Review: FIFA 12
As another season gets underway another Fifa title comes out to play… How does this Fifa title hold up against previous FIFA titles and is it really worth picking up for the new season? Find out in this review.
Hitman: Absolution details will appeal to the fans of tough games!
It could be argued that a lot of modern games are becoming much simpler and linear. I for one love a well executed cinematic experience ranging from Call Of Duty to a Gears Of War, but every now and again I love to get deeply into a game and its mechanics, exploring every nook and cranny to get as near to 100% as possible, satisfying my completionist nature. Deus Ex Human Revolution (which I just completed) abused this aspect of my play style to great effect, meaning that I hacked every computer and checked every drawer, not to mention my 1000 points quest in Hitman Blood Money!
Stealth is a genre that appeals to me because of this, as the reward from taking the time, patience and awareness to study the enemies routines and reactions, leads to some of the most gratifying gameplay available.
Hitman Absolution may have seemingly taken a step away from its predecessors given what we have seen of the game so far. The in-game footage that was released around E3 displayed a much more action orientated game, but now it seems that this was a vertical slice to appeal to a wider audience. There will be a higher difficulty level with specific achievements/trophies tied to this that will reward the hardcore as Lead Producer Hakan Abrak discusses -
Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin – you know, I’m the ultimate stealth assassin – that playing style, those achievements, are very much in the game.
There’s a huge replayability value in it and we have some features in the game I cannot speak about that will enhance this and make this easier, and heighten the replayability value for the hardcore players as well.
Following on from this, discussion over how this new difficulty could affect the gameplay, he stated -
It’s more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement
So, at least fans can rest assured that they will be taken care of, and that the levels will be wider than previously shown.
Hitman Absolution is due for release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC at a date yet to be announced!
Source – EuroGamer
Review: Red Faction Armageddon – ‘Path To War’ DLC
NOTE: This review of the ‘Path To War’ DLC for Red Faction Armageddon deals exclusively with this new add-on content. Since I presume that you have already played through the core game, or at least have an idea of the main gameplay mechanics, I will not be discussing these in detail.
While I do have both Red Faction and its sequel sitting on my shelf, I never got around to playing through them. Guerrilla (2009) was my first proper entry into the series and for the most part what I found was very enjoyable. Sure while there was a lot of driving vast distances, the respawning enemies could become tiresome, and of course lets not forget the difficulty spike on the last level, the core gameplay was fantastic! Having at it with a sledgehammer and watching buildings crumble was a new experience for many with destructibility in an open world. While there wasn’t any terrain deformation like the original two titles in the series, the large open mars landscape made up for it.
After a two year break, Armageddon (2011) appeared on the shelves, and for a lot of people….there were some problems. Gone was the open world, the side quests and the exploration, a sorry sight indeed, but what did we get in return? A tighter and more focused adventure through the caves of mars, playing to the strengths of this more linear third person shooter.
While Armageddon didn’t do so well at retail, and with THQ stating that they were not going to continue the series in a meaningful way, at least not for the time being, now is the perfect time to pick this title up with its low price.
The ‘Path To War’ Downloadable content pack has been sitting on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam for a while now, and appeared without much fanfare. At only 560 Microsoft points or £4.49/$6.99, what you get in return is a worth it…for the most part!
First of all, as all DLC should do, your abilities and progress carry over. This means that all those upgrades to your nano forge abilities (impact, shell, beserk) are present as you blast through this concentrated playground of destruction.
Variety is the key in this downloadable pack. Jumping through the timeline of the game, both before the attack on the Terraformer and during the main quest, these missions pick some of the best aspects of the core game, and with some added weapons, make for a short but sweet adventure.
Starting off in one of the aerial vehicles (similar to the level featured in the core game, although above ground), you play as the enemy blasting up some Red Faction camps, which just so happen to be full of large explosive silos, before switching sides and being placed in a tank, attempting to protect the Terraformer seen at the begging of the core game. After that you’re on foot with some new additions to the arsenal both above and below ground, and then…it ends, very abruptly.
If anything, the weakest aspect of ‘Path To War’ is the story. While the initial levels offer some context since they take place before the main campaign of the core game, the later levels feel a little lost. The levels themselves are a blast, but I didn’t feel a sense of progression or closure at the end of them, and the credits appear seemingly out of nowhere.
As mentioned earlier, you have some new friends to play with, namely the Shard Cannon and the Sharpshooter. The Shard Cannon offers up some interesting mechanics with its rather unique firing style. Instead of shooting a projectile, you fire bits of the environment, Holding the trigger forms a singularity of sorts, pulling all the loose debris from around you, then allows you to fire this off at an enemy. The Sharpshooter on the other hand takes a hint from the F.E.A.R series, firing huge spikes at high speeds, offering one shot kills for the most part and pins enemies to whatever they hit on their way. Unfortunately these weapons appear only in this extra content, and cannot be taken into the core game.
The levels themselves are a good length, but there aren’t very many of them, and you’ll most likely hit the end in less than an hour and half. The achievements/trophies are thrown at you at regular intervals, and apart from a few specific ones revolving around accumulating a certain number of kills with the new weapons, they are hard to miss.
Overall, I feel that this pack is definitely worth it if you enjoyed the core game. The short length may put some off, but the vehicle levels are a lot of fun and are the definite highlights, though the new weapons do add some variety to the on foot action. As mentioned earlier, the levels do seem a little sporadically placed, but as you take the magnet gun in hand, you’ll remember how much fun destruction can be!
‘Yakuza – Dead Souls’ launches March 2012 in US and Europe! Screens and Trailer
While my initial glance at the title lead me to believe that this was some crazy cross over with ‘Dark Souls’, the real announcement is more in line with what Yakuza fans have been waiting for.
SEGA have officially announced that the Yakuza Of The End (released earlier this year in Japan) is heading to our shores under the name Yakuza – Dead Souls. Aiming for a March 2012 release in both North America and Europe, the newest entry in the series takes a completely different approach to the previous games, offering a unique twist on the usual gameplay.
Taking a break from the classic Yakuza conventions, Yakuza Dead Souls looks to up the ante with a focus on gunplay and cinematic sequences, this spin off in the Playstation exclusive series will let you play as many characters including both Ryuji Goda and Goro Majima (he’s the crazy one!). While we wait for the studios other project ‘Binary Domain’, I’m sure theres some space left for some more zombies in your gaming time.
From the press release -
Yakuza: Dead Souls brings the Yakuza back to Kamurocho, the famous red light district of Tokyo, which is under attack from hordes of zombies. Players will not only face armies of the undead and incredibly powerful mutants; the treacherous Japanese underworld is just as merciless. Playing through the eyes of four of the most revered members of the series, witness allegiances shift quickly and the line between friend and foe lost. If you thought zombies were bad…meet the Yakuza!
“We know how much people love Yakuza in the West and with Dead Souls being the latest and greatest in the franchise its only right we bring it to them closer to the Japanese release than ever.”– said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA.
Even though I’ve just recently gotten in the Yakuza series (playing 1,2 and 3 in the last couple of months), I look forward to seeing how this slightly different take on the series is received in the west.
SEGA also released a whole host of media including screenshots and a trailer! See below for some Zombie slaying action.
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Yakuza Dead Souls will be released in North America and Europe in March 2012.
SEGA gives you more of what you want! Dreamcast!!!
The Dreamcast holds a special place in my heart, and it doesn’t look like SEGA will be forgetting it anytime soon either. Today saw the launch of the other two titles from the ‘SEGA Dreamcast Collection’ to both Xbox Live and the Playstation Store. While Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure have been available for digital download for quite some time, SEGA are now allowing us to both Dance and Fish with nostalgia as we enjoy some Dreamcast Classics.
Both Space Channel 5: Part 2 and SEGA Bass Fishing are available today for 800 Microsoft Points or ($9.99 / £6.29 / €7.99 / AUS$12.95) direct from your couch.
Worth noting is that Space Channel 5 Part 2 never reached our shores for the Dreamcast, though it appeared in both America and other European countries for the PS2.
In Space Channel 5 Part 2, follow Ulala, a dancer and reporter from Space Channel 5, on her quest to take down the Rhythm Rogues and their leaders, Purge and Shadow. The dancing Dreamcast diva must prevent them from creating the all-powerful dance-control weapon and ultimately end their pursuit of world domination. Along the way, enlist the help of Space Michael, based on the King of Pop himself, to prove Ulala’s prowess in rhythm and rescue Space President Peace.
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In SEGA Bass Fishing, players can cast their lines at eight different fishing holes, utilising 14 unique lures while battling realistic weather conditions that affect fish behavior. Players also have the opportunity to master their angling techniques to catch as many fish as possible in four tournaments, where the best of the best cross fishing rods! In addition, exclusive to the PlayStation®3system, you’ll be able to get that realistic fishing experience right in your living room with the PlayStation®Move motion controller. Cast off and reel in with a simple flick of the wrist.
And incase you’ve make it all the way to the bottom of this article, here’s another photo for you! My own complete PAL Dreamcast collection
Sony’s “Long Live Play” TV Ad Celebrates YOU!
A new PlayStation ad has been unveiled by Sony, as part of the company’s new ‘Long Live Play’ campaign, dedicated to none other than the fans of PlayStation. This comes after a teaser trailer was unveiled by Sony last week, insinuating some kind of reveal scheduled for today.
Early last month, Sony made the announcement that they were on the lookout for “a few good gamers” to assist in a special assignment to the brand-new ‘Long Live Play’ campaign. Asking PlayStation fans to email pictures of themselves holding a PS3 controller and in 30 words-or-less; describe how they epitomize the ultimate PlayStation gamer. After reaming through the thousands of responses sent, here is the end result.
With the gobsmacking array of cameo appearances from both multi-platform and PS3-exclusive titles, the message of this campaign is simple – PlayStation and its titles would be nothing without the fans. How many video game icons can you pick out?
On the US PlayStation Blog, Sony’s VP of product marketing, Scott Steinberg had this to say:
It is our hope that this film showcases to all gamers the incredible characters and experiences that make PlayStation 3 the ultimate platform for people who love to game. You know that PlayStation has the industry’s best line-up of exclusive software titles, features highly immersive motion-control and 3D gaming, and free access to vast amounts of sports, movies, TV, games and more on PlayStation Network. Now, with your help, we’re spreading the word so the world knows that PlayStation continues to be the top destination for gaming.
Mad Hatter is the Newest Villain to join Batman: Arkham City
Despite how epic Batman may be, even you would have to agree that he’s got his hands full in Arkham City. The Joker, Harley Quinn, Mr. Freeze, Harvey ‘Two Face’ Dent, The Penguin, The Riddler, Bane, Hugo Strange – the list goes on in what can be argued as the most incredible roster of villains to ever grace a video game adaptation of a superhero. There is however still no signs of stopping, which is evident by the reveal of another supervillain ready to put a spanner in the works.
An episode of PlayStation Network’s online magazine Qore, which sees new footage of Arkham City as well as an interview with Game Director Sefton Hill, delivers a glimpse of long-term Batman villain, Mad Hatter within the montage of gameplay. This is the first time Mad Hatter has been revealed for Arkham City, with less than two weeks before the game is released.
Source: Qore (via MrKQgaming Youtube channel)
UK Pre-Launch Incentive for The Darkness II Detailed
2K has today announced what you can get if you decide to pre-order upcoming FPS horror sequel, The Darkness II. Whilst supplies last, gamers can pre-order The Darkness II and get their claws on a free upgrade to the Limited Edition.
The Darkness II Limited Edition includes:
• Alternate darkling outfit: “Crazy Abdul”
• Two character ability upgrades:
• Gourmet Hearts: provides bonus for eating hearts
• Relic Hunter: locates collectible items in the world
• Custom illustration by Marc Silvestri
• Free digital download of The Darkness Origins Volume 1 and Volume 2 comics
The Darkness II is the sequel to the million unit-selling 2007 title, The Darkness, and brings a unique new combat mechanic through Quad-Wielding, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with two Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. Here’s a brand new trailer to get your blood thirst going.
The Darkness II will hit retail shelves on February 10th, 2012.
FIFA 12 Sells A Record Breaking 3.2 Million Units In Opening Sales
Football fans will be happy to know that this years FIFA has sold a new record breaking sales figure. Electronic Arts Inc. today announced the most successful launch in EA SPORTS FIFA 12 hit store shelves and online retailers across the globe. Fans around the world have already played more than 200 million minutes of online games of FIFA 12.
Based on internal estimates since its September 27 launch in North America and September 30 worldwide, FIFA 12 has sold-through an estimated 3.2 million units across all consoles worldwide**, making it the biggest launch in the history of sports videogames and the biggest videogame launch of 2011 to date. These are preliminary EA estimates. EA plans to provide further information regarding sales of FIFA 12 during its earnings call for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.
“FIFA 12 is a stunning achievement by our team at EA Canada,” said Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice-President of EA SPORTS. “The massive FIFA online community has overwhelmingly connected to the new live services in the game, including EA SPORTS Football Club, and we intend to keep them engaged all season long as FIFA 12 follows the heartbeat of the football season.”
Other notable achievements from the game’s record-breaking launch include:
· FIFA 12 sell-through is estimated to be up approximately 23 percent over last year’s record-breaking launch.
· FIFA 12 for iPhone and iPad has already sold 879,000 units, and achieved the Top Grossing App for iPhone on 30 worldwide storefronts.
- October 1, 2011 was the busiest day for online gaming in EA SPORTS history. Fans registered more than 10 million EA SPORTS game sessions, including almost eight million game sessions of FIFA 12.
· Almost 350,000 fans engaged in the early web-start for FIFA 12 Ultimate Team via easportsfootball.com, and more than 14 million trades have already occurred within the Ultimate Team mode. For the first time ever, FIFA Ultimate Team is available on disc for fans to enjoy the thrill of building, managing and playing with their ultimate team of football superstars.
· The launch of FIFA 12 also saw the introduction of EA SPORTS Football Club – the heartbeat of FIFA 12. Millions of fans around the world have already pledged their allegiance to their favourite team through the Support Your Club feature. To date, the clubs with the most supporters*** are:
Manchester United – 241,767 supporters
FC Barcelona – 144,709 supporters
Arsenal – 131,305 supporters
Real Madrid – 126,806 supporters
Liverpool – 118,182 supporters
Chosen “Best Console Game” at Gamescom and winner of the prestigious E3 Game Critics award for “Best Sports Game” at E3 2011, FIFA 12 is the highest rated sports videogame of this console generation with a Metacritic rating of 92 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and 91 on Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, including perfect scores from leading media outlets like 1UP, USA Today, GamePro and The Guardian. IGN (9.5 out of 10) called FIFA 12 “amazing” and Everyeye.it (9.5 out of 10) wrote, “FIFA 12 is simply the best football simulation ever made.Our review of the title will be online shortly.
Bloody Roar 5 Announcement is a hoax!
UPDATE:
Fans of the Bloody Roar fighting franchise will be disappointed to know that the announcement of Bloody Roar 5 appears to be a hoax.
The source of the original news was an unofficial Twitter account, @HudsonSoftLtd, who has since posted this image from the new game which makes it blatant that we have all been duped..
ORIGINAL STORY:
Since 2003, the fighting franchise Bloody Roar has been in hibernation, with many fans fearing that it will never wake up from its long dormant slumber – until now.
Japanese publisher Hudson Soft has made the revelation that a brand-new Bloody Roar game is on the way. The announcement was made via their Twitter feed.
With the hashtag ‘Bloody Roar project 2012’, it would be safe to assume that Bloody Roar 5 – as it is referred to – will see a 2012 release. Originally released on the arcades back in 1997, Bloody Roar’s innovative staple was the playable fighters, known as Zoanthropes, who had the ability to morph into savage animals in mid-fight. The original was then ported to the PlayStation soon after, followed by a sequel in 1999. In 2000, the series made its debut to the PlayStation 2 will Bloody Roar 3. Bloody Roar 4 was then released in 2003.
Push-Start will keep you updated with more information as it arrives.
