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Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 24, 2014 in Videogames 
Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata had previously said that the next Ace Attorney game would be totally different, and now we know why: it’s set in Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912). The main character is no longer Phoenix Wright, but his ancestor, who has a new sidekick as well. The game is for 3DS, so hopefully Capcom will still bring this over. (I’m nervous ever since they declined to localize Ace Attorney Investigations 2.) I just wonder how they’re going to localize the game now that it’s very clearly, unavoidably set in Japan. You can’t just say that sushi are hamburgers now. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Ace Attorney, Capcom, Phoenix Wright
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 23, 2014 in Videogames 
Final Fantasy fans enjoyed Theatrhythm Final Fantasy when it was released on 3DS in 2012. Maybe a part of that was that the 3DS was just starting to gain momentum, but some of it had to do with how fun it was to tap out rhythms to your favorite Final Fantasy music. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, the sequel, is releasing in Japan this Thursday, so of course Square Enix is just now announcing that it will come to America like we still live in the dark ages of localization. But hey, it’s coming out in North America sometime this year, and with more characters (over 60) and more songs (221!) than the original game. In my ideal world, this sequel has every original song, every DLC song, and then even more new, exclusive songs so that I never have to put the original game into my 3DS. It’s a lot to ask considering Square Enix made a game just designed to separate you from your money, but hey, I can dream. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Final Fantasy, Music, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 23, 2014 in Videogames 
I wrote this yesterday, and then BioWare releases a gameplay trailer for the game. I should complain about other games we’ve barely seen anything of, just to see if developers will release more info! (Looking at you, Half-Life 3.) Yes, there’s a full trailer of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and it’s all looking pretty awesome. Varric returns, which is great, and there are certainly dragons. It seems that the game is still coming out in 2014, since we have a release date: October 7. This is another of those cross-generational games, as it will release on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. But enough talk, just go watch this trailer and hope that it satisfies you better than Dragon Age 2 did! Read more…
Tags: BioWare, Dragon Age, EA
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 22, 2014 in Videogames 
The third Dragon Age game is supposedly coming out in Fall 2014, but we still haven’t really seen anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if EA featured Dragon Age: Inquisition at their E3 presentation in June, but until then, we’ll just have to take it on faith that it’s still on track. As if to prove it, this box art has been released. It has some interesting composition, and it’s just good to see a game box for a fantasy game that has some color in it. Pale blue, red/orange, and is that some bright green I see? It’s not just browns and grays! Read more…
Tags: BioWare, Dragon Age, EA
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 21, 2014 in Videogames 
A little surprise in the last few days: Hitman GO hit iOS devices recently, and it caught my eye, mainly because it has such an unconventional and cool style. It looks like little models and figurines being moved around a wooden board, complete with tilt-shift effect. You still hunt down a target to eliminate, but instead you’re moving along various paths etched into the board and must plan your moves accordingly. The devil is in the details here, as all the little flourishes and movements reflect real figurines. I’ll have to check it out later, because it definitely looks like a unique game. Watch the trailer below and download it here! Read more…
Tags: Hitman, iOS
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 19, 2014 in Videogames 
We still don’t know if the game Alien: Isolation will be any good, but at the very least the developers seem to have their hearts in the right place. In this recent developer diary, they go over their love for the original Alien film and how they’re working to preserve the “lo-fi sci-fi” feel it had. They also state that they refused to make anything that couldn’t have been built on the original set, which is a bit of a stretch, but I appreciate the care and thought they’re putting into it. According to this, they also ran UI elements through VHS tapes to give them that “rough” and “fuzzy” feeling. I hope it all pays off! The video is embedded below. Read more…
Tags: Alien, Alien: Isolation, Aliens
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Yes, true believers, you can now get the most addictive digital card game on iPad, so you can play anytime. Say goodbye to your family and productivity as you whittle away the hours building the perfect deck and battling foes online. I’ll be honest, I haven’t played Hearthstone yet, but I’ve seen plenty of my friends really get into it. I’m not sure if I want to take the plunge just yet. Then again, it is free-to-play… No, no, not yet. But soon! Until then, I’ll just watch the trailer and marvel at the gorgeous playing animations and excellent art. Download the app here or watch the launch trailer below! Read more…
Tags: hearthstone, iOS, iPad
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 17, 2014 in Videogames 
In incredibly stupid news, Bungie has fired longtime collaborator Martin O’Donnell. The man has worked with Bungie since 1997’s Myth, but he is most well-known for composing the music to Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach — all of the Halo games made by Bungie. His last work for the company was this fall’s Destiny, for which he composed with frequent collaborator Michael Salvatori and former Beatle Paul McCartney. O’Donnell tweeted that he was terminated by Bungie’s board of directors “without cause” on April 11. Bungie issued a statement saying goodbye “as friends,” but that seems pretty optimistic after firing someone for no reason. It’s a real shame, but I’m sure O’Donnell will land on his feet. As the composer of one of the few memorable, hummable soundtracks in 21st century Western console games, he’s well-known for his craft. I’d imagine many developers would love to have him on board to create more wonderful tracks. Read more…
Tags: Bungie, Destiny, Halo, Music
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 15, 2014 in Videogames 
Any experienced gamer knows that videogame graphics aren’t as important as gameplay, no matter how good they are. And yet, I think there’s a place for graphic-heavy games. Sometimes I’ll play a game just to absorb the art, or to listen to the music, or to find out where the story goes, and I think that’s alright. So even if Child of Light didn’t look to be a fun JRPG (from Ubisoft, not a Japanese studio), I’d likely still play it for the gorgeous artwork that looks like they painted watercolors into the game. Watch this trailer and just absorb the detailed backgrounds before the game comes out on April 30. Read more…
Tags: Child of Light, RPG
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 15, 2014 in Videogames 
It seems that the intriguing Rain World won’t be limited to PC, Mac, and Linux. As I had hoped, the indie game about a lovable “slugcat” exploring the ruins of an ancient civilization will be coming to other platforms. Thanks to Adult Swim Games, Rain World will be released on PSN (which could be either PS3 or PS4), PS Vita, “and well beyond”. Ideally the game will hit Xbox One and Wii U, but even if it just hits some PlayStation platforms, I’ll be happy. I want to plug my PS4 into some good speakers and hear that wonderful music fill my living room.
Read more…
Tags: Aliens
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 14, 2014 in Videogames 
Here’s some impressive gaming to start your week: a team of intrepid speedrunners spent almost four years perfecting and creating techniques to crush the previous Half-Life world record. And they did it. By 9 minutes! Yup, the previous record was 29 minutes and 41 seconds, and their time was 20 minutes and 41 seconds. Talk about insane. To reach this time, they abuse glitchy models, jump outside of level boundaries, and exploit save glitches to chop precious seconds off. There are some really amazing speed runs out there, but this is one of the coolest. Check it out below. Read more…
Tags: Half-Life
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 14, 2014 in Videogames 
DrinkBox Studios, the talented devs behind Mutant Blobs Attack and Gucamelee!, have announced their next game: Severed. It’s a mobile game coming out sometime next year that features a hero who makes up missing a part of her arm. So what does she do? Solve the mystery of why and along the way, attach enemies severed body parts to herself to gain power. Yup, that sounds awesome. It’s touchscreen-based, and will combine elements of Infinity Blade, Punch Out, and Mega Man, says DrinkBox. But really, I’m just here for the art. I love DrinkBox’s style, and it shines brightly here. I can’t wait to try it! Read more…
Tags: drinkbox studios
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 13, 2014 in Videogames
Yup, Chris Roberts showed off Star Citizen at PAX East, and it had a fantastic reception. In particular he demoed the dogfighting, featuring various ships sliding in and about asteroids while shooting each other. It’s still very early, as the AI isn’t quite there, and not everything works correctly, but — holy crap — does it look stunning. I’ll strap on an Oculus Rift, jump in this game, and you’ll never see me again. Seriously. I’ll probably need a PC upgrade by the time this comes out. The footage isn’t perfect, but it’ll give you a good idea of where they’re headed. Read more…
Tags: Star Citizen
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 13, 2014 in Videogames 
Yup, Hotline Miami is back for more gruesome violence and bizarre animal masks. The trailer shows off Wrong Number in several ways, mainly that there are many new weapons, enemies, and creative twists on previous Hotline Miami gameplay. Stuff like chainsaws and dual-wielding also seem pretty intense! I believe they mentioned that this game will focus on the 90s rather than the 80s like the previous game, so I hope we get some excellent 90s-inspired music for the soundtrack! Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Hotline Miami
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 12, 2014 in Videogames 
One of my most anticipated games for Xbox One was Below, a rougelike-like game from Capy that featured empty ancient halls and evoked a mystical sense of exploration that really grabbed me. I was just a little disappointed that it was temporarily a One exclusive. But now we’ve heard tell from PAX East that Capy will be bringing Below to Steam as well! No offense Xbox One, but now I can put off getting you for even longer. This new trailer isn’t jam-packed with footage, instead it’s just a nice little look at the game and some beautiful music by Jim Guthrie. Check it out! Read more…
Tags: Below, capy
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 12, 2014 in Videogames 
Don’t get too excited though, next-gen-ers. This one is only on PC, 360, and PS3. Yup, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a new game in the series, but it’s being done by 2K Australia while Gearbox works on other projects. The game will take place in between Borderlands 1 and 2, telling the story of Handsome Jack’s rise to power and how some of his crew came to be. And yes, you can now play as Claptrap. Some people really like Claptrap, you know? A lot of people, actually. I’m not one of them though. In fact, I’m pretty Borderlands’d out, so I think I’ll just watch from the sidelines this time around. Still — if more guns, a moon base, and extra Claptrap sound appealing to you, check out the trailer and dev video below! Read more…
Tags: Borderlands, Gearbox
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 11, 2014 in Videogames 
Holy crap: this is the weirdest and craziest Nintendo Direct I’ve ever seen: Bill Trinen hosts a news show announcing Tomodachi Collection is coming to America and Europe as Tomodachi Life, but then it gets bizarre. Reggie and Iwata battle Bill for Samus’ hand, Aonuma dates Princess Zelda, and to top it all off, there’s a musical number at the end. It’s really insane. The game itself looks like the right combination of Animal Crossing and Miis in an island-life sim. Throw in some dating, eating, and a collection of eccentric minigames, and you’re starting to get close to the essence of Tomodachi Life. Check out the Nintendo Direct below! Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Nintendo, Nintendo Direct, Tomodachi Life
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 10, 2014 in Videogames 
As rumored, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is getting a PS4 release. First released in June 2013, the original version pushed the PS3 to its limits, using what Naughty Dog learned from making the Uncharted trilogy, and won tons of awards. However, it’s not surprising that Sony would like the game to have a longer tail when it comes to sales, and putting it on their new system will help. The Last of Us Remastered will run at 1080p and is targeting a frame rate of 60fps; all the DLC will be included, as well as a commentary track. Those are all the details shared so far, so it’s not yet clear if there will be any other improvements. It’s a tough proposition for many gamers, though. Read more…
Tags: PS3, PS4, the last of us
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 9, 2014 in Videogames 
Nintendo just held a Nintendo Direct on the upcoming Super Smash Bros. game for 3DS and Wii U, and boy, did they really spill the beans. Director Masahiro Sakurai light-heartedly hosted a 40 minute presentation that led off with the long-anticipated release date for the two games. While exact dates were not given, we finally know that the 3DS version would release in Summer 2014, while the Wii U version won’t be out until Winter 2014. Still, that’s earlier than I expected it to be finished, so that’s a good sign. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Nintendo, Super Smash Bros., Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 8, 2014 in Videogames 
Both the PS4 and Xbox One promised many ways to stream and share footage of gamers playing games, but not all of that functionality was there at launch. While it was easy to record footage on both consoles — Xbox One’s version is called Game DVR — it wasn’t always as easy to share it with everyone you wanted to. As the largest video site on the internet, YouTube was where most people wanted to upload their videos. With the latest update to the Xbox One’s YouTube app, you can finally share your game videos on YouTube instead of just within the Xbox One’s video app. Other improvements include allowing YouTube videos to run in Snap mode, the ability to earn achievements, and the addition of YouTube channels to the OneGuide. But really, the most important thing is the ability to easily share game footage. That’s crucial in the modern gaming landscape. Read more…
Tags: Microsoft, Xbox One, YouTube
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 5, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s been a little quiet on the Smash Bros. front. Masahiro Sakurai, the game’s director, has been uploading daily screenshots of the game, but they don’t often reveal much. Today however, they revealed Isabelle, the popular secretary from Animal Crossing, would be in the game as an Assist Trophy (an item that will release a character into the stage who will aid the player). I’m sure many fans were hoping she’d be a playable character, but this is the next best thing. In addition, they announced a Nintendo Direct focused exclusively on Smash Bros. would happen on April 8th, 6pm ET (3pm PT). I imagine we’ll get a bunch of news then. Will we finally see Captain Falcon?! Read more…
Tags: Nintendo, Nintendo Direct, Super Smash Bros.
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 5, 2014 in Videogames 
It seems like every month there’s a new indie darling showing up. I’ve got to say, though… Monument Valley really swept me away. It’s a gorgeous (and I do mean gorgeous) iOS puzzle game in which you guide a princess named Ida through complex geometry that remind you of M. C. Escher’s artwork. Impossible shapes and moving parts that defy physics re the name of the game here, and it all flows incredibly well. It also has some fantastic sound design. I highly recommend it! It’s available now on iOS, and will be coming to Android soon. Check out their official site here to grab it or watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, iOS
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 4, 2014 in Comic Books, Videogames 
Do you like bears? Do you like Russian bears? Do you like washed-up mercenaries fighting bears? And most importantly, do you like hats? If you said yes to any of those, you should probably check out the third installment of the Team Fortress 2 web comic. This bi-monthly comic… er, tri-monthly… actually, it’s been almost four months since the last one. Let’s just Valve Time applies to their comics too. Still, they’re definitely worth the wait, and add a lot of hilarious backstory to the Team Fortress universe. Check out parts 1 and 2 here, then jump into the latest one. Lastly, Valve also announced they’re making a moon base level for TF2. Just thought you should know. Because that’s awesome. Read more…
Tags: Team Fortress, Valve, webcomics
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 4, 2014 in Videogames 
Frictional Games, the team behind the beloved and frightening horror game Amnesia, have been hard at work on their next title, SOMA. It’s still not coming out until 2015, but they’ve already been teasing the project through various live-action videos and ARG-esque websites. The design of the levels reminded many people of the crashed alien spaceship from Alien, and the AI or computer featured in some videos gave off a Lovecraftian vibe. Still, we barely know anything about it, but there was one thing many people assumed based on trailers so far: that it was set in space. Well, this latest trailer spoils the setting, and it’s a bit closer than that. If you want to find out, hit the jump and watch! Read more…
Tags: Frictional Games, SOMA
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