Battle Fantasia
This is one game that will more than likely be overlooked, which is a big shame being that Battle Fantasia (while not being really too different from other 2D fighters) is still very good in it own right. Aksys Games should be commended on bringing this very niche title here to the states. It also cool that it was made by one of my favorite fighting developers Arc System Works. This is NOT Guilty Gear with a new coat of skin. Compared to GG its much slower but the characters themselves are still pretty wild/weird (an Arc System's trademark). Battle Fantasia is sort of a "storybook" based fighter. By that I mean all of these characters feel as if they were pulled straight out of fairytales and were made to fight. Characters range from boy wizard Cleric, HUGE oaf Donvalve, catgirl Coyori, knight in training Marco, gunslinger Face (my personal fave), etc. The roster is pretty small as it only has 12 fighters, but luckily there all pretty unique and fun to use. Its also pretty cool that instead of the announcer saying "round 1" its "chapter 1"...see, like a "storybook". Battle Fantasia's modes consist of Arcade, Vs, Survival, Time Attack, Xbox Live, and Story Mode. It also has a Gallery mode to check out all the endings and pictures that you unlock throughout the course of playtime. It should keep you pretty busy for quite a while in order to unlock everything (considering it also unlock achievements). So as far as game modes go I have no complaints whatsoever. Graphics look beautiful. All the characters are 3-D but the fights are strickly 2-D. They all are wonderfully deatiled, and there animations and expressions are top notch. All of there super moves are also very well done with really nice special effects and fit with each respective character. The backgrounds themselves, while some of them are simple looking, are also beautifully done. Its a fantastic looking fighter. The music for the game is very "fantasy" like. Every level's music fits just about perfectly. While its not the greatest music I've ever heard in a fighting game, it is very well made, and again, fits pretty perfectly. Sound effects are also pretty spot on. Punches sound like punches, slams sound like slams, and there supers all sound like they pack a wallop. I also really like that in each characters story mode they all speak japenese with english subtitles. I'd rather have that then horrific voice acting anyday. Controls will be instantly familiar to anyone who's played any street fighter game. Its all pretty much half circles, charging certain moves, etc. As for playing with the 360 pad, to be completely honest, its not actually too bad. Mostly every command I input comes out. I would say about a good 85% of the time. All in all not to shabby. Aksys Games took a chance on Battle Fantasia and I'm really glad they did, as I'm enjoying it very much. If your a fan of the fighting genre you should give Battle Fantasia a look. Its characters, storybook setting, and gameplay are all very solid. At the very least, give it a shot when the price drops. Definately an underground sleeper.
Perfect Dark Zero
This game does everything right. There is a nice selection of weapons that requires the player to think through whether s/he wants to swap a weapon or not, seeing that you are limited to two types of guns at any one point in the game. The graphics are great and the settings varied. I also like the direction indicator so you can keep moving throughout the game with the least frustration. My only question is where is the rumored Perfect Dark Zero 2 for the 360?
Left 4 Dead
Alright I'll start off by saying Left 4 Dead isn't a bad game, don't be deceived by people who brought it and have no friends or online to play it on and decided to start bashing it. L4D is a CO-OP SHOOTER want me to repeat it CO-OP SHOOTER while there is offline single player mode it isnt enjoyable as much as playing with a friend. Next it's a short game in truth I've beaten each story on hard around 4 times now in less then 10 hours. L4D is basically 4 movies with the same characters Louis, Zoey, Bill, Francis. Each fighting off waves of zombies and mutations in order to get to the escape vehicle. You run from point A-B but you will have fun if you can play with friends the game is always fresh with random everything. The start of each chapter has the basics two weapons first aids, sometimes pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails. Now you will have to work CO-OP with your friends in order to make it to the end against all odds. While graphics are a tad eh its noted that people are starting to forget that most games while AWE inspiring last a good 7 hours with no reason to go through again l4d fixes that with decent graphics but so much replay its unfathomable. Bottom line folks want to have fun with friends offline or online, like killing zombies and yet never knowing how to proceed because the director is in control and he changes the game depending on how you're doing? well l4d is your game if you're like the reviewers who go omg its graphics are horrid or jeez i hate ign (which yea I'm noticing a lot of people just complaining at ign while they aren't perfect look how many games they review). Scoreboard judge this game fairly please.
No Crossing/Wii Speak Bundle In Scandinavia
Unfortunately, our fellow Norwegian gamers won't be able to buy Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City and Wii Speak in a cheaper bundle.
With just under a week to go until Nintendo unleash the Wii version of Animal Crossing in Europe, the last thing you'll want to hear is that you'll have to pay more if you want to get the highly-touted voice chat peripheral, Wii Speak, alongside it.
Unfortunately, that is exactly the case for gamers living in the Scandinavian regions Norway, Denmark and Sweden, who may be saddened to hear that the bundle won't be seeing a release in that region. You'll still be able to buy the game and microphone separately, it'll just cost a little extra.
Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City, Wii Speak and the downloadable Wii Speak Channel will all be released next Friday in Europe.
With just under a week to go until Nintendo unleash the Wii version of Animal Crossing in Europe, the last thing you'll want to hear is that you'll have to pay more if you want to get the highly-touted voice chat peripheral, Wii Speak, alongside it.
Unfortunately, that is exactly the case for gamers living in the Scandinavian regions Norway, Denmark and Sweden, who may be saddened to hear that the bundle won't be seeing a release in that region. You'll still be able to buy the game and microphone separately, it'll just cost a little extra.
Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City, Wii Speak and the downloadable Wii Speak Channel will all be released next Friday in Europe.
The Witcher hexing PS3, 360?
What we heard: That CD Projekt Red would like to do a console edition of The Witcher isn't what's at question. As recently as last month, the publisher-developer of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski's dark fantasy game adaptation has teased a console edition of the best-selling PC game was in the works. "There are a lot more places to explore in the world of The Witcher and there's obviously a huge audience out there that would still love to see the game on console...we're PC developers first and foremost, but you never know!"
Never, however, may be just around the corner. Over the prolonged holiday weekend, a GameTrailers user posted what appears to be an official developer diary for The Witcher: Rise of the Wolf, a console adaptation for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
As cinematic footage of the game rolls, an unnamed developer explains the primary differences between The Witcher on consoles and the PC edition. "The console version will look much better. [It] has a new engine with dynamic lighting, dynamic shadow, normal mapping, there's also new vegetation. In the console adaptation, enemy behavior will change a lot, there are new behaviors, new actions that can be performed by the enemies, the enemies will move much more dynamically."
The developer goes on to say that Rise of the Wolf will benefit from a "more dynamic and more engaging" combat system. "There are hundreds of new mocap animations in the console version," continued the developer. "We also wanted movement of the character, the main hero, and the enemies to be more realistic and fluid, so we are mo-capping a lot of new movements and animations." The developer also notes that Rise of the Wolf will fully support achievements, trophies, and Sixaxis motion-controls.
The official story: "We haven't made any official announcements about any of the three games in development at RED," a CD Projekt Red rep told GameSpot.
Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus. This video has all the dressings of a publisher-produced promotional spot, so expect to hear more about The Witcher: Rise of the Wolf when CD Projekt Red is good and ready to announce it.
Never, however, may be just around the corner. Over the prolonged holiday weekend, a GameTrailers user posted what appears to be an official developer diary for The Witcher: Rise of the Wolf, a console adaptation for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
As cinematic footage of the game rolls, an unnamed developer explains the primary differences between The Witcher on consoles and the PC edition. "The console version will look much better. [It] has a new engine with dynamic lighting, dynamic shadow, normal mapping, there's also new vegetation. In the console adaptation, enemy behavior will change a lot, there are new behaviors, new actions that can be performed by the enemies, the enemies will move much more dynamically."
The developer goes on to say that Rise of the Wolf will benefit from a "more dynamic and more engaging" combat system. "There are hundreds of new mocap animations in the console version," continued the developer. "We also wanted movement of the character, the main hero, and the enemies to be more realistic and fluid, so we are mo-capping a lot of new movements and animations." The developer also notes that Rise of the Wolf will fully support achievements, trophies, and Sixaxis motion-controls.
The official story: "We haven't made any official announcements about any of the three games in development at RED," a CD Projekt Red rep told GameSpot.
Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus. This video has all the dressings of a publisher-produced promotional spot, so expect to hear more about The Witcher: Rise of the Wolf when CD Projekt Red is good and ready to announce it.
Criterion unveils Burnout extension
British developer shows first series of images of Big Surf Island, confirms racers will have to pay to play.
While 2008 has had its fair share of great racing games, Burnout Paradise's numerous free updates have helped keep the game in the spotlight since January. New vehicles, a refined online mode, new weather options, and a pack devoted to two-wheeled racing have all held racing fans' interest throughout the year, and it looks like 2009 is going to start in the same vein, albeit less altruistically.
While it was originally intended as a free add-on, Criterion has announced that the newly christened Big Surf Island will be a paid-for download when it launches next year. Speaking about the decision to charge for the update, Criterion said, "We never expected to create anything this ambitious for the island, but as it progressed we got more and more excited." Described by the team as "the culmination of everything we learned creating Paradise City," the island is around the same size as the Downtown Paradise area, focusing on the same sort of gameplay to be found Paradise City's current airfield, quarry, and beach, which are dedicated to big jumps and high-speed drifting.
The news follows information about the game's other premium content, the Party Pack, which adds as host of new mainly offline multiplayer modes, and the Legendary Cars pack. Among the four vehicles in that latter are a speedy 1920s-inspired roadster and a Back to the Future Part II inspired hovering DeLorean-esque racer, with two more yet to be revealed.
The Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box will include the Party Pack when it comes out in February, but, confusingly, not Big Surf Island or the Legendary Cars. Prices and dates have not been announced for either the Legendary Cars pack or the island, but preliminary screenshots are available on Criterion's Web site.
While 2008 has had its fair share of great racing games, Burnout Paradise's numerous free updates have helped keep the game in the spotlight since January. New vehicles, a refined online mode, new weather options, and a pack devoted to two-wheeled racing have all held racing fans' interest throughout the year, and it looks like 2009 is going to start in the same vein, albeit less altruistically.
While it was originally intended as a free add-on, Criterion has announced that the newly christened Big Surf Island will be a paid-for download when it launches next year. Speaking about the decision to charge for the update, Criterion said, "We never expected to create anything this ambitious for the island, but as it progressed we got more and more excited." Described by the team as "the culmination of everything we learned creating Paradise City," the island is around the same size as the Downtown Paradise area, focusing on the same sort of gameplay to be found Paradise City's current airfield, quarry, and beach, which are dedicated to big jumps and high-speed drifting.
The news follows information about the game's other premium content, the Party Pack, which adds as host of new mainly offline multiplayer modes, and the Legendary Cars pack. Among the four vehicles in that latter are a speedy 1920s-inspired roadster and a Back to the Future Part II inspired hovering DeLorean-esque racer, with two more yet to be revealed.
The Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box will include the Party Pack when it comes out in February, but, confusingly, not Big Surf Island or the Legendary Cars. Prices and dates have not been announced for either the Legendary Cars pack or the island, but preliminary screenshots are available on Criterion's Web site.
Uncut GTA IV PC coming to Australia
Uncensored version of Grand Theft Auto IV PC to go on sale down under.
Rockstar Games is no stranger to Australia's strict video game classification regime. Even before the company's highly anticipated title Grand Theft Auto IV hit shelves worldwide in April this year, rumours of edits to the Australian Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions began to circulate. Rockstar confirmed the rumours, saying that they had made voluntary content cuts that were "not significant" to the overall product in order to satisfy the guidelines enforced by the local ratings body--the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC)--which is now called the Classification Board.
This week will see the Australian launch of Grand Theft Auto IV for PC, and in a statement, Rockstar today confirmed to GameSpot AU that unlike the console versions currently on sale, the Australian PC retail release of GTAIV will be sold completely uncensored.
"Grand Theft Auto IV PC has been rated MA15+ strong violence, sex scenes, coarse language, and drug references by the Australian Classification Office. The PC game is unedited in any way and identical in content to the international version," a local Rockstar rep said.
The rules governing the Australian classification system means that once a multiplatform title has been approved fit for sale by the board, publishers are then able to sell the approved version on all subsequent developed platforms. A local Rockstar Games representative was unavailable for comment at time of print as to whether future Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 shipments of the game sold in Australia would feature the uncut content found in the PC version. While Rockstar has never officially confirmed what was cut out of the Aussie console versions of GTAIV, GameSpot AU's comparison of the local and international version found that prostitution options were pared down in Australian games.
The news comes less than a week after Warner Bros. Interactive title F.E.A.R. 2 was refused classification for failing to meet the maximum MA15+ guideline for video games. Being awarded the RC rating effectively bans the title from sale in Australia and marks the fifth title deemed unfit during 2008.
Rockstar Games is no stranger to Australia's strict video game classification regime. Even before the company's highly anticipated title Grand Theft Auto IV hit shelves worldwide in April this year, rumours of edits to the Australian Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions began to circulate. Rockstar confirmed the rumours, saying that they had made voluntary content cuts that were "not significant" to the overall product in order to satisfy the guidelines enforced by the local ratings body--the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC)--which is now called the Classification Board.
This week will see the Australian launch of Grand Theft Auto IV for PC, and in a statement, Rockstar today confirmed to GameSpot AU that unlike the console versions currently on sale, the Australian PC retail release of GTAIV will be sold completely uncensored.
"Grand Theft Auto IV PC has been rated MA15+ strong violence, sex scenes, coarse language, and drug references by the Australian Classification Office. The PC game is unedited in any way and identical in content to the international version," a local Rockstar rep said.
The rules governing the Australian classification system means that once a multiplatform title has been approved fit for sale by the board, publishers are then able to sell the approved version on all subsequent developed platforms. A local Rockstar Games representative was unavailable for comment at time of print as to whether future Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 shipments of the game sold in Australia would feature the uncut content found in the PC version. While Rockstar has never officially confirmed what was cut out of the Aussie console versions of GTAIV, GameSpot AU's comparison of the local and international version found that prostitution options were pared down in Australian games.
The news comes less than a week after Warner Bros. Interactive title F.E.A.R. 2 was refused classification for failing to meet the maximum MA15+ guideline for video games. Being awarded the RC rating effectively bans the title from sale in Australia and marks the fifth title deemed unfit during 2008.
