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E3 2008: God of War 3 Trailer

Solomon Lee — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:14:46 -0500

Check out this debut trailer for God of War 3 on the Playstation 3.

New God of War: Chains of Olympus Trailer

Shiva Stella — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:48:50 -0600

Here's a new trailer of Sony's God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP, and it's just as bloody as ever. The game still has a release date of March 4, 2008.

Cory Barlog Comments on God of War 3 Foundation

Shiva Stella — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:15:23 -0600

Cory Barlog has updated his personal blog with a tid-bit on his parting ways with Sony as well as a smidgen on God of War 3's development, claiming that the game is still "in good hands" and that "the Sony Santa Monica team is one of the best teams [he's] ever worked with." He continues:

...[I]mmediately after I finished God of War 2 I was already working on the story and design for the third game. So when Sony and I finally did part ways the foundation of the game, along with [a] story that completes the arc we began in God of War , was complete. I wish I could have been there to see it through to the end, but it was just not meant to be I guess. The story is going to finish off with a very big, very epic bang though. I think everyone will be quite pleased. Well, everyone except edge magazine that is...

The good news for die-hard GoW fans is that Barlog had a direct hand in the plot's direction and ending, minimizing the chance that Sony is taking the title in a completely off-the-wall path.

God of War 2 scored runner-up for GameBump's Best Action Game of 2007.

[GOTY] Best Action Game of 07: Assassin's Creed

Shiva Stella — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:38:19 -0600

Our Review (****)

Why It Won: From the outset Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed presented itself as a different sort of game, as a stealth title marked by unrivaled beauty and the promise of a more open-ended adventure boasting clever target assassinations, amazing buildings to climb, a great musical score and ambiance, and a level of seamless interactivity when the gameplay goes according to plan. It's a damn-near awe-inspiring feeling the first time you perch atop the highest guard tower, ride through the beautiful countryside with the sun at your back, or engage in roof-top leaping for that quick getaway following a smooth-as-silk assassination (or if you're like me, the tragic unexplained death of a civilian - practice makes perfect).

Its greatest feature, however, is how drastically ambitious the title is: with a wealth of assassination/combat options and the mechanics in place for either stealth or action-oriented gameplay - refreshing for those of us who appreciate the option for a change of pace - the game is positioned for fun and intense play full of subtle enhancements that showcase how far the industry has come since the days of Pac Man and plumbers. Thanks to next-generation technology Creed's world is full of responsive, helpless civilians with a lot of them on-screen at once, only this time without lag or draw-in factors you've encountered in other games: you can position Altair anywhere in a city and from the tallest structure spy the whole network of buildings, guard towers, and people scurrying around like tiny ants.

The storyline is one of the strangest you'll ever play, but that doesn't make it less enjoyable, especially if you love this era of history and adore those "alternative" twists; the plot will pull the majority of you in with its peculiarity and great voice acting (though apparently this last bit is debatable), and for a lot of us that's probably because the game is not another Prince of Persia or World War II shooter. It does not feature aliens invading the planet, the threat of nuclear bombs, a kingdom that needs saving from a wicked monarch, or a pretty little princess in distress (for how else do they come?) For attempting something more innovative and not akin to the popularized crowd of blockbuster sequels, shooters, or never-ending RPGs, I give Ubisoft credit.

Why You May Disagree: For the fun that I had with it, even I had my qualms with Creed's gameplay, which becomes quite repetitive and frustrating in terms of mission objectives - which boast almost no variety at all - and combat - Creed's nicely sharpened double-edged blade that makes one wonder if Creed suffers from an identity crisis: is it a stealth title, in which case combat is to be avoided, or an action title in which it's to be embraced?

Naysayers are also quick to point to the game's unbelievably confusing ending that actually requires a guide to understand what the hell is going on, some illogical hiccups (why can't anyone swim, and why is it that someone riding a horse is immediately suspect by guards?), AI that needs a bit of work, and the damnable crazy people and beggars who get in the way when the player is attempting an objective or key assassination. Overwhelmingly, though, the game's greatest fault is that it failed to implement what it excels at the most: its seamless gameplay and assassinations that make the player feel like she's controlling the action in a big-budget film than merely playing a game. While stabbing a guard in the stomach and slinking away, blending into a crowd, is a lovely treat for stylistic play, the immersion is immediately ruined by getting pushed by a beggar woman into a guard who draws his sword and raises the alarm so that you have to climb the wall and hide in a "shady retreat" half a city away.

But We Say: Even with its slew of faults and hiccups, however, it's still one of the most inventive and original titles to release all year, not to mention beautiful and a bit less linear than the rest of the market, and this combined with what the game does do well makes it enjoyable and highly memorable for most, something I know I'll keep coming back to over the years despite its obvious drawbacks. Even so, I'm sincerely hoping that Ubisoft Montreal makes the necessary adjustments for the next one.

Runner Up:

God of War 2 - Released early this year, this sequel to the groundbreaking God of War had a lot great features. In fact, it was just as good as the original. The problem is, it's practically the exact same game as the original. There is very little new content there, just what feels like a continuation of the first instead of a successor to it. If they'd have made the game for the PS3 with next-gen-caliber content instead of releasing it for the PlayStation 2, Sony might have had a system-seller on their hands instead of wallowing in third-place for over a year now and blaming everybody but themselves.

GB Review: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Multiplayer (360)

John Godfrey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:14:30 -0600

COD4: The best online gameplay the 360 has to offer?

By now you already know that Call of Duty 4 is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Or the greatest thing since Halo 3, at least. It ushered in the first modern warfare title of the series, and the online component is just as great as the single player campaign. With a bevy of reasons to keep playing, namely leveling up to unlock new abilities, weapons, and weapon attachments (and getting cool-sounding military rank names), and game mechanics that work just right, COD4 is a game you're going to want to pick up right now and not put down for a long time. Excuse me while I rank up.

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

Right now, not everyone is completely enthralled by the
"jump while shooting a sniper rifle then throw a grenade while melee attacking someone on the way down and land" gameplay that is Halo 3 multiplayer. And While Team Fortress, one aspect of the trifecta of awesome which is the Orange Box, is definitely a fresh fun addition to the 360's online FPS roster, it's a very specific gameplay type that may not appeal to all. Enter Call of Duty 4, the first modern warfare installment of the series - and mayhaps the best first-person shooter on the 360 to date.

COD4's gameplay is based much more on reality than the fantasy and stretches of the imagination other online titles are offering - you don't need to unload an entire clip into an enemy to kill them, as a few choice shots will do. You also don't have leaping abilities that defy the laws of gravity - all combat takes place on the ground here. In fact, you can probably recognize the gamers who had a little more than their alloted dose of Halo 3 when they run at you jumping while firing a sniper rifle - they learn to adapt quickly.

Some people may not like the sound of the "couple shots and your dead" gameplay, but let me assure you that it's implemented in a way that works. Like COD4's offline component, you have a rebounding health bar, which means if you ran around a corner and took a few bullets from an unknown source, you can always run back for cover and assess the situation as your health bar replenishes. This means that every kill you make that you encounter damage on, you can recover from and move on to the next guy. This keeps the gameplay fast and fluid, meaning that if you're really good, your main problem is going to be finding more ammo, not hoping no one sees you hobbling around looking for a med kit with 1% health left.

Now that we know how the general gameplay mechanics work with COD4, what more does it offer? The answer to that would be a lot - a lot of reasons to keep coming back time after time to unlock more and more extras in a ranking process that can become more addictive than crack. You start off with some basic weaponry, an assault rifle that fires only in burst mode, simple iron sights and a side arm - as you continue to play, get kills, win matches, be on the winning team of matches, and complete objectives (more on that later) you will gain XP. The more XP you gain, the higher the ranking ladder you go. Once you hit a certain number of XP points you get granted a new military rank that you keep until you hit the next designated number of points - what ranks do is unlock all-new weapons, perks, challenges, and attachments for your weapons.

New weapons are pretty self explanatory - you start from a semi-auto assault rifle and move onto a fully automatic one, and then from there unlock more powerful ones, etc. This applies to all weapon classes - assault rifles, sub machine guns, light machine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns and pistols. Attachments range from underslung grenade launchers to front grips for shotguns, and a variety of scopes to kit your gun out with, one for every occasion, and all much better than simple iron sights. Perks are a fun addition that allows you to attain certain attributes for your player of weapon, allowing you to do things like sprint for longer periods of time, steady your aim whilst looking though the scope of a sniper rifle, or even do things like pull out a pistol while dying on the ground to take out as many enemies as you can before you expire. Perks also allow you physical items to take into battle, like claymore mines and C4, and special abilities like being able to eavesdrop on the other team's voice communications.

Challenges are much like achievements you would find for a typical 360 title, except you don't earn Xbox Live achievements for them (achievements are only gained in the SP mode of COD4), instead you earn a huge XP boost for them, arguably a much more desired reward. Challenges range from getting a certain amount of head shots with a certain weapon to winning a certain amount of a specific match type to shooting down a helicopter.

What's that? Helicopter? That's right, but this isn't another rehash of Battlefield. Like I said, all gameplay remains on the ground - but to reward players' killing streaks, the ability to call in a helicopter for air support, among other things, are granted. At 3 kills, the player can call in UAV support, basically seeing enemy positioning as dots on a map; at 5 kills, the player has the ability to call in an air strike, which they can target anywhere on the map; and at 7 kills, the player can call in a helicopter, which will fly around the map, gunning down as many enemies as it can before it gets shot down or bored and decides to go home again. This is an excellent addition to the game as it encourages gamers to be more careful and promote the use of cover and strategy over running and gunning, where your chances are pretty much 50/50 of getting killed. Running around aimlessly in the open is not a tactic to be employed in COD4.

Playing a team match like Deathmatch of Search & Destroy allows you to employ some teamwork when employing these streak bonuses. For instance, a player that has an air strike bonus ready can combine efforts with some with a UAV support bonus ready, in order to pin down an accurate location on the map that will dole out the most damage to the opposite team. And in a game like Sabotage, if you're in the process of defending a bomb site before it detonates while repelling enemy forces, it would be the perfect time for a teammate to whip out the helicopter support and make life much easier. Of course, these sorts of strategies work best when you're playing with a clan or a party of friends, as you're more concerned with helping your team than a rag-tag bag of hooligans.

Graphically and in terms of audio, the online component of COD4 is all aces, only some special graphical effects of the single player campaign are lost in the multiplayer jump, but you'll barely notice that. Audio plays a key role, with different distinct sounds for every weapon type and subtle sounds like a grenade clinking on the floor or the "click" before a claymore goes off, that can improve your game if you listen for them. Soft footsteps of approaching enemies gives you enough of a cue to swing around and melee with the knife to save yourself from being ventilated.

In all, COD4 is such a well-rounded online game that any pitfalls it may have usually arise from the players and not the game itself. You get your typical trash-talkers and campers, and there may be people who use the perks in a way you don't like, such as the Juggernaut perk which allows the enemy to take more bullets before dying; or the claymores planted in sneaky areas that get you every time. But you're probably using perks that other people don't like too, and things like sneaky claymores are just the realities of war - just like the Juggernaut perk will be in the human vs machine war which will undoubtedly be covered in COD10. So go get this game, but be prepared to experience what all those Everquest kids do, spending every spare hour you can leveling up, and unlocking new weapons and perks.

Also available on: PS3| PC
Review: Single Player
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Release: Nov 5, 2007
MSRP: $59.99
Live | Mature
Winner of GameBump's Best Shooter of 2007

18 Greatest VG Endings Ever?

Aaron Dunlap — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:25:21 -0600

The linked article preports to detail the 18 best video game endings of all time. Personally, I think the list contains way too many fighting games and there is a serious lack of Metal Gear, but tastes are tastes. Without spoiling the sense of tension as the list drags on and your favorite game hasn't appeared yet, the first on the list is God of War:

Players who completed the original God of War in its entirety were treated to a final cinematic where Kratos impaled the chest of Ares with a massive sword causing the dying God of War to make gurgling noises as blood sprayed out of his punctured torso. And if this gruesome scene wasn't enough to satisfy you, the video then goes on to show Kratos attempting to splatter himself by jumping off a cliff and the finale where the he goes on to become to new God of War. Deicide, suicide, and getting promoted from slave to God, what more could you possibly want from an ending?

Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess Soars To Retail

Solomon Lee — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:21 -0600

Square Enix has announced today that the Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess expansion pack has shipped to North American retailers for the PC, Playstation 2 and Xbox 360.

The game can be purchased as part of the Vana'diel Collection 2008 with MSRP of $39.99 and $49.99 respectively for the PS2 and Xbox 360. For fans who only wish to buy the expansion, Wings of the Goddess carries a $29.99 price tag for the PC, Playstation 2 and Xbox 360.

The online service for the title will officially go live on November 22.

Wings of the Goddess includes the following features:

Unravel the secrets of this highly anticipated new chapter
and discover its ties to the exciting world of Vana'diel
Experience the world through the eyes of two new job
classes, the dancer and the scholar, both exclusive to the FINAL
FANTASY XI: WINGS OF THE GODDESS expansion pack
Master new techniques like the dancer's Steps or use new
black and white magic with the wise scholar, further enhancing magical
capabilities
Learn more about the main stage, Vana'diel, and see San
d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst like never before with epic battles and
new inhabitants, good and bad
Engage in combat, alone or in a party, with powerful new
monsters and foes claim the spoils and rewards that come from
defeating ferocious enemies such as gnats, gnoles, ladybugs, pixies,
sandworms and more
Team up with friends from around the world and across the
PlayStation 2 system, Windows PC and Xbox 360 to experience the world's only triple cross-platform, triple-region MMORPG with a community of more than 500,000 active subscribers and 1.7 millionplayer characters

God of War III Officially Confirmed for PS3, And Soon?

Shiva Stella — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:50:00 -0600

Here's a wonderful and strange bit of news for God of War and PlayStation 3 fans this morning, as reports are coming in that Sony has officially confirmed that God of War III for the PS3 is indeed being developed at the company's Santa Monica studios.

In related news, Cory Barlog, the franchise's original director who let hints at the title's development slip last March, is leaving the studio for currently unknown reasons; you can view his personal blog here but he's yet to comment on his departure or the GoW3 official confirmation.

This next bit is because I can't resist and is most assuredly untrue, but JeuxFrance is also reporting that the game will release "in the next few months" - this may be due to a mistranslation on their part (or mine, as I'm not exactly fluent in French), but the words are currently still up on their version of the story, viewable here. If this rumor were in fact true, though, it'd be the miracle Sony needs to sell as many PS3s as possible this holiday season, especially considering the new 40GB version's availability.

So what do we think?

New God of War: Chains of Olympus Screens

Shiva Stella — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:41:02 -0500

It's always a good day when the now-legendary Kratos is around. New images of him battling various monsters of Greek lore in God of War: Chains of Olympus are in and available at the link. The game is set to launch for the PlayStation Portable on March 4, 2008. I am giddy for anything that is ancient Greek.

Square Enix Launches Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign, Again

Shiva Stella — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:14:47 -0500

Those of you who were avid Final Fantasy XI gamers who have been considering getting back into the game in preparation for the company's Wings of the Goddess (expansion) launch may be pleased to know that the company has revived its "Return Home to Vana'diel" campaign. Wings of the Goddess will be releasing on the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 2 on November 20.

Hit the link to view more information on SE's latest FFXI campaign.

GH Preview: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

Aaron Dunlap — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 16:10:53 -0500

This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.

Its like God of War, but on the PSP. No, seriously, its the same game.

God of War 2 garnered a lot of critical praise, but personally, I loathed it. God of War was an amazing game that revived and reshaped the brawler genre and brought a second wind to the then-dwindling PlayStation 2 with surprising graphics, cinematics, and overall production quality. The gameplay was addictive, the controls intuitive, the combat sickeningly satisfying.

God of War 2, released just a few months ago, was quite literally the same game. Sure, it was a sequel in the traditional sense: it takes place after the first game, it has a new story, and theres a 2 after the title. Besides that, though, there was nothing new. It was like deja vu, a tired re-tread. Same controls, same style of puzzles, same enemies, same cobat, same interface, same everything.

From my experience with God of War: Chains of Olympus, I feel the same way. Its an all new story and its ported beautifully onto the PSP with practically identical controls to its PS2 counterparts; but its still the same game.

The big problem with bringing a 3D game to the PSP is the infamously absent second analog nub. Some games put camera controls on the two shoulder buttons, others put control onto the D-pad. God of War: Chains of Olympus does neither. There are no camera controls, in fact. The game has a smart camera that locks the perspective where it need to be and follows you around as you move throughout the environment; similar, if not identical, to the PS2 games.

As soon as I picked the game up I was performing the combos now-ingrained in my mind. Identical to the PS2 games.

In short, if you want to play God of War on your PSP, this is your game. If there was something about God of War that you didnt like or wish was added, no dice here. I would hate to see God of War become another one of those series that churns out inevitable sequels year after year with little to no innovation.

New God of War: Chains of Olympus Screens

Aaron Dunlap — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:50:00 -0500

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

From the SCEA Gamer's Day event, here are seven new screenshots from the upcoming PSP title, God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Here's the storyline overview presented by Sony:

In God of War, Kratos, after being deceived into killing his wife and daughter, denounced his service to Ares. In order to seek absolution from his past sins, the Ghost of Sparta pledged himself as a champion to the Gods for the years to follow these brutal crusades, in the name of Olympus, became legendary throughout the ancient world.In God of War: Chains of Olympus, Kratos will journey to lands that no mortal has ever walked upon. With the world plunged in eternal darkness and the Gods rendered powerless, Kratos will face the most feared creatures of Greek Mythology, and ultimately be forced to choose between his own personal redemption and saving the ancient world from certain destruction.

Features:Epic Gameplay on the PSP system: Keeping true to the God of War franchise, experience dramatic camera angles and epic set pieces, offering a never before seen experience on the PSP system. Mythological Odyssey: This story is set in a time before the events of God of War, where players will experience Kratos' journey during the 10yrs of servitude to the Gods of Olympus.All New Combat Moves: Players can utilize new brutal combat moves along with their favorite combo attacks from the God of War franchise.Exploration: From the Gates of Hades to the Depths of Tartarus, the journey will take players through the dark and brutal world of Greek Mythology. Face-off against all new creatures from Greek Mythology and engage in epic boss battles.Puzzle Solving: As players explore the ancient world, prepare to navigate through a labyrinth of challenging puzzles inter-woven into the story.Critically-Acclaimed Franchise: Brought to you by two award-winning development teams, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Santa Monica Studios and Ready At Dawn Studios.

Enjoy. The official site for Chains of Olympus has also launched and is available here.

God of War 2, GT4 Announced?

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:46:00 -0500

Gaming news site Eurogamer recently announced reportedly leaked information from Sony about two upcoming titles God of War 2 and Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition.

The site reported that God of War 2 will release in February for the PlayStation 2. The game will feature new magical abilities, better climbing and an ability to fly. Not surprising Eurogamer also reported that God of War will possibly make a transition to the PlayStaton 3 as well.

Meanwhile, Gran Turismo 4 Online Edition is reportedly coming out in the second quarter of 2006. The game will feature six-player online races. Players supposedly will be able to choose from 50 tracks, 700 cars. The game is also rumored to include a single-player challenge mode and many online options.

Finally, one last tidbit of information related to Killzone for the PlayStation Portable. Eurogamer reported that the shooter which will include cooperative and online play will release on November 3rd. The game will allow players to continue the story from the end of the original title on the PlayStation 2.

Of course we at Gaming Horizon must say that none of this information is confirmed. Eurogamer has since pulled down the information and posted a note that Sony has threatened legal action if they didn't comply. This could very well mean that Eurogamer was on to something.

Originally written by Brian Mohr

New Gods & Heroes Media

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:20:00 -0500

Sony Online Entertainment has published several new screenshots of its Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising for the PC. The title is an MMORPG currently being developed by Perpetual Entertainment and slated for a June 1 launch. Enjoy. Originally written by Shiva Stella

Godfather Scopes Out Wii, PS3

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:08:00 -0600

Because we wouldn't be a gaming site without reporting on the obvious premier-title news, Electronic Arts, now sole owner of the virtual Italian mafia, has announced that it is bringing The Godfather franchise to both the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles.

The Godfather: The Don's Edition will be seeing release Sony's side while The Godfather: Blackhand Edition will be gracing the Wii. The Don's Edition includes new missions, the Corelone expansion, and utilizes the sixaxis controller while Blackhand Edition will make use of the Wii's unique remote. Both games are slated to release in March.

Fresh screenshots taken from both of these new versions are available below. Originally written by Shiva Stella

David Jaffe Keeps It Realz

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:36:24 -0600

At any media event where the press are allowed to interview game developers or executives (pretty much anybody but the booth babes) there will always be a marketing rep from his company standing right over his shoulder the whole time. This is a rule, and something we have to agree to, but it can get a bit tedious at times. It's like trying to talk to a girl at a bar when her parents and pastor are standing there making sure you stay on subject.

In the video below, someone from GameTrailers is interviewing David Jaffe, and Jaffe seems pretty annoyed by the Sony marketing rep standing there and by the very annoying line of questions.

The interviewer keeps trying to get Jaffe to "spill the beans" about God of War 3 when God of War 2 wont be on shelves for another 3 months. The game hasn't been approved for production yet, so it isn't as if David Jaffe is going to be able to say anything at all. All he wants to do is talk about God of War 2 (the game he just spent a year or so working on), and gaming journalists are trying to get the big scoop by having a developer talk about a game that hasn't been developed.

Jaffe handles it pretty well, considering. He dismisses the marketing bullshank being issued by his shoulder-perched marketing fairy and somewhere in there even acknowledges that his fighting system isn't as good as Devil May Cry (though I'd argue with anybody about that).

Imagine how much better things would be if gaming reporters weren't all trying to get some imaginary scoop and developers didn't have to be protected from that by marketing firewalls.

Godfather: Mob Wars Coming To The PSP

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:36:00 -0500

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.The original author is Evan Lahti.

Gangsters on the go will have something to look forward to in September, as Electronic Arts has just announced that The Godfather: Mob Wars is in production for the PSP. Though specifics are sparse, and we're unsure if the PSP version will be a complete port of the the free-roaming romp that was released on the Xbox, PC, and PS2 back in March, we know that the PSP release will come with a tactical tint to it.

Aside from taking on the rival families face-to-face (using the same "pressure-point" targeting system featured in the

Black & White 2 Expansion Announced

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:56:00 -0500

EA and Lionhead have today announced that Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods, the expansion pack for Black & White 2, will be released for the PC in April.

The expansion has you, as a god, fighting for control of your world against an evil deity summoned from the blood of human sacrifices in a darker and more sinister world than those in previous games. Its up to you whether you counteract his evil with good deeds or undermine him with extreme evil in your attempts to regain control.

Fans of Black & White 2 will find a new creature, four new miracles, two new lands, new buildings, and a new AI system to play around with, as well as two new enemy armies and, of course, the new enemy creature to face off against.

Make sure to check out the first screenshots of the game below.
Originally written by Olly Dean

The Godfather Ship Date Reported at EBgames

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:26:00 -0600

You've probably heard this before: EBgames is listing a ship date/price for something that we didn't know yet. Sometimes it turns out to be correct information, sometimes it turns out that someone at EB needed to fill in a form and just made up a date until the info is officially released.

In this case, that something is The Godfather -- set to launch on the newfangled Xbox 2 at an officially unknown date.

According to EBgames.com , the Xbox 2 version will ship on 10/1/2005 while the PC version will ship on 9/12/2005 .

Whether or not you're believing the date info, EBgames is accepting pre-orders.

If you're interested in future The Godfather info, you should check out our fancy new Gamewatch tracking feature by heading to the game's Gamepage by clicking its title above this story and and clicking "Track Game" button.

Originally written by Aaron Dunlap

GH Preview: The Godfather (Xbox)

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:36:27 -0600

This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Evan Lahti.

It was only a matter of time before a developer sunk its teeth into one of cinemas richest franchises, and Electronic Arts has dutifully kept us waiting while it joined the urban shooter bandwagon with its multi-platform release of The Godfather.

Spurred on by the popularity of games like Grand Theft Auto, The Godfather looks to regress the genre back to a time when guns were less automatic a time when drive-bys had to be under 40mph. Still, we dont expect a game carrying a license like The Godfather to pull any punches. Set in the same post-Depression era Little Italy streets as the film, players assume the role of an upstart gangster under the tutelage of the Corleones, looking to make an honest living in a less-than-honest business. Mentoring your character along the way will be The Dons right-hand man, Luca Brasi, who introduces you to the ways of the family and provides some instruction on the ins-and-outs of killing, getaway-driving, racketeering, and the like.

While The Godfathers story missions follow the film and novel closely, EA insists that players will be able to explore and extort the streets of New York at their own pace. Navigating sliders on the introductory create-a-character menu (a 40s variation on the feature used in Tiger Woods PGA Tour), players browse a multitude of hairstyles, garments, and detailed facial characteristics to mold the look of their thug. From here, theyll hit the streets with an avatar all their own.

But itll take more than a chic suit and a slick hairdo to impress The Don. From the get-go, mafiosi climb their way up the crime food-chain, looking to earn respect from the family. Not surprisingly, theres a long list of felonies that facilitate this. Providing "protection" to merchants, performing hits, bank heists, and the old-fashioned carjack all boost your renown within the mob. However, as fans of the film well know: life in the mafia is a constant turf war. Aside from the Corleones, four other families compete for control within the Big Apple, and making your mark on the town will often mean engaging in some hard-nosed economics with your competitors. Handiness with a handgun is just as valuable as these "business" smarts in Godfather, as players will have to take advantage of underground rackets in order to make bank for themselves and the family.

Strolling down the avenue, your character will encounter a range of businesses lining the blocks of New York. A bakery may seem legitimate enough from the sidewalk, but a peek through the backdoor reveals not box after box of delicious pastries, but an underground arms-smuggling operation. Keeping the rackets under Corleone control means your competitors have less resources available to them, and managing this side of the game looks to be key to ones advancement.

But when things get ugly, it wont hurt to make use of the hardware available to you. The Godfather features a range of equipment to get the dirty work done: melee weapons (like baseball bats and lead pipes), stranglers (if youre the strong, silent type), pistols, shotguns, revolvers, Tommy Guns, and explosives (dynamite, molotovs and other high-yield munitions that can be used to bust bank safes...or even entire buildings). Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but your characters skill with different weapons can be upgraded as you progress.

A killer aim with a magnum will come in handy, but in other situations a more delicate approach may be better suited. For this, EAs gameplay designers have touted their "pressure point" targeting system, which allows your mafioso to wound and intimidate opponents rather than kill; after all, merchants are usually in a better position to pay if theyre still alive. When armed in close quarters, players can lock onto different "pressure points" to get their point across. Using the control scheme, rattling shopkeepers cages is a breeze: tossing them against walls, shaking them down, choking, and giving them the once-over are all manipulated between the shoulder and analog buttons. Even more fluidly, the right stick throws punches to get uncooperative owners to cough up the dough; and depending on how far back the stick is pulled, stronger jabs are delivered (much like EAs boxing games). By avoiding a static, formulaic style of input, the end result could be an interesting mechanic that leaves room for players to experiment and approach the game in their own way.

EA will be juggling two sets of fans when The Godfather releases: those anticipating the port of a film classic, and gamers expecting a Grand Theft clone set in pre-1950s New York. Pleasing both groups wont be easy. The reputation of movie-to-game remakes being a less than respectable one as it is, botching The Godfather would be beyond criminal. Still, were jazzed about the features the game is planning. At first glance, The Godfather looks to be a mirroring of GTAs free-roaming, gun-toting gameplay, but with more emphasis placed on the players role and reputation within the community. This is exciting. Throw in an interesting control scheme, authentic voiceacting, and respectable visuals... and The Godfather just might have enough sauce and substance to satisfy its family of fans.

Gran Turismo 4 Dated For Europe/Australia

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 18:22:00 -0600

Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital confirmed with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe that the highly anticipated racing simulator Gran Turismo 4 will release in Australia and Europe on March 9th, 2005.

The game is set to include over 700 vehicles and 50 tracks along with a new photo option and of course the graphics that Gran Turismo fans are accustomed too. Yamauchi said of the game, "It's more than a sequel, but, in fact, a redefinition of what a video game can be."

This presumably means that Gran Turismo 4 is still on schedule for a North American launch in March as well, currently it is scheduled for March 14th.

Time will tell and we'll have more when Sony Computer Entertainment of America makes their own announcement on Gran Turismo 4.

Originally written by Brian Mohr

GH Preview: The Godfather (360)

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Sat, 21 May 2005 12:25:00 -0500

This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Jarrett Conaway & Sean Kearney.

Behind closed doors at E3, EA made Gaming Horizon an offer we couldnt refuse: a first look at one of the most talked about titles for one of the most anticipated systems this holiday season, The Godfather on Xbox 360.

The Godfather marks EAs foray into mature rated titles and continues their trend of acquiring first-rate movie licenses. Working in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, EA has adapted elements from the first The Godfather film, Mario Puzos The Godfather novel, (which contains the plotline of the first two films in the trilogy) as well as new material written exclusively for the game. The likenesses and voices of many of the major cast members in the films, including the late Marlon Brando, are all present and accounted for.

The Godfather booth was shrouded in secrecy. EAs reps escorted us into an office, fashioned after Vito Corleones, where a representative from EA sat behind the Dons desk and greeted us. Everything in the office was reminiscent of the 1940s, aside from the giant High- Definition Plasma monitor hanging on the wall.

After watching a stunning intro video that included many familiar scenes from the film, the EA Don walked us through some gameplay on the 360. The Godfather looked like what wed expect from a next-gen title even though it was still relatively far from completion. The textures on fabric, skin, cars, and buildings were all beautifully rendered. The world within the demo was a very large Little Italy and we were told that the final version would consist of nine other neighborhoods spanning over eight by eight city blocks.

The world of The Godfather was no less than dazzling, as the main character, who was not in the Corleone family, but rather a customizable character, roamed through the living city of 1940's New York City. As weve come to expect from games in the GTA genre, the streets were full of functioning traffic and pedestrians. The world was fully responsive. Draw a gun and you would hear a woman scream across the street. Shoot or beat up an innocent pedestrian and more cops would be alerted to your area.

During the Xbox 360 demo EA introduced their innovative control system for the game, called the black hand. Players can use the trigger buttons to grab and manhandle people. You can throw people against walls, shake, choke, and punch them. Using the right analog in conjunction with the L trigger enables players to throw punches similar to the Tiger Swing in EAs Tiger Woods Golf, with punches varying in strength based on how far back you pull the analog stick. When using weapons, which are switched with the D-pad, you can lock onto enemies and shoot them in various pressure points indicated when the crosshairs turn red. Shooting a person in a pressure point keeps them alive, but wounded. Once disabled, you can beat them for information in a feature called interrogation before you finally smoke them.

After the Xbox 360 demo, a side door opened and we were herded into a classy 1940s style living room. There we got the chance to play The Godfather on the original Xbox. The first thing we did in the game was approach an informant from the Corleone family who was chilling on a street corner. He gave us the various objectives for the neighborhood that we could approach in any order.

We decided to check out the barbershop first to get some information. When we entered, a cutscene started that showed the assassination attempt on Vito Corleone from the original Godfather film, but from a different perspective. The bullets ripped through the glass window behind him and hit us in the barbershop. We then engaged the perpetrators in an all-out gun battle. One of the gangsters had taken a female hostage. After killing his associates we took care not to shoot the gorgeous brunette and put a bullet in his shoulder. He dropped her, and then we shot him in a pressure point, interrogated him, and then killed him. When all was said and done we got the girl.

Although we didnt see it in action we were told there would be a "respect system" in the game that increases as you complete tasks for the Don, commit crimes, and take out members of the rival families. However, executing rivals on the streets of New York results in an increased vendetta against you. This means you better watch your back because wise guys will be on your tail when you least expect it and theyll be out for blood.

Honestly, entering The Godfather demo, we were a bit skeptical that EA could make a mature GTA style title, not to mention worried about how theyd interpret such a classic film. But after some rough persuasion from the Xbox 360 presentation, as well as the hands on demonstration we changed our minds. The Godfather looks to combine all the elements of the film with the freedom of an open world to give fans as well as newcomers something truly unique. Players can join the family this fall 2005 on Xbox, PS2, PC and Xbox 360.

GH Review: God of War (PS2)

Shiva Stella — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 07:12:00 -0600

This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.

Occasionally a first-party title makes it to market that is actually worth an immediate purchase, and out of the three key companies Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo Sony has probably managed to bring the most unique, original titles to its console, including ICO, Mark of Kri, and now, God of War. Set in ancient Greece during the reign of the classical gods, God of War revolves around a brutal, viscous hero, Kratos, who is destined to kill the most bloodthirsty god of Olympus, Ares, the god of war. While players might not like the hero, though, theyll definitely take to the simple, fast-paced, yet increasingly intricate gameplay style offered in GoW, and the titles amazing visuals more than make up for Kratos seemingly static character. From the initial training level to the very end, GoW separates itself from any action/adventure game to have ever hit the market. Buy it now.

GoW begins straightforwardly enough: the tragic hero, Kratos, the Spartan warrior, did some very nasty things in the past and has been haunted by his memories into madness. To be free of his evil deeds (or just the guilt), hes served the gods on Olympus for ten years (the standard number in Greek myth, youll note), under the guidance of Athena. Athenas brother, Ares, whom Kratos is very familiar with, has begun attacking Athens, her prized city. Unfortunately for Athena Zeus has forbidden the gods from fighting each other, so Athena gives Kratos the ultimate task for his freedom from madness: head to Athens, find the tool that can kill a god, and then destroy Ares to save her city. Of course there are various twists and turns as the plot unfolds and Kratos discovers the final truth, but the majority of the storyline focuses on the task at hand.

There are a few key elements GoW owes its success to, and the foremost of those is the gruesome, swift, arcade-ish gameplay style. Action/adventure at its best, the title is an extremely fast-paced button-masher, allowing for devastating combos and original finishing moves that lessen the feel of repetitiveness and keep the gameplay fresh. Typical gameplay has gamers walking into a new area, being bombarded with ruthless opponents, and then pulling out as many combos as possible for the quickest, grossest, most effective deaths. Combos can be strung together almost endlessly, with a counter on the bottom-right of the screen keeping track of the hits; the more hits you have on an opponent, the more red (experience) orbs you get from its death. Its not fancy, but its quick and fun. The control scheme is extremely easy to use and functions very smoothly, with square and triangle performing attacks, right analog dodges, left analog basic movements, and L2 magical attacks. In the beginning Kratos will only wield his blades of chaos, two fire-enhanced blades attached to long chains that perform distant as well as close-up attacks.

When an enemy is dying players have the option to attack incessantly until its down, or hit circle to initiate a fatal blow. The finishing move varies by enemy type. For example, the gorgons have their heads removed for mana orbs. Its not as easy as hitting circle, though. For the gorgon final hit players have to move the left analog stick in the direction indicated on-screen. For minotaurs, players have to mash the circle button for the stab. For really giant ugly things, players hit the button displayed on-screen. Ad infinitum. Its simple and effective, and nicely cinematic, but by no means a guarantee. If you happen to hit the wrong button, or adjust the analog stick in the wrong direction, the monster will slap you around and youll have to either re-approach it for the kill or beat it normally. Bosses have finishing or pre-finishing moves too, and are just as nicely gory and cinematic. While were on the topic of enemies it should be noted that SCEA included a small, highly-detailed amount, but then took each enemy type and modified it, adding new weapons and attacks to force the player to re-strategize his maneuvers. This extra touch, along with the large variety of finishing moves and powerful combos, keeps the gameplay from becoming stale.

Another fresh touch is the inclusion of special abilities that Kratos can level up by collecting those red orbs from defeated enemies. Players can raise the level on their weapons or take the magical approach and adjust their spells, like Poseidons Rage (a gigantic electrical whirlwind) and Medusas Gaze (freezes opponents). Players can also collect green orbs (health), blue orbs (mana), gorgon eyes (health extension), phoenix feathers (mana extension), and more. One of the items, Poseidons Trident, more directly affects gameplay by allowing underwater swimming.

While the majority of the gameplay involves brute force, there are some innovative puzzles included too, all shorter pieces to a whole with minimal backtracking and aptly placed save spots spread throughout. Some are very direct; in Road to Athens there's a spot where Kratos is trapped in a gated area, and the only way to open the gate is to position a minotaur on a button, freeze the minotaur using Medusa's Gaze, and then run as quickly as possible to the other side of the area before the gate goes back up. Others are more complicated; in Pandoras Temple there are a slew of more intricately planned puzzles. The important thing to note here is how each piece smoothly fits with its counterparts, comes with minimal backtracking, and most importantly, makes sense.

Though not a puzzle or related to combat, gameplay progression in GoW doesnt involve just the ordinary walk around, kill something, jump, repeat process. Kratos can wall-climb, overcoming foes as he jumps from wall to wall; swing from ropes; tightrope walk; and hang from ropes (again hes not immune to attack). Players will walk Kratos across thin wooden beams, sometimes jumping over obstacles or dodging winged harpies, pull levers, push items around, destroy inanimate objects, and so on for progression. As an added bonus GoW performs automatic checkpoints so when you die, and die you shall, you can opt to start off from the last checkpoint. Thankfully a new checkpoint is reached almost every time you begin a new puzzle, and a save point is generally available each time you enter a new area. That the developers added these trivialities, and detailed them so well, says something about the effort put into the game.

If youve seen any trailers or screenshots of GoW then you already know that its quite possibly the most detailed, highly-textured, gorgeously-rendered title on the PS2 to-date. There are majestic water effects for fountains, standing pools, and tiny streams; you can clearly see waves on the surface and bubbles when underwater. Brilliant light filters down as sunlight or surrounds torches. Crisp, strong reflections show off temple floorings. Every environment is massive, with highly decorated statues and gorgeous classical architecture. Little nuances abound, like dust kicked up by Kratos feet, or ripples made when Kratos splashes through a large puddle. The death animations for the aforementioned finishing moves are highly cinematic and gory. Blood spews from every hit and covers the floor, and Kratos blades of chaos give off bright orange light when he attacks. Furthermore, enemy and character design is so detailed its almost frightening. When you meet the man cursed to burn the bodies of the failures from Pandoras Temple youll see him in all his ugliness, exposed bones, skeletal tissue, and all. Kratos clothing moves just as fluidly as his body, noticeable during jumps and combos, even. As for environments, a big plus is that they feel much less static; youll occasionally see creatures fighting ahead of or behind you, or be terrified by giant hydras rising through shipwrecks. When it comes to graphical prowess SCEA has made GoW one of the best-looking games on any console.

Another key element that GoW does frighteningly well is presentation. Though the camera is not adjustable, it moves appropriately for that cinematic feel and oftentimes heightens the tension, i.e. when Kratos walks across a wooden beam the camera swings overhead and shows a significant drop and death if he falls. The music is a strong, orchestral score thats very classical and varies from heavy (boss fights, timed battles) to light (soothing call of the siren, temples). The game features excellent standard sound effects too, including Kratos attacks, enemy bellows and screeches, Kratos footsteps and splashes, and so on. The voiceactors did a fantastic job simulating the Greek gods and goddesses (I found Athena particularly realistic), and Kratos voiceactor, TC Carson, gave an accurate portrayal of his brutal character. Rather than feel like separate presentational elements supporting the same game, the elements tie together to create a strong sense of atmosphere, intensity, and tension. The integration of fresh gameplay, spectacular visuals, strong musical selection, and fun give GoW a very pleasant, but dark, feeling.

For those who truly enjoy the game, SCEA has included some bonus features and modes. If youve had fun completing the various modes (hero, Spartan, god, etc), you can spend some time viewing in-game movies including a making-of video, play in the challenge of the gods, unlock costumes, and see the sources for the monsters and settings of GoW.

Theres extremely little to complain about here.

It would have been nice if SCEA had allowed for camera adjustment some, and the inclusion of a targeting system. There would be times when I was trying to approach an enemy for a final kill and Kratos would turn around and hit another monster instead, which cost me a death once or twice. The only disconcerting thing that bothered me was the lack of character depth for Kratos. Given that this is a tragedy, a bigger emphasis on a more dynamic Kratos was in order. Other than that, though, Id venture that God of War borders on action/adventure perfection.

An amazing title by SCEA, God of War is an absolute must-buy for anyone into Greek mythology or who enjoys the action/adventure genre. Its beautiful, plays smoothly, is absolutely epic, and will please anyone with a taste for a dark atmosphere. Possibly the best title in its genre yet.

A very gorgeous action/adventure title.

Combos and button-mashing at its finest, with logical puzzles.

Very strong orchestral score. Great voicework.

Stay hooked throughout, then repeat different modes.

If this is your genre then youll simply love God of War.

GH Preview: God of War (PS2)

Brian Mohr — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:20:00 -0600

This preview was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.

God of War allows players to get lost in Greek Mythology as Kratos, a former Spartan warrior.

In the game, Kratos is given superhuman abilities by the gods, but the story starts out at the end of Kratos life, when he is committing suicide. You go back three weeks earlier to see what leads up to his death.

The preview we were given is an incredible taste of what is to come from God of War. In the game, you fight multiple enemies at a time on the decks and in the bowels of ships on the high seas and take on incredibly sized Hydra.

The game features plenty of action and should easily fulfill anyones bloodlust. The fighting is easy to pick up and from the demo it is obvious youll be able to accumulate plenty of magical powers and abilities as well as upgrades for both. Although, be prepared to use your block ability relatively often to get through the missions.

In the demo we were shown to have chained blades that could be used for light attacks, heavy attacks, spin attacks, grabbing, and throwing. We even gained an ability of Poseidon that electrocutes enemies around you. The fighting is very exciting and is ever changing which adds to a nice change of pace for the game; just a combination of a few buttons does many varying attacks. Also notable in the demo was that combo moves help you gain more magic and health.

God of War also features some puzzles as well. In the demo you have to move a box so you can attack archers as well as jump on spikes to pin down the heads of the Hydras.

The puzzles are good and keep it interesting, but the action is what will keep you playing for hours.

Just from the demo, you can tell the developers really put a lot of detail into the game; the enemies and Hydra move very well and graphically look amazing. Kratos attacks are true to form and look incredible. Beyond that, the video sequences keep the story running and the backgrounds of the fighting sequences show other battles going on.

From what we can tell, the only drawback to the game could be some of the puzzles that may get tedious for some players.

God of War was certainly one of the most anticipated games for 2005 and it appears to be living up to the hype. With incredible action and varying puzzles, the game has a little bit of everything for players. The fighting sequences look and feel impressive and players will definitely get hooked right out of the gate pulling off varying combos and magical abilities. God of War certainly looks like it will not only be one of the most anticipated games for 2005, but also one of the best.