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SHOGUN 2: TOTAL WAR

2011-08-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

It's been over a decade, and The Creative Assembly is still burning the midnight oil with the Total War series. Rather than continue to build on previous versions of the revered strategy series and make bigger and more complex games with each release, Shogun 2: Total War is being slimmed down. It'll be a more manageable, focused game with some cool mechanics for progression on the battlefield. Also, considering the original Shogun is one of the most respected entries in the franchise, it's nice to a return to Japan with some updated visuals.

Shogun 2: Total War Battle Report

So far The Creative Assembly has been saying all the right things. This doesn't seem like an impossibly ambitious and all-encompassing project like Empire. Instead, it sounds like a welcomed back-to-basics approach that focuses on what's made the Total War series one of the best in video games. Coupling Civilization-style turn-based empire management with large-scale real-time tactical battles, Total War has always been a strategy fan's dream game. We're all hoping everything goes right with Shogun 2.

Developer: The Creative Assembly | Publisher: SEGA | Arrives: March 15, 2011
Key Characters: Warring Factions, Hero Units, Art of War AI

Not including Shogun 2, expansions and downloadable content, the number of Total War games released to date.

Succeeds if Creative Assembly delivers on what it's been promising so far.

Fails if it won't run well on anyone's computer and the AI randomly breaks.

CRYSIS 2

2011-08-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Crytek's been at the forefront of graphical achievement for years now. Crysis is still one of the first games people install when they get new hardware, even though the game came out in 2007. Now the company is finally developing something multiplatform. Not surprisingly, it's a shooter. Perhaps to the dismay of some PC purists, it sounds like the core Crysis formula is being altered somewhat to create a more funneled, streamlined experience. But honestly, is that really a bad thing? For now we can't really say for sure.

Crysis 2 Trailer

That being said, we should have faith in Crytek. Far Cry, Crysis and Warhead are all excellent shooters, and with Crysis 2 the company is getting more exposure than ever outside of the core PC gaming community. Having refined its shooting mechanics, presentation, and artificial intelligence over the years, Crytek's shooter sequel could be the best thing the studio has ever made. At the very least, you know it's going to be a visual spectacle bound to be obsessively tested on every gaming machine on the planet.

Developer: Crytek | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Arrives: March 22, 2011
Key Characters: Nanosuit 2, New York City, Aliens

Number of times 'Cry' has appeared in Crytek' titles. Coincidentally, Crysis 2 is Crytek's fourth game.

Succeeds if the gameplay changes are for the better.

Fails if it's more style than substance.

No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise Review

2011-08-16T19:01:00.001-07:00

No More Heroes revolves around Travis Touchdown, a loser who lives in a motel in Santa Destroy. After meeting a girl in a bar, he takes on a job to earn some cash. Using a weapon identical to Star War's lightsaber, he's in pursuit to become No.1 assassin in the UAA (United Assassin Association).

After killing your first target Travis becomes no. 10 and discovers, it's kill or be killed in this profession. From here on out it's more than about money and an obsession to become No.1.
When your not killing ranked assassins, Travis can roam Santa Destroy to gather his entry fee for the next fight. The cities not designed to be sophisticated, as other sandbox worlds but instead a diversion from combat.

Money can earned by mowing lawn, completing fight challenges, and opening dumpsters with money to name a few. With your budget you can purchase new clothes, upgrade your weapon and train at the gym to inflict more damage.

Scattered around Santa Destroy are collectibles called lovikov balls, which are easy to find in the most obvious places. Another object to find is dumpsters, with either lots of money or a new t-shirt for Travis. You can ride around the city in a custom motorcycle, which has nitrous installed.

While it's fun to use, you'll want to proceed with the main mission's after encountering some bugs. Whenever you drive into a car, a collision detection problem occurs. It seems the cars have a got a square blocking volume around them, resulting in your motorcycle to jitter to the side.

The pedestrians also have a similar problem, whereby you can drive through them as if there a ghost. Unfortunately you can't slice and dice pedestrians, which is a shame. Weapons are only active in a challenge mini game or in a ranking match.

Combat follows the formula of swinging a couple of light attacks and executing a gore gushing finisher. You can also perform wrestling moves, such as a suplex or tombstone piledriver.

In the Wii version when Travis gets a call, sound emerges from the Wiimote acting like a phone. PS3 owners lose out on this feature, as the Move controller doesn't have a speaker incorporated. Nonetheless the controls have been well translated from the Wii to the PS3.

The up scaled textures and art direction looks ravishing on PS3. It's a one of a kind experience visually and hands on for PS3 owners. In terms of the narrative the game has a lot of depth surprisingly. Depending on difficulty you may complete the game in one rental. However there is replay value to the game with trophies and a boss mode, where you can battle all the assassins you've defeated.

No More Heroes brings new experiences to gamers, making excellent use of PS3's motion controller. It might have its flaws in places but be sure to familiarize yourself, with motion control gaming at it's best.

L.A Noire Announced for PC

2011-08-16T19:00:00.001-07:00

PC gamers can rejoice, as Rockstar's latest IP is heading to the PC this fall (Autumn), with graphical enhancements and 3D Support. Other functionalities include Keyboard remapping and support for gamepads. The PC version is being developed by Rockstar Leeds, known for developing GTA: Liberty City and Vice City Stories on PSP.

Exceptionally new facial capture technology was used for the game, called MotionScan. The technology allows actors/actresses to breathe life in characters like never before. Allowing gamers to judge their performances from the cheekiest smirk to a twitchy eye.

So far L.A Noire has approximately sold 4 million units, around the world and is the fastest selling new video game IP in British history. L.A Noire is set in 1940's LA, through the eyes of Detective Cole Phelps. The Crime thriller has you solving crimes, by investigating crime scenes and suspects for clues and motives. Cole will rise up the ranks solving cases inspired by true events, on the cold, corrupt streets of LA.

Age of Empires: Age of Mythology Concept Art

2011-08-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

Age of Mythology Concept Art Medusa

An all time favourite franchise of many RTS (Real Time Strategy) game players, the Age of Empires series has spawned some classic titles, among them Age of Mythology. Featuring mythical creatures and heroes from ancient civilisations like the Atlanteans, Egyptians and Norse it had a range of fantastic characters and objects which make an excellent study of concept art. Representing such iconic figures as gods like Zeus, creatures like Minotaurs and heroes like Bellerophon, it’s associated concept art is excellent.

These excellent pieces of early-stage concept art from Age of Mythology show pre-computerised images of some of the key mythical characters and beings in the game. Coming right from the pen of the artists these images show some of the earliest representations available and when contrasted to the final in-game assets show a remarkable similarity as well as themes that have changed as the game develops.

Notice in particular how medusa has a much more glamourous and attractive appearance than is typical and to that which made it into the game. The Kamos (minotaur-like creature) was selected to display because of the detail in the drawing showing how scale is determined and calculated for different characters even in the early design stages of a game’s creation. You’ll see also the contrasting and uncertain concept designs for the minion character.

With a particular emphasis on the Atlantean civilisation (heavily Greek themed) some of the concept pieces displayed demonstrate the apperance of some of the most classical mythical heroes and creatures. The Hydra shows a high level of detail in it’s shading and dragon-like appearance (much more angular than the rounder version in the game) while Atalanta looks as regal as appeared in-game. The Bellerophon piece is interesting not just because in the game he appeared on Pegasus but also because it gives us an insight into the design process via the approved submission badge.

Cyclops displays much different lower body attributes than in the game but retains a familiar upper body. The Odysseus image is one of the most impressive pieces showing fantastic detail in the armour and 2 alternative options for his head (helmets). Theseus also shows great detail with annotation

For more information about Age of Mythology and to download a larger set of concept art pieces see here.

Shadows of the Damned Review

2011-08-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

The creators of Resident Evil and No More Heroes collaborate once again, delivering their most ambitious title yet; Shadows of the Damned. Players step into the shoes of Garcia Hotspur, a demon hunter who's girlfriend (Paula) is kidnapped by Fleming (King of the underworld/hell). On a rescue mission to save Paula, Garcia must dismantle the underworld in search of Flemings Castle.

By his side at all times is a former demon named Johnson, who can transform, into a pistol, shotgun, machine gun and torch. Those who played Resident Evil 4 or 5 will be familiar, with the games third person over the shoulder shooting mechanics.
As you tread along the underworld the background music entails you to walk slowly, pondering what's around the corner. Credit goes to legendary video game composer Akira Yamaoka, known for creating Silent Hill's score. Shadows of the Damned feeds off 70/80s horror, giving an intentional b movie vibe. Inspiration for the sound and general theme of the game, derives from Quentin Tarantino's work ethics.

What differentiates this game from others, is the gameplay mechanic known as the darkness. Once you enter it your health depletes and Garcia must shoot a mounted goats head, to escape darkness. The wrath of darkness sometimes works in your favour, to highlight enemy weaknesses and create puzzle sequences. Such as shooting highlighted items to open doors and collecting health pickups, while looking for a exit.

Enemies ranging from mini bosses to demons, come in all types of shapes and sizes . With or without armour either walking, crawling, running or hovering. If they enter darkness they become bullet sponges however, triggering a light shot (alternative fire) weakens them. Getting a headshot rewards you with a instant kill and focused camera shot. Unfortunately carrying out this tactic is easier said than done.

Whenever your aiming your view is constantly limited. You'll always receive a surprise attack from behind. Luckily you can manoeuvre whilst aiming, familiarising yourself with your surroundings. Adapting to the games controls isn't easy at first. Especially when your aiming with a laser without crosshairs. Eventually an hour into the game, it becomes second nature.
In terms of level design its fairly linear, mainly consisting of compact streets switching between indoor environments. Towards the end of the game things gets interesting, when 2D side scrolling levels are introduced for example. It's a shame later design choices weren't present to begin with.

While the levels may be linear, there still space for exploration of red, white and blue collectable gems. Red gems are for performance upgrades of weapons, such as speed and damage etc. White gems are used for purchasing ammo or alcohol to be concise. In the underworld alcohol has quite the opposite effect and increases Garcia's health. After defeating a boss, blue gems become available and give you new weapons.

Boss fights have to be the highlight of the game, you never know what to expect in this demented hell. Discovering their weaknesses is always rewarding and follows a repetitive strategy, for victory.

Just like many games on the market today, Shadows of the Damned utilizes Unreal technology. A common issue with the engine, is the time taken to load textures. In the game this is evident, whenever you load a saved game.

Shadows of the Damned Succeeds in delivering a title, that experiments with new gameplay mechanics and breaks away from modern war scenarios. The shelves at retailers needed a breath of fresh air and Grasshopper, has delivered just that.

Mafia 2 Review

2011-08-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Mafia 2 is an epic story of friendship, money , betrayal and risks. Whilst climbing the ranks of the Mafia, in 1940/50's America. Life hasn't treated Vito very well, our protagonist arrived in America living in poverty. In search of a better life, he turns to crime with childhood friend Joe. After a botched attempt at robbing a jewellery store, he serves the US Army as punishment.

The first mission takes place in Italy, where a battle is taking place. This is where you experience a taste of firepower and cover based action. Weapons your presented with here, are military bolt rifles and pistols. All with realistic sounds and configurations, replicating their weight and power in reality. Throughout the game you will be presented with a selection of pistols, machine guns, rifles, projectiles and a shotgun. In most shootouts the infamous Tommy Gun, is the weapon of choice.

After getting shot in the war, Vito is sent home temporarily. However with Joe's contacts, our war hero is discharged. From here on out he embarks on a journey to gain the respect, money and women, being a wise guy in the Mafia.

Much sooner than later he learns of the consequences and responsibilities, of choosing this life style. Often questioning whether he's chosen the right path in life. Aside from the carefree lifestyle of whores and booze, the Mafia is a murderous and brutal line of work. You have to be prepared to kill anyone and everybody, just because you're told to. This is an ever present theme portrayed throughout the game.

Empire Bay is the fictional setting of Mafia 2, inspired by locations such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago. The city has been beautifully crafted, creating some of the best designed levels and scenarios, seen in an open world game. It's a shame the city doesn't have much use outside of missions. Optional features such as customising vehicles and crushing cars for money, eventually wears thin of excitement.

All the thrilling jobs, like racketeering, bruising shop owners and killing undercover cops etc, are played out through a cutscene. However there is evidence, of side missions once being in the game. Characters such as Derek and Mike can be approached at any time. Interacting with them, you'll get a response like "come back later" or "there's no jobs for you yet". Telephones around the city, could be utilized a lot more in missions.

You can bet they had more use in side missions, activating or ending jobs. Mafia 2's Gamescom trailer is a testament to this and a lot more. Including permit for guns, melee weapons and stealth attacks etc.

Playing through the game, I felt a large portion of missions were wasted transporting characters back and forth. Although side missions are said to be implemented in the story, I would have preferred more missions centring daily Mafia life.

Cars in Empire Bay perform uniquely depending on their weight. Driving will take some practice, as it simulates the era. Driving too fast will result in instant death upon collision. In most cases your better off using the speed limiter. Limiting your speed to the legal limit and keeping the cops at bay. Very rarely will you put petrol in your car, unless you've used it for majority of the game.

Mafia 2 has a lot of heart but is farfetched, from the epic gangster experience it craves for. One of the greatest issues with the game, is the decision to make it open world. To differentiate itself from GTA, the devs avoided any distractions to the main story. which has led to a point where your forced to either, proceed with the story or collect Playboy magazines. After 8 years of development you would expect a wealth of content. It seems the longer the delay, the more they left on the cutting floor.

If you take a shine to gangster tales, you'll be deeply immersed by Mafia 2. Just don't expect to have the freedom of a GTA title, as this isn't Mafia's forte.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel Preview

2011-08-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

The plot revolves around the Mexican drug cartel, who are thought to be outlaws in present day. Murdering people in the name of drugs and money, with total disregard for the law. To put an end to their ways, a special task force is formed. Comprising of a fierce LAPD cop named Ben McCall, Eddie Guerra a DEA agent with gambling habits and Kim Evans, a FBI agent with a gang affiliated past.

Each character can be played in campaign mode offline or with 3 players online in co-op. Enthusiast will be rewarded with a unique story and ending, replaying the campaign with each task force member. The game spans across, LA, Arizona and Mexico to be concise, with 15 missions and maps to play through.

Weapons are a plenty ranging from, revolvers/pistols, shotguns, sub/machine guns and assault/sniper rifles etc, totalling over 30 weapons.

Multiplayer modes include Robbery Crew, which is basically capture the flag. The standard team deathmatch returns and there's star witness, where you either kill a judge or get him to safety. Cartel Deal is a shootout in the streets between the cartel and cops. Multiplayer is shaping up to be great fun and looks interesting with the unlockable weapons and gear.

Be sure to watch this space as we approach the PS3 & Xbox 360, release date of 22nd July 2011. No too far behind the PC version will follow on 16th September 2011.

World of Warcraft Concept Art 1

2011-08-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

World of Warcraft Concept Art 1

Warcraft is the most successful 3D fantasy MMORPG and has taken the fantasy art style as it’s own and used it to great effect in creating a successful persistent world. It’s artists have recreated in excellent detail the landscapes, venues, objects and characters of fantasy literature and has met such success that it is now the most successful fantasy online game with millions of people across the world playing it every month.

It’s art style is taken from the classic fantasty literature and art, but has been taken to the next level as a fully 3D explorable world. Blizzard has recently opened up a relatively large archive of concept art at it’s official website with warcraft concept art, starcraft concept art and diablo concept art all being shown. The selected items in this post show some of the most iconic characters that have gone on to front the websites, boxes and marketing of World of Warcraft as well as specially selected items which demonstrate the artists’ work and method all the way back to sketchings which show important notes in the margins on how the characters or objects will be deployed. This kind of detail and depth to the art work is just one of the reasons why this world of warcraft concept art has gone on to become the leading video game of the last few years. In many ways, art of this quality is enjoyable in itself and framing and hanging some of the pieces wouldn’t look out of place.

See the full collection of World of Warcraft concept art by visiting the official Blizzard website.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel Preview

2011-08-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ubisoft's popular series Call of Juarez returns, retaining the theme of the wild west but in modern day. Call of Juarez: The Cartel is the third entry in the franchise, being developed by Techland for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

The plot revolves around the Mexican drug cartel, who are thought to be outlaws in present day. Murdering people in the name of drugs and money, with total disregard for the law. To put an end to their ways, a special task force is formed. Comprising of a fierce LAPD cop named Ben McCall, Eddie Guerra a DEA agent with gambling habits and Kim Evans, a FBI agent with a gang affiliated past.

Weapons are a plenty ranging from, revolvers/pistols, shotguns, sub/machine guns and assault/sniper rifles etc, totalling over 30 weapons.

Be sure to watch this space as we approach the PS3 & Xbox 360, release date of 22nd July 2011. No too far behind the PC version will follow on 16th September 2011.