow you to relive great missions over and over. Plus, you can upload your best times to Rockstar Social Club to plaster the leaderboards. There are some limits to what you can do, though. If you’re looking to capture the introductory cutscenes, they’re not available after clearing the game. Also, if you use any shortcuts, such as taxis, you’ll be disqualified from uploading your stats. But even with those limits, it’s a sorely needed addition to the series.

There are a few moments in which Gay Tony sags a bit. Although Rockstar North has refined elements of the friend system since GTA4 — Luis’ dim-witted friends from the block won’t blow up your inbox like Niko’s pals and their perks unlock early — the extracurricular activities won’t hold your interest for too long. From time to time, Luis will get a call to go and work at Maisonette 9, Tony’s club. Usually, it consists of surveying the dance floor, breaking up fights, and random missions. In one instance, Luis hooks up with a girl in the office. In another, he has to drive to Hercules, Tony’s other club, to rescue a closeted rapper from paparazzi. Your enjoyment, like mileage, may vary. I found the side mission to be entertaining, but ultimately a tad trivial. You might be better off base-jumping.

Luis’ backstory involving his family and friends from the barrio starts up interesting (if not a little cliché), but never really unfolds with the same level of solid narrative seen in the main missions. It’s a bit more intriguing to watch Luis sarcastically blow off Arab rich kid Yusef Amir’s coked-up ramblings than to watch him argue with his mother about straightening his life out. Also, you’ll never look at one of GTA4’s best characters the same way after clearing this episode. Indeed, most of the fun of Gay Tony comes from the fact that it assumes that you know side characters, you know the moments from the other Liberty City tales, and it delivers on them all with a wink and a smile.

Music geeks will also find some of the new soundtrack adjustments to be interesting. I played Gay Tony on the Episodes from Liberty City disc, which includes revamped radio stations. It appears that thanks to licensing, some stations are gone — The Journey is now Self-Actualization Radio — but Vice City FM returns with Fernando in full fatuous cry. Unfortunately, the catch is that the station is exclusive to the disc. Consider that when you decide to download the episode versus purchasing the disc, which also features The Lost and Damned, just in case you haven’t played it.

A Fabulous Finale

Ten and a half hours later — it probably took me longer than most GTA4 vets, since I’m awful with cars — the credits rolled to the sounds of classic disco. Ultimately, the credits genuinely encapsulate the fifty-odd hours I’ve invested in Grand Theft Auto IV over the past 18 months, and I’m confident that fans will feel the same way. Life goes on for these characters — even if we’re not going to see new tales from the city — and it’s a rewardingly upbeat celebration of the time you’ve invested in the world. The Ballad of Gay Tony serves as a great send-off for the Liberty City story arc, and provides good structure for Rockstar North’s next foray into the Grand Theft Auto universe.

Source:g4tv.com

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New Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Trailer Explores Campaign

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:27:31 +0000

It’s always a great day when a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 video hits the net. Check out two minutes of singleplayer campaign goodness in this new trailer from Infinity Ward and Activision.

What’s your favorite part of the trailer? I’m a big fan of the bouncing betty landmine action! Also, be sure to read my hands-on preview of the game’s multiplayer component from last month.

Source:G4tv.com

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Morning Hangover #67 — Patrick Ponders Brutal Legend Vs. Uncharted 2

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:16:33 +0000

Welcome to Morning Hangover — an excellent way to start your day with the crew at TheFeed…no matter what you’re recovering from. Every morning you’ll hear musings from our editors and have the chance to share your thoughts on what’s going on in the gaming world. So buckle up, throw a Pokeball at the new week, and keep reading!

Patrick Klepek: I don’t blame you for being a little confused. Why exactly am I comparing Brutal Legend against Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (other than to find yet another way to incorporate an Uncharted 2 reference into a Morning Hangover post)? There’s actually an easy answer: both games are coming out on the same day, October 13. We’re still a week out from both games launching, but given the economic climate, most gamers may have to choose one or the other.

Which way are you leaning?

TheFeed gang wants your thoughts on gaming, tech, how far behind America is with snacks, and more. Let everyone know what you’re thinking and chat it up with your fellow readers. Leave comments on anything and everything that’s on your (gaming/tech/nerd) mind!

Source:G4tv.com

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New Earthworm Jim A Remake Of The Original

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:33:24 +0000

Gameloft and Interplay recently announced the two companies would be bringing Earthworm Jim to Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare and mobile in late 2009. But the two companies weren’t very specific on what exactly was in development. A new Earthworm Jim? A remake?

I have an answer for you, readers. A Gameloft representative has confirmed to me it’s a remake of the 1994 original game released on Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, not a new game.

This remake has a one month exclusivity to Xbox Live Arcade and will appear elsewhere after.

Source:gtv.com

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King of Fighters XII (Xbox 360)

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:33:38 +0000

King of Fighters celebrates its 15th Anniversary by hitting harder than ever! The world’s greatest fighting tournament returns with new moves, new features, and an unforgettable new look. Master new moves like critical counter attacks, deadlock counters, and air guarding. Gather a group of warriors in your own clan, create a custom clan emblem, then take on other clans online. And just to make sur…e everyone knows who’s the real king, you can even record your matches and upload them to the Web. But the real crowning achievement is the game’s unique visual style, with every one of the backgrounds and each of the 22 characters completely hand-drawn.

The console port of The King of Fighters XII finally arrives, bringing two new characters to the Xbox 360 and PS3, but there aren’t many bells and whistles coming along for the ride. What we have here is a good fighting engine wrapped in a thin shell.

The King of Fighters XII is the third major fighting game retail release in 2009 (following Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue) and finally brings The King of Fighters series to HD-era consoles. The good news is: the actual fighting engine in KoF12 is deep and rewarding. There’s a nicely placed skill ceiling and the new additions like the “Critical Counter” bring some new excitement to the KoF system.

Who are all of these people?!

But if you’re new to The King of Fighters, prepare to be confused. Like The King of Fighters ’98 and The King of Fighters 2002, there is no story mode to be found in KoF12. This game does not take place in the franchise’s canon. That does two things: it allows certain characters that might be dead or otherwise unavailable to reappear and it causes series newcomers to find themselves wondering who these characters are. Some simple written backstory would have alleviated this issue. If you’re somebody that already knows who Kyo, Terry, Iori, and Benimaru are, you’ll be able to jump right in and play.

First timers might be a bit lost when they hit the character select screen and find 22 characters to choose from, but will find an enjoyable fighting game awaiting them after picking their team of 3 characters. Veterans and newcomers alike, however, will be able to enjoy the beautifully hand-drawn characters, backgrounds, and effects. The amount of detail on these sprites is incredible and the animations are fluid. It’s definitely a unique-looking game and will grow on you the more you play.

Let’s talk modes!

The King of Fighters XII features an Arcade Mode, putting the player in five 3-on-3 fights then grading based on the total time it takes to finish those bouts. Three quick anime cutscenes explain that another King of Fighters tournament is happening, but that’s all you’ll get between the battles.
Versus mode supports player vs. CPU and player vs. player for 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 fights and a practice mode will let you try out combos and moves while delivering attack data. Beyond that, there’s the replay theater, which allows the player to replay fights saved from the online mode or downloaded from the online leaderboards. Unfortunately, the replay theater is minimally featured and will only playback the fight. Extras like seeing the controller inputs of the players or attack data are not included.

The online mode itself is where most players will end up spending their time. The PlayStation 3 version will feature clan support, while the Xbox 360 release gets TrueSkill support for matchmaking. Players can track their stats and gain Battle Points in the online Arcade Mode. Player matches support lobbies and spectators, which is a nice bonus. The actual netcode is hit or miss. I had fights that worked perfectly and some fights that were hit with some lag. Thankfully, Ignition Entertainment is already working on a patch to improve online connectivity, which will be available at release on the PS3 and shortly thereafter on the Xbox 360.

And that’s where the modes end. There’s no time attack beyond the Arcade Mode. No survival mode. No challenge mode. There’s nothing to keep you occupied if you aren’t taking the game online or fighting it out with friends on the same console.

Deep, but still simple?

The fight system itself has been simplified since The King of Fighters XI, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s still a lot of depth to be found and the emphasis on utilizing the many jumps available to the player is as strong as ever. Longtime fans, however, might be put off by this as it is a simplification of the traditional fighting system. Newcomers will find this an easier introduction to the world of KoF than the previous games.

The new “Critical Counter” is a nice addition, allowing you to start up a devastating combo if you land a counter-hit with the correct attack when the meter is full. It is during these moments that the most exciting combos will occur as the enemy can be juggled for as long as the player has meter. For less skilled players and the CPU AI, it leads to spamming heavy punch to try and land the counter hit that begins the sequence.

In addition to that meter, players will also build up a standard meter toward super specials, which can even be unleashed during Critical Counter combos. These moves feature flashy hand-drawn effects and deal some major damage, but leave the player vulnerable to counterattack if missed.

Not quite Skynet…

If you’re planning on playing this game solo, you might want to pay special attention to this section. The AI in this game is simple and doesn’t even offer much of a challenge when set to “hard”. With only three levels of difficulty, solo players won’t find themselves being pushed to get better at the game. On hard, the AI will use combos more effectively, but is still easily dispatched without breaking much of a sweat.

As mentioned, the AI will also spam heavy punches to try and start a Critical Counter when its meter is full. There were even instances where I was standing across the entire screen throwing projectiles at the AI, which was content to stand there throwing out random kicks. This AI will not prepare players for the online competition.

If you’ve really gotta have KoF!

At the end of the day, King of Fighters XII is a release for gamers that are already fans of the series, even if some of it has been simplified compared to past games. There isn’t much to generate crossover appeal here. Unfortunately, those fans might find a sparse experience after purchasing. As a $60 retail release, this title is just hard to justify. It would have been perfectly suited as a $20 downloadable game, however. It just doesn’t feel like a complete game.

Source:g4tv.com

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