Saturday Video Round Up: January 22 – 28

In the mood for some trailers and gameplay videos? You’ve come to the right place as I’ve got a brand new video round up for your viewing pleasure.

Here’s what’s on tap for today’s edition:

We’ve got a wealth of content again this week with a brand new SSX trailer leading off detailing the South American Patagonian Mountain Range as narrated by Zoe.  BioWare released another amazing trailer for the upcoming sci-fi epic Mass Effect 3.  Come witness some intense multiplayer action and learning about the different races you’ll be able to play.  Curious to know more about the console version of The Witcher 2?  CDProjekt Red released a new trailer even showing off the new release date for the 360 version.  More teasing from Vigil and THQ as a new Darksiders II is out.  Very cool video showing the Horseman Death throughout the ages but I’m in need of some gameplay guys! The Darkness II launches in a little over a week and 2K has pushed out the launch trailer to get you ready for the game.  I’ve also got new trailers for Gotham City Imposters, Final Fantasy XIII-2, MLB 12: The Show and so much more after the break, so kick you feet up and come check out this week’s batch of trailers!

Videos are after the jump.

The Darkness II Demo Impressions

The Darkness seemed to be an under the radar cult favorite game when it first released a few years ago.  Not being too familiar with the first game, I came into this demo with literally no expectations at all.  I knew the premise as you play a mob boss of some sort who inherits demonic powers called The Darkness.  Essentially, that was the extent of my knowledge going in.

First booting it up, I was treated to a first person perspective of getting a stake driven through both hands.  Yes folks, this is going to be a bloody and violent game.  You pick up things as Jackie Estacado once more as you’ve been seemingly captured and crucified by a group who’s looking to reclaim your powers for themselves.  Between the interrogations and beatings, you flashback to earlier events, perhaps eventually leading up to the situation you’re currently in. 

The first gameplay segment is a total Godfather moment as you’re walking through a restaurant and your associate chats up everyone he sees as you make your way to a table in the back where a pair of busty twins awaits you.  Things go south quick as you reach the table when a bullet rips through the skull of one of the twins and a car blasts through the wall.  You live but your right leg is badly burned and in addition to the influx of enemies, the restaurant is in the process of burning down.  You’re given a gun to defend yourself as you’re dragged to the kitchen and potential safety.  It’s a bit after this point in the next couple of gameplay segments that you’re given access to the Darkness powers and introduced to controlling them and gaining essence from kills to upgrade your character.  The story presented in the demo seems pretty compelling and it’s at least interesting.  I wonder if the main game will be told through the flashback style method, or if that was just for demo purposes.

One thing that’s not in short supply in the demo is violence and gore.  Between watching getting a stake driven through your hands, a badly burned leg, impaling a guy with a demon arm, ripping someone in half, and many, many more, prepare yourself for some truly visceral moments.  What’s also cool is that you can pick up objects in the world and use them as projectiles.  I have to admit, it never got old picking up something like a parking meter and launching it like a missile at an enemy and seeing him stuck to the wall.  Plus, being able to rip a car door off and use it as a shield never got old.

Controls are fairly standard for a first person shooter, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that the controls were a tad bit floaty.  Might be a case of just getting used to it though.  The demon powers are pretty cool and were exciting at first but after seeing the animations start to repeat fairly quickly for the brutal execution moves, it lost its charm a bit.  I’m hoping that the final game will have more of them to keep things fresh.  Once I had the darkness powers though, I never felt in danger of dying as I could have the demon arms eat the hearts of downed enemies to replenish my health.  Overpowered?  Maybe. 

The graphic style of the game really impressed me.  It has a definite comic book feel as it features heavy black lines around characters yet maintaining a semi-realisitic look.  It really creates a wonderful looking cel-shaded style that fits the game well.  I know the Darkness is based on a comic book so the cel-shading style in the game really is a cool feature.

Overall, I was impressed by what I played.  Thankfully, the inclusion of the Darkness powers and upgrade system give the game that hook it needs.  You’ll get a good taste of what to expect in the story line with the demo as it jumps around, but thankfully you won’t have to wait too much longer as the full retail verison hits on February 7.

Rumor: Xbox 720 Details Surface?

Fresh off the presses over at my officially unofficial rumor mill, it seems the future of the Xbox has emerged.

If the rumors are to believed, we’ll be getting the official details straight from Microsoft at this year’s E3 press conference.  That’s not all though as some details about the yet to be named Xbox Next have seemingly been leaked.  First off, it’ll be playing Blu-ray, support DirectX11, 3D, multi-display output, and 1080p HD.  A “Kinect 2″ functionality is also rumored to be integrated directly into the console itself.  Better yet, the GPU will come from the AMD 6000 series.  Mass production of the GPU is scheduled to start sometime at the end of 2012 with a system release date targeted for October/November 2013.

Here’s the odd thing.  Supposedly, it’ll be able to block used games from being played.  Obviously this would be a huge loss to gamers and could potentially anger a large portion who rely on the cheaper priced games.  Not only that, GameStop would certainly be pissed as well as it’s cutting into their business.  I don’t have to say how a move like this helps developers.  Thinking about it, I’m not exactly sure Microsoft could pull this off, but it’s definitely going to be a source of controversy if true.

According to reports, the Xbox 720 will be at least 6 times more powerful than the current 360, which is 4 times as powerful as Nintendo’s WiiU as that is rumored to be 2 times as powerful as the current Xbox.  I’ll let that sink in for a moment as I realized I threw around a lot of numbers.  With Nintendo most likely going to pull the curtain back at E3 this year, hopefully Microsoft will follow suit with their system.  Now the big question is what is Sony got cooking to counter these two.

Soundtrack Central – Holiday 2011 Recap

Before we get too deep into 2012 and start in on what I believe will be another excellent year for music and game soundtracks, I want to take a step back to recognize a few titles that finished 2011 on a very strong note in terms of pleasing sounds.  So lets get started shall we?  Your ears will thank you, trust me.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
If you’ve read my blog for any length, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this franchise.  It also helps that each game has a very strong soundtrack to go along with it.  Revelations was no exception though I will admit that it did take some time before it firmly planted itself into my head.  With the game’s setting turning east towards Constantinople, we get a more exotic feel with a diverse array of music based in Greek, European, and Middle-Eastern regions to help sell the player on the diverse cultures living there.  In addition to the classic instrumentals, you also get action driven beats and electronica sounds mixed together to create some really interesting pieces in the classic Assassin’s Creed style.

Recommended Tracks:
Main Theme
Byzantium
Istanbul
Ambush
The Road To Masyaf

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Okay, so I’m sure we’ve all played this one at this point, so it needs no introduction.  The music is so good that it literally meshes with the gameplay so much that you may not notice it.  I can’t let this go because Skyrim features an astounding score set in motion by composer Jeremy Soule.  Honestly, it could be featured in any medieval fantasy film, it’s that good.  It’s would also cover 4 cds to fit everything from the game.  Featuring a sweeping chorus, strong percussions, intricate orchestra arrangements, and accoustic guitars to give the game that epic feel.

Recommended Tracks:
Dragonborn
Ancient Stones
Death Or Sovngarde
Silent Footsteps

Rayman Origins
While it’s easily the goofiest game of the bunch on this list, that doesn’t mean that the music isn’t as good.  Oh no.  Michel Ancel and his team at UbiSoft managed to deliver a soundtrack that significantly enhances the core gameplay experience and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.  While it can be a difficult platformer at times, the music will keep you humming along and you’ll even find yourself smiling. No matter how many times you miss that jump.  It’s extremely hard to really describe the overall sound as it just incorporates so much into each song.  You’ll get things like trumpets, banjos, ukuleles, percussions, wind instruments, goofy noises and vocals, etc.  The thing is though, it just works. It works really well.

Recommended Tracks:
Swinging Caves
The Tricky Treasure
Lums of the Water
The Electoons’ Savior
Moskito and the Inferno

The House Party Begins February 15 on Xbox Live!

Looking forward to the annual Xbox Live Arcade promotions every year?  In a few weeks, Microsoft’s House Party kicks off with 4 very strong titles.  Just recently announced were the scheduling and prices for each title.  So what can you look forward to and how many Microsoft Fun Bucks are you going to need to bring to the party?  Here’s the complete list for your viewing pleasure:

February 15: Warp – 800 points
Warp, brought to life by EA and developer TrapDoor, is a puzzle based stealth action title where you play a little, yet deadly alien looking to settle a score with a General who abducted him from his home world.

February 22: Alan Wake: American Nightmare – 1200 points
Follow-up to the well reviewed horror thriller by the guys over at Remedy, American Nightmare sees the writer Alan Wake fighting against the evil herald of darkness, Mr. Scratch, as Wake tries to take back his life.  In addition to the standalone single player story, you’re also getting a horde like Arcade mode where you have to use the light to survive till dawn.

February 28: Nexuiz – 800 points
Twitch based shooter harkening back to the old school FPS days, this arena based shooter pits two warring factions against one another for the entertainment of the galaxy as they watch along.  According to the description, players will be able to alter the rules and laws of physics while fighting other players in hostile environments.  More importantly?  This downloadable title is using the ridiculously powerful CryEngine3. 

March 7: I Am Alive – 1200 points
The oft delayed UbiSoft survival game finally sees the light of day and rounds out the House Party.  One year after a cataclysmic event rocks the world and wipes out most of the human population, one man searches for his wife and daughter amidst a ruined city, struggling to survive against a changed human condition, crumbling environment, and a choking dust.  This game’s biggest issue?  Mass Effect 3 comes out a day before.

Rumor: Resident Evil 6 Multiplayer Information!

So late last week, Capcom unveiled the inevitable Resident Evil 6 to the world at their 15th Anniversary Event in Japan.  The surprising lengthy trailer (which can be seen in this past Saturday Video Round Up) showed off a ton of cool elements and promise for the actual game.  Need more on the detail side of things?  Well, Microsoft may have spilled the beans.

If you head on Xbox Live and go check out the Resident Evil 6 listing on the Marketplace, you’ll see some very interesting features listed there.  Lets first look at the online features shall we?  Microsoft has Resident Evil 6 listed with 8 player online multiplayer and 6 player online co-op.  For those of you that love couch co-op, Capcom also has you covered with offline 2 player co-op as well.  Pretty interesting if you ask me.  Perhaps the 8 player multiplayer could be something similar to the “Mercenaries” modes they’ve been putting out there with recent Resident Evil games? 

Again, this is only an Xbox Marketplace listing…albiet an official one by Microsoft….but until Capcom says “Yay” or “Nay” on this one, I’d file this one in the rumor bin.  Resident Evil 6 is slated for November 20 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Hey, What Am I Currently Playing?

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done one of these and on this lazy and cold Sunday I figured what better time to update you on what I’m currently pushing through.  After the massive influx of quality games from the fall/holiday season, I’m slowly catching up on my backlog.  I’ve shelved games like Saints Row: The Third and Batman: Arkham City for the moment as I’ve completed the main campaign but there’s plenty of additional combat to tackle.  Also, if you’re wondering what I’m currently working through at any given time, you can always check the side bar in my “Currently On My Plate” widget to see the latest.  I’m constantly updating that thing.  So before the next wave hits us in March, here’s what I’m currently working on:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
My first official Elder Scrolls game to be honest and I’m just astounded by the attention to detail and overall scope. This game is massive.  I have a continually growing quest log that’s borderline overwhelming but completely awesome.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself from Skyrim, it’s that I may have a hoarding tendency buried deep within.  I can’t help picking up everything I come across.  Honestly though, the game will take forever to get through, but it’s something you don’t mind because it’s all around fantastic.  Seriously, the hours just melt away when you have this disk in.  Excuse me, I have to get back being the Dragon Born and saving the land.

Rayman: Origins
An absolute joy to play, it harkens back to the glory days of platformers.  Yes, it will get difficult, but I’ve never found myself wanting to break the disk in half.  Again, I’m less than halfway through so who knows, it may change. Michel Ancel and his team at Ubisoft has created a visually stunning game with the fantastic new UbiArt Framework and I have to mention the goofy yet equally addictive soundtrack.  Go download the demo right now.

NFL Blitz
I’ll admit it, I’m a Blitz junkie.  I’ve put countless hours (and quarters) into the arcade version and also the N64 games as well.  I was pumped when EA announced they were working on an updated version for Xbox Live Arcade and PSN and thankfully, the formula hasn’t changed one bit.  The gameplay is still fast, the hits are still huge, and the game has been updated with more modern game modes including the ability to team up or square off online.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl
After writing about the potential downfall of developer GSC and my relative unfamiliarality with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, one of my buddies actually purchased the game via Steam for me.  He’s a huge fan of the franchise and saw an opportunity to convert me.  While I’ve put about an hour and a half into the game, I’m finding it to be a really unique and interesting experience.  It’s a game that is pretty hands off and can be difficult at times, but one that you’ll constantly want to push through to uncover more about what’s going on.  Expect more from me on this one soon.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Yeah, I beat this one a few weeks ago but the updates and changes to multiplayer has really made it a main stay for me.  More game modes, better maps, and a bigger focus on customization has really struck a chord with me.  Plus, there’s much more I need to do on the story side of things as well.  I’m always willing to jump back in the animus.  Bleeding effect and insanity be damned!

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
While I may have completed the campaign a while back, the online is still very much addictive.  It hasn’t stuck with me quite like Uncharted 2, but I’m still having loads of fun.  Luckily for fans, Naughty Dog seems to have an abundance of DLC coming through out the year.  Looks like I’ll be playing this one for quite a while…

Saturday Video Round Up: January 15 – 22

Not sure why, but this week was overloaded with trailers, videos, and just about everything else.  I’ve got a ton this week in thr Round Up, so lets kick this thing off.

Here’s what’s on tap for today’s edition:

Capcom announced Resident Evil 6 kind of under the radar in my opinion this week, but they’ve also released a pretty hefty debut trailer for the game.  I’ve got it waiting for you below.   Darksiders II resurfaced this week with a brand new trailer showing off some new gameplay and more information on the world that Death will be in.  Curious about the story line in the upcoming Soul Calibur V?  There’s a brand new trailer with your name on it below the break.  Bioware also released a brand new trailer showing off just how Kinect will be working with Mass Effect 3 and I have to admit, I’m pretty intrigued.  Check it out for yourself below.  Rockstar unleashed a brand new Max Payne 3 trailer below showing off some weapons and the targeting system you’ll be using in the game.  I’ve also got new trailers for Iron Brigade, Yakuza: Dead Souls, I Am Alive and so much more after the break, so kick you feet up and come check out this week’s batch of trailers!

Videos are after the jump.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Demo Impressions

On paper, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning looks like the greatest thing since sliced bread.  How could it not?  Just look at the talent pool Curt Schilling and 38 Studios managed to assemble at Big Huge Games.  Creating the world and storyline is acclaimed fantasy author R.A. Salvatore, former Lead Designer of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Ken Rolston, heading up the gameplay and well-known artist and creator of Spawn, Tood McFarlane working on the art.  Still, if the game play isn’t good, all the talent in the world wouldn’t matter.  That’s why I was really excited to jump into the recently released demo for the game. 

So what did I think?  Kingdoms of Amalur is awesome.  Let me explain…

Need More Uncharted 3? DLC Details Revealed!

After months of waiting, Naughty Dog has finally pulled back the curtain on their upcoming DLC plans.  Many of you may have seen that the first map pack for Uncharted 3 released this past Tuesday over on PSN.  What’s cool is Naughty Dog spent these past couple months unleashing a technology storm on these maps so you may notice that they managed to add a brand new lighting system, all new map textures and weather effects.  That’s great and all, but I can see you’re looking for more.  And more you shall receive my friend.

Coming up next in the DLC pile for Uncharted 3 is a couple of character packs which include some of the devious and minor characters from previous games in the series.  A Donut pack is also on the way and you’ll be seeing some of your favorite characters giant-sized, including Sully.

Here’s some news for you Fortune Hunter Club members out there.  Initially, picking up this “season pass” saved you 45% from the seven DLC packs.  They’ve now reworked it so you’re getting double that (14 total packs) for an even bigger savings of 60%.  Not too shabby right?  They’ve also teased a possible single player DLC…I think anyway, so don’t hold me to that.  No word yet on the details or potential release dates, but as soon as I now, you’ll know.

Starhawk Multiplayer Public Beta Information

Lightbox Interactive and Sony detailed the schedule for the much-anticipated and recently released Public Beta for the upcoming Starhawk. With the private beta portion all wrapped up now, the flood gates have been opened for those of you using Playstation Plus or having participated in the private beta.  Still, you might be wondering when you can get your hands on this third person shooter.  Not to worry dear reader, I’ve got the full schedule below for your viewing pleasure.

So who gets in and when?  Well, if you picked up a copy of Uncharted 3 this past November in the US, look inside and you’ll see a code for this very beta.  For you, you’ll be able to get in with that code on January 31.  On February 7, if you visit the Facebook pages of Playstation and Gamestop, code will be given away for access.  IGN will be giving away codes on February 14 and finally, if you’re still unlucky enough to be without a code, all PSN users can jump in on February 21.  No word yet on when the beta ends, but I’d imagine it would be sometime after Feb 21.  Most likely a few days after. 

So, what should you expect in the beta?  Well, details are still sketchy at best, but it has been confirmed that more game modes and content will be unlocked than what you saw (or didn’t see I should say) in the Private Beta.  Lightbox has also said that they’re going to be constantly updating content based on feedback, so it sounds like we’ll be getting a good amount of variety.

Also, do remember that this isn’t a demo for the game.  You’re going to run into bugs or issues.  If you can, try reporting some of these things as well.  You’ll be helping not only the developer in it’s troubleshooting process, but you’ll be making the end product better for all of us.  I’ll have hands on impressions and thoughts in a few weeks on this title once I get some quality time with it.

Asura’s Wrath Demo Impressions

Boy, where to begin with this one.  Asura’s Wrath is so tough and manly that you may just start growing chest hair while you play.  It’s also so over the top and freakin’ insane that it’s extremely difficult to compare it to anything else out there.  Don’t believe me?  Here’s a very short list of things that you’ll be doing in the demo:

Catching missiles and throwing them back at a giant battleship in the sky, getting impaled by a sword through the planet Earth, destroying a deity the size of Jupiter by catching his index finger as he tries to squish you, and fighting on the surface of the moon.

Like I said, that’s only a small list of what you can expect.  It’s crazy.  I haven’t seen anger like this since Kratos went ape on everyone on Mount Olympus.

Booting up the demo will give you two missions to play through, both being boss fights. Or maybe that’s what the game will be.  I’m still not sure on what the actual gameplay will entail.  One thing I wish they threw in more of is any kind of reference to the story.  They feature a few flashbacks or memories during the gameplay, but for the most part, you don’t get any context into why you’re fighting these people or who they are in terms of the storyline. 

You’re getting a good taste of gameplay however.  Like I mentioned, I really can’t comment on what the end game will play like, but I do know that it’s definitely an action game.  What I’m curious about is whether or not it’ll have pathways to explore, maps to complete or is it just all about beating the crap out of people?  One thing you will notice is the large amount of quick time events used throughout each demo boss fight.  These range from simple button presses at the correct moment, to mashing buttons, or even moving the control sticks a certain way.  Personally, I didn’t find the QTE’s to get in the way all that much.  They’re integrated pretty well and don’t seem to be too random and put in just to be there.  It felt natural.  The control scheme is a little awkward at first especially noticable during the full control segments when the action isn’t heavily scripted.  That’s why the lack of actual gameplay has me a bit worried.  While the demo is fun, I’m not sure I could play through an entire game based around the demo gameplay only. 

Asura’s Wrath is certainly an interesting game and unlike anything out there currently.  While the control scheme may take some getting used to and the game featuring overly campy voice acting, you can’t deny that Asura’s Wrath is entertaining and over the top.  it has some really cool set piece moments and the graphics aren’t too shabby either.  Based on the demo, the action is unrelenting and you’re going to see some pretty insane things as you play through both demo chapters.  Again, the demo doesn’t really give much away on the story or what the game is even going to be like, but in my book, it’s worth a download to try out regardless.  Seeing a person impaled by a sword through a planet is worth the hard drive space alone.  The game will be on store shelves February 21.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Force Channels New Content Update

With this highly anticipated MMO finally releasing this past December to very strong sales and a large player base, are you suddenly finding yourself craving new content?  I’d be surprised if you were seeing that this is an MMO but BioWare has heard the pleas and has unveiled their plans for the first major content update to The Old Republic.

Surprisingly, Game Update 1.1 goes live this Tuesday and is mainly geared toward high level players as it adds in a brand new Flashpoint and an Operation.  It’s also adding anti-aliasing to the game and is going to fix some balancing issues that’ll mainly affect players in the PvP sector.  Not hip on the SWTOR lingo?  Flashpoints and Operations are essentially high level instances from other MMOs.  They’re basically end game content and feature superior rewards but a high level of difficulty.

Here are some quick details on the new content for you:

Kaon Under Seige is the flashpoint being added and it’s for groups of up to 4 as they race to Kaon to eliminate the Rakghoul outbreak.  Your ultimate goal will be securing the Tion Hedgemony for your side.  There will be a normal and a heroic version for level 50 players.

Karagga’s Palace is the Operation included in this update and it’s essentially a continuation of the game’s second launch operation.  Teams of 8-16 players will go up against Karagga and the Hutt Cartel after they broke their neutrality.  The Republic and Sith Empire send in groups to confront Karagga to determine what he plans on doing.  This operation is coming with Normal, Heroic and Nightmare difficulties.

Alright, so you’re not a level 50 character yet?  Not to worry, future updates to the game will include more Flashpoints and Operations, but BioWare also has an ‘Events’ team hard at work developing content for a wide range of players.  So plan on seeing a lot of varying content coming fast and furious.

Here’s a handy video as well to give you some insight into this update:

DLC Inbound! Modern Warfare 3 Getting 9 Months Worth Starting This Month

Yes, you read that right.  Activision is charging full steam ahead with their DLC plan for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.  A week from this Tuesday, those Call of Duty Elite subscribers on Xbox Live can get ready to see their game expand.  This first DLC will kick off a 9 month “Content Season” for Elite subscribers which will total around 20 packs ranging from maps, spec-ops missions, and more.

So what can you expect to see on January 24?  This first “content drop” will include two brand new maps for multiplayer.  You’re getting the scenic “Piazza” set on the Italian coastline and “Liberation” set in a war-torn Central Park in New York City.  Both maps will also be available in Spec Op Survival as well.  In Liberation, Central Park has been militarized with mounted turrets on each end of the map, making the middle a risky proposition for players to run across.  Piazza, on the other hand, is a bit smaller that is better suited to close quarter combat.  It also has a bit of verticality that reminds me of “Favela” from Modern Warfare 2 a little bit.

With Raven, Sledgehammer, and Infinity Ward hammering away on new content, you’ll be seeing updates every month.  No word yet on when PC or PS3 players will gain access to these maps but I’d imagine you have at least a month’s wait.  If you’re not an Elite subscriber on Xbox Live, don’t worry.  You’ll be getting these maps in a bundle (not for free though) once 3 months worth of content has released.  My biggest thought is how this potentially might divide the community.  Obviously, there’s a massive player base, but bite sized DLC releases every month is an interesting move.

Saturday Video Round-Up: Jan 8 – 14

In the mood for some trailers and gameplay videos?  You’ve come to the right place as I’ve got a brand new video round up for your viewing pleasure.

Here’s what’s on tap for today’s edition:

EA and Big Huge Games released another trailer for the upcoming Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning this past week. Come get a look at the art of crafting and the many things you’ll be able to create.  Need more information on Agent 47′s return to gaming?  I’ve got a brand new trailer for Hitman: Absolution below featuring gameplay and a developer talking about some of the new features you’ll find within the game.  Curious about Activision’s plan for DLC with Modern Warfare 3?  There’s a brand new trailer waiting for you below the break detailing the “Content Season” and the many DLC packs coming. A brand new SSX trailer is once again back this week showing off the many game mode and things you can do within the game. I’ve also got new trailers for Saints Row: The Third, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Binary Domain and so much more after the break, so kick you feet up and come check out this week’s batch of trailers!

Videos are after the jump.