Post Game Report

Shank: yeah, I did that with a chainsaw

September 06, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

Take one part Robert Rodriguez, one part Quentin Tarantino, two parts classic grindhouse exploitation, add a bitchin' Los Lobos-ish soundtrack, and you've got Shank.A brutal side-scrolling brawler,... Read on

Take one part Robert Rodriguez, one part Quentin Tarantino, two parts classic grindhouse exploitation, add a bitchin' Los Lobos-ish soundtrack, and you've got
	 Shank.
	 
A brutal side-scrolling brawler,
	 Shankputs you in the blood-caked boots of (durr) Shank and his quest for vengeance against a Mexican crime syndicate (which he once was a part of) that is responsible for killing his woman and ruining his life.
	 
From there, you're basically going to hack your way from point A to point B, massacring anything and everything in your path.

Of course, since this is a game about spilling blood, you've got plenty of toys to play with. There are your own shivs (considered the 'light' attack), a switchable melee weapon (chainsaw, machete, chains, considered your 'heavy' attack), a plethora of guns and grenades.
	 
The combat itself is fast and furious -- and beautiful.
	 Shankcontains what is arguably the most gorgeous 2-D animation seen in years. It's a treat to watch and great fun to play ... for a while.

Unfortunately, the game ends up getting marred by repetitive level design and some funky (and frustrating) boss battles.
	 
There's never any level variation, per se. The scenery is different, but you're forever tasked with simply surviving a straight shot to the end of the area. It always starts off easily, maybe with 3 guys attacking you at a time, then the level will just pile it on and on and on until there are ten guys and two tanks (burly bouncer-looking fellas) looking to stomp your face in.

It makes the game tough to tolerate in an extended gameplay session.
	 
And then there are the bosses, many of whom follow the same pattern (you dodge their charge, they hit a wall, you execute a special attack when they've conked themselves out) and we're faced with a similar conundrum as with the level design: repetition.
	 
The local co-op, which serves as a prologue to the single-player portion, is a wonderful gift in a strange way, but it, too, suffers.
	 
Which is a shame, really, because I love the exploitation-flick setup of the game. I love the idea, I love the blood, I adore the animation, the wacky, over-the-top carnage...
	 
It's chock full of immensely satisfying brutality, but it's also hindered by repetition.
	 
Final Grade: B-
	 
Shank is rated M for Mature and is available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360

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Dead Rising: Case Zero: I can't stop playing

September 03, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

Zombies are the monster for this generation. They're ubiquitous. They're almost literally everywhere. From books to movies to television to (of course) video games. Dead Rising, the original, has... Read on

Zombies are
	 the monster for this generation. They're ubiquitous. They're almost literally everywhere. From books to movies to television to (of course) video games.
	 
Dead Rising, the original, has become its own kind of
	 Night Of The Living Dead. It's remarkably well-regarded, legendary, and beloved, like the Romero classic it owes its existence to.
	 
And if
	 Case Zerois anything to go by,
	 Dead Rising 2is going to match
	 Dawn Of The Deadin terms of brilliant apocalyptic sequels.

Let's get the bad out of the way first:
	 Case Zerois sort of a demo of
	 DR2that is also a standalone prologue that introduces you to the main character -- badass stunt dad Chuck Greene and his daughter, Katey -- but it costs 400 MS points.
	 
That's the only bad thing. And it is also the best way you'll ever spend those 400 points.
	 
Case Zero takes place three years before
	 Dead Rising 2. In it we learn that Katey has been bitten and needs regular doses of the anti-infection Zombrex.
	 
Along their way to Fortune City (a Las Vegas twin), the father-daughter duo stops in Still Creek for gas. There, a jerk steals Chuck's truck, stranding them in the infested, rundown town.
	 
Cue zombies. Cue action. Cue unadulterated awesomeness.

Much of
	 Case Zerowill be very familiar to
	 Dead Risingfans. The watch-mission structure returns, wherein you've got only a certain amount of time to complete tasks, and which forces you to choose between the main story quest and doing side missions. You can either repair your ride and get out of town, or you can save everyone around, but you won't have time to do both.
	 
(For achievement hounds, you'll enjoy the multiple playthroughs, considering there's a nice fat achievement for slaughtering 1,000 zombies, and one for saving everyone -- in fact, the achievements are the main incentive to make multiple runs, aside from the different endings)

The biggest improvement to gameplay is in the ranged weapons department. Big thumbs-up there.
	 
And making the much-buzzed-about combo weapons is ludicrously pleasing. There are 9 different ones to make in
	 CZ, the best one, personally, being a tossup between the spiked bat for its usefulness and the drill hat for its disgusting nature.

So, what else? Nothing.
	 
I said it before and I'll say it again:
	 Case Zerois the best way you'll ever spend 400 MS points.
	 
Final Grade: A
	 
Dead Rising: Case Zero is available exclusively for the Xbox 360 (400 MS Points) and is rated M for Mature

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2K Games Announces Duke Nukem Forever ... seriously

September 03, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

That's actually the headline of the press release. So kudos to whichever flak wrote it, as I probably couldn't have done a better job.But more importantly: holy @#$!, Duke Nukem Forever is finally... Read on

That's actually the headline of the press release. So kudos to whichever flak wrote it, as I probably couldn't have done a better job.
	 
But more importantly: holy @#$!, Duke Nukem Forever is finally coming to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Wonder of wonders!
	 
Full press release below:
	 
New York, NY – September 3, 2010 – 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that forever is nearly here, as Duke Nukem Forever® will officially make its long-awaited debut for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC in calendar 2011. Duke Nukem, the interactive entertainment industry’s most irreverent and quoted character of all time, will bring his signature brand of babe-lovin’, cigar-smoking, beer-chugging and ass-kicking action as he once again saves the Earth and our babes from hordes of invading aliens. In other shocking news, Duke Nukem Forever will be playable right now for all attendees 17 and older of this year’s Penny Arcade Expo at the 2K Booth (booth #3417), giving the first hands-on experience with the game that was originally announced during the tail end of the Clinton Administration.
	 
"All great things take time... a lot of time," laughs Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "After a hiatus from the video game world, Duke Nukem is back and better than ever. The return of the King from the glory days of shooters will satisfy our patient, die-hard fans, as well as a new generation of bubble gum-chewing, flat top and shades-wearing bad-asses. Make no mistake about it - Duke Nukem Forever is a testament to the era of when shooters were bodacious and fun."
	 
Put on your sunglasses and prepare to step into the boots of Duke Nukem, whose legend has reached epic proportions in the years since his last adventure. The alien hordes are back and only Duke can save the world, again. Pig cops, alien shrink rays and enormous alien bosses won’t stop our hero from accomplishing his one and only goal: to save the world, save the babes and to be a bad-ass while doing it. The King of All Shooters is back with over-the-top weapons, massive aliens and unprecedented levels of interactivity. This game puts pedal to the metal and tongue firmly in cheek, among other places. Shoot hoops, lift weights, read adult magazines, draw crude messages on whiteboards or ogle one of the many beautiful women that populate Duke’s life; that is if you can pull yourself away long enough from kicking ass and taking names. Duke Nukem was and will forever be immortalized in gaming history, and this is his legend.
	 
“Hail to the king, baby! It's unbelievable, it kicks ass and it's totally going to happen!” said Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, "Gearbox has enabled die-hard key Duke Nukem franchise builders and skilled veteran game makers to stand together and deliver. All gamers deserve a happy ending and after all of us gamers feeling the full range of emotions about Duke Nukem Forever, I am thrilled to be in a position with the trust, power and means to make it happen. Am I crazy? Balls of steel, baby, balls of steel!”
	 
Duke Nukem Forever is currently in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Windows PC and is not yet rated by the ESRB. 2K Games has the exclusive, long-term publishing rights to the game. To catch your first glimpse of the Duke Nukem Forever experience please visit www.dukenukem.com.

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CBGB seeks to cement legendary status via Guitar Hero

September 02, 2010 , ι

The owner of the famed New York City rock club CBGB name is asking a bankruptcy court to sign off on a trademark agreement that will ensure its legendary stage can appear in the latest version of the... Read on

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Get ready to shred with Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine

September 02, 2010 , ι By ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER

If you’re a fan of Megadeth, the newest installment in the Guitar Hero franchise will be a must-buy for you.Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will feature Megadeth vocalist Dave Mustaine and Megadeth’s... Read on

If you’re a fan of Megadeth, the newest installment in the Guitar Hero franchise will be a must-buy for you.
	 
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will feature Megadeth vocalist Dave Mustaine and Megadeth’s original composition “Sudden Death” for the games climax moment, where players will team up with rock “demi-gods” to battle “The Beast.”
	 
Based on an interview with Mustaine, it appears as if the rock legend totally immersed himself in the project, taking into account the game’s story and gravity of the final boss battle to create an epic song that will have players frantically moving their fingers to keep up with the typical Megadeth style of fast-paced shredding.
	 
Not only will you see some killer scenes from the upcoming game, but Mustaine explains the process of creating the original track as well as a basic breakdown of “Sudden Death”
	 in this video clip.
	 
Worry not warriors, you will be able to shred your way through Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock when it hits shelves on September 28.

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Mafia II: Little Italy goes bang

August 31, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

Only World War II (and, to a certain extent, fears of a zombie apocalypse) outruns the Mob when it comes to saturation in popular culture. After the Godfather films (excluding the third) and its... Read on

Only World War II (and, to a certain extent, fears of a zombie apocalypse) outruns the Mob when it comes to saturation in popular culture. After the Godfather films (excluding the third) and its countless imitators, the Sopranos took over, and we've pretty much been gobbling up whatever bits of Mob-mania we can get our hands on.
	 
Except, it seems, in games.

Personally, I enjoyed the first Godfather game, but it didn't really blow me away. (It should be pointed out that the GTA series are themselves Mob games, but they are done in such a way to seem totally divorced from a 'typical' Italian mafia story).
	 
So, enter
	 Mafia II, the sequel to the well-received 2002 game. How does it stack up?
	 
Respectfully.
	 
Mafia IItells the story of Vito Scaletta, a World War II vet, injured in Italy, who's 'assisted' in ditching the Army in 1945 by longtime friend and mobster Joe. From there on, Vito embarks on a conflicted quest for cash while also trying to keep his family protected.
	 
What Mafia does best, here, is story and character. The game is deeply engrossing, sometimes surprisingly emotional, and at times it feels more like you're playing through a tight, smart film than a game (in a good way).

Wonderfully, these are not goofy Italian stereotypes. They are all, in their own way, upstanding,
	 interestingcharacters. In fact, I think this was the first time I really noticed the
	 emotionplaying across a video game character's face as he spoke or acted on the screen.
	 
Which is very, very good, because these are the guys (and some gals) you're going to watch play out brutal, violent set pieces. They need to seem human (and well-acted) for the story to have any impact at all.
	 
The set pieces themselves are great. The action is not over-the-top so much as seeming huge and intense.
	 
The game runs into problems when you're not partaking in a massive shootout or chase, though, as repetitive, mundane tasks will quickly leave you sighing.

Mafia II, while taking place in a remarkably detailed world, is not a sandbox game -- which I initially mistook it for myself. Instead, it's an extremely linear piece of storytelling. (There are a few achievements / trophies scattered about for some random non-quest things, like helping a woman fix her car). This in and of itself is not bad, since it's a terrific story, but the underused Empire City is ... well, seriously underused.
	 
You can ignore exploring because, there are no secrets and no side missions. Yes, yes, there are some silly things like jacking cars and taking them to the scrapyard to sell. Or you can go buy a new suit. But that's about it. The only actual
	 activityfor you to embark on is the main story.
	 
Again, this in and of itself is not bad, but it feels strangely tragic that a game spanning from 1945-1951 in the belly of a massive, bustling metropolis has nothing for you other than the story missions.

PS3 gamers, at least, have DLC already ready for them. And 360 owners will have it soon.
	 
Mafia IIdoes certain things extremely well. The characters, the action, the voice acting and the story are pitch perfect. It does these things so well, in fact, that complaining about extras on the side seems a bit like whining.
	 
Final Grade: B+
	 
Mafia II is rated M for Mature and is available for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: hell yes

August 25, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

Let's be honest: Lara Croft has not had the best track record as of late. In fact, her best days seemed behind her.But what's this! The former champ is climbing into the ring once again and it's ...... Read on

Let's be honest: Lara Croft has not had the best track record as of late. In fact, her best days seemed behind her.
	 
But what's this! The former champ is climbing into the ring once again and it's ... it's ... awesome.
	 Lara Croft and the Guardian of Lightis a great damn game.
	 
The story is pulpy and goofy.

The boss battles are awesome

Take it away,
	 Wikipedia: Two-thousand years ago in ancient Central America, a battle began between Totec, the Guardian of the Light, and Xolotl, the keeper of darkness. Totec's army was defeated when Xolotl used the mirror of smoke to unleash hordes of ghastly creatures. Totec survived said battle, and found a way to defeat Xolotl, imprisoning him in the mirror of smoke and watching over the mirror as an immortal stone statue. In present day, Lara Croft reads of the legend and attempts to find the mirror. After a long and dangerous hike she is successful. She stops to observe the mirror, only to find the a band of mercenaries; led by the local warlord, followed her into the temple and took the mirror from her. Unknowing, or unbelieving of the curse opun the mirror, the leader of the mercenaries handles the mirror and recklessly releases Xolotl. The stone statue of Totec comes to life and warns Lara that Xolotl must be stopped before the light of dawn. Depending on whether you are in single player or not, Lara and Totec will either join forces or go separate ways to try and stop Xolotl.

And that's that.
	 
Let's address the gameplay. Gone is the over-the-shoulder third-person view.
	 Inis a pleasing isometric angle that gives players a complete view of the action and the platforming puzzles. Use your left thumbstick to move Lara, the right to control her weapon aiming (the camera is fixed, but this is not a problem).

The animation, whether you're controlling Lara (in single player) or Totec (in multiplayer) is smooth and sweet. Lara dashes across the screen with all the acrobatic, liquid grace we've come to expect from this heroine. The monsters look good, too (there are variations for every section). My favorite, of course, are the spiders, which come in swarming packs (but appear to be highly allergic to shotguns, hmm...).
	 
The gunplay and action is top notch as well. Thanks to the new isometric view, running and gunning has never been easier. Lara (or Totec) can aim at anything in all 360 degrees of movement, and you'll need that freedom to aim, considering how the baddies & creepy-crawlies swarm you.

The environmental puzzles here aren't hard so much as they are clever. I admit that I'm not sure if that statement makes complete sense, but I'm going to stick with it. Basically: if you overthink the puzzles, you won't solve them.
	 
The action puzzles (there's one in particular, where you're running through a gauntlet), on the other hand, can be a real bastard, considering
	 somethings kill Lara in one hit.
	 
The boss battles, which are like big action set pieces that integrate some minor puzzle elements, are a blast. They're extremely satisfying. Especially one early one against a mighty hungry dinosaur.
	 
One thing I wasn't keen on was the voice acting. Lara was, for all intents and purposes, fine. But Totec in particular I actually found annoying to listen to.

All told, this is the most fun I've had with Lara Croft in a long, long time.
	 
Final Grade: A-
	 
Available on Xbox Live Arcade (1200 points), PlayStation Network and PC ($14.99).

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Sims 3 making its way to consoles this fall

August 19, 2010 , ι By WILLIAM VITKA

I live in a Sims household. Obviously, I don't mean that I construct my apartment using a diagonal line tool or splash color around randomly to screw with the inhabitants (sometimes, maybe, removing... Read on

I live in a Sims household. Obviously, I don't mean that I construct my apartment using a diagonal line tool or splash color around randomly to screw with the inhabitants (sometimes, maybe, removing all the doors so that the little Sims have nowhere to go, mwahahaha). But, indeed, the Sims is a big part of gaming for me.
	 
As such, I'm fairly excited about it making its way to consoles (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360.
	 
Oh, the wonderful silliness to be had.

“We’re bringing players the best console and handheld game for The Sims franchise to date and are excited to offer a unique experience for all types of gamers on their platform of choice,” explained Sam Player, Executive Producer at EA. “Building on the unique traits system, living open neighborhood, lifetime wishes, and endless customization options, we’ve tailored each platform of The Sims 3 with exclusive features to allow for even more control, creativity, and connectivity.”
	 
And, according to the press release, there's something called "Karma Powers" which players can use to help their Sim “get lucky,” bless them with “instant beauty” or be deviant and curse them with an “epic fail.” But players should use these powers wisely—they may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite."
	 
Hoo boy.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

August 18, 2010 , ι By ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER

Eat your heart out Rambo.As I watched the developer from Treyarch play through parts of Call of Duty Black Ops, I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching a movie, and in many respects, I was.Call... Read on

Eat your heart out Rambo.
	 
As I watched the developer from Treyarch play through parts of Call of Duty Black Ops, I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching a movie, and in many respects, I was.
	 
Call of Duty has become one of the biggest selling game franchises of all-time, and after the wildly popular Modern Warfare 2, the series is back in the hands of Treyarch (Call of Duty World at War), and looks to take the storyline back a few decades but bring the gameplay and experience leaps and bounds forward.
	 
Call of Duty Black Ops is set during the Cold War, and while there was no official time period set, fans of the franchise can expect ultra-realistic missions and an incredible attention to detail. The unique thing about this game is that you are playing during a time period where you are fighting in a war, but the player does not actually fight the war. To make sense of that prior statement, players will delve into a game that uses Cold War concepts as a backdrop while experiencing a 100% original plot, with each mission containing specific missions and narrative.
	 
For the single player experience, the developer let us know that this story is one of the most deep and complex storylines in the history of the Call of Duty franchise. He stated the team has come up with an “incredible narrative,” and that this year’s story focuses intensely on character development.

For instance, for the first time in the franchise, your character has a voice of his own and will interact vocally with other characters throughout the single player campaign.
	 
One of the levels that was showcased was titled “Payback,” and players will have total control of a helicopter as they blow up literally everything in sight.
	 
The graphics were simply stunning, but it was the little details that made the game that much more appealing to me. For instance, players will be able to hear a little alert when missiles are closing in on your helicopter, or players will be able to read the facial expressions of some of the characters in the game as Treyarch implemented Full Performance Capture to help get across the extra emotion needed to have a truly cinematic experience.
	 
FPC is essentially motion capture 2.0, with a more intricate focus on facial movements and subtle body language. To put things into perspective, the company did their motion capture work using the same system, FPC, and at the same facility, House of Moves, as James Cameron used for this silly little independent film about blue people called “Avatar.”
	 
Yeah, that “Avatar.”

As for multiplayer, the people from Treyarch weren’t able to speak too much about it, as there will be a later reveal for the multiplayer aspects of the game, but they did say that there will be a co-op option that features local split screen for two players and up to four players online. They also said that this year the game will focus on giving players “unlimited possibilities for customization” in order to help players create an online identity. This means the Create A Class feature will be amped up as well as socialization and interaction.

Things are looking great for Call of Duty Black Ops, and according to the developer, this is the “best game Treyarch has ever made.” Considering that the last time they took the reins for a Call of Duty title their team of 250 was split across three different titles and now they all focused solely on Black Ops, I’d say that notion is hardly going to be considered an understatement.

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'Mass Effect 2' heading to PS3, 4 real

August 17, 2010 , ι Maxine Shen

Good news PS3 folks! Formerly Xbox 360-only "Mass Effect 2" is getting a PS3 launch next year. Why? Because Microsoft didn't publish it this time around...multiplatform-friendly EA did.... Read on