Games World

Final Fantasy VII is not overrated

2011-07-05T09:54:00.000+01:00

Final Fantasy VII is, without a doubt, the most influential and well known game in the Final Fantasy series. It's hardly surprising, then, that there's an army of detractors who have set out to diminish it. After all, if something is popular, it must be terrible.

Whenever something becomes too popular, the same old word is trotted out -- overrated. Whenever you bring up Final Fantasy VII, it is inevitable that the "O" word will rear its ugly head in due time.

Is Final Fantasy VII overrated, or are people just lashing out at it due to its popularity? Personally, I think it deserves all the praise it gets.

To say something is overrated is to say that it does not deserve its critical success and that those who remember it fondly are injecting their memories with a little too much fondness. Oftentimes, I find the term 'overrated' an arrogant one, as you're implying somebody else should tone down their appreciation of something because you don't care for it. Much of the time, I think the term betrays intellectual cowardice, as some people just want to say that they dislike a game but use "overrated" to dress it up and artificially make their personal opinion look like part of an objective, factual statement.

With Final Fantasy VII, I've seen many debates over the years regarding its status, but I've rarely -- if ever -- seen a convincing argument that it hasn't earned its place as one of the most influential videogames of all time. In fact, it's usually somebody just complaining that the game is "shit" without offering much in the way of valid debate.

This argument is not about which Final Fantasy is the best. Most people who shit on Final Fantasy VII just seem to be bitter that history remembers it more readily than Final Fantasy VI. I happen to think Final Fantasy IX is the best in the series, but that doesn't mean I'm about to disregard what Final Fantasy VII did as a game and why it deserves its critical acclaim.

Final Fantasy VII is, for many gamers, the first Final Fantasy they were introduced to. Like it or not, this game became an ambassador not just for Final Fantasy, but for the entire genre of Japanese role-playing games. I was one of those people for whom Final Fantasy VII represented a new style of gaming. Earlier or later games in the series might have ended up more highly regarded by players such as I, but for a first exposure, VII became an incredibly important game.

If there's one thing not even the most ardent detractor can deny, it's Final Fantasy VII's impact and legacy. It was this game that made the Final Fantasy series overseas, and carved out a whole new international market for Japanese role-playing games. This is especially true in Europe, where VII was the first Final Fantasy game to ever be released.

As a gamer who grew up in Europe, I cannot state enough just what an influence Final Fantasy VII had. This game caused me to look at videogames with a whole new respect -- it made me think of games not just as fun distractions, but as potentially superior ways of delivering a story. I was able to comprehend a sense of immersion and narrative ambition that I just hadn't seen in any form of entertainment before -- a journey across an entire world that the audience itself could get lost in. Such concepts are taken for granted now, and often shunned as gamers grow up and don't have enough spare time for a huge role-playing world. In 1997, however, as a teenager who until that point thought Eternal Champions boasted a deep story, Final Fantasy VII's concepts were a revelation.

It's true that Final Fantasy VII's story isn't perfect, with a few ludicrous concepts and some silly dialog, but I will proudly say that I still enjoy it with no issue at all. It runs the gamut of emotions, with inspiring moments such as the big parachuting return to Midgar, tragic scenarios such as the story of Dyne, comedic elements provided by characters like Barret and Cait Sith, a number of mind-bending plot twists and even a few scenes that could be described as horror. Final Fantasy VII is made up of incredible 'moments,' those scenes that endure in the mind, where the mere mention of them will instantly evoke a mental picture without further description -- I can simply stay 'Shinra Building motorcycle,' and I am confident that many people will get the exact same image in their head, with the appropriate music.

The range of characters are some of the most diverse in videogame history, and each one comes with its own unique history and important development. Cloud Strife, who goes from cocky jerkass to shattered personality and finally redeemed hero, is an engaging protagonist whose identity crisis is almost torturous to watch. Barret starts the game as comic relief, but as you learn more about what he went through, the emotional burden he carries on his shoulders, and his reasoning for rebelling against the Shinra corporation, he becomes one of the most endearing personalities in the game. Even Cait Sith, the silly robot cat, has his own story to tell, and comes to represent a man in a powerless position, attempting to change his own life as well as save others.

Final Fantasy VII didn't just throw a bunch of one-dimensional stereotypes at the player -- very obvious care and attention went into crafting a memorable personality out of each cast member, and that is why they're so memorable today. I can't name half the characters in Final Fantasy XIII anymore, but I can rattle off Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace, Aeris/Aerith Gainsborough, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Vincent Valentine, Yuffie and Cid Highwind without much effort at all.

Sure, stories have come along in games that I've found to be superior, but that doesn't mean VII hasn't earned its praise. For a game to present so many concepts and run the player through so many emotions isn't a small feat. I feel Final Fantasy VII hit a range of feelings and a variety of concepts that no other game has managed before or since -- it might not have hit all of them perfectly, but when you truly stand back and look at what the game accomplished narratively, from beginning to end, it's hard not to be impressed.

As a game, VII is also to be credited with popularizing and refining turn-based combat. Many people have turned against the idea of random encounters and turn-based battles, with even Square Enix refusing to stick to the concept, but I feel the notion still has a place in videogames, and that Final Fantasy VII provided the best delivery. As well as superb Active Time Battle combat, VII also brought us the Materia system -- a compelling method of gaining new abilities by equipping and mastering them. This allowed for far greater player control over a party's combat prowess, and added in tons of gameplay as players would hunt for rare Materia and work on strengthening it.

As well as the epic main story, Final Fantasy VII ought to be praised for some of the best secrets and sidequests to be found in a role-playing game. Chief among them, of course, is the Chocobo breeding that could end up just as engaging and time-consuming as the "real" game. Yes, I spent far more of my life than I should have done embarking on a quest to breed the Gold Chocobo, but I did it, and I had a blast the whole way. Don't get me started on the Gold Saucer -- a veritable time vampire whose wealth of minigames is so famous that casinos and fairgrounds in other role-playing games are often regarded as "Gold Saucer areas."

One must also mention the Weapons, a series of optional boss encounters that still live on as some of the most infuriating bastards to ever be encountered in a game. Over the years, the tactics for facing these monstrosities have been refined and passed among the populace, but back in the day, the name of Emerald Weapon evoked fear and respect. As with the Chocobo rearing, these battles became games almost in and of themselves. Players would dedicate their time not to beating the main quest, but to becoming strong enough to take down these beasts and earn the precious, delicious bragging rights. Again, other games have had optional bosses, but few had their defeat become a life goal for so many gamers.

Sidequests of such a lengthy and compelling nature have fallen by the wayside in modern times, as games grow shorter and budgets become too bloated for extra content. VII arrived at just the right time, and as such, still boasts far more to discover and enjoy than most role-playing games developed today. Not even its fellow PlayStation titles, VIII and IX, had a world map so bursting with as many secret areas, optional bosses and time-draining sub-games.

I'm not saying you have to like any of this. Nobody has to like Final Fantasy VII for its achievements. What I'm saying is that those who do like the game and appreciate the many things it did -- both on a personal level and a cultural one -- are utterly, utterly right in doing so. This game means so much to so many people not because they're overrating it, but because it truly was a revelation at the time and boasts an experience that still holds up today. Final Fantasy VII was downloaded over 100,000 times within the first two weeks of its PlayStation Network launch -- there are just that many people out there who can still enjoy themselves with this game, over a decade since it first appeared.

Games don't have that kind of lasting power just because a group of people got together and decided to love it too much. Final Fantasy VII has this kind of lasting power because it was just that damn good, and accomplished that damn much.

That's why it is not overrated. It earned the right to be loved.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Review

2011-06-30T01:22:00.000+01:00

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Review: "

To paraphrase the T.V. show Mystery Science Theater 3000, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D isn't really a game -- it's more of a game loaf, made from real game parts, chunked and formed. The 'parts' in this case come from The Mercenaries, an extra mode found in Resident Evils 4 and 5, made to act as a pleasant diversion from the main attraction -- not a stand-alone experience. And therein lies the problem; it takes a lot of effort on the developer's part to justify selling a formerly free novelty as a $40 boxed product (also, let's not forget that RE4 and 5 can be now found for $10 and less across many platforms).
Unfortunately, Capcom didn't invest the necessary manpower in their attempt to translate this popular franchise to the newest generation of handhelds, resulting in a cynical and hateful product that's essentially Buyer's Remorse: The Game.

If you're not familiar with The Mercenaries, it's basically an arcadey version of the fast-paced horror-combat pioneered in Resident Evil 4. You choose from one of the series' many popular characters (with optional goofy costumes), enter a stage recycled from the main game, and try to stay alive as long as possible while collecting time bonuses and racking up points through a combo-based system. Performing well earns you higher grades, which unlock new characters and other goodies. The Mercenaries 3D keeps the trappings of this six year-old mini-game intact, but also throws in a few extra odds and ends engineered to drag an inherently shallow experience hours and hours beyond its expiration date.

Review: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D -Destructoid

2011-06-29T01:19:00.000+01:00

Review: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D -Destructoid

Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3: Which is More Promising?

2011-06-28T18:34:00.000+01:00

Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3: Which is More Promising?: "

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Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3: Who Will Win?

The 1UP staff looks at the two shooters that will face-off later this year.

By: 1UP Staff
June 27, 2011

EA and Activision are headed for a legendary showdown this holiday season. The rivalry developing between Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 is shaping up to be the stuff of legend -- Doom vs. Dark Forces; Quake vs. Duke Nukem; Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat. Who will win?

In terms of sales, it's nearly a forgone conclusion that Modern Warfare 3 will outsell Battlefield 3 by a healthy margin. The cultural cachet that Activision has managed to develop can't be taken down in one year. That doesn't mean that Battlefield 3 can't be profitable and won't be a fantastic game. The 1UP staff tackled the question and picked which game they were most excited about.

The irrefutable, undeniable, official top ten Sonic games

2011-06-25T23:00:00.000+01:00

The irrefutable, undeniable, official top ten Sonic games: "

Sonic the Hedgehog turned twenty years old this week, and there was much rejoicing. Well ... there was a bit of rejoicing. There was something, at least.

To keep everybody in the Sonic spirit, I have consulted the greatest professors in the history of the Sonic franchise (I haven't) to create the most competent and least refutable list of the ten greatest Sonic games ever made.

You cannot argue this list (you can).

10. Sonic Spinball

Sonic the Hedgehog, being a rampant whore, would appear in all sorts of spin-offs over the years, but one of the earliest and most successful was Sonic Spinball. At its heart, the game was a fairly unremarkable pinball experience, with a few notable differences -- chiefly the ability to have limited control over the "ball" and a set goal for each of the four interestingly designed tables.

Being developed mostly by Polygames, Sonic Spinball had a slightly different feel and visual style when compared to other Sonic games. Nevertheless, it was a fun little diversion and one that can still be enjoyed today. It's nothing that actual pinball fans could ever call good, but as a Sonic-themed bit of silliness, it does the job.

9. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

You'll notice that the early picks in this list stretch the definition of 'Sonic game' a little bit. Unfortunately, it takes some blurring of the lines to get this list up to a solid ten. With that in mind, it's worth noting that Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine doesn't even feature Sonic. It does feature Scratch and Grounder though, and those chaps really need to stage a comeback.

Mean Bean takes the form of a Puyo Puyo color-matching puzzler. The Scenario Mode has the player face off against various Badniks, and they're all rather merciless. In fact, the whole game is sadistic. You can be winning by a mile, only to have a lucky combo from the enemy snatch their board from the jaws of defeat and transfer a load of unmatchable 'refugee' beans over to your side.

This game was fun, but boy was it an asshole.

8. SEGA Superstars Tennis

Shut up! The game was pretty damn good.

Okay, so being a SEGA-oriented game, it wasn't strictly a Sonic title but let's be honest -- the game was predominantly about the blue hedgehog and various other Sonic characters. Like I said, I was desperate for games that were both Sonic-related and good. I'll take what I can get.

The game succeeded by keeping things simple. At its core, Superstars Tennis is a fairly standard little sports title, and that's why it works. The only convolution comes in the form of super powers that are granted to each character. Outside of the regular matches were a whole bunch of minigames that were nearly all surprisingly great fun.

Plenty of fan service, solid tennis action and great minigames. A far better title than many will give it credit for.

7. Sonic the Hedgehog

The original, though not necessarily the best. While Sonic the Hedgehog was, for its time, a kick up the ass of platform adventures, it has not aged with quite the same level of grace as the rest of Sonic's Genesis outings. The lack of a now obligatory Spin Dash move, sluggish pace, and respectively drab levels don't make for a truly great game, but it's still a decent one when regarded in context.

It's certainly not bad, and at least deserves a place for its legacy. As the starting point for the series, it laid a lot of groundwork and helped cultivate the kind of gameplay that would make Sonic a quasi-legend. Plus, there are a few standout levels -- most notably Starlight Zone, which had a fantastic theme tune and some cool little gimmicks.

It was easily outclassed by its direct sequels, but the game has earned due respect.

6. Sonic Colors DS

Sonic Colors on the Wii was sub-par nonsense and that's scientific fact, proven by science. The DS version? Pretty good, as it goes.

A lot of this is due to the increased influence of Dimps on the title. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Dimps needs to be the primary Sonic developer and it needs some creative freedom, because the studio seems to understand what made the games so good to a degree that Sonic Team does not.

While not totally free of the extraneous gimmickry that has marred most console-based Sonic titles, Sonic Colors DS was at least a more grounded and sensible platformer with very little fluff, and that's why it was actually fun as opposed to infuriating. Decent level design that puts the focus on platforming skill over pure speed is what makes Colors DS a superior offering, and while a few frustrating levels and pointless narrative scenes remain, it is overall a pretty great offering.

5. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1

While Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 still remains a controversial game among the Sonic fan community -- many members of which despised it for the most arbitrary and ludicrous of reasons -- Sonic 4 was and is a lot of fun. Was it the huge mega comeback that everybody longed for? Not quite. What it was, however, was the first great Sonic game to hit a console in ages, and those who didn't demand the Moon floating in a bucket of Wish Water were left satisfied.

There are some definite low points. For example, there is a potentially excellent level in which Sonic rides decks of playing cards, which is summarily ruined at the end with an awfully dodgy pitfall section that undoes all the good the stage had previously done. A few bosses and gimmicky challenges reek of the game trying too hard to remain overly complex, when a simpler approach would be better.

Still, the overall experience is terrific, and that's despite the game's Zones being based on some of the least enjoyable levels found in the Genesis games. It takes a lot to make anything based on Sonic 2's Metropolis zone fun, but Sonic 4 managed it. That's worthy of a damn medal.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is viewed by some as the best Genesis game, but I always felt it lacked the same tight level design and unique nineties aesthetic as Sonic 2. It was still a solid followup though, with levels that ranged from great to decent, and a number of inventive boss encounters.

The only real downside to Sonic 3 is how obviously significant the focus on graphics was. There's a whole section in Hydrocity Zone that puts Sonic on rotating plinths. From a gameplay perspective, it's dull stuff, but you got to see Sonic rotate a full 360 degrees, and that was the point. Blast Processing, bitch!

While Sonic 3 is a fun game and worthy of its place among the series' best, it's interesting to note that, even this early on, there are signs of the overbearing gimmickry that would kill later games. Marble Garden Zone, for instance, was a boring, slow-paced mess of spinning disc platforms that could barely be controlled by the player, while Carnival Night Zone featured the barrel of mystery that required pressing Up and Down on the D-Pad to maneuver -- a trick that the player is never told.

But ... Sonic 3 had Ice Cap Zone, so all is forgiven.

3. Sonic & Knuckles

Sonic & Knuckles is, ostensibly, the second half of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. They were supposed to be one game from the outset, after all. Sonic & Knuckles has the edge over Sonic 3 thanks to more memorable levels, an excellent soundtrack (Flying Battery and Sky Sanctuary are amazing) and, of course, a second storyline that featured Knuckles.

Of course, both games can be considered as sharing third and fourth place once you lock the cartridges together to create Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

As good as the game was, it could have really done without the stage involving ghosts and doors that would slowly close shut. Screw that stage a thousand times.

2. Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance is the reason why I say Dimps has a better handle on the series than Sonic Team, because it did exactly what New Super Mario Bros. would do several years later -- it kept things simple.

Adopting a "back to basics" approach, Dimps put its energy into proper platforming design and utilized speed as a reward, not as a central gameplay device. Its range of levels and excellent soundtrack evoked feelings of old school Sonic titles and ensured its place as a game I still happily play to this day. At the time, people would ask if Sonic could ever make a comeback. In 2000, he did so ... at least for a time.

Unfortunately, a certain demographic whined that Sonic Advance was 'too slow' because they didn't have a clue what had made Sonic games good. The non-existent problem was 'fixed' by Dimps, leading to a pair of inferior Sonic Advance sequels that did away with good platforming and focused on running fast. It ruined what could have been a great series, because idiots didn't realize that Sonic Advance wasn't "too slow by Sonic standards" -- it had brought the speed BACK to standard.

As far as I'm concerned, Sonic Advance was the first authentic Sonic experience since the Genesis days and, more importantly, it was the last. Time will tell if Sonic Generations can change that.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

I hate to end the list on a highly predictable note, but Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is still the best Sonic game made to date and up there with the very best that platformers have to offer. Never has a Sonic been so consistent, with nearly every level being intensely playable, even today, and a range of unforgettable boss encounters.

Sonic 2 featured some of the best Zones in the entire franchise -- the speedy Chemical Plant, the charming Hilltop, and the delightfully oddball Oil Ocean to name but three. Had the game not insisted on THREE ACTS of the dreadful Metropolis Zone, it may well have been perfect. Seriously, three acts? It's like they knew how awful that Zone was and wanted to punish everybody out of sheer cruelty. Wankers.

Anyway, there's a reason why I still play Sonic 2 up until the end of Oil Ocean before switching it off -- it's just that damn good. A run of excellent and varied zones, the best soundtrack in the series, and of course the playable Tails to keep younger brothers occupied instead of bugging you to play the game next.

Yet SEGA does all it can to NOT do things the way they worked best. I'll never understand that, but at least SEGA's released it ten billion times, so I'll never be far away from the best Sonic game ever made.

PS Vita UK launch 'will miss Xmas'

2011-06-24T11:27:00.000+01:00

PS Vita UK launch 'will miss Xmas': "But handheld could hit US this year, CVG understands.

Sony's PlayStation Vita won't launch in the UK until 2011, CVG can reveal.

Click here to read the full article"

Review: Shadows of the Damned

2011-06-23T07:37:00.000+01:00

Review: Shadows of the Damned: "

A demon with a goat's head is riding a horse that defecates pure darkness. Then the demon eats the horse's heart, grows to the size of a ten-story building, eats the rest of the horse and proceeds to urinate more darkness into a gigantic fountain.

That's just the first boss.

Welcome to Shadows of the Damned.

Shadows of the Damned (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [reviewed])
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: June 21, 2011
MSRP: $59.99

Shadows of the Damned stars Garcia Hotspur, a flamboyant Latino demon hunter who embarks on a mission into Hell itself to rescue his girlfriend from Fleming, Lord of Demons. The survival horror style of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami is married to the abstract punk attitude of No More Heroes' Suda 51 and propelled along by a soundtrack courtesy of Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka. If that description hasn't set your heart racing, it's possible that you don't have a heart.

As far as games by Grasshopper Manufacture go, Shadows of the Damned may be the most "conventional" offering yet. It takes the form of a third-person shooter with many overt nods to old school horror games, where exploration and puzzle solving are just as much part of the experience as the combat. It's a more straightforward, dare I say traditional affair from a studio known for breaking rules and experimenting with gameplay.

However, if you think that more approachable interaction will make for a notably standard and formulaic adventure, you'd be dead wrong. Almost as if to compensate for the less bizarre gameplay, Shadows of the Damned features characters and concepts that are more demented than anything featured in past games.

Halo 4: Master Chief's new look, personality will be explained - 343

2011-06-23T07:03:00.000+01:00

Halo 4: Master Chief's new look, personality will be explained - 343: "Studio says there's a reason behind that missing cod-piece.

Eagle-eyed Halo fans noticed that Master Chief is sporting a subtle new look in Microsoft's Halo 4 trailer.

Click here to read the full article"

Crysis 2 DX11/High-res texture patches out next week

2011-06-23T07:02:00.000+01:00

Crysis 2 DX11/High-res texture patches out next week: "Beef up an already gorgeous-looking game from June 27.

Crytek has confirmed that it will release new DirectX 11 and high-res update packs for the PC version of Crysis 2 on June 27.

Click here to read the full article"

Alice: Madness Returns brings solid platforming, tedious length

2011-06-22T23:24:00.000+01:00

Alice: Madness Returns brings solid platforming, tedious length: "

The original Alice title was a PC exclusive, and remains a collector's item for fans of the darker take on an already dark story. We now have a sequel to that game that continues the story of Alice while also exploring her past. The game features solid platforming and some inspired aesthetic choices, but that doesn't save the game from repetition and a lack of ambition.

You'll be floating from platform to platform throughout the game, but the core mechanics have not changed or matured in any meaningful way in the sections I played. The problem is that each chapter seems to go on forever, long past the point of tedium.

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F.E.A.R. 3 Review

2011-06-22T22:52:00.000+01:00

F.E.A.R. 3 Review: "

The F.E.A.R. series has unintentionally become 'that video game series I don't have time to play,' for myself. Approaching this as a new fan, F.E.A.R. 3 is a terrible jumping on point to figure out things like, 'who (or what) Alma is,' 'what's a F.E.A.R. agent,' and 'why is everyone attacking me?' These questions never get fully answered through the game's campaign, and if I were to judge this title solely on the merits of its single-player, it wouldn't be worth recommending. The strides it makes with co-op however -- along with its point accumulation system as well as some very tense and unique multiplayer modes -- makes this a great game to play with a giant bucket of buttered popcorn, a large Coca-cola, and some friends. This is your video game summer blockbuster.

As I mentioned before, this installment isn't the best area to start getting acclimated with Alma's saga. The narrative seems hell-bent on wrapping up various existing plot strings rather than doing enough to bring new players up to speed. This would be a moot point if I didn't care about narrative structure in my shooters, but I do -- I'm a stickler for this sort of thing. The campaign is poorly paced and does a meager job of giving me a reason why the character of Point Man exists. Some levels are also rudimentary in scope and gameplay -- insisting you find that one unlocked door in order to continue to the next area, or taking on high-level boss encounters with simple circle-strafing tactics. The A.I. makes up for these deficiencies somewhat -- it is quite remarkable to see enemies constantly try to flank my position or duck into cover when appropriate. But if it wasn't for the scoring system, the campaign would be unremarkable to play alone.

All About Final Fantasy XIII-2's Art

2011-06-22T17:30:00.000+01:00

All About Final Fantasy XIII-2's Art: "

If you're expecting Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII-2 to look much like the game it's a sequel to, think again. 'The concept is 'surrealism,'' said art director Isamu Kamikokuryo in an interview printed in this week's Famitsu magazine. 'The story and gameplay direction for FFXIII-2 was largely decided upon at an early point in development, and as I thought over what my goals would be for the visuals along those lines, that's what I came up with. I also want to have a dark feel to the game.'

That goes in the opposite direction from FFXIII's bright look, and that's no accident -- considering that the 'dark' direction is something that director Motomu Toriyama has brought up in interviews himself. 'It's not as if we're solely concentrating on that,' Kamikokuryo said, 'but I certainly had the impression that the story takes a serious turn here, and I thought surrealism would match well with it. There was also the fact that the staff on the last game wanted to go with a dark feel for FFXIII during pre-production. I wasn't aware of that since I was still working on FFXII at the time, and when I moved on to XIII, things shifted in a brighter direction instead. So partly it's also an effort to go back to the dark-fantasy style that was part of the original concept.'

Other points brought up in the interview:

Tomb Raider will sport “ambitious combat”

2011-06-20T09:18:00.001+01:00

Tomb Raider will sport “ambitious combat”: "

Crystal Dynamics’ Karl Stewart has explained why gameplay footage of Tomb Raider has so far only shown quick-time event combat.

“If we’re going to re-imagine the franchise, we want to get people to digest why we are doing it and who she is first,” the Tomb Raider global brand director told Kotaku.

“Combat is very, very dear to our hearts. We have built an entirely new combat team at the studio to work on it. It is very competitive.

“Combat is ambitious. It was ambitious when I first saw it and now it just feels natural to the game.”

In all previous Tomb Raider games, combat began with an iconic pair of pistols, but players will have to work with Lara to reach the point where she’s willing, able and equipped to bear them.

“We’re not going to start the game and say, ‘Here are two pistols and lets tie her hair up in a braid’ because that doesn’t stand for anything,” Stewart explained.

“We hope to bring gravity to those items.”

To elevate the pistols to something beyond a nice bit of kit, Crystal Dynamics loads them with emotional meaning; at the beginning of the game, they’re borne by Lara’s mentor, Captain Conrad Roth.

“We use that in a very psychological way. She loves Roth. She’s known him since she was very young. She knows she has to save him,” Stewart said.

The journey of transformation that takes Lara Croft from a frightened teenager to an as-yet unrevealed new heroine, packing those pistols, will set the tone for the sequels that are sure to follow.

“When you start this game you will go off and be the Lara Croft that was defined here. It also defines the future of that franchise,” Stewart said.

Tomb Raider is due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012, having wowed at E3 and even won over our own Nathan Grayson.

Kitase: FFXIII-2 is a “completely different experience”

2011-06-20T09:18:00.000+01:00

Kitase: FFXIII-2 is a “completely different experience”: "

Have a look at these new screens for Final Fantasy XIII-2, and judge for yourself if producer Yoshinori Kitase’s claims of it being a “completely different experience” are true.

“We made Final Fantasy XIII with the concept of a story driven game,” Kitase told Siliconera.

“So much so, some gamers were not very happy with it and criticised XIII and said the game progression was too linear and the world could be more populated.

“With Final Fantasy XIII-2, we wanted to present a completely different experience with this game. There is more exploration and elements in the environment to interact with.”

Final Fantasy XIII-2 features interactive dialogue and branching endings, It’s due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early 2012, with a Japanese release set for December.

Admire a few new screens below, courtesy of Andriasang. They shop off New Bodhum, the seaside settlement built after the events of FFXIII.

There’s also a couple more, one showing combat, available on Famistu.

Ezio is taken outside of his element in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

2011-06-20T09:11:00.000+01:00

Ezio is taken outside of his element in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations: "

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations presentation director, Brent Ashe, has said that Ezio’s motivation in the game will be much different than it was in Assassin’s Creed 2 and Brotherhood.

Speaking with Shacknews at E3, Ashe said that Ezio will be taken outside of his element, and taken to the city of Masyaf which was a location in the first game.

“Ezio never set out to be a master assassin,” explained Ashe. “His motivation has primarily been revenge: Revenge against the death of his family; against the death of his uncle at the hands of Cesare [Borgia] in Brotherhood. So, in taking him on more of a pilgrimage–a personal journey now–it’s sort of leading him to discover the secrets left behind by Altair.

“There are these five keys that Altair has left behind that unlock the seal in Masyaf at the Assassin temple. And Ezio also discovers in the course of this, that the Templars are also in pursuit of these secrets. So we set up this really nice narrative, kind of a race against time, so it’s a different motivation for him this time. What that’s doing, like I said, is taking him outside of his element.

“You’re in these new cities, these new places, and you’re going to discover that the Assassin Network sort of expands beyond what we’ve seen in the previous games.”

Ashe goes on to explain that the new character Yusef, head of the Assassin’s Guild in Constantinople, will be teaching Ezio about a new weapon called the “hook-blade,” which will also allow Ezio to use the network of zip-lines across the city.

You can read the entire interview through the link.

Revelations is due on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in November.

[pic]

E3 2011 Awards: Best Overall Game

2011-06-17T22:20:00.000+01:00

E3 2011 Awards: Best Overall Game: "The toughest contest of all...

So we've named our favourite shooter, RPG and action title of E3 2011 - as well as our most beloved racer, family title and more besides.

Click here to read the full article"

FFXIII-2 will be 'completely different experience'

2011-06-17T07:34:00.000+01:00

FFXIII-2 will be 'completely different experience': "Producer promises more exploration and interactivity elements over first effort.

We adored Final Fantasy XIII but it's undeniably incredibly linear, and Square knows this didn't sit well with some FF fans. The next one, Final Fantasy XIII-2, will fix this.

Click here to read the full article"

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is a Grand Adventure That Won't Pull a Lost (They Promise!) [Single-player Preview]

2011-06-16T16:54:00.000+01:00

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is a Grand Adventure That Won't Pull a Lost (They Promise!) [Single-player Preview]: "

'If you're a fan of Lost, Assassin's Creed Revelations level design director, Falko Poiker, told me last week, 'then you know that it really sucks to be left with questions.' More »

Devil May Cry Series Getting HD Re-Releases [Rumor]

2011-06-16T16:53:00.001+01:00

Devil May Cry Series Getting HD Re-Releases [Rumor]: "

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Devil May Cry series, and to commemorate the occasion, it looks like Capcom will be releasing a collection of three games, all of them remastered in high definition. More »

Tomb Raider Hopes to Recreate a Gaming Icon [Tomb Raider]

2011-06-16T16:53:00.000+01:00

Tomb Raider Hopes to Recreate a Gaming Icon [Tomb Raider]: "

Don't think of Tomb Raider as an origin story, think of it instead as a sort of metaphorical creation myth, a game that won't redefine just who Lara Croft is, but also the world in which she exists. More »

Final Fantasy May Come To Wii U

2011-06-16T01:11:00.000+01:00

Final Fantasy May Come To Wii U: "

Square Enix, the studio behind the Final Fantasy series have been talking about the possibilities of a Final Fantasy game coming to the newly announced Wii U.

Yoshinori Kitase, the producer behind Final Fantasy XIII-2 has said:

“Three or four years ago we joked around about developing a Final Fantasy game on the Wii Fit balance board. But after seeing Wii U revealed at Nintendo’s conference, we are now considering the possibilities of bringing the Final Fantasy series to the format.”

At the moment though, the focus is on Final Fantasy XIII-2 which is due to be released on Xbox 360 and PS3 in early 2012.

[Source VG247]

Child Of Eden review

2011-06-15T14:50:00.000+01:00

Child Of Eden review: "

Motion control breathes new life into a niche genre.

Child Of Eden is the product of an auteur at  the height of his powers, with the free rein to realise a supremely ambitious project and the restraint to make it universal rather than self-serving. At its core are the on-rails shooter mechanics of Rez, but the experience is one that escapes further genre categorisation, creating a level of involvement beyond what its 2001 progenitor achieved.

Duke Nukem Forever review

2011-06-15T14:47:00.000+01:00

Duke Nukem Forever review: "

So, what do 14 years of development do for a game?

There’s never been another game quite like Duke Nukem Forever. That’s not because it’s inventive, technologically dazzling or particularly memorable, but because there literally hasn’t been another major production that’s taken 14 years to complete.

FFXIII-2 – Noel is the star, hybrid soundtrack, more

2011-06-15T09:09:00.000+01:00

FFXIII-2 – Noel is the star, hybrid soundtrack, more: "

Want more Final Fantasy XIII-2 information? Sure you do!

Culling from Dengeki, Andriasang reports new character Noel will be the primary protagonist of FFXIII-2.

Director Motomu Toriyama said Noel will be the game’s frontline fighter, with companion [FFXIII-ending-spoiler-name-redacted] taking a backseat support role.

Noel is said to a be a cool character, the equivalent of FFXIII’s Lightning. He’s a monster hunter from Gran Pulse.

FFXIII composer Masashi Hamauzu has returned for the sequel, and aims to keep the feel of the first title, while new composers will be brought in to add new material.

Following on from comments that NPCs in towns will have AI, Toriyma revealed townsfolk will shelter from weather. Weather will also have an effect on battle.

The demo from E3 is said to have been spliced together from two separate chapters, with story segments ruthlessly cut. The same section in the full game will tell the story of how the two protagonists meet.

As well as a third monster party member, players will sometimes temporarily recruit extra guest characters.

FFXIII-2 is expected on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in Japan in December, and everywhere else in early 2012.

Duke Nukem Forever Review

2011-06-15T08:51:00.000+01:00

Duke Nukem Forever Review: "

You've met Duke Nukem, or at least people like him. You may run into him when you go back home to the town where you went to high school. While the rest of his cohort has moved on with their lives, going to new and interesting places, Duke Nukem is puttering around his home town, drinking at dive bars, and yet through some magic (or meth) still seems to be filled with a particular pride at his lack of accomplishment. Duke is, as he himself would say, a douche.

Duke Nukems Forever's biggest problem is Duke Nukem. As romanticized as the character has become, Duke in Duke Nukem 3D was little more than a stand-in to spout lines from '80s action flicks. Duke in his most recent incarnation is a caricature of his former self. He's crossed the line from charmingly foul-mouthed to obnoxious and embarrassing. Handing pixelated strippers cash for a quick flash was funny in 1996. DNF takes that three-second scene that in its day was worth just a slight chuckle, and turns it into an unbelievably boring 30-minute scavenger-hunt through a strip club.