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Team Ico Project Trico Unveiled?

Solomon Lee — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:44:53 -0500

An early trailer showing Team Ico's third project is available due to an exclusive video posted by the PlayStation Lifestyle website. The video shows a young boy who bears a striking resemblance to the lead protagonist from the game, Ico.

Sony has offered no comment on the video at this time. Those that wish to visit the site can do so here.

GB Review: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (DS)

Solomon Lee — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:42:14 -0500

Echoes of Time is a fun hack n slash multiplayer game. The game improves upon its Ring of Fates predecessor with a greater emphasis on multiplayer combat and teamwork. Though the Wii version leaves much to be desired, the game is still a solid title on the DS to be enjoyed with friends. Square Enixs efforts to allow both DS and Wii players to connect and play together are admirable, but one that definitely needs to be tweaked concerning the Wiis control scheme. Echoes of Time should keep fans happy for some time until the arrival of the upcoming Wii title, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Ring of Fates was Square Enixs follow-up to their Gamecube title: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. After receiving fairly positive reviews, Square has returned to tweak the multiplayer features with a greater emphasis on combat in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time. Though the gameplay is similar, the ability to play with your friends over a Wi-Fi connection on both the DS and Wii versions is a welcome addition to the series. Echoes of Time combines the best of Ring of Fates and its Crystal Chronicles Gamecube brethren into a fun, light-hearted RPG for both casual and experienced players.

The story tells the tale of a young hero who reaches his or her sixteenth birthday. According to village customs, every young villager participates in a special ceremony by defeating hordes of monsters in the dark forest that surrounds the village. The victorious are crowned with a glowing crystal found in a forest clearing guarded by Sherlotta, a fellow villager. However, a village girl falls gravely ill on the brink of the villages celebration that sends the hero on a mission to acquire the items needed for a cure.

Combat in Echoes of Time is similar to the earlier Ring of Fates DS title. You can attack, pick up and drop and jump in the open field in battle. There are four tribes are available: Clavats, Yukes, Selkies and the Lilties. You can engage the enemy with standard attacks, charge attacks (powerful attack that leaves you temporarily vulnerable) or magic attacks by acquiring various spells. This time around, you can either grab your friends or partner up with the A.I. to form a party. At the start, you can customize your party with as many warriors, mages or tribe kinsmen and kinswomen as you like. Towns and villages hold save crystals with most locations situated around a trotted path on the world map. A diary is kept by the main character that contains the chronology of events and adventures throughout the game.

You can assign different tactics for your A.I. party members in battle that includes Protect Yourself, Do Your Best, Just Follow Me and Go Nuts With Magic. You can add and drop party members at the Adventurers Guild in town prior to your quest. For multiplayer coop, you can team up with your friends via Nintendos Wi-Fi connection. You can easily communicate with your party members with a communication panel that features phrases like Attack Together, Ill take this one and Hit it. Phrases are customizable with a total of twelve phrases available for you to create your own unique message.

Echoes of Time allows you, just like its predecessors, to pick up and drop items, barrels and enemies at will. This is necessary on various quests to solve puzzles and unlock doors. Fighting enemies helps not only to gain experience but also helps you to acquire materials to place custom orders in town. By doing this, you save lots of money that would otherwise be spent on scrolls and materials at Custom Fabrications.

Visually, the game has polished character designs and detailed environments. After a short run, the Wii version is essentially a ported DS game. The graphics are only slightly improved with a rather mediocre control scheme using the Wii remote. Between the Wii and DS version, the latter is preferable as Echoes of Time was originally designed with Nintendos handheld in mind. The soundtrack is soothing and accompanies the game quite well with its light hearted and relaxed musical tunes.

Regrettably, the A.I. party members are more trouble than they are worth as they will often miss platform jumps, fall into lava pits and stand around idly while your enemies are attacking you. Echoes of Time shines in the multiplayer aspect as the single player adventure mode is very short-lived. Regarding the portability and the convenience to play with your friends, both Wii and DS owners can connect online with one another for quests. However, I personally recommend the DS version as the Wii online interface to join other quests is not very user-friendly at all.

Turbo The Movie First Trailer

Tim Grube — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:16:32 -0500

The first trailer surrounding Turbo The Movie, a Jarrett Lee Conaway film.

Turbo The Movie: A Film By Jarrett Lee Conaway

Tim Grube — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:14:23 -0500

Jarrett Lee Conaway has made his rounds across the videogame and film industry. He previously worked here at Gaming Horizon Inc. as an Executive Editor back in the days of PSX Network when we were part of IGN.com Affiliation Network and now he is about to graduate at the University of Southern California. So what is this all about? Well, he has completed one of the best (I think so atleast) short film surrounding videogames ever to hit the "small" or even "big" screen.

Entitled, TURBO, is a high-adrenaline short film in the tradition of The Karate Kid and Tron. It tells the story of Hugo Park (Justin Chon, Twilight) a misspent youth whose only outlet for angst is a 4D fighting video game called Super Turbo Arena. When Pharaoh King (Jocko Sims, Crash the Series), the Michael Jordan of cybersports, announces a tournament to determine who will join his pro team, Hugo's sets his eyes on the prize. But Hugo isn't the only gamer who wants fame and glory.

If Hugo wants to win he's going to have to beat Shamus (David Lehre, Epic Movie), the all time Turbo champ at the local Pandemonium arcade, and Ruse Kapri, a feisty prep girl that knows how to win. Realizing he can't win on his skill alone, Hugo turns to his brother Tobias, a former kickboxer whose last match left him confined to a wheelchair. Together the two will mend old wounds and see if a washed up street fighter can teach a troubled teen how to become a virtual gladiator!

Also, there will be a public screening on May 2nd at the Norris Theatre (at the University of Southern California). at 3PM. First come first serve. Turbo will be sold afterwards, for $10 or less. The price has not yet been determined.

Visit the website by clicking here.

GB Review: Star Ocean: The Last Hope (360)

Solomon Lee — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:26:14 -0500

Star Ocean is an enjoyable RPG with engaging battles and an addictive item creation mode. Despite the bland dialogue and vague mission objectives, role playing fans will love the open worlds and intense combat with their party members. Ultimately, Star Ocean is a vastly superior game to Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant titles. With multiple endings, battle trophies and various achievements, the Last Hope appeals to both casual and hardcore players. Though the game is plagued by bad dialogue and long cutscenes, The Last Hope is definitely an RPG that is worth the investment.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Star Ocean has been an RPG series that has only received modest attention. Overshadowed by other Square Enix series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, the Star Ocean series has only begun to receive attention thanks to its recent PSP ports and the earlier Till the End of Time PS2 instalment. To the surprise of many RPG fans, the next title was announced exclusively for Xbox 360 with possible development for the PlayStation 3 left as unconfirmed. Despite the mediocre cutscenes and dialogue, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is a deeply complex but satisfying game.

Star Ocean tells the tale of World War III that erupted between the World Republic Federation and the opposing world nations. Most of the earth was left in devastated ruins with a cease-fire negotiated two weeks after (wait for it) weapons of mass destruction were unleashed on a global scale. Survivors of the war wandered underground cities with little hope of deliverance. The remaining nations formed the Greater United Nations and eventually launched a space campaign to explore inhabitable planets. Edge Maverick, a young soldier and Reimi, a childhood friend and expert archer, are sent on the SRF (Space Reconnaissance Force) maiden voyage. Along the journey, Edge meets other such characters like Faize, a young Eldearian, Lymle, a spoiled Lemurisian village child and Meracle, a spunky feline humanoid.

The Last Hope utilizes a real time battle system. You can issue commands to use items, switch characters, cast symbols and unleash skills, all on-the-fly. One of the highlights of these is the jump ability, allowing you to dodge enemy attacks or surprise them with blindside attacks, (where a ! symbol appears that makes enemies vulnerable to getting attacked when you escape from their line of sight). While most battles can feel like a chore in other RPGs, the ability to quickly maneuver around enemies keeps the battles intense and engaging.

As you take damage, your rush gauge slowly fills up enabling you to initiate rush attacks upon your enemies once the gauge is full. When initiated, they temporarily give you more speed and higher defense stats against various enemy attacks. There are no random battles as monsters prowl in open sight on the battlefield. In the event you are attacked while moving or standing still in battle, your party member may, depending on your stats, block the attack entirely. You can also execute special attacks with the trigger buttons and link combos together to inflict heavy damage on your foes. A battle simulator is accessible for those that wish to hone their skills prior to fighting real battles in the game.

As you build your repertoire of skills, you will be able to harvest and mine for materials on the open field with your character. Many of these points are both visible and well hidden in different locales and terrains on differing planets. Disintegration rings allow you to interact with the environment to remove barriers by utilizing different elements. For example, a large ice block can be removed with a fire disintegration ring. All of the rings have limited uses and can only be recharged by Lymle with her charge command ability or by ring experts in villages. Battle skills can also be upgraded frequently to unleash devastating attacks on enemies that increase your Bonus board, a tiled gauge that grants you extra bonuses for stylish and hard-fought battles.

The Calnus is your spaceship hub used to travel between planets. As you progress in the game, you can assign rooms to different party members. Depending on how you treat them, opposite party members can be assigned the same room for opportunities to trigger Private Events in the game. Private events are made of up of personal dialogue and interaction between two characters with a unique sidestory. Save points are also located in various rooms to allow you to rest and recover after difficult missions. Though the use of save points is convenient on the Calnus, the lack of sufficient save points during missions can be quite frustrating.

Item creation is one of the most satisfying features in this game. New items can be created by using old items with the help of your party members. This is done by designating your teammates into groups to invent recipes. The catch is that the recipes must be created in a timed session with the results hinging on the IC (Item Creation) abilities of your comrades. Once they are out of ideas, the message No Plan will appear and the session will end. You can also end the session manually if you are satisfied with the recipes before the timer is up. Much time can easily be spent on item creation to boost your partys offensive attacks in battle.

Visually, the game sports beautiful environments and polished character designs. The special effects are stunning in battle with a lot of symbology and chain combo attacks. Regarding the characters, the anime-style designs are decent but the vacant stares and awkward facial expressions in various cutscenes are rather disappointing. As for the soundtrack, the music is exceptional and is composed by Motoi Sakuraba, the acclaimed Star Ocean and Valkryie Profile maestro. The voice actors, however, dont fare nearly as well as the soundtrack.

One of the issues in this game is the mission objectives. You will find yourself either talking to your comrades often or wandering around aimlessly just to finish your objectives. They are not always clearly defined resulting in a bit of exploring and backtracking. In battles, the camera tends to swing or position itself poorly when fighting numerous enemies. With respect to the story and character development, the cutscenes are too long and would be more effective if they were shortened to emphasize key plot points.

THQ Puts Big Huge Games Up For Sale

Zach Lott — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:23:37 -0500

Crispy Gamer has received word from THQ that the publisher is putting Big Huge Games, responsible for the Rise of Nations series, up for the sale, and that the studio will be closed if a buyer is not found.

Also, two other studios, Heavy Iron Studios and Incinerator, will become independent companies as a result of THQ's latest moves to cut workforce and reduce financial losses.

THQ, who acquired Big Huge last year, released this statement:

As part of THQs previously announced business realignment and related headcount reduction plans that targeted cost reductions of $220 million, including a reduction in workforce of 600 people worldwide, THQ today notified the staff at two of its development studios that they will be spun out as independent companies: Heavy Iron in Los Angeles, CA, and Incinerator in Carlsbad, CA. In addition, THQ informed the staff at its Big Huge Games studio in Timonium, MD, that it plans to close the studio if a sale is not completed in the near future. These actions were unfortunate but were necessitated by the difficult economic environment.

Big Huge, who also developed the popular XBLA title Catan as well as an expansion for Age of Empires III, has two unnamed titles, one for the Wii and another for the 360, PS3, and PC, in development. They have a good track record with their RTS games, so hopefully THQ won't have much trouble finding someone to sell them to.

More Fable 2 DLC on the Way

Zach Lott — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:40:43 -0500

Even the folks at Lionhead are "tweeting" these days, and CVG has discovered that the developer has announced via their Twitter page that more DLC for Fable 2 is on its way:

"Will there be any more DLC for Fable 2? The answer is quite simple: Yes. The team here in Guildford is working on some new content right now! More information will be shared in the coming weeks."

This comes after Wednesday's accidental announcement of Fable 3, which came via voice actor Jonathan Ross' Twitter page. Perhaps companies like Valve and Nintendo should start practicing the art of Twitter leaks.

Five New Guitar Hero Titles Coming in 2009

Zach Lott — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:14:39 -0500

Activision has announced that it will continue to milk the Guitar Hero franchise, revealing that five new iterations, including one based off of the works of Van Halen, will make their way to store shelves in 2009, according to Eurogamer.

The releases of Hard Rock Van Halen, Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, and Band Hero will span four platforms (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2) and should occur within the span of a few months during the second half of the year. Activision also has plans to release another Guitar Hero: On Tour title for the DS during 2009.

It seems that, for the time being, the oversaturation of the rhythm game market will continue unabated.

Prinny Game Now Available.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:43:07 -0600

NIS's game about explosive blue demon penguins who consider fanny packs to the the pinnacle of modern fashion has been released to wreak havoc on non-believers. Feel free to pick up this maddeningly hard gem for the PSP at your local retailer or hit up NISA's awesomely named Rosenqueen.com. Enjoy.

Virtual Console Update For 2-16-09: Evasive Space, Life Force

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:03:44 -0600

The weekly Virtual Console and WiiWare updates are here, making available two new games for download: Evasive Space, a new WiiWare title, and Life Force, a classic NES shooter. The former is 1,000 Wii points, while the latter will cost you 500.

Hit the jump for details on each title.

WiiWare

Evasive Space (Yukes Company of America, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Launch a one-of-a-kind mission to rescue the stars. The universe is going dark, and it's up to you, Konki the Stellar Guardian, to set things right. Dr. Dark Matter and his roving band of space thieves have stolen many of the Constellation Stones that make up the heavens. It's time to suit up, power up, recover the Stones and once again bring light to the night sky. Using the Wii Remote controller's unique pointer capabilities, simply point and thrust Konki through 20 dangerous time- and collection-based missions in the harshest of environments. Navigate through narrow, mazelike astral caves riddled with space worms, steam pipes and mining drills. Explore vast space stations while avoiding turret fire, mines and huge crushing gears. Weave through cluttered asteroid fields and gaseous planetary rings. Evade the hazards, pick up precious items and ship upgrades, and save the Constellation Stones before the night sky is lost forever.

Virtual Console

Life Force (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): This classic shooter, originally ported to the NES in August 1988, is a spin-off of the seminal Gradius series. Pilot the Vic Viper through six stages of intense action, alternating between horizontally and vertically scrolling environments, and take on wave after wave of enemies. Destroy particular enemies throughout the game (which takes place within the body of an enormous alien) to release power-up capsules and equip your ship with your choice of more powerful weapons, extra speed and shields. Utilize the power-ups carefully, though, as a fearsome guardian lurks at the end of each stage and won't be easily defeated. You can go it alone or bring along a friend to take on the challenge simultaneously. Do you have what it takes to save your planet?

Nintendo's EarthBound Gameplan: Cold Water on the Crotch.

Ryan Fulton — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:40:47 -0600

In a move that, honestly, surprises no one, Nintendo has essentially shelved plans of releasing the best SNES RPG (empirical fact; eat it FF/CT fans) on Virtual Console. Earthbound fans, accustomed to being the red-headed, freckled, bastard step-children of a drunken, abusive Nintendo, have long since given up hope of Mother 3 or 1 ever being officially translated. In fact, they actually got so down and out over it that they decided that the only way to ever see a translaton was to do it on their own. That being said, at least there was some glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, if they wished hard enough Earthbound would be released on VC and the glorious throngs who would show that there was in fact a market for the title would convince Nintendo to release Mother 3 in America with the only currency that currently holds currency with Nintendo, curren... cash. Alas due to any number of possibilities it will never happen. Move along, nothing to see here. Please, kindly, click the link if you wish to know more. I think I may go take up drinking.

Playstation Store Update: Flower, Motorstorm: Pacific Rift Demo

Zach Lott — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:36:22 -0600

As usual, Sony has released the weekly Playstation Store update today, and this week marks the long-awaited release of thatgamecompany's latest project, Flower. There's also a demo of Motorstorm: Pacific Rift and some DLC for Guitar Hero and Rock Band along with the usual extras.

Check out the list of additions after the jump.

Qore

Qore Annual Subscription ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.17 GB

Qore Episode 09: February, 2009 ($2.99)
Episode 09 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network kicks off Spring training with an inside look at MLB 09 The Show and demonstrates Resident Evil 5s co-op gameplay with new QoreVision technology.
File size: 1.17 GB

PULSE

Pulse 2/12 Edition (free) (also available from PSP storefront)
PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network is a free high definition video showcase of whats happening right now on PlayStation. Featuring new game releases, demos, movie and television arrivals available for your PS3 and PSP systems, PULSE is a fast-paced new source to keep you connected and informed about the world of PlayStation.
Hosted by Christina Lee.
File size: 269 MB (HD) 446 MB (1080)

Downloadable Games

Flower ($9.99)
Flower lets you take control of the wind as you explore and navigate beautiful, lush environments using only the SIXAXIS motion controls. This is an interactive escape that takes you on an emotional journey like no other game youve ever experienced.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 628 MB

Add-on Game Content

NBA Live 09 All Star Weekend (free)
Get up-to-date for NBA All-Star Weekend 2009 from Phoenix, Arizona with the official jerseys and court. This free update pack includes the official All-Star Weekend Court and official East and West All-Star game jerseys for All-Star 2009.
File size: 39 MB

LUMINES Supernova Classic Pack ($4.99)
This LUMINES Supernova download pack contains special classic skins!
File size: 136 MB

Disgaea 3 - Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set with Free Theme! ($5.99)
This package file adds new custom characters Tink, Yukimaru, and Priere. The download pak also comes with a free bonus item, a Priere theme for your PLAYSTATION 3!
File size: 1.23 MB

Disgaea 3 - Priere ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Priere. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Disgaea 3 - Tink ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Tink from Disgaea 2. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Disgaea 3 - Yukimaru ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Yukimaru from Disgaea 2. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Rock Band

Creepin Up the Backstairs - The Fratellis ($1.99)
Flathead - The Fratellis ($1.99)
Henrietta - The Fratellis ($1.99)
The Fratellis Pack 01 ($5.49) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: The Fratellis Pack 01. This pack includes: Creepin Up the Backstairs, Flathead, and Henrietta by The Fratellis.

File sizes: 26 MB - 35 MB (singles), 90 MB (track pack)

Guitar Hero World Tour

Wonderwall by Ryan Adams ($1.99)
New Slang by The Shins ($1.99)
Drive by Incubus ($1.99)
Acoustic Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring Drive by Incubus, New Slang by The Shins, and Wonderwall by Ryan Adams. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File sizes: 40 MB - 41 MB (singles), 119 MB (track pack)

Game Demos (free)

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
This new MotorStorm: Pacific Rift demo offers both a single player and a split screen multiplayer race, but this time we let the veterans of MotorStorm.com choose their favorite track, Razorback.
File size: 673 MB

Game Videos (free)

Flower Trailer
File size: 93 MB (HD)

Flower Developer Diary
File size: 231 MB (HD)

LocoRoco 2 Launch Trailer
File size: 66 MB (HD)

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - The Ride Of Your Life
File size: 172 MB (HD)

Tekken 6 Call To Arms Trailer
File size: 12 MB (SD) 48 MB (HD)

GTI Club+ Trailer
File size: 48 MB (HD)

Brain Challenge Expansion Pack
File size: 86 MB (1080)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #1
File size: 45 MB (HD)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #2
File size: 34 MB (HD)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #3
File size: 37 MB (HD)

Movie Trailers (free)

Rent: Live on Broadway Blu-ray Disc Trailer
File size: 38 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

Flower Theme (free)
File size: 1.79 MB

LocoRoco 2 The Planet Theme (free)
File size: 2.04 MB

PAIN: The Hoff Theme (free)
File size: 1.97 MB

Prier Custom Theme free with Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set ($0.99)
File size: 1.43 MB

Magic Ball Theme (free)
File size: 2.20 MB

Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Theme (free)
File size: 3.11 MB

Cuboid Theme (free)
File size: 1.99 MB

Anime MBM Theme ($0.99)
File size: 3.48 MB

Valentine Hearts Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.18 MB

Fractal Hearts Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.63 MB

Valentine Angels Theme ($1.49)
File size: 6.60 MB

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Flower Wallpaper
File size: 220 KB (SD) 504 KB (1080)

Game Love Wallpaper
File size: 414 KB (1080)

PlayStation Store for PSP Game Videos(free)

* Pulse 2/12 Edition (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network is a free high definition video showcase of whats happening right now on PlayStation. Featuring new game releases, demos, movie and television arrivals available for your PS3 and PSP systems, PULSE is a fast-paced new source to keep you connected and informed about the world of PlayStation.
Hosted by Christina Lee.
File size: 269 MB

* LocoRoco 2 Trailer
File size: 9.73 MB

PSP Themes

* LocoRoco 2 Planet Theme (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 372 KB

* Anime MBM 1 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 443 KB

* Anime MBM 2 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 494 KB

* Valentine Hearts ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 310 KB

Dragon Quest IX Pushed Back In Japan

Zach Lott — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:14:16 -0600

Originally scheduled for a Japanese release on March 28, Dragon Quest IX has been delayed until July 11, according to Joystiq (via NeoGAF).

It seems like Square Enix discovered some major bugs in the game's code and delayed the game as an emergency precaution, since they have been advertising the game heavily throughout Japan, which has traditionally been where the series sells the most units.

There's still no news on a North American release date, but we'll keep our eyes peeled. Could there be an announcement at E3, perhaps?

No Longer Left Hanging: Left 4 Dead Content is Free.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:25:52 -0600

In a move that is seemingly solely intended to alleviate some of my (mostly) irrational anger towards Gabe Newell, Valve has announced their plans for pricing on both the PC and Xbox formats, free. While it could be, rightfully, argued that the two additional versus mode maps were already paid for in the initial asking price, the freebie pricetag is a welcome sight nontheless. Additionally, they are including a new mode dubbed, "Survival" with 12 maps; it is not known whether these maps are entirely new or simply segmented maps from the four existing campaigns. The new mode is said to be something like an extended siege/assault. Players can look forward to both updates on the same day... at some point in the, hopefully, near future.

All the Pretty Flowers.

Ryan Fulton — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:06:38 -0600

This Thor's day, Flower, by the fine folks who made Fl0w, comes to PSN. What can you expect? I'm not sure. Lots of pretty grass, flowers, basically flora of all make, model, and description. You may ask yourself, "why the hell do I want to be a flower?" Honestly, I don't know that's a question that requires a considerable amount of soul-searching if nothing else. Besides, I'm pretty sure that you're the wind, not a flower, and that's a rather empowering thought. I suppose. This would be a good time to say something trite like, "hey, just watch the video to see what it's like," but I'm fairly certain that watching the video would only cause more confusion. Regardless it's hard to pass up such an intriguing title.
Oh and thanks to Macfarlane-web.com for the image.

Japanese Metroid Website Reveals Potential Prime Spinoff

Zach Lott — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:50:42 -0600

Excellent news for Metroid fans: 1up has discovered a banner on the official Japanese Metroid website that declares that "Another Side Story" set in the Metroid universe is "coming soon."

Furthermore, the Japanese text below translates to "Follow Metroid Prime's history from the perspective of the Space Pirates," most likely meaning that the project, if a game instead of a manga, as 1up points out, would let players play as a space pirate instead of Samus.

Don't get too excited in case Nintendo later reveals it to be an online manga similiar to what they've done in the past, but stay tuned, as if this turns into a game, we'll let you know.

Epic Releases Patch for Gears of War PC

Zach Lott — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:23:01 -0600

If you're still playing Gears of War on the PC, then you should head over to the game's official website, where Epic has released a mandatory patch update that fixes a digital signature error.

You can download the patch here.

NYCC 2009: Marvel to Release More Halo Comics

Zach Lott — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:55:28 -0600

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada announced at his New York Comic Con panel yesterday that the comic behemoth, which is currently publishing Halo: Uprising, a four-issue miniseries set in the Halo universe, is planning to publish two additional Halo miniseries later this year, according to IGN.

The first series, to be published this summer, has yet to be titled and will feature writer Peter David and artist Eric Nguyen, while the second, entitled Halo: Spartan Black, will feature Fred Van Lente and Francis Portel and should hit in the winter.

Halo Wars Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:23:58 -0600

The Xbox Live demo for Halo Wars, the RTS title from the recently-disbanded Ensemble Studios, was released back on Thursday, giving fans a chance to check out how Halo holds up as a strategy title.

The download contains a tutorial, along with a skirmish map and couple of scenarios from the campaign. There's no online or single-player co-op, but there's still plenty to check out.

The game will hit store shelves on March 3, so download the demo and let us know what you think.

Far Cry 2 Patch to Add New Multiplayer Mode

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:02:54 -0600

Here's some news for you Far Cry 2 fans: Big Download is reporting that Ubisoft is planning a patch that will contain a new "Hardcore" mode that will rebalance every weapon, introduce a new damage model, and allow players to change multiplayer spawn times.

There's currently no news on a release date, but we'll keep you updated.

Criterion Announces Cops and Robbers Pack For Burnout Paradise

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:46:26 -0600

1up is reporting that Burnout Paradise developer Criterion has announced that the racing title will receive its sixth DLC pack, entitled Cops and Robbers, later this year.

According to Criterion, the pack brings "the thrills and spills of cops and robbers car chases in Paradise City" and will be released after all of its siblings.

Next WoW Patch to Bring Major Class Changes

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:30:21 -0600

Big news on the World of Warcraft front: A series of posts from Blizzard employees on the official WoW forums have revealed that big changes are coming for every class in patch 3.1.

Eurogamer was the first to write about the situation, as they reported that the patch will see everything from the elimination of consumable Hunter ammunition to Rogue and Shaman buffs and a major overhaul of the Priest class. Blizzard will also be nerfing mana regeneration for all classes, and the patch is expected to see the opening of Ulduar, a new raid instance.

Instead of doing a complete outline of upcoming changes, check out the forum posts to see what to expect: Priest, Rogue and Shaman; Warlock, Warrior and Druid; Death Knight, Hunter, Mage and Paladin.

Chinese Democracy Headed to Rock Band This Spring

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:08:20 -0600

It took over fifteen years and millions and millions of dollars, but Chinese Democracy, Guns N' Roses' newest album, finally hit store shelves last year, and now it seems like the folks at MTV are planning to bring it to Rock Band.

In an interview with Billboard back in December, lead singer Axl Rose said that the release would be at the end of this month, but MTV has now changed that to "spring."

Rose mentioned that Harmonix "felt the record - based on the nature and complexity of the depth of instrumentation - deserved a bit more attention and some more involved elements than they've generally dealt with. I have no idea what that means but it's my understanding they were very enthusiastic."

Well, we don't understand what that means, either, but be on the lookout for the release in the next couple of months.

Street Fighter IV Opening Cinematic

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:28:46 -0600

With Street Fighter IV just a couple of weeks away, Capcom has released the opening cinematic for the game. Check it out below:

Playstation Store Update: MLB 09 The Show Demo, Guitar Hero/Rock Band DLC

Zach Lott — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:50:37 -0600

Thursday has arrived, and that means that Sony has once again updated the Playstation Store. The latest batch of content includes a demo for MLB 09 The Show, new songs for both Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band, and a new pack of costumes and stickers for LittleBigPlanet.

Hit the jump to check out the full list of additions.

Downloadable Games3 on 3 NHL Arcade ($9.99)
EA SPORTS welcomes you to the fast paced world of arcade hockey. From the same team that brought you NHL 09 comes a 3 on 3 experience that throws conventional hockey, and its rules, out the window. Choose from 40 of the NHLs top players and bring them into this no rules hockey game where big heads and big hits rule the day. With loads of power-ups falling on the ice to the ability to level a guy clear out of the rink, this is definitely not your typical simulation. This full version of the game offers online play, achievements, leaderboard tracking, and more features that will have you coming back for more.

ESRB Rated E
File size: 188 MB

Burnout Paradise - The Ultimate Bundle ($29.99)
Get the full version of Burnout Paradise - 2008s Racing Game of the Year - and get the brand new Pass the Pad Party Pack as well. Paradise City is the ultimate driving playground, set in a vast open-world, filled with gameplay that will push your driving and riding skills to the limit.
ESRB Rated E10
File size: 3.25 GB

Add-on Game Content

Burnout Paradise Party ($9.99)
Want to play Burnout Paradise at home with your friends in some offline multiplayer action? Burnout Paradise Party introduces fun, quick-fire challenges around Paradise City that can be played by 2-8 players of all skill levels.
File size: 100 KB

High Velocity Bowling: Dwayne ($0.99)
Its time to bowl High Velocity style! Add Dwayne Harper to your High Velocity Bowling roster. It aint easy being a gangsta thug bowla, but Dwyane manages by combining good aim and power for an awesome shot. Download includes Dwaynes special Urban Assault ball, plus the new Inner City Alley lane, set in a back alley of a major city with unique audio.
File size: 48 MB

High Velocity Bowling: Candy ($0.99)
Its time to bowl High Velocity style! Add Candy Lincoln to your High Velocity Bowling roster. Candys a clash of old school and new tattoos. Her aim is great, but her ball is a bit too heavy for her. Download includes Candys special Candied Cherries ball, plus the new Jumpin Joes Diner lane, with a rockin retro atmosphere and unique audio.
File size: 42 MB

Hot Shots Golf New Course ($4.99)
Download the new Golfasaurus-Rex B.C.C. course now available for play in Hot Shots Golf Out Of Bounds. Take your favorite players and caddies and tee it up on this new, beautifully designed course and see if you have what it takes your game to a new level of play.
File size: 100 KB

LittleBigPlanet Valentine's Day Mini-Pack ($2.99)
New costumes and stickers to spread some love in LittleBigPlanet!
File size: 1.04 MB

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Pack 8 (free)
Download Storm Pack 8 and unleash the legendary Sound Ninja Kidoumaru as your support character in battle. The Storm Pack 8 also contains new Ultimate Mission to engage!
File size: 100 KB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Cowboy Song (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
Jailbreak (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
The Boys Are Back in Town (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
Thin Lizzy Track Pack 01 ($5.49) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Thin Lizzy Pack 01. This pack includes: The Boys Are Back in Town (Live) (Live), Cowboy Song (Live), and Jailbreak (Live) by Thin Lizzy.
Precious - The Pretenders ($1.99)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar ($1.99)
Dont Tell Me - Nikko ($0.99)
Break My Heart - Nikko ($0.99)

File sizes: 21 MB - 36 MB (singles), 101 MB (track pack)

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Gimme All Your Lovin as made famous by ZZ Top, covered by Wavegroup ($1.99)
Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival ($1.99)
Black Betty as made famous by Ram Jam, covered by Wavegroup ($1.99)
Southern Rock Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Black Betty as made famous by Ram Jam, covered by Wavegroup, and Gimme All Your Lovin as made famous by ZZ Top, covered by Wavegroup.

File sizes: 27 MB - 41 MB (singles), 106 MB (track pack)

Game Demos (free)

MLB 09 The Show Demo
In 08, ESPN called the the game the most realistic baseball game ever created and IGN dubbed it Sports Game Of The Year. If youre a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to get hands-on experience with the MLB 09 The Show. See for yourself why Nothing Gets You Closer. For more details, visit www.MLB09TheShow.com.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.56 GB

3 on 3 NHL Arcade Trial
EA SPORTS welcomes you to the fast paced world of arcade hockey. From the same team that brought you NHL 09 comes a 3 on 3 experience that throws conventional hockey, and its rules, out the window. This trial version of the game lets you get a taste of the power-ups, NHL stars, and outrageous gameplay that is definitely not your typical simulation experience.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 188 MB

Game Videos (free)

LocoRoco 2 Pre-Launch Trailer
File size: 106 MB (HD)

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin EPA Trailer
File size: 52 MB (HD)

PAIN: Darts Trailer
File size: 63 MB (HD)

PAIN: Fortress Trailer
File size: 42 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Kevin Pearce in Japan
File size: 101 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Colby West
File size: 98 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Ridin Highlights
File size: 124 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Recap
File size: 94 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Freeskiing Thrills
File size: 95 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Athletes
File size: 101 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: PlayStation Pro Moments - Breckenridge
File size: 63 MB (HD)

Movie Trailers (free)

2012 Trailer
File size: 15 MB (SD) 49 MB (HD) 75 MB (1080)

Open Season 2 Blu-ray Disc Trailer
File size: 80 MB (HD) 106 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

LocoRoco 2 MuiMui Theme (free)
File size: 1.12 MB

Evil Clowns Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.2 MB

Gothic Girlz Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.41 MB

Polar Bears Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.56 MB

PlayStation Store for PSP Game Demos (free)

* Phantasy Star Portable
Check out the long awaited demo of Phantasy Star Portable and experience what others have been enjoying for years. Up to four friends will team up to unravel the exclusive new storyline that picks up where Phantasy Star Universe ends and before the start of PSU: Ambition of the Illuminus.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 272 MB

Game Videos (free)

LocoRoco 2 Pre-Launch Trailer
File size: 18 MB

PSP Wallpaper (free)

LocoRoco 2 Wallpaper (x4)
File sizes: 129 KB - 185 KB

New Batch of Star Trek Online Images

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:43:19 -0600

Cryptic Studios has released a fresh batch of images for the upcoming MMO Star Trek Online, and we've got them here for your viewing pleasure. Check them out.

Launch Gallery: Star Trek Online

(20 images)

Xbox 360 Dashboard Update: HDMI Audio Fix

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:29:14 -0600

If you've signed into Xbox Live this morning, then you're probably already aware of this, but Microsoft has released a mandatory dashboard update for the Xbox 360.

Major Nelson has the story over at his blog, saying that the update fixes an audio problem some users were experiencing with their HDMI connection.

If you're one of the many 360 owners who have tried to deal with this problem ever since the "New Xbox Experience" was rolled out back in November, then get signed in and download the update.

Prince of Persia DLC Not Coming to PC

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:18:42 -0600

Here's a story for those of you who played Prince of Persia on the PC: Big Download is reporting that Ubisoft has chosen to release the game's upcoming DLC pack, which continues the storyline, only on the 360 and PS3.

From Ubisoft's community manager via the Ubisoft message boards:

"Unfortunately for business reasons we won't be seeing any PoP DLC appear. Sorry guys!"

While unfortunate for PC gamers, the expansion will make its way to the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network on February 26.

Prototype to be Released in June

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:06:50 -0600

Prototype may have missed its 2008 release date, but Activision hasn't forgot about it, seeing as they've sent Joystiq a New York Comic Con invitation that contains this nugget:

"Hands-on fans get their first chance to play the highly anticipated open-world/action thriller, PROTOTYPE, planned for release in June."

Naturally, we'll keep you updated with any announcements made at the event, which begins on Friday and lasts until Sunday.

Mario Kart Wii, GTA IV Among 2008's Top Sellers (Editorial)

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:20:56 -0600

Over at Joystiq they're reporting that the NPD, Enterbrain, and GfK Chart-Track numbers for software sales from the past year have been compiled, revealing the industry's top-selling titles for 2008 in the U.S., U.K. and Japan:

Mario Kart Wii - 8.94 million
Wii Fit - 8.31 million
Grand Theft Auto IV - 7.29 million
Super Smash Bros. Brawl- 6.32 million
Call of Duty: World at War- 5.89 million

Also, according to the report, the U.S. and U.K. markets both saw significant gains in sales at 15 and 26 percent, respectively, and the Japanese market took a big dip, dropping 13 percent.

It's not surprising that the best-selling games were either first-party Wii titles or established core games that appeal to a broader audience, seeing how creativity hasn't lent itself well to high sales figures over the past few years.

Overall, though, the industry is doing better than ever from a sales standpoint, but whether it's in good condition or not is a highly debatable topic depending on how you feel about the impact of the casual player upon gaming.

Many of these gamers aren't the kind of people that are willing to take risks on innovative new titles that aren't from an established franchise or developer, opting instead to stick with name recognition. However, there's a growing number of core gamers who are doing the same thing, and this is stifling innovation and creativity in the gaming community.

Of course, part of that is the fault of the gaming media, because we don't always give enough time and space to games that don't have that name recognition that demands attention from gamers. We have to do a better job of letting everyone know about fresh and exciting games coming down the pipe, but it's also fair to expect gamers to be willing to take the chance on a new game that may not get much press coverage but seems like it's doing something innovative.

If these kinds of games don't sell, then their developers either have to shift focus to something more bland and played-out or shut down, and that's not good for the industry, for us as gamers, or for anyone else. So please, take a chance. Be willing to support creativity in gaming, because this great cornerstone of design is quickly being lost.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits PSN

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:11 -0600

PS3 owners have been waiting patiently for the Resident Evil 5 demo that hit the Xbox Live Marketplace last week to make its way to the Playstation Network, and today that patience was rewarded, as the demo is now available for download. Check it out and let us know what you think.

ESA Announces Exhibitor List for E3 2009, Activision-Blizzard to Attend

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:43:21 -0600

After pulling out of the ESA and holding its own media event last year, Activision-Blizzard is headed back to E3, according to the current list of exhibitors for the 2009 event on the official E3 website.

Activision-Blizzard isn't rejoining the ESA, but it seems that they've managed to come to terms with the organization after an abrupt exit last year over reported displeasure with CEO Mike Gallagher.

Also, Joystiq is reporting that NCsoft will once again miss the event.

"While NCsoft has been a member of the ESA in the past, we are not currently an ESA member and do not expect to attend E3 this year. We will continue to evaluate how E3 fits into NCsoft's plans each year," a representative told the gaming blog.

The show will be held from June 2-4, so stay tuned for future announcements from the ESA and exhibitors. Hit the jump for a list of companies expected to attend.

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Bethesda Softworks LLC
Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Eidos Interactive
Electronic Arts, Inc.
Epic Games, Inc.
505 Games
IndieCade
KOEI Corporation
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
Majesco Entertainment Company
Microsoft Corporation
Midway Games Inc.
MTV Games
Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Nintendo of America, Inc.
Rebellion
Sega of America, Inc.
Serious Games
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Online Entertainment LLC
Square Enix, Inc.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
THQ Inc.
Ubisoft Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Rockstar Releases Second GTA IV PC Patch

Zach Lott — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:29:27 -0600

After facing harsh criticism over the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV's bugginess at launch, Rockstar has put together a second patch that, among other things, offers graphical and crash fixes while correcting errors with the first patch.

You can grab the patch at Rockstar's website or by signing into Games for Windows Live. Follow the link to check out the patch notes.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:16:41 -0600

Although Microsoft is rather busy these days with firing their employees, it seems that they haven't forgotten that they still have an online service to maintain, as Major Nelson has announced via his official blog that a demo for Resident Evil 5 has arrived on Xbox Live.

The demo, which is the same one released in Japan last month, allows you to play "by yourself or play with a partner in co-op mode, either online or offline with a split screen," according to Nelson.

Capcom has yet to reveal a date for the PSN demo, but it shouldn't be long before it'll be available. We'll let you know once it's announced.

New Gears of War 2 Update Goes Live

Solomon Lee — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:03:12 -0600

Epic has released a new patch for Gears of War 2 that fixes various multiplayer glitches and gameplay bugs. Included with the update is a list of new achievements involving the Combustible and Flashback map packs. They are listed below as follows:

Skeletons in your Closet (20G) - Complete waves 1 through 10 on all Flashback Map Pack maps in Horde (any difficulty)
More Mystery, Less History (15G) - Win a multiplayer match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps (any mode except Wingman)
Bound by a Shared Past (15G) - Win a Wingman match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps
Trial by, and on, Fire (20G) - Survive first 10 Horde waves on Combustible Map Pack maps as a team
The Roof! The Roof! The Roof... (15G) - Win a multiplayer match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps (any mode except Wingman)
Forged in the Fire (15G) - Win a Wingman match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps
Annex: Now With Execution Rules (75G) - Win an Annex match on each Flashback and Combustible Map Pack map (public only)

Limited Edition White Dragon PS3 Available in Japan.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:34:02 -0600

"White Dragon" used to my my nickname in martial arts circles prior to my career ending loss in a tonfa pit fight in Cambodia. Ok, so maybe I'm making some of that up. Fine, ok ok, all of it was made up, but the amazing PlayStation 3 that you see above is very real. One day, it could be yours if you can snatch one of 10,000 pebbles from the hands of Japanese gamers. The alabaster creature of legend is part of a bundle that includes Yakuza 3, err well I guess it will be Ryu Ga Gotoku 3... since it's Japanese and all. Granted the game itself is unlikely to be importer friendly for those of you who don't speak Japanese, but the system itself would perform well enough for importers who don't mind region locking on backwards compatible titles and DVDs. Look for it around march 6th.

Fresh Star Wars: The Old Republic Screens

Zach Lott — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:03:18 -0600

Here's a number of new screens for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the upcoming PC MMO in the Knights of the Old Republic series.

Launch Gallery: Old Republic

(21 images)

GTA Chinatown to be "Far Bigger" than PSP GTA Titles

Zach Lott — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:47:52 -0600

The Grand Theft Auto games have been known for their massive worlds, and according to Rockstar Leeds president Gordon Hall, that isn't going to change with Chinatown Wars, the upcoming portable GTA title for the DS that is going to be even bigger than the PSP's Liberty City and Vice City Stories games.

Chinatown Wars is much bigger than anything we have ever done before [in terms of scope]: more odd jobs, deeper missions, and more moments of over-the-top action," Gordon said in a recent issue of Nintendo Power according to Nintendo Everything. "We have a huge interaction with the Rockstar Social Club, a massive [narcotics trafficking] game that would stand alone on its own. The list goes on and on; this thing is huge. We are very proud of all of the PSP games we have made, especially the two GTA games, but this game is far bigger.

It's also worth noting that the game's map is supposedly as large at that of GTA IV's, which could easily make this the largest handheld game yet. It'll be hitting retail shelves on March 17.

PSN Update. More Importantly Suikoden.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:41:55 -0600

Due to unforeseeable circumstances Christmas, the PlayStation Store update hit today. And why do we care? Because Suikoden, one of the best PlayStation RPGs was released today. Additionally, maybe, if we all knock our heels together we'll be blessed with a downloadable Suikoden II at somewhere less than 1/10-1/15 of the going rate (depending upon season, moon cycle, and oprah's weight.) So basically, if you're even remotely in the market for a decent RPG, it may be worth tossing your $5.99 towards a classic. Lots of other stuff came out too... That's after the jump.

Lumines Supernova: More Lumines puzzle fun with more themes, including Christmas themes for the next few weeks (to wit.)

Lord of the Rings: Conquest demo.

Toro the Japanese PlayStation mascot has been added as a playable character in Hot Shots Golf.

A new episode of Pulse.

Metal Gear 4 Little Big Planet levels and accessories. What's not to like?

Disgaea 3 add-ons.

Some music game song things for random music games. Notable: Foo Fighters songs are available for Rockband.

And well, tons of other things. Feel free to hit the jump if you're not already turning on your PS3/PSP/PC to check the store out.

NeoGAF strikes awesome again. Prototype Thread.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:09:44 -0600

In the interest of not ripping off other people's work please visit the link. In the interest of getting people interested in clicking the link: You'll find prototypes of Microsoft's 360 (pictured above), several Nintendo systems throughout the years including the quashed fruits of their abandoned collaboration with Sony, lots of Sega stuff, some NEC stuff, many Sony prototypes, and well... since it's a thread, assumedly much more in the future. Many of the things are garish, gaudy, or naked, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying a glimpse of what may have been. Think of it like a box of Christmas presents that you'll never get to enjoy.

GB Review: Chrono Trigger (DS)

Solomon Lee — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:07:45 -0600

Chrono Trigger is still an exhilarating RPG to play - this is no small feat considering the game was released thirteen years ago. The compelling characters, intriguing storyline, solid battle system and unforgettable musical score makes Chrono Trigger DS a worthy addition to any RPG fans gaming library. The Wireless Play mode and extra dungeons are a nice addition but nothing special. The game warrants the buying price alone for the simple reason that its Chrono Trigger and that it retains the title as one of the greatest RPGs in gaming history.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Chrono Trigger has long been revered as one of Squaresofts (now Square Enix) most epic RPGs that graced the SNES system. The game was produced by the Dream Team with credits given to Hironobu Sakaguchi, Masato Kato, Akira Toriyama and Yasunori Mitsuda. Shortly after a mediocre PSX port, Final Fantasy Chronicles, fell short of its mark with its dreadful loading and slowdown issues, no announcements were made for any potential re-releases. After a long seven year waiting period, Square Enix has revisited one of their most critically acclaimed RPGs that features touch screen controls, a brand new dungeon, an extra ending and a brand new Wireless Play mode.

Chrono Trigger tells the tale of Crono, the unspoken hero who meets Marle, the spunky, tomboy-ish princess at the Millennium Fair. After browsing through various attractions, he travels through time to rescue Marle after a scientific experiment goes awry. As one might expect, he is soon thrust on an epic quest to save the world and rewrite history along the way. Crono teams up with many allies: Lucca, a childhood inventor friend, Frog, a silent but noble swordsman, Ayla, a brash tribal leader, Magus, an optional ally who is an enigmatic figure, and Robo, a machine from the distant future. Each character is equipped with unique abilities and tech skills used effectively to destroy wave of enemies and large bosses.

The game utilizes the Active Time Battle system. From the start, you can select either an Active system (enemies are free to roam and attack during your turn) or the Wait system (enemies are frozen giving you ample time to choose your attacks). Most enemies are visible on screen (with exception to those hiding or waiting for an ambush) with no random battles. A new dual screen mode is featured in Chrono Trigger DS that clears the screen of menu clutter from the original game. Attacks and tech abilities can be selected by using either the stylus with touch functionality or the standard DS controls. Rather than holding down A or B, Crono runs by default instead of walking. In the DS mode, enemies are segregated by text boxes on the lower screen that are roughly divided to show their name and relative positions. Though the DS stylus control scheme is appreciated, most will end up sticking to the tried and true control scheme.

New features in Chrono Trigger DS include an extra ending, a monster training arena, and the inclusion of two brand new areas: Lost Sanctum and the Dimensional Vortex. The Lost Sanctum, found in two separate time periods, is a rather mediocre addition that fails to add anything valuable to the overall storyline of Cronos journey through time With respect to the Vortex, it offers a satisfying dungeon romp filled with monsters, new items and new spoilers that fills the gap for a few mysteries from the original SNES game. Accessible at the End of Time warp gate is the Arena of the Ages, known otherwise as the monster training area. You can send your monster to battle against NPC foes in a Prize match or online with a friend via a Wi-Fi connection in an Inter-dimensional battle. Prizes are awarded for victories that vary depending on the entrance fee paid before battles in the pit begin. Conversely, you can train your monster by giving it an item and sending it to a specific era on its own. Once that is done, you can return to it at a later time to check its boosted stats.

On the visual front, the game sports familiar environments, sprites and special effects from the SNES original with cut scenes ported from the PSX version. Chrono Trigger DS doesnt push the DS to its graphical limits but is still acceptable nonetheless. The dialog has been revised for the more modern gamer; thus replacing parts of the original script. More than a decade after its release, famed composer Yasunori Mitsuda was re-enlisted by Square to manage and oversee the games soundtrack prior to its release. With credits attributed to Nobuo Uematsu as well, the music still sounds as epic and inspiring as it did from its original heyday.

The biggest disappointment comes from the lack of multiplayer co-op. Training your monsters in the Arena of the Ages and Wi-fi battles with your friends is largely a forgettable ordeal. The Dimensional Vortex and new areas to explore are a nice addition but theyre nothing special compared to existing worlds found within the game. However, Chrono Trigger is still an RPG masterpiece that should be enjoyed by hardcore and casual role-playing fans worldwide.

Toys "R" Us in Times Square Opens Dedicated Nintendo Department

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:42:40 -0600

It's been four years since the launch of DS and two years since the launch of the Wii, but it seems like neither system is showing any signs of slowing down when it comes to the sales charts, and that's never been more apparent, as the Toys "R" Us in Times Square has opened an entire department dedicated to everything Nintendo.

MarketWatch has an article up about the new department, which is around 1,000 square feet and is located on Level One of the store. It features a slew of Wii and DS demo stations along with a gallery containing images from throughout Nintendo's history.

"What we've been seeing all year long is the expansion of video game fun to people of both genders, and all ages and tastes--there's literally something for everyone," said Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway about the partnership. "But in recent weeks, Nintendo products appear to be appealing to even more people, as every form of fun is being measured against a price tag. And that's what makes this experience in Toys"R"Us so compelling--all the fun and information is available right at your fingertips."

This is just further proof of Nintendo's unprecedented success this generation, and it's hard to imagine that Nintendo has turned things around on the console front in just two years. Sony and Microsoft can't even begin to compete with Nintendo at this point, and that's a shocker considering how dead Nintendo appeared to be at the end of the last generation.

However, it seems that Nintendo's plan to ensnare the mainstream has worked beautifully, even if it has disillusioned some of their existing fanbase. It doesn't matter, though, because they're laughing their way to the bank.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Destroys Sales Records

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:55:34 -0600

Over at Capcom's website, John Diamonon has revealed in a blog post that Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix may very well become the highest-grossing digital game ever made, having already sold over 250,000 units since its release in late November.

Diamonon mentioned in his post that the game has "shattered" day one and week one sales records and is on pace to break the 30 day sales mark.

The game has been reviewed very well and has garnered praise for its music and artwork, the latter of which, interestingly enough, almost got the game cancelled at one point for a perceived lack of quality. You can download it either through the Playstation Store or Xbox Live Arcade.

Square Announces Dissidia Final Fantasy for mid-2009

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:18:13 -0600

Square Enix announced today that Dissidia Final Fantasy, the PSP fighter featuring famous Final Fantasy characters, will be hitting North American shores in mid-2009.

The game will feature a lengthy story mode along with a new battle system that incorporates classic Final Fantasy battle features such as overdrives and limit breaks and RPG-based character development.

In addition, Dissidia Final Fantasy Trading Arts figures will be available through the North American online store around the time of the release.

Free Radical to Close Down (Update)

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:06 -0600

Bad news for those of you who are looking forward to TimeSplitters 4: GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Free Radical, the developer behind the TimeSplitters series, Second Sight, and Haze (pictured above), is closing its doors.

The report claims that staff arrived at work only to find the doors locked with instructions to meet at a hotel for a final meeting, and office phones aren't being answered.

Also, the unnamed project that Free Radical was working on, believed to be Star Wars: Battlefront 3, may have been sent to Rebellion, the developer of the PSP Battlefront game. TimeSplitters 4's status is currently unclear.

Since an official announcement hasn't been made about the closing, file this one in the "rumor" category until more information is available.

Update: Confirmed.

Final Fantasy Trailer's from (Random Latin and Greek Letters) Event Released.

Ryan Fulton — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:40:00 -0600

Videos from Square Enix's Summer event, just recently released to the public. Please enjoy.

FFXIII VS:

FFXIII:

GB Review: Prince of Persia (360)

Aaron Dunlap — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:20:24 -0600

Prince of Persia is a reboot, re-imagining, re-everything of the longstanding platform jumping/climbing/sliding franchise. As far as reboots go, it's no Batman Begins or Casino Royale. It might qualify as a The Incredible Hulk. It's full of the basics (acrobatic maneuvering) but with none of the frills. It's fun to play, but it could have benefited from some gameplay experimentation and some play-testing to remove some control issues and bugs. It's a short game, maybe between 10-15 hours, so it's definitely worth a rental.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Prince of Persia, like Assassin's Creed before it, is a pseudo-historical acrobatic adventure game that could have benefited from a few months of play-testing and polishing. Unlike Assassins Creed, this more-or-less "reboot" of the Persia series doesn't suffer from an impenetrable story or some of the unbelievably frustrating elements that plagued last year's romp in the Holy land.

Comparing this Prince of Persia with the previous games, retroactively referred to as the Sands of Time series, is a bit difficult as they feel almost like they come from different genres. Sands of Time and its two sequels could be referred to as puzzle games mixed with action games. The puzzle element was built into the construct of the game itself. Often, simply figuring out how to progress through a level was a challenge, as wall-sprints had to be masterfully combined with wall-jumps and swings and rolls. Between the challenges of overcoming terrain and architecture were several battles against multiple foes. The battles themselves were almost like puzzles; simple sword swipes would never be enough, you had to combine acrobatic attacks and various superpowers.

This Prince of Persia is a different beast altogether. Here the puzzles are almost entirely removed. While almost the entire game is spent performing acrobatic feats such as running across walls and jumping from poles to ledges to walls to (somehow) ceilings in order to traverse otherwise-impassible areas, there is little challenge to figuring out how. What you're supposed to do is always made obvious by scrapes on the wall (apparently plenty of acrobats have been through here before you), or the sheer lack of alternative. If you're clinging to a pole and the only objects possibly within reach are another pole and the pole you just came from, it's not hard to figure out where to go. Even if you are hopelessly stuck, which I would surmise to be impossible, with a simple press of the Y button your AI teammate, Elika, can summon a floating blue orb that will mark the path to your next destination step-by-step.

Yes, Elika. This feisty princess acts as your guide, companion, and exposition dispenser throughout the entire game. My initial concern was that this would turn the whole game into one protracted escort mission (shudder), but I was rather impressed how well the AI character was able to keep up, stay out of the way, and fend for herself. If she's ever in your way, the two characters will simply hop over each other or scoot around each other, occasionally throwing in some cute banter. You never have to worry about protecting her or taking a path that she wont be able to follow. For a game like this, having a computer-controlled tagalong that never becomes annoying is quite an accomplishment.

Elika has a few vital functions, aside from providing the bulk of the plot. Y'see, Elika has some unexpected (to her) powers that let her fly in short bursts. The only gameplay implication of this is that it allows you to double to distance of a jump the Prince makes by having her catch you mid-air and give you a boost forward. This is novel, sure, but not very interesting. Elika's other function, the thing that could motivate philosophical discussions about this game is that she makes it impossible for your character to die.

If you fall off a ledge, miss a landing, or fall so far that the landing would kill you, Elika swoops in with her blue sparkle-magic and catches you, bringing you back to the last sturdy platform you were on. This sort of emulates the effect of the time-reversing ability in previous games, where if you made a mistake and plummeted to your doom you could just rewind time to before you screwed up, but that ability had a meter on it and was optional. If you were out of sand, or simply didn't care to muck around with causality at the moment, you'd die like normal, and have to restart from a save.

In this game, however, it is completely, 100% impossible to die. She will always save you.

Some say this makes the game too easy. I disagree, I think the lack of challenge makes it too easy. What it does do is raise an interesting question about one's stake in a game where death isn't an option. There are other games, sure, where you can't exactly die, but none where you cannot even fail. If in Prince of Persia if falling to your doom meant a quick "you died" message and you were instantly teleported back to where you were, would the game be different? What if dying meant having to reload a save and wait a few seconds? Playing a game where you can't die might make you feel powerful, but playing a game where you can't even fail just feels meaningless. In a way, the only way to fail at this game is to not complete it. The only way not to win is not to play.

It probably seems like a favor to the player, a way of simply automating the process of dying and reloading and saving them the frustration, but I think the way it's executed is damaging to the experience.

A penalty in a home video game will always be arbitrary, but time has shown it to be essential to the process. We're like rats in a maze. If we never get zapped and told we're doing it wrong, we'll never get it right. Removing the possibility of death, or even the fleeting sense of failure, could create an environment where the stakes of the game wont matter, and the sense of immersion desired by the game designers will be destroyed.

The only perceived penalty of screwing up in this game is having to try again, which I suppose can be punishment enough without the need to drag in the concepts of life and death.

I haven't mentioned the fighting system, or even anything about the story, I realize. This is because they left no lasting impression. After completing this somewhat-short game, the only thing I really remember about it is the running on walls and climbing up vines. The story is basically a good-god vs evil-god tale based in a small part on Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion. The fights are unbearable little segments where the game demonstrates how little it cares about your sanity for the sake of insinuating some excitement into the title.

Yes, this game boils down to wall-running and little else. I had fun while playing it, and when I wasn't playing it I actually wanted to pick it back up and continue (which is a rare thing for a game reviewer after a few years). I think if the game had tried to add something new, or tried to turn the tables partway into the story, it would be a better game.

The problem I'm having, and one that could very well cause me to re-write this whole thing, is that I rather enjoyed this game but the only things I can think to write about are the negatives. This is a well-made game, for certain. It's a major release from Ubisoft, how couldn't it be? It's a nice, well-made, short game that passed the time well enough for me and made me consider the nature of reality. Worth a rental, I'd say.

Prince of Persia could have been much, much better if they had tried something new instead of falling back on the old hat of acrobatic climbing and swordplay. But perhaps it's best that they didn't try anything new. Last time they tried something innovative, we got Assassin's Creed, a game of which the very existence I consider an insult. I wished that game had dropped all the complicated nonsense and just stuck to the acrobatic stuff. Prince of Persia is a game that just sticks to the acrobatic stuff. It's kind of like a Campbell's chicken noodle soup game -- kind of bland, nothing creative or zesty thrown in, but you can't say you don't enjoy it at the time.

New Trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum; Looks Survial-Horrorish

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:43:34 -0600

Even though Warner Brothers handed the Batman license to Eidos almost 2 years ago, it seems that we're only now seeing the first fruits of that agreement.

Just released is a teaser trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum. GameTrailers has the exclusive, which you can see below (or see it in HD).

My first reaction is that it may end up as a sort of Dead Space-like, or possibly more Bioshocky horror/exploration game. The trailer could be misleading to that effect, but I don't imagine a game about a mental institution for the criminally insane will be aimed at the 7-12 demo.

GB Review: Midnight Club LA Remix (PSP)

Ryan Fulton — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:48:26 -0600

Midnight Club LA Remix is a competent racer with few niggling issues and annoyances. The portable version holds up well to its fully featured console cousins and for an arcade style racing game on the go you're unlikely to come across a better example of the genre at the moment, but it's far from a must have title if you're not really in the market for a portable racing game. It's worth a buy if you're interested in a racer that's not tethered to a television.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Every once in a great while, in every field, in any genre, there is a title that exemplifies, redefines, and generally leaves everyone else involved in the business both gob-smacked and flabbergasted. Midnight Club LA Remix for the PlayStation Portable is not such a title, but it is a competent arcade racer spread across the cities of Los Angeles and Tokyo where you can pop parking brakes and bust nitrous boosts to your heart's desire. While it exhibits a few issues it ultimately proves itself to be a fun title.

Launch Gallery: Midnight Club LA Remix

(15 images)

As with any arcade style racer, realism takes a backseat to outlandish physics, over-the-top crashes, and general mayhem. The gameplay is flawed at times, but ultimately enjoyable. The game engages you by using the city as a glorified menu system allowing you to chose races and upgrade your car at your will once you unlock the features. While this is enjoyable to an extent, it feels like a chore after a while -- considering how you're forced to endure at least two healthy loading screens merely to accomplish any task. Once you arrive at your destination you can look forward to a one to five minute race followed by some more loading screens. Repetition of races is also a minor gripe that should be considered.

The racing itself is a blast, the sense of speed is very real, and the turning on most cars feels just right once you get a hang of how to handle each of your cars. The AI controlled races vary from laughably pathetic to fiendishly difficult. While this is not a bad thing it's difficult to find races where there is a definite sense of being in just the right spot for an exciting finish which is somewhat of a let down. On a related note, which explains the lack of exciting finishes to a degree, the AI does not resort of "rubber banding" their way back up to you when you're in the lead or vice-versa. The car modification system is exceptionally robust and the number of modifications available for each individual car is nothing short of astounding.

The game's sound is difficult to quantify. The racers and main character all feature voice acting that's subpar across to board, and the dialogue is beyond poorly written unless you consider 2 Fast 2 Furious to be the apex of screenwriting prowess. That being said, there is a certain campy value that the dialogue and voice acting adds that makes the game endearing or at least mildly amusing the first few times you hear the insults that are thrown about by the other racers. The music is a standard faire of rap, electronic, hip hop, and rock songs. Featuring nearly 100 musical tracks the selection is anything but constrained, and the long list of artists should almost guarantee that there is at least once act that you're interested in listening to. Unfortunately most of the races are shorter than the songs included in the game so the music is often cut short by the lack of a continuation feature.

The graphics are generally sharp with minimal pop up when moving. Upon closer inspection the textures are rather drab and lack much in the way of definition, but this is hardly a deal breaker since this is really only noticeable when you're stopped and looking directly at an object (which really isn't the point of a racing game, is it?) The cars themselves look as if they were recreated with care and the cities seem as if a great deal of forethought was put into their design. Each city has defined districts that differ in appearance from the rest of the city, and the streets seem to flow comfortably in such a manner that doesn't punish the player too badly for making a wrong turn. All things considered it's an attractive visual package for a portable racer.

Midnight Club LA Remix is a passable effort at an arcade racer that while falling short on a few points manages to create an enjoyable casual experience for a portable racing title. The loading screens sort of detract from the pickup-and-playability of the title, but if you've got an extra moment or two it may just be worth your while to put rubber to the streets of LA and Tokyo during your free time. Far from redefining the genre the game offers an experience that is generally pleasing and engaging.

New Xbox Experience: It's Up.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:43:13 -0600

Whelp it's up now. Enjoy all of those features that you've already heard about. Install the four games you can fit on your 20gb drive after uninstalling all of your demos and let rip. Enjoy kids. Or maybe don't if you're like me. It would be super awesome if we weren't forced to pick an avatar. These things were charming on the Wii for all of the first 30 minutes you played Wii Sports before that became tiresome, but honestly, can we please kill this trend? Additionally it would be nice if half of my themes weren't half-assed covered by the icons. Aside from that it's pretty cool.