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Posted by Bob Muir on Apr 9, 2015 in Videogames 
Funny enough, I’ve been watching my girlfriend play Deus Ex: Human Revolution lately. It’s been pretty cool, and now Square Enix has announced a sequel: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. It occurs two years later in 2029, so still well before the original Deus Ex. Eidos Montreal is returning to make this one, so let’s hope they don’t outsource the boss fights this time. There’s no release date announced, but the game is set to release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check the trailer and tell yourself “Yes, I did ask for this!” Read more…
Tags: Deus Ex, PS4, square enix, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 31, 2015 in Videogames 
Microsoft and 343 Industries are starting their marketing push for this fall’s Halo 5: Guardians. It’s due out on October 27, 2015, which means we’ll probably be seeing a lot more at this year’s E3. But for now, we’ve got what is frankly a really cool ad, with new character Spartan Locke hunting down Master Chief and confronting him about consequences. But then, there’s a second ad where Master Chief confronts Locke! I’d assume we’ll get to play as both characters a la Halo 2 (my personal favorite in the series). I wonder what twists we’ll see? Read more…
Tags: Halo, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Dec 23, 2014 in Videogames 
Halo: The Master Chief Collection has been plagued by bugs since launch, mostly affecting players’ ability to play online matches. To be fair, the multiplayer, which mixes in modes from different Halo games, is ambitious; but at the end of the day, the game should be working. As an apology to fans, 343 Industries is giving out several freebies for anyone who has played online between launch and December 19. While one free month of Xbox Live Gold, an exclusive in-game nameplate, and an exclusive avatar are small gifts, the other gifts will take more time. Based on fan requests, 343 plans to remaster Halo 3: ODST‘s campaign (despite Master Chief not appearing in it) and give it to the players for free. Read more…
Tags: Halo, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Dec 16, 2014 in Videogames 
The generation of remasters continues — not that I think that’s a bad thing, mind you. (It’s always a good thing when old games, even more recent old games, are kept available on newer systems.) Capcom has announced that on March 17, 2015, it will release DmC: Definitive Edition on PS4 and Xbox One for $39.99. The port of Ninja Theory’s Devil May Cry reboot will feature enhanced graphics (running at 1080p and 60fps), all previously released DLC, a bunch of new difficulty modes (many of which can be combined with other difficulty options), and other additional content. But for those who still can’t get over the changes to their precious Dante, Capcom is also planning to release Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition in Summer 2015, also on PS4 and Xbox One. Read more…
Tags: Capcom, Devil May Cry, PS4, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 27, 2014 in Videogames 
My backlog is getting too big, because I haven’t even gotten around to playing Dark Souls II yet, and here we are getting a newer version. Namco Bandai has announced that they are porting the game to the PS4 and Xbox One, as well as a new DirectX11 PC version. The new releases will feature enhanced graphics, the three previously-released DLC chapters, and additional content. Both the new and previous releases will also get a patch with a new quest, additional story, balancing, and online improvements. It sounds cool, but it’s an odd choice. The first Dark Souls is considered the better game, and From Software’s spiritual sequel Bloodborne will be released a month prior on PS4. I’m curious how many players will be interested in this rerelease. Read more…
Tags: Dark Souls, PS4, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 12, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s been a while since Just Cause 2 came out, way back in 2010. For those who played Grand Theft Auto just to bounce from one mad encounter to the next, it was the epitome of a great sandbox game. Fans will soon be pulling more crazy stunts, as Game Informer has revealed their latest cover story, Just Cause 3. Developed once again by Avalanche Studios, Square Enix will publish the game in 2015 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Further details are for subscribers, but I can already imagine what this sequel will be like with the added power of modern systems. Read more…
Tags: Just Cause, PS4, square enix, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 5, 2014 in Videogames 
Despite being associated with violent first-person shooters thanks to media attention, the Grand Theft Auto series hasn’t actually had a first-person option. But that changes with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto V on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Perhaps to help add value to what is mostly a graphical upgrade — GTAV was already released on PS3 and Xbox 360 last fall — this new version has a first-person mode, as well as various other minor changes, mostly to Grand Theft Auto Online. It’s certainly more immersive, but seeing as the game wasn’t originally designed with this in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if it works better in certain scenarios, while others feel a bit looser. But hey, it’s a good option to have for those who want to try it. You can check it out for yourself on November 18, while PC gamers have to wait until January. Read more…
Tags: Grand Theft Auto, PS4, Rockstar, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 30, 2014 in Videogames 
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is an interesting prospect, a way to look back on the series’ past achievements while looking forward to the future. The centerpiece is easily Halo 2 Anniversary, a graphical update similar to what 343 Industries did for the first game. Part of that are completely redone cinematics by Blur Studio, a graphics department responsible for most of the stunning trailers you likely associate with many recent games. There might be a bit of uncanny valley here and there in this trailer featuring their work, but putting that aside, the work they’ve done is quite impressive. Come November 11 when the compilation releases, I predict the Halo series will get a nice little nostalgic surge that will build some strong hype for Halo 5: Guardians. Read more…
Tags: Halo, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 30, 2014 in Videogames 
Square Enix has constantly placed Final Fantasy XV (or Final Fantasy Versus XIII if you go back far enough) just over the horizon for years now. And while I’m still excited about it, I’d be lying if I wasn’t more interested in Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, a port of a game that actually materialized three years ago on the PSP. The game is coming out on March 17, 2015 (March 20 in Europe), which feels right around the corner now that we’re in the holiday game release period, so this latest trailer (featuring English voices) is very enticing. It captures some of the warring nations angle that Final Fantasy XII tried out, or perhaps Final Fantasy Tactics. Sure, as an enhanced PSP-port, the graphics don’t look that spectacular, but at least the gameplay and art design seem interesting. And really, do we need another game like Final Fantasy XIII that emphasized graphics over everything else?
Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, PS4, square enix, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 23, 2014 in Videogames 
Since 343 Industries took over the Halo series from Bungie, parent company Microsoft has been trying to reinvigorate the brand with more products. Maybe this is in hopes of recapturing the attention they had before the reign of Call of Duty. Regardless, this has resulted in more film experiments, such as Halo: Nightfall. They got Ridley Scott to executive produce this series about Agent Jameson Locke, the co-star of the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians. It’s looking pretty good, but many don’t know where to watch this series. So here’s a reminder: the episodes will be included with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, releasing on the Xbox One on November 11. Read more…
Tags: Halo, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Swery65’s Deadly Premonition was a true cult hit, a b-list Japanese version of Twin Peaks that was far more than just the sum of its parts. I’ve been anticipating his next game D4, or Dark Dreams Don’t Die, a strange, cel-shaded, episodic adventure game played with Kinect motion controls (or regular controls if you don’t like motion controls/if the motion controls suck). Apparently at Tokyo Game Show, it was revealed that the prologue the first two episodes are releasing Friday in North America and Japan for $14.99 on Xbox One. What a surprise! Here’s hoping it is as appealing as Deadly Premonition. Read more…
Tags: Deadly Premonition, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 28, 2014 in Videogames 
One of the reasons why the Xbox One faltered after launch was that many consumers just didn’t want to be forced to buy the new Kinect camera, bundled with every console for $500. Microsoft has since made a Kinect-less version for only $400, which has brought in more gamers (though still not as many as Microsoft wanted, since many have already purchased a PS4). But what about those who bought the system and soon wanted the Kinect after all, perhaps after realizing the confusing UI is best navigated with relatively-reliable voice commands? They will soon be able to purchase a stand-alone Kinect on October 7. Read more…
Tags: Kinect, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 13, 2014 in Videogames 
Remedy has been very hesitant to show much of Quantum Break, their ambitious game/TV show hybrid for Xbox One. But it seems the floodgates have opened, because now we have eight minutes of semi-interrupted gameplay. I say “semi” because while the gameplay is uninterrupted, main character Jack has the power to mess with time in all sorts of fun ways. He can stop time to run past enemies, stop an enemy’s time to do extra damage, or even stop an entire moment. But judging from the end of the clip, it seems some enemies have their own time-warping powers that you’ll have to contend with. There’s still quite a lot we don’t know about Quantum Break, but it looks very promising, so I’d keep an ear out for any additional information. Read more…
Tags: Quantum Break, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 12, 2014 in Videogames 
As one of the oldest characters in the series, it was a safe bet that Kano would return in Mortal Kombat X. In the latest video, Creative Director Ed Boon breaks down the new changes to the character. Besides the usual visual overhaul, take note of the glowing circle on his chest. Players can change it to one of three colors, each representing a customized style of combat with different movesets. While I’d imagine the character is mostly the same between versions, each one gives him certain toys to play with. Cutthroat Kano uses knife combos, Cybernetic Kano uses laser eyes and weapons, and Commando Kano is a grappler. I hope each character in the game gets several customization options, since it’s a good way to add variety to the cast. Read more…
Tags: Mortal Kombat, PS4, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 30, 2014 in Videogames 
Though I’m a firm proponent of physical media, I can’t deny some of the potential benefits of a digital future, especially for rentals. While GameFly offers disc rentals similar to Netflix’s mail service, there currently isn’t a similar service for digital rentals — until now. EA has announced EA Access, a subscription service for Xbox One that allows gamers to play multiple EA games for a monthly rate. You won’t own the games, but you’ll have access as long as you keep paying, like a mix of Netflix and PlayStation Plus. The service has launched its beta with FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2, and Battlefield 4, with more games on the way (likely before the full launch). Read more…
Tags: Electronic Arts, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 22, 2014 in Videogames 
Out of all the games at E3 last week, one of the most interesting games that caught my eye was Cuphead. It’s a run-and-gun platformer that can be played single player or co-op — and it has some amazing art direction. Reminiscent of classic cartoons from the 30s and 40s (while still being its own thing), Cuphead hits a niche I didn’t even know I wanted to see. The art is all hand-drawn, and the jazz soundtrack is completely original as well. Really impressive! I can’t wait to see more of it. The game sadly doesn’t come out until 2015, and will arrive on Xbox One and PC. Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Steam, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 17, 2014 in Videogames 
The PS4 and Xbox One are lacking in must-have games right now due to publishers believing they’d sell worse than they did last fall. Now, they’re scrambling to catch up, but still need to release something in the meantime. The solution? Taking visually-impressive games from last-gen and remastering them with slightly better tech and a higher resolution for current-gen. 2012’s Hong Kong crime game, Sleeping Dogs, may be next up for a rerelease. Read more…
Tags: PS4, Sleeping Dogs, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 10, 2014 in Videogames 
When Final Fantasy XIII was announced, it was done so as part of the “Fabula Nova Crystalis” project that also included Final Fantasy Versus XIII (just for PS3) and Final Fantasy Agito XIII (for mobile). The former game was delayed, being reannounced as Final Fantasy XV in 2013, while the latter game was reworked for PSP as Final Fantasy Type-0. FFXIII got two direct sequels, FFXV isn’t finished yet, and Type-0 was never released outside of Japan due to the declining demand for the PSP. But suddenly, we’re going to be getting it — just not for PSP! Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, PS4, PSP, square enix, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 9, 2014 in Videogames 
Following EA’s disappointing press conference, Ubisoft attempted to pick up the excitement by showing something cool right from the start. Instead of beating around the bush, they went right into showing their biggest recently-announced game: Far Cry 4. Read more…
Tags: E3 2014, PS4, Ubisoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 9, 2014 in Videogames 
The second press conference of E3’s “Day 0” was Electronic Arts, and while there was new stuff shown off, it is unlikely to get you into a frothing mess of anticipation. They began with their studio DICE, who showed some early in-engine footage of Star Wars: Battlefront, coming Spring 2015, and the environments looked gorgeous. The Star Wars license looks like it’s in good hands. Read more…
Tags: E3 2014, Electronic Arts, PS4, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 9, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s time for highlights from E3, the biggest game expo of the year! Microsoft got a lot of flack for not talking about games enough as they revealed the Xbox One last year. Thankfully, Microsoft kicked off E3 with a conference devoted entirely to games. (How refreshing!) Read more…
Tags: E3 2014, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on May 18, 2014 in Videogames 
E3 announcements are for suckers! Everyone knows the real way to get peoples’ attention is to sneak an announcement out in the weeks leading up to the industry’s biggest convention, that way, you won’t get buried in the deluge of other games. It’s a smart move, but when everyone else does it too? You just create a whole new flood slightly earlier. Oh well, the real news here is that Halo 5: Guardians has been announced officially. Microsoft did tease it at last year’s E3 with a short trailer, but now we’re seeing some details, like a cover art design and a new main character (who appears to be searching for Master Chief). It’s set to arrive in Fall of 2015. Check out the full image below and read the PR-speak here. Read more…
Tags: Halo, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on May 14, 2014 in Videogames 
I’ll give Microsoft credit for this: they’ll stubbornly hold onto their plans, but if they’re beat over the head long enough, they will change. The Xbox One revealed a year ago required an online connection at all times and the use of a bundled Kinect camera. While the online connection was walked back within a few weeks (notably after Sony didn’t require one), but the system launched with the Kinect bundled in, making the Xbox One $100 pricier than the PS4. It seems Microsoft has finally caved on that too, because Xbox boss Phil Spencer has announced a $400 Kinect-free version, now available for preorder with a release on June 9 in every country that Xbox One has released in. Read more…
Tags: Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on May 12, 2014 in Videogames 
Insomniac is back with an Xbox One exclusive, but for a while all we had was a CGI trailer from E3. Now, as part of a Game Informer cover story, the first gameplay footage of the game has been released. It shows off the platforming and traversal aspect primarily, which lets you run on walls, slide across telephone lines, and bounce off of trampolines. The guns look to be as crazy as always, and I caught a bowling ball gun, a record gun, and as Insomniac gleefully points out, a TN-teddy bear gun. It’s TNT strapped to a teddy bear. I don’t see why not. Read more…
Tags: Sunset Overdrive, Xbox One
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