VIDEO: Worms 2: Armageddon Launch Trailer

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Ahead of the launch of Worms 2 Armageddon on the PSn we have the launch trailer which shows jsut a little of the demented fun on offer.

REVIEW: Madden NFL 11

Developer/Publisher: EA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Madden NFL 11 arrives with little in the way of fanfare, which comes as no surprise considering how low a profile the NFL has on this side of the pond. Like many yearly updates, Madden can come across as nothing more than a roster update with more polished graphics but scratch beneath the surface and there’s a rewarding and redefined title on offer.

The mantra for Madden this time round is “Simpler, Quicker, Deeper” which may sound like the script to a low brow porn but in reality is exactly what the series needed. The simplification of the playbook interface makes for a far less daunting task for inexperienced players and shortens each match considerably which believe you me is a good thing. The use of sound bites of both offensive and defensive coordinators explains the multitude of strategic plays for each given situation acting as a handy tutorial for newcomers as well as allowing seasoned gamers a more thorough understanding of the sports depth.

The addition of Locomotion, a running engine allows for a more realistic approach. Rather than bashing the sprint button in order to gain speed the on field player automatically gains momentum making for a far more fluid and responsive system. The combination of the above new features makes for a more intuitive and rewarding game, the constant sense that each play could lead to something more.

Visually Madden 11 is somewhat disappointing, while it has received a visual polish the game can still look rather ropey at times, the overtly animated and awkward looking victory celebrations being the most obvious. Still the reinvigorated gameplay more than makes up for the at times ropey graphics and at least Madden haters will no longer be able to trot out the “its just a visual polish” criticism.

The biggest let down is once again the A.I. Watching as a team seem to deliberate lose a game trough bad play is at once frustrating and unforgivable. It can seriously suck the life out a game and result in much controller throwing. The occurence of injuries is absurd, turning them way down in the settings is advisable if you wish to keep player in the game for more than a few minutes. While casual gamers won’t notice these flaws experienced gamers will find them particularly distracting.

With all is said and done, Madden 11 is a return to form for the series and manages to appeal to both hardened gamers and newcomers alike. It may not be the perfect Madden game but it’s pretty damn close.

TRAILER: Halo Reach Day Before

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In a little over two weeks gamers will finally get an opportunity to return to the Halo universe and once more wage war on the Covenant. The game will follow the story of the Noble Team, a squad of Spartan soldiers and their last stand on the planet Reach, the last line of defence between us and them.

REVIEW: Crackdown 2

Developer: Ruffian Games| Publisher: Microsoft | Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The original Crackdown was an interesting take on the sandbox genre. In it you took on the role of a cop in a futuristic city as you battled gangs and took ona variety of missions. The most interesting aspect of it all was that you were able to acquire and upgrade superhuman abilities, you could jump insane distances, pick up cars and throw them with ease aswell as a slew of others. The game was a refreshing and entertaining take on the genre and one which deservedly won it’s self a number of dedicated fans.

The sequel developed this time by Ruffian Games is pretty much more of the same. Considering the different developers most gamers expected a different approach but you’ll have trouble spotting any real difference. It’s pretty much the same game as the original only with different missions and a refined graphics engine. The story is something of a misstep here, you once more play a cop trying to bring peace to the city but this time you must not only fight the gangs but a disease which has been laying waste to the population. Bar this set up the story is pretty much non-existent. There is no coherent narrative and as such youre pretty much free to do as you see fit. In place of a story we instead get a fully created world to explore and abilities to earn and upgrade. The city is a sprawling metropolis which stretches for miles and given the hordes which roam the streets you’re never far from some action.

As with so many sequels of late the missions have been created so as to encourage co-op gameplay. Missions involve attacking enemy bases, capturing places on the map aswell as laying waste to hordes of enemies, all in all perfect multiplayer fodder. If you decide to go it alone, the missions remain exactly the same. It would have been nice to see some additional missions opened up to co-op gamers, it would certainly add a level of replayability that as it stands Crackdown 2 seriously lacks.

Crackdown 2 is fun when played alongside another friend but for gamers on their own it’s a repetitive and uninteresting title which soon grows tiresome. Fans of the first Crackdown will find a lot to like here but for everyone else Crackdown 2 is another title to add to the long list of missed opportunities.

NEWS: Mass Effect 2 Coming to the PS3

EA today announced that the highly successful Mass Effect 2 would be making it’s PS3 debut next january. The game, the highest rated so far of 2010 will arrive on teh console in a special edition which will include hours of bonus content.

BIOWARE’S ACTION RPG MASS EFFECT 2 MAKES PLAYSTATION 3 DEBUT
The Highest Rated Game of 2010 Comes to PS3 in January 2011

August 17th 2010 – Today at GamesCom, BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced that Mass Effect™ 2, the highest rated game of 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PC*, is coming to the Sony PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in January 2011. The PlayStation 3 edition will include the full Mass Effect 2 game and hours of bonus content, making this the perfect introduction to BioWare’s award-winning action RPG franchise.

Mass Effect 2 has already received over 70 perfect scores from media outlets such as the Associated Press, Eurogamer, MSNBC,com, G4TV and the Los Angeles Times, and is the highest rated game in the 15-year history of Bioware and the 28-year history of EA.

The Mass Effect franchise is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous aliens and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, PlayStation 3 players will step into the role of Commander Shepard for the very first time, leading a crew of the most dangerous special operatives from across the galaxy on a mission to save mankind. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, Mass Effect 2 delivers an unparalleled gameplay experience.

NEWS: Duke Nukem Forever Back On

It’s been the best part of 13 years since development began on Duke Nukem Forever and after a series of delays, multitude of release date changes and cancellations any sane gamer gave up hope of ever seeing the title ever hitting shelves. When the game was officially cancelled most breathed a sigh of relief as the constant promise of the title and subsequent disappointment was to much to bear. Now it seems that Borderlands developer Gearbox are working on finishing the game and bring to an end the longest development hell of any title.

A report on Kotaku suggests that Duke is not only alive and well but that acclaimed developers Gearbox would be taking the game across the final hurdle.Gearbox were in the past linked with Duke when their Duke Begins project was being touted as Dukes return to form only for it to be cancelled.

More information concerning the game could surface around September with even rumblings that a playable demo may be launched before year’s end. Gamestoaster doesnt advising holding your breath but it does seem that one of the most unique development stories of all tie may soon be coming to an end.

REVIEW: Singularity

Developer:Raven Software |Publisher:Activision|Format: 360

The Bioshock comparisons are evident from the get go, special powers, unique and twisted enemies, upgradeable weapons and an enviroment directly out of your worst nightmare. Oh and don’t forget the rather tiresome audio logs full of useful information, useful that is as long as you’re willing to sit around listening to them. While these comparisons will no doubt be the focus for many there is much more here than yet another run of the mill shooter and unlike most of its ilk a few unique gameplay ideas saves the day.

The story unfolds on the Russian island of Katorga-12, the site of dastardly time manipulation experiments and being a sci-fi epic, the worst thing that can happen, does of course happen. A time shift sends our intrepid hero through time to a place where Russia is the worlds super power and an evil dictator runs the world now inhabited by mutated freaks. As the game unfolds you find yourself manipulating tears in time in order to jump back and forth in time in doing so changing the time line, it’s a unique idea which is perfectly executed.

As mentioned your time manipulation powers are integral to the gameplay, though like all good things in life too much of them robs them of their delight. The ability to unleash a time bubble which brings time contained within to a near standstill is a neat trick but it’s use makes gameplay rather formulaic and easy. By using the time bubble you can grab nearby enemies and easily dispatch them, repeat a few dozen times per area and in 8-10 hours it’s all over. Other abilities include being able to warp humans into mutated freaks and on the mutants themselves you can bring them to a near standstill or age their bodies till all that remains is dust. It’s all good wholesome family fun.

One of the most important aspects of any shooter is the control system and in Singularity the control system is intuitive and perfectly implemented. Movement and aiming are both spot on and the button layout makes for a title which can easily be picked up by even the most casual of gamers which considering the array of abilities on offer is no small feat.

The 8-10 hours of gameplay may not seem like much but considering the multiple endings on offer and dozens of rewards scattered throughout the levels re-playability is quite high making up somewhat for the rather lack struck multiplayer. Only two modes are offered and neither is exactly interesting, still with a few friends it will kill a rainy afternoon just don’t expect anything ground breaking.

Singularity is the definition of a good game which could have been a great one. It has it all, a great idea, inventive gameplay, great enemies but at the end of the day the repetitive gameplay robs it of greatness. That said, it’s still good fun and well worth at least a rental.

NEWS: Kinect Pricing Information

Microsoft have finally announced an official price on both the stand alone Kinect and a console  bundle pack.

The Kinect will retail for €149.99 and will come bundled with a free game, Kinect Adventures. Further first party Kinect games will have a suggested retail price of €49.99 and it is believed that this will be standard for most third-party publishers.

Those making the move to the 360 will be able to pick up a console/Kinect bundle which will retail for €299.99 and will include the console, Kinect and Kinect Adventures.

Microsoft also announced today details of the new 360 which is expected to hit stores on August 20th. The console will an inbuilt 4GB flash memory, built-in wi-fi adaptor aswell as a sleeker, more stylish outer case and will run near silent.

New Xbox 360, Kinect Sensor and “Kinect Adventures” — Get All Your Controller-Free Entertainment in One Complete Package

Microsoft announces pricing for Kinect and a new Xbox 360 4GB console.

Dublin. — July 20, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced an all-in-one opportunity to jump into the controller-free fun of Kinect coming this Christmas: the all-new Xbox 360 4GB console, the revolutionary Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” will be packaged together and priced at €299.99 Estimated Retail Price (ERP).  With “Kinect Adventures,” players will make their way through 20 adventures, navigating roaring rapids and ducking and dodging through mountaintop obstacle courses and other exotic locations — no controller, wand or balance board required. In addition, existing Xbox 360 console owners can purchase the Kinect sensor with “Kinect Adventures” for €149.99 (ERP).  The sensor, which will work with each of the 13 million[1] Xbox 360 consoles sold across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), is uniquely able to track your full body movements, respond to your voice and deliver a multiplayer experience right out of the box.

In addition, the new Xbox 360 4GB console, which begins shipping from August 20 in EMEA, will be available for €199.99 (ERP). With a sleek new design, the Xbox 360 4GB console looks great and includes built-in Wi-Fi N, 4GB of internal flash memory, touch-sensitive buttons and a black matte finish.

“Kinect for Xbox 360 offers tremendous entertainment value, transforming our living rooms into fitness classes, dance clubs and sports stadiums through full body, voice and multiplayer games,” said Chris Lewis, vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Europe. “Whether you’re new to Xbox 360 or an existing console owner, we’re committed to offering Kinect experiences that offer controller-free fun and entertainment right out of the box and these unique products and retail offers provide the most complete and affordable way for all the family to enjoy Kinect this Christmas.”

More than 15 games are set to be available at launch. In addition to games, Kinect changes the way you experience entertainment by putting your favorite movies, TV programs and music all in one place and controlling it with just the wave of a hand. Kinect also creates new ways for friends and family to have fun together. With Video Kinect, share a smile with friends and family, as you open a window into living rooms around the world.

Starting today, select retailers are taking pre-orders for the Xbox 360 Kinect Console Bundle at €299.99 (ERP) and the Kinect for Xbox at €149.99 (ERP). In addition, Kinect games, including “Kinectimals,” “Kinect Sports” and “Kinect Joy Ride,” will retail for €49.99  (ERP).

About Kinect

Kinect for Xbox 360 brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways — no controller required. Simple to use and fun to play, Kinect for Xbox 360 allows owners to jump into Kinect-enabled games for any type of play, and the Kinect Hub puts your favorite movies and TV programs, music, live sports, and social networks all in one place. The Kinect sensor recognizes you, responds to your gestures, listens to your voice and works with every Xbox 360 console (175 MB of memory required). More information about Kinect for Xbox 360 can be found at http://www.xbox.com/kinect.

REVIEW: Green Day: Rock Band

Developer: Harmonix |Publisher: EA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The Guitar Hero franchise got in on the single band music title with Guitar hero: Aerosmith way back in 07 whereas it took Rock Band a further two years to release a title dedicated to one band. Considering that the band in question was the Beatles, one can forgive the delay. After the success of the Beatles Rock Band it was only a matter of time till we saw more single band title released and now it’s the turn of pop punk heros Green Day.

Following the beatles is a tough trick to pull off and while Green Day do have a vast catalogue of songs to draw from unfortunately the absence of key tracks from the band’s history is disappointing. Most of the tracks included are taken from the latter half of the bands life with Dookie and American Idiot represented here in their entirety with 12 tracks from 21st Century Breakdown on offer. Given the nature of the music the difficulty level is substantially less than that of the Beatles, 3 cord punk rock never was all that difficult to pick up and play.

Gameplay is the same as last years Beatles, you can do up to a three-part harmony with other singers and can utilise the No Fail option if you want to play through the full song but just don’t feel capable of succeeding on your own all in all there’s nothing different on offer here but let’s be honest why fix something which aint broken.

Greed Day Rock Band is exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more, nothing less. THe soldi selection of songs will appeal to fans though long time fans may feel short-changed given the absence of key moments in the band’s history. Your enjoyment of the game all depends on one thing, whether or not you love Green Days music and as such fans will find a lot to enjoy here. for everyone else, Beatles Rock band remains the definitive single band title.
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NEWS: 4 More Red Dead Redemption Download Packs

Rockstar Games have announced 4 further download packs for the critically acclaimed Red Dead Redemption, the packs will be released during the coming months.

Teh first pack will be released this August and will add new multiplayer weapons and characters. It is in teh later part of the year when the releases will come into their own with the release of the Undead Nightmare Pack which will include new single player content aswell as multiplayer zombie characters.

Release dates for the remaining two packs are unknown.
Full breakdown of the contents of each pack:

Legends and Killers Pack

New active map locations, characters and more:

• Release date: beginning of August 2010;
• 9 new multiplayer map locations — more than doubling the amount of territories in the multiplayer competitive modes;
• 8 new multiplayer characters — play as characters from Red Dead Revolver;
• Introducing a new projectile weapon: the Tomahawk, with corresponding challenges for single-player and multiplayer gameplay;
• New achievements and trophies;
• Pricing: $9.99 (PlayStation Network), 800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE).

Liars and Cheats Pack

New competitive modes, multiplayer mini-games in Free Roam, and more:

• Release date: TBC;
• Attack and Defend multiplayer competitive mode and challenges;
• New multiplayer horse races, complete with mounted combat;
• Play as the heroes and villains of Red Dead Redemption, as well as 8 additional multiplayer characters;
• Multiplayer versions of Liars Dice and Poker from the single-player game;
• Introducing a new weapon: the Explosive Rifle, with associated challenges available in single-player and multiplayer gameplay;
• New achievements and trophies;
• Pricing: $9.99 (PlayStation Network), 800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE).

Free Roam Pack

Delve deeper into the world of Red Dead Redemption with new modes, challenges and gang hideouts to discover:

• Release date: TBC;
• Additional Free Roam challenges;
• New action areas and defensive placements;
• Posse scoring and leaderboards;
• New anti-griefing measures in Free Roam;
• Pricing: TBC.

Undead Nightmare Pack

Ghost towns and cemeteries come alive in a West gone horribly wrong:

• Release date: TBC;
• Brand new single-player adventure, challenges and quests;
• 8 new multiplayer zombie characters;
• Additional animals unleashed in the world;
• New dynamic events and more;
• Pricing: $9.99 (PlayStation Network), 800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE).

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