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Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 9, 2014 in Videogames 
A single-player DLC pack is coming out for The Last of Us soon, titled Left Behind. The short story tells of Ellie’s adventures before she meets Joel, as she encounters her friend Riley who had mysteriously disappeared a few week prior. Riley reveals something surprising to Ellie, and the two sneak of of school into the dangerous outside world. I’m hoping it turns out good, as I love the idea of playing as Ellie some more. Playing as Joel in the main game was fine, but still reminded me of the “dadification” of games a bit. This looks fantastic though! Check out the trailer and then grab the DLC on Valentine’s Day for $14.99. Read more…
Tags: the last of us
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 9, 2014 in Videogames 
You can finally play the ultimate simulator video games: Goat Simulator! Yes, you play as a goat, and yes, you buck things. Just charge into everything you find and do your best to send it flying. Carts? Ram it. A bucket? Ram it? A car? Eh, maybe not so much. But you can climb ladders, with an animation clearly inspired by the historic laddergoat. The creators said that this was just a silly experiment in their off time, but given the hugely positive reaction to their video, I imagine they might actually try to release it. I can only hope — I would love to play a goat simulator. Check out the video below! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 6, 2014 in Videogames 
What’s something cool a game publisher can do when they buy another game publisher? They can put crossovers of their new IP into their own games! Square Enix has owned Eidos for a while now, and have put out several of their games, including last year’s Tomb Raider reboot. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is out next week, and now we know that you can make Lightning cosplay as Lara Croft. Similar to Final Fantasy X-2, in this game Lightning can change her clothes to gain access to new abilities. By wearing Lara’s outfit, she can use her survival axe and riot shield to fight monsters. As a side effect, it now looks like Lightning is covered in dirt. The only downside is that this will be optional DLC, available for purchase at launch, which is silly, because this should be a bonus unlockable in the game. Read more…
Tags: DLC, Final Fantasy, Lightning Returns, Tomb Raider
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 5, 2014 in Uncategorized, Videogames 
Did you know that Thief, the reboot to Eidos’s stealth-franchise, is coming out on February 25? There isn’t much buzz, which probably stems from the delays the title has had during its troubled development. But watch this latest trailer, because despite a smaller marketing budget, this game looks pretty cool. I know some longtime fans of the series seem to have concerns, but as someone who has never played any of the previous games, I’m liking what I see. It looks like a good mixture of stealth and action, and the fact that you could play through the game without killing any enemies is surely enticing to those looking to do more than just build up a body count in a game. Read more…
Tags: Eidos, PS3, PS4, square enix, thief, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 4, 2014 in Cinema, Videogames 
Apparently thinking that the Fast and Furious franchise isn’t doing enough, Dreamworks made a movie based on EA’s Need for Speed racing franchise. But watch the latest trailer, and see if you think this is a movie that needs to be made. It looks like it offers nothing new, just the usual racing stunt action. Lead actor Aaron Paul looks poorly utilized, displaying little of the intensity that helped make Breaking Bad such a sensation. I suppose there’s a chance this might be a fun flick, but for now, I wouldn’t blame you if you saved your money come March 14. Read more…
Tags: Need for Speed
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 4, 2014 in Cinema, Videogames 
Here’s something that might have slipped through most people’s radars. Zachary Quinto, best known lately for playing Spock in the rebooted Star Trek universe, has signed on to play Agent 47 in a sequel and reboot to Hitman. The movie was an adaptation of the videogame series of the same name that has the bald, barcoded Agent 47 killing targets. The first movie grossed $100 million worldwide, but didn’t do that well critically, so the Fox is hoping that this new movie, titled Agent 47, does better. Paul Walker was supposed to take over the role from Timothy Olyphant, but he died last November, delaying the film’s shoot schedule. Quinto has proved he can act, but I’m not sure if I can see him playing this character yet. This might be one of those movies that needs the trailer to sell the casting. Read more…
Tags: Hitman
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 2, 2014 in Videogames 
Here’s a really neat little indie game that just came out: The Floor is Jelly. It’s a platformer with a twist — oh, I know we’ve got plenty of those, but this wraps it all up in such a delicious package it’s hard to ignore. From the wiggly, stretching physics, to the beautiful color palette and design, it exudes a warm, colorful feeling. It also helps that it has a soundtrack by Disasterpeace, one of the best game composers around right now. There’s lots of great little touches in it, such as and way the trees and bushes bounce with the ground, to the schools of fish that swirl around you when you dive underwater. You can buy it online, DRM-free, here for $8.99 for the next few days before it goes back to $9.99. Check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 2, 2014 in Videogames 
Despite Nintendo’s recent financial troubles dominating the news, one little tidbit did sneak out in a recent interview with CEO Satoru Iwata: Nintendo will be bringing Tomodachi Collection for 3DS to the US. Many of you might be saying, “What the heck is Tomodachi Collection?” Well, imagine if your Miis all lived on an island, and you could take care of them, hang out, complete various activities, and more, in an Animal Crossing-esque game. That starts to explain the silliness and fun of Tomodachi Collection. Tiny Cartridge also shared a video translating a trailer for the game, which I’ve included below. No news yet on when exactly the game will arrive here. Read more…
Tags: 3DS
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 1, 2014 in Videogames 
I know I heard a lot of fans doubting his return, so I figured it’d be important enough to mention: Lucario has been confirmed for the next Smash Bros. game. The dual-release later this year on 3DS and Wii U features a bunch of new and old characters. Lucario is definitely a fan-favorite, but many had assumed that Mewtwo would return and take his slot on the roster… perhaps we’ll get both now? Sakurai says “We’ve increased the influence of Aura this time, so a damaged Lucario is truly a force to be reckoned with.” Sounds like Lucario, along with many other characters, are getting some serious reworkings and buffs. Check out some more images below and on the official site. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Super Smash Bros., Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 30, 2014 in Videogames 
I’m glad that I’m waiting to play the latest Telltale Games adventure game series The Wolf Among Us. The spin-off of the comic series Fables released the first of five episodes, “Faith,” a few months ago, but the second episode, “Smoke and Mirrors,” has taken longer than expected to come out. The latest trailer promises that it’s “coming soon,” so it should be out shortly. Those who are playing each episode as it comes out will probably be ecstatic, as this new episode’s trailer looks pretty awesome. I figure I’ll pick up the whole series at once when it’s finally finished. Read more…
Tags: Fables, Telltale Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 30, 2014 in Videogames 
Final Fantasy XIII has a pretty convoluted story, not at all helped by a horrible presentation that seems to delight in requiring you to know certain information, but not giving that information for hours, requiring a look at a list of terms in a dictionary, which makes the eventual explanation boring. If you can’t tell, I’m not a fan of the poorly-written game or its sequel Final Fantasy XIII-2. But Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, the third and final entry, is out soon, so Square Enix made this awesome recap of the story so far. It boils everything down to the bare minimum, and best of all, it’s done in 16-bit graphics like the classic SNES entries. It almost makes things comprehensible! I just want Square Enix to do more with this style of graphics. Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, PS3, square enix, Xbox 360
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 29, 2014 in Animation, Cinema, Videogames 
I guess Sucker Punch saw that Insomniac’s fellow PS2-era platformer Ratchet & Clank was getting a movie and wanted in, because now we have a Sly Cooper movie scheduled for theaters in 2016. Hell, it’s even being made by Blockade Entertainment and Rainmaker Entertainment, who are also making the Ratchet & Clank movie. My gut reaction at first was that Sly looked weird and had too much detail in his fur, but after seeing it in action, I have to admit he looks pretty cool. The whole trailer feels like the video game it’s sourced from, and that’s great. Plus, I have to love when a series like this opens with a Reservoir Dogs reference. My only question now is if Naughty Dog will get a Jak and Daxter movie made to complete the PS2 platforming trilogy. Read more…
Tags: Sly Cooper
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 28, 2014 in Videogames 
“Wait, I thought Microsoft already owned Gears of War, the solid dude-bro cover-based shooter that helped cement the Xbox 360’s reputation throughout it’s lifetime!” Well, other than helpfully recapping what Gears of War is, that would be wrong, Mr. Strawman-I-Made-Up! Epic Games, the developer, owned the IP and made an exclusive agreement with Microsoft for the game to be Xbox 360 exclusive. After an initial trilogy and a spin-off by a different developer, Epic seemed to have cooled on making any more games in the series. (And there’s nothing wrong with a series knowing when to end instead of running forever!) But now Microsoft has bought the IP, and there’s not much reason to do that unless you plan on making more games in the series. Read more…
Tags: Gears of War, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 27, 2014 in Videogames 
The latest game from Monolith Productions is going to be a bit of a departure from their previous work. They’ll be tackling the Lord of the Rings universe, featuring a character traversing the world prior to the events of the main story, as he jumps and fights his way through hordes of orcs. An interesting mechanic they’re promoting is that villains will often escape and return for vengeance later, or perhaps chase you down to avenge a fallen family member. It’s a unique idea, but I have to wonder if they can pull it off. It also appears to take quite a bit from Assassin’s Creed’s style of traversal. Check out the full video walkthrough of pre-alpha footage below. Read more…
Tags: Lord of the Rings
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 27, 2014 in Television, Videogames 
Last year, Microsoft revealed they were working on a Halo TV series, in full cooperation with Steven Spielberg, who was producing. We haven’t heard much since then, but a new rumor is circulating now saying that Neill Blomkamp is being sought after to direct the pilot episode. This is a little ironic, considering Blomkamp worked on the failed Halo movie before moving on to do District 9. Whether Blomkamp wants to come back to the Halo universe after a failed project remains to be seen, but last we heard he said he was against the idea. Perhaps since a TV pilot is an easier commitment, he’d be willing to contribute? Read more…
Tags: Halo, neill blomkamp
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 24, 2014 in Videogames 
Looks like you’ll get a chance to buy the Ace Attorney trilogy all over again! The first three games in the series were originally released on the GBA, then ported to the DS, then released on iOS, and THEN released on iOS in HD. There was also a Wii port somewhere in there too! But if you own none of those systems and want to get in on the Ace Attorney series (or just want to own it again) Capcom has announced that the Ace Attorney 123: Wright Collection will be coming out on 3DS in Japan in April. This appears to use the updated HD visuals from the latest iOS release, but scaled down for the 3DS screen, which makes them look a bit nicer. Check out the Japanese trailer below. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Ace Attorney
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 22, 2014 in Videogames 
La-Mulana was a great retro-inspired 2D game with lots of exploration and secrets to uncover. (In fact, you can buy it on Steam for only $1.49 if you get it quickly!) Indie developer Nigoro wants to make a sequel that doesn’t require you to have played the original, and it needs your help to kickstart it on Kickstarter. In La-Mulana 2, you’ll play as the previous protagonist’s daughter, though it looks like her father is still in the game. There will be new monsters to fight in new ruins called Eg-Lana. Nigoro needs to raise $200,000 in funds by February 22, which seems totally doable, but there are of course tantalizing stretch goals to make the game even better. This is something any retro-enthusiast should want to exist! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 20, 2014 in Videogames 
Kickstarter! How dare you fulfill young designer’s dreams to finally make the game they’ve always wanted! Yes, Rain World is on Kickstarter. This new indie game stars an adorable little cat-slug creature as it tries to survive in a desolate, possibly post-apocalyptic world. Given that you’re part cat and slug, clambering up pipes, across thin ledges, and through tights spaces in your favorite way to travel. Creepy-crawlies will hunt you, so you must do everything to protect yourself — and your eventual catslug family! They’ve already hit their goal, but you can still pledge if you’d like. Check out some images below, too! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 18, 2014 in Videogames 
This was some nice news to see this morning: Octodad: Dadliest Catch will be releasing on Steam, GOG, and Humble on January 30th! The popular indie game features an octopus who’s doing his best to fit in. He might be an octopus, but he’s still got a family, a job, and he’s got to make sure no one realizes that he’s an ocean creature! The trailer shows off a lot of goofy fun – most of the entertainment comes from trying to do basic tasks and your tentacles getting in the way, flopping around – but the second half threw me for a loop. Is Octodad going to make me cry, too? Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Octodad
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Just a few days ago now, Nidhogg, the intrepid indie title that has been in development for several years now, jumped onto Steam. It’s a simple-looking game on its surface: two dudes face off against each other with swords. But despite only having one button to jump and another to jab with your blade, it becomes very complex, very quick. While you can play single-player or online, the real joy is playing against someone in the same room. Ducking, dodging, and stabbing each other is some of the most fun I’ve had in ages. It’s $11.99 on Steam until January 20th. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 16, 2014 in Videogames 
Dark Souls II is out on March 11, 2014, so it’s time for those trailers to start rolling in and hyping up all the ways you can die. As expected, you play a cursed character of some sort, and you’ll be dying over and over again against brutal defenses in order to progress through the game. Look at some of those bosses! Though it’s not the most impressive enemy, the guy in shackles creeps me out; maybe I’m thinking of the deformed (and unkillable) Lisa Trevor in the Resident Evil remake on Gamecube? Regardless, everything here looks deadly. It should be fun! Read more…
Tags: Dark Souls, Namco Bandai, PS3, Xbox 360
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 15, 2014 in Videogames 
Yasumi Matsuno has made some of the best strategy RPGs, like Ogre Battle and Final Fantasy Tactics. He’s since left Square Enix and gone freelance for almost a decade, but he’s ready to reveal his latest game. Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians is another medieval strategy game inspired by some of his earlier work. You’ll play as several heroes as they take part in the “Seventy-Seven Years War” in the land of Rasfalia, with each hero getting their own episode. The title is being made by American developer Playdek and is planned for PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows tablets. The game is being posted on Kickstarter, so it will have to meet its minimum funding goal. Two of the stretch goals, however, will add PS Vita and 3DS versions to the development schedule, so you have the option to play it on more systems. Other stretch goals include additional scenarios, voice-overs, and a soundtrack composed by Hitoshi Sakamoto, who has scored some of Matsuno’s past games. I’m interested because of Matsuno, but I have to point out that the game has one of the most generic fantasy titles ever. Read more…
Tags: Fantasy, RPG
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 12, 2014 in Videogames 
After all this time, we’re finally getting Broken Age… part 1. Yes, as previously announced, the game will be divided into two parts, one releasing soon — to finance the production of part two. It’s a risky bid for Double Fine as they try to make their Kickstarter baby work, but they’ve done a great job so far. Part one will arrive on January 14th for backers, and on the same day the public release date will also be announced. The funds from the sale of part one will top off part two, and completing the game. So far a star-studded cast has been revealed, feature names like Elijah Wood, Jack Black, Pendleton Ward, Wil Wheaton, and Jennifer Hale. Read more…
Tags: Broken Age, double fine, tim schafer
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 12, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s been a while since a skateboarding-themed game has come out, hasn’t it? Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate both had their success (the former more than the latter) but then quickly died out. Since then, no one else has really tackled that genre, but I suppose skateboarding isn’t really “in” right now anyway. Still — that’s no hindrance to roll7 Games, who are releasing OlliOlli on the PlayStation Vita later this month. The game takes a unique side-scrolling perspective, but still focuses on tricks and not falling flat on your face. Although that’ll probably still happen a lot. Check out the neat trailer and grab the game itself on January 21st. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita
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