Casual Gamer

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition available March 2012 (PS3, X360)

Casual Gamer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:46:22 +0000

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have announced the Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, a content-rich version of 2011’s award-winning Mortal Kombat videogame. The 2011 iteration of the legendary fighting franchise sold more than three million units worldwide and was recently named Fighting Game of the Year by Spike TV’s 2011 Video Game Awards. Going back to a 2D fighting plane, this latest iteration in the franchise introduced a number of new gameplay features including Tag Team, Challenge Tower, and a deep story mode. Players can choose from an extensive line-up of the game’s iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or take on several players in the innovative online King of the Hill mode.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition delivers the critically acclaimed game and all previously released downloadable content. The DLC includes fan-favourite warriors Skarlet, Kenshi and Rain, as well as the infamous dream stalker Freddy Krueger. The game also offers 15 Klassic Skins and three Klassic Fatalities (Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile).

Developed by NetherRealm Studios and led by Mortal Kombat co-creator and creative director Ed Boon, the game will be available from March 2nd on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Modern Warfare 3 starts 2012 with a bang with 9 months of DLC

Casual Gamer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:41:10 +0000

Modern Warfare 3 fans should spend most of 2012 with a smile on their faces after it was announced that Activision Publishing will be releasing nine consecutive months of downloadable content for the game.

Activision have revealed that the content will be available first for Call of Duty Elite’s premium members on Xbox LIVE, followed by additional platforms at a later time. From January through September, Call of Duty premium members on Xbox LIVE will receive regular updates of all new content totaling at least 20 content drops.

The Modern Warfare 3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite will include a broader variety than ever, with brand new multiplayer maps, Special Ops Missions, new game modes and more. While Call of Duty Elite premium subscribers get the new content first, as promised, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 fans who want to buy the content a la carte as they have in the past, will be able to purchase the content via Modern Warfare 3 Content Collections.

All content drops for Call of Duty Elite premium members will occur once a month, starting in January for Xbox Live users and will continue through the year, ending in September. During the first three months of 2012, Activision will release five different content drops on three occasions in January, February and March, first on Xbox Live, followed by additional platforms at a later time.

Einstein Brain Trainer out now – How smart are you? (iP)

Casual Gamer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:52:20 +0000

BBG Entertainment have announced the worldwide release of its digital download game, Einstein Brain Trainer, for the Apple iPad. Einstein Brain Trainer is a single and multiplayer experience.

The game allows you to challenge your brain and train in a playful, motivating way on a regular basis. It addresses gamers and non-gamers alike, and combines high entertainment value with brain exercises that automatically adapt to the level of each player. Test subjects can brace for sequential exercises that will further challenge your mental efficiency. The brain exercises can also be performed by more than one person on one iPad in the game’s Hot Seat mode. Finally, families, friends and acquaintances can truly have a battle of the minds! You can also compete online with fellow players all over the world: Simply hit the Game Center button to be entered into the global highscore list. As easy as it is, the online highscore ranking is great fun for everyone. Albert Einstein assists the players in the game. Einstein guides you through their training, gives you advice and motivates you to keep exercising the various regions of the brain on a regular basis. All areas of the game were individually designed with high levels of creativity, which helps make the truly unique brain trainer a blast to play.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – Are you excited? (Wii)

Casual Gamer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:07:16 +0000

Only a few days to go until the release of the much anticipated Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. We’re just excited to use the Wii MotionPlus for the first time properly…

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword seamlessly blends intense ground-based adventuring with breathtaking exploration above the clouds. Wii MotionPlus technology is fully utilised for the first time in a Zelda game (should be interesting), allowing you to glide through the skies on the back of a majestic bird and dive through the clouds to the continent below. This new and epic quest is set against a backdrop of a distinctly unique graphical art style and boasts a classic Zelda soundtrack which for the first time features fully orchestrated music.

The launch of this game heralds the most realistic sword combat of any game to date on Wii. You can look forward to a completely immersive and natural gameplay experience where every movement of the Wii Remote is replicated on the screen. In a recent Iwata Asks interview, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata spoke to series producer Eiji Aonuma about the addition – Mr. Iwata says: “I suppose it’s like gradually becoming able to use a brush better, or a chisel”, to which Mr. Aonuma replies “Or maybe a musical instrument. As you’re using it, your body grows familiar with it and you gradually master the use of it.”

Wield your Wii Remote Plus, or Wii Remote with Wii MotionPlus accessory and watch it faithfully replicate the angle of every sword slice. Different enemies have different battle tactics, so you must analyse their approach and develop counterattacks that play on their weaknesses. The game’s wide array of items also utilise full motion control, letting you roll bombs, shoot arrows and guide flying objects like never before.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is released on the 18th November in Europe and the 20th for North America.

Jane‘s Advanced Strike Fighters New Gameplay Trailer

Casual Gamer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:32:30 +0000

Check out the new trailer for the exciting action flight simulator Jane’s Advanced Strike Fighters from publisher Evolved Games. The new title for the Xbox 360, PC and PS3 continues the flight simulation series from Jane’s, the renowned military publishing company.

In Jane‘s Advanced Strike Fighters, players struggle to end a civil war in the fictitious state of Azbaristan. Action takes place in 16 missions, covers 65,000 square kilometers of mountains, deserts and urban landscapes, and includes 30 detailed jet fighters from the USA, Russia, Europe and China. In the game’s multiplayer modes, up to 16 fighter pilots and two to four players in co-op mode can take up the challenge to solve the conflict.

Game of Thrones coming for PC, PS3, X360

Casual Gamer — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:53:53 +0000

ATLUS, in collaboration with HBO and Cyanide Studios, have announced plans for “Game of Thrones,” an action RPG based on the internationally bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire series of books by George R. R. Martin and critically acclaimed HBO television series, Game of Thrones.

Launching worldwide in early 2012, the game will be available for Xbox, PS3 and PC. With an original story written under the supervision of Martin, “Game of Thrones” promises to deliver the ultimate interactive role-playing experience for fans. The game is filled with familiar locations straight from the pages of the beloved fantasy saga along with the likeness of some actors portrayed in the series.

With over 15 million books sold worldwide and a hit television adaptation that was the winner of two primetime Emmy awards, the A Song of Ice and Fire series is one of the most popular fantasy franchises of all time. Now, with the announcement of an epic new “Game of Thrones” video game, fans will have a chance to not simply read or watch the series, but to take an active role in the new riveting drama as it unfolds.

In this 30-plus hour action RPG, players will enter the gritty and medieval fantasy world of Westeros. As one of two original characters with disparate motivations, both former soldiers of Robert’s Rebellion, players will forge alliances and wage battles as they play a pivotal role in the ongoing war for power of the Seven Kingdoms. Their journey will span numerous quests, during which they will interact with many characters and make key decisions that impact the realm.

Standing before the majesty and bitter isolation of the Wall or walking through the streets and alleys of King’s Landing, players will not simply pass by locations and characters integral to the series; they will explore and interact with them, meeting and learning about the people and history that defines them and their importance. Key decisions and major events will have meaningful impact on Westeros, allowing the player to witness how the game world evolves over time based on their actions or inactions. Moreover, “Game of Thrones” introduces an innovative “active slowdown tactical combat engine” in which combat mirrors the series’ thoughtful approach to war and politics: fighting slows but never stops entirely, forcing the player to make quick, pressured choices before their enemy strikes again. Sounds exciting!

Skyrim review: feel that snow on your face (X360, PS3, PC)

Casual Gamer — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:03:19 +0000

I started playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a couple of days after finishing Deus Ex (The Missing Link DLC – I’d finished Human Revolution a few weeks ago). The similarities are interesting, which goes to show that either Deus Ex has more of an role playing game genre feel to it than I remembered from earlier verisons, or that the makers of Skyrim have taken a lot of the good ideas from first person shooters.

Skyrim: Pros and Cons

Anyway, I’m not here to debate the pros and cons of rpg’s and fps. I’m here to talk about how the Skyrim feels, sounds, looks and plays. And I can happily say on all fronts that it doesn’t disappoint. By the way, I played this on a PC.

Firstly, I always think that one of the signs of a well made game is that it installs quickly and without hassle. This is the case with this game, although one serious dampener was opening up Steam to find a message that they’d been hacked on Sunday 6th. What is the world coming too? Anyway, game all ready to play, and so I launch it.

The first thing that hits you in Skyrim is the atmospheric sounds – you’re tied up in a cart and can’t really move – so you’re kind of forced just to relax and take in all the sounds and sights. This is a clever way to start a game like Skyrim, as it’s critically important for the player to feel immersed in a new world. Here were my first impressions during the opening sequence of the game:

The sounds are amazing. I’m truly impressed by a game that, when I close my eyes, I can still feel myself bouncing around on a cart just because of the noise it makes.
The music is fairly stock standard Elder Scrolls stuff, which I personally like. It’s nice and not intrusive.
Graphics – afternoon sunlight on rocks, distant views to the mountains, patches of frost on the ground. All satisfyingly realistic.
The NPCs look better than in Oblivion, and I found that the movement of their mouths made some connection to the words coming out. They’re still not what you’d call realistic-looking individuals. The NPCs in Deus Ex were better, even up quite close. Very occasionally as I played more of Skyrim I found NPCs walking around above the ground, which was disappointing. It’s not something that would ruin the game for me, as the scenery and general environment is spectacular.

You are immediately drawn into the storyline, which is explained well by various NPCs. You choose your character in a similar way to the previous games, although here it feels less clumsy.
There are dragons in this game, and many of you probably laugh at the idea of such a clichéd character in a RPG. However I found that my first “encounter” with a dragon in the game was genuinely scary. Not since Fallout 3 (I’m thinking of deathclaws and super mutant behemoths) did I feel that this is an opponent I’d rather run away from than stand and fight.

The map looks pretty and is practical, the inventory system is ok, especially once I learnt that you can bind keys to weapons in the “Favorites” list. As in Oblivion, you don’t get a lot of time in battle to stand around and choose a weapon, so it’s good to be able to change weapons in a blink of an eye. One huge improvement seems to be the “Skills” system – they’ve made it a lot of fun to check out each individual skill using constellations. I’m reminded here of the Witcher 2 skills system. They’ve also added the idea of “Perks” which you can unlock when your character levels up.

Quests are all pretty much standard stuff – go here, talk to character X, retrieve item Y, defeat enemy Z etc. They seem to have improved the interaction and conversation system, and even the script seems less clunky than earlier Elder Scrolls games.

A big reason that I enjoy rpg’s like the Elder Scrolls is that feeling you get when you come across a valley and survey the landscape. You can explore EVERYWHERE. This is a brand new land to explore. There are fish jumping upstream against the current of a river. If you get in the river you’re carried along by the current. These things alone would make me buy the game. At one point early on in the game I stood for about 5 minutes on the side of a mountain with snow blowing in my face because it was fun.

Definitely buy Skyrim if you loved all the earlier versions, and didn’t mind NPCs floating occasionally in the air before you. If you’re expecting a dramatically different playing experience from the rest of the Elder Scrolls franchise then you might be disappointed.

Anno 2070: exciting new multiplayer trailer (PC)

Casual Gamer — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:43:14 +0000

Developed by Related Designs in collaboration with Blue Byte , Anno 2070 takes place in a near-future environment where climate change has forced humanity to adapt to rising sea levels that have left stretches of once-fertile land completely inhospitable. Players need to master new technologies while facing numerous ecological challenges to build their empires. Anno 2070 offers players the ability to be architects of the future and create the world of tomorrow. The game will be released in Winter 2011 for PC.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ7QUjc0Cgw

“Anno 2070 is a very ambitious game that will feel both familiar and fresh to fans of the series ,” said Adam Novickas, director of marketing at Ubisoft. “Due to the game’s futuristic setting, the development team wasn’t restricted by historical boundaries and was able to dream bigger than ever before. It’s a new take on a great franchise that both newcomers and longtime fans will love.”

Key Features of Anno 2070

- A new era: while adhering to the fundamentals that made the Anno franchise a success, the near-future setting will bring numerous new gameplay mechanics, architectural breakthroughs, and all new challenges. Additionally, players will be able to build massive cities, the scope of which has never been seen in prior Anno games.

- A dynamic world: the world of Anno 2070 will evolve differently depending on each player’s playing style and choices. Players’ decisions will have an impact on the environment, the architectural look of their world, and the needs of their populations, leading them to refine and better understand the impact of their personal approaches to managing the world’s resources.

- Factions: players will be able to select between two factions when building their empires. Players can choose between an industrial and efficient course by joining the Tycoons or a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly direction by siding with the Ecos.

-          Rich and varied game modes:
o    Single player campaign: a story-driven single player mode with a deep variety of challenges.
o    Single player “continuous mode”: the renowned endless game mode where the objective is to build the biggest civilization possible without time constraints.
o    Multiplayer and Online features: Anno 2070 will include innovative online modes offering players brand new possibilities to get in touch with gamers all around the world.

- Outstanding graphics: A new version of the game engine, developed specifically by Related Designs for Anno 2070, allows the game to deliver a breathtaking visual experience never before seen in the Anno franchise.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Soundtrack released

Casual Gamer — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:01:03 +0000

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WaterTower Music have announced the November 1 release of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Original Video Game Score by award-winning composer Inon Zur. The soundtrack will debut in the same week as the Action RPG video game, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. After three highly acclaimed performances of the music at E3, Inon Zur has continued the tradition of iconic The Lord of the Rings music and crafted an epic and beautiful nineteen track score to the game, recorded at famed Abbey Road studios in London, England.

“Composing the music for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North was a very inspirational, creative process,” said Zur. “The story is very compelling, and this had a direct influence on my music. As a long time fan of The Lord of the Rings, I always dreamed to be a part of this franchise, and when this dream came true, I was extremely motivated to tell the emotional story of this dark heroic adventure and its captivating characters. Bringing on board the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the legendary Abbey Road studios magnified the music to new heights. I am so grateful to Warner Bros. for their support and I’m very excited to have you, the players, be a part of this musical experience and hope you will be as engaged as myself.”

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North soundtrack will be available at all digital retailers and the CD will be available at Amazon.com on November 1, 2011.

The track listing is as follows:

1.       Echoes Of Angmar
2.       Between Hammer And Anvil
3.       Sons Of Forgotten Kings
4.       Nordinbad
5.       Ghosts Of The Grey Mountains
6.       The Savage Ettenmoors
7.       Before The Citadel Gate
8.       Into The Heart Of The Storm
9.       Realm Of Ancient Kings
10.   A Gathering Storm
11.   The Savage Peaks
12.   Men Of Carn Dûm
13.   Trolls!
14.   Beast Among The Ruins
15.   In The Footsteps Of Kings
16.   The Forges Of War
17.   Halls Of Valor
18.   Shadow On The Ettenmoors: Reprise
19.   Against The Darkness

Disney Universe screenshots (PC, PS3, Wii, X360)

Casual Gamer — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:06:04 +0000

Join Disney as they “Show You the World” with magical environments and fantastic character costumes inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studio’s award-winning audience-favourite, “Aladdin,” in the upcoming video game Disney Universe, available in stores on October 28^th2011. Players will be able to journey through the enchanted city of Agrabah dressed up as classic favourites like Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Iago, Jafar and Abu in the adventurous world of Disney Universe, the first video game that brings together characters and worlds inspired by both animated and live action films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures.

Players will be able to suit up as Aladdin, Jasmine and other timeless characters from the movie as they navigate through the mystical Cave of Wonders collecting Scarabs to fit into a statue puzzle, avoiding falling sand, and jumping across rising platforms to complete the level. They’ll use gems to complete the mission while keeping clear of boulders, lava and spiked platforms, all in an effort to win a final battle against the evil Jafar.

The “Aladdin”world joins other fun and exciting Disney Universe environments, including the recently announced “Pirates of the Caribbean”world, as well as environments based on Tim Burton’s “ Alice in Wonderland,” Disney’s animated classic “The Lion King ,” and Disney•Pixar’s hits “Monsters, Inc .” and “WALL•E.”

Disney Universe will be available October 28^th 2011 for the Xbox 360, PS3, the Wii and Windows PC.