We’ve got kind of a lot of late week pieces of video game news – and some movie news that fits the category. Game Developers Conference 2011 means lots of stuff is getting out. The really big news won’t hit until E3 though.
A teaser trailer was brought to GDC ’11 from Tecmo and Team Ninja. It’s currently being called the “Gaiden Project” but this is obviously Ninja Gaiden 3. It shows very little, just Ryu Hayabusa drenched in blood starting to remove his mask before the camera cuts away. It then promises more information at this year’s E3. Stay tuned I guess.
Serious Sam is seriously back in Serious Sam 3: BFE, a prequel coming to consoles (and presumably PC) this summer. I can’t say I’m excited but I know some of you must be. I’ve never been a fan of FPS and this character seems like a low-rent version of Duke Nukem. Still, Fork Parker of Devolver Digital is excited that the proceeds from the game means his “wife is totally getting the tit job she’s been asking for.” While I may not be a fan of FPS, I do enjoy tits. Just remember Fork, the guy that pays for them never gets to play with them.
Because movies based on video games are always glorious wonders of the cinematic arts that means we need to make more of them. Right? The latest casualty in the cross media blitz is Devil May Cry. Capcom’s highly successful demon-slaying franchise has been optioned by Screen Gems. Kyle Ward, writer of 3 Rounds, has been tapped for the script. Incidentally, Ward is also tied to a script for the 2013 Kane & Lynch film.
Going the opposite direction, Battle: Los Angeles (coming to theaters March 11th) will also be getting a game treatment. Obviously a full disc release being announced this late in the game would be insane. Instead, the first person shooter will be available on XBLA, PSN, and Steam around the same time as the film release. Even as downloadable title, I really hope they’ve put some time and effort into making a quality game, not just quality profit.
Good news for any UK readers, with “The Da Vinci Disappearance” coming to Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood as DLC next week, Ubisoft has announced a new SKU of the full game. Being called, simply, the Da Vinci Edition, it will include the main game and the DLC. It will not include the free Copernicus DLC for the PS3. If you don’t already own the game, might as well get this expanded edition. Unfortunately the announcement seems to apply only to the UK for now.
I’ve mentioned before how much I like the growing popularity of PSN/XBLA download titles. Zoo Entertainment is bringing arcade racing action to the consoles this summer with Fireburst. You’ll get 16 cars in four classes, each with a fire-based attack, across 14 tracks to play in single player, 4-player split screen or online multiplayer; all for only $10. If you need a cheap fix for your arcade racer addiction, this looks like it will get you through the summer.
Catherine has been making headlines in Asia as an upcoming “anxiety” game but we’ve heard little about it coming to North America. That has now changed and you can expect it stateside this summer. But what is it? That hasn’t been made very clear. According to Aram Jabbari, PR and Sales Manager for Atlus, “Catherine is an unprecedented exploration of the pleasures and horrors of love. As Vincent, a man recently succumbed to the irresistible beauty of the game’s titular diversion, players find themselves swept into a treacherous love triangle. Catherine’s core themes-those of free will, of the delicate nature of relationships and the choices we make within them, marry perfectly with the intense, terror-filled gameplay that serves to accurately reflect Vincent’s growing sense of anxiety. It is an experience wholly unlike any to come before it, and is certain to leave gamers talking and thinking about Vincent’s tribulations long after the credits have rolled.” How can I not be intrigued by this?
If you haven’t played inFamous, you missed one of the coolest games of 2009. If you aren’t excited for inFamous 2 you need to be slapped. Now there’s even more reason to get this game preordered, user-generated content! The game is latest in a string of PS3 exclusives, alongside Little Big Planet and ModNation Racers, to utilize this popular concept. After you’ve completed the main story you can build a platformer, mini games, race levels, stealth or boss missions, you name it. Build the perfect level and upload for others to play and rate. Get rated high enough and you’ll make Sucker Punch’s Featured Missions List. This news may have just moved inFamous 2 from my GameQ to my BuyQ.
Another open world franchise also has some news. THQ’s Saints Row: The Third has been officially announced. The third entry in the series sounds a bit different than the previous iterations. Rather than playing as a young tough on the make, the player is already the crime kingpin in Stillwater. This basically means no gofer missions like driving the important people around or delivering pizzas. It does make me wonder what kind of missions you will have that both fit the franchise and make you feel like the boss. I suppose I’ll be finding out when it releases “holiday 2011.” (Yeah right, expect a delay until next summer.)
Resistance 3‘s multiplayer has been throttled back from Fall of Man‘s 40-60 person matches. Instead the focus will be on the smaller 16 player deathmatch styles. There will also be a more fleshed out progression system with more unlockables earned for experience. Sounds like typical FPS multiplayer tools. Except I do like the concept of having Leapers explode out of your corpse to take revenge on your killer.
Speaking of corpses, time for the mandatory Mortal Kombat news. The demo will be available for Playstation Plus members on March 8th. PS3ers without a Plus membership can get it the following week on March 15th. No date has been announced for 360 but it probably won’t be long. The demo will feature playable characters Mileena, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Johnny Cage in the Living Forest and the Pit through the arcade ladder mode. One and two player modes will be available. Also announced for Mortal Kombat is a challenge tower with 300 steps. If you’ve been playing MK for a while you’re familiar with the “Test Your Might” challenges. This mode will expand on that, creating matches derived from an in-game “slot machine.”
RoboShinobi had huge praise for the recent Dead Island trailer that went viral. I wasn’t as into it, but it wasn’t bad. For those wanting to see more, I’ll close out today’s VGQH with some new screens:
Heavy Fire: Black Arms (Teyon 1-2 Players, Rated T for Teen, 500 Wii Points): Set out on a dangerous campaign in South America in a continuation of the popular shooter Heavy Fire: Special Operations. As a Special Forces recruit, you will take part in the operation to stop an illegal arms trade.
Heavy Fire gives players a classic arcade light-gun experience, enhanced with stunning graphics and exciting new features. Destroy the biggest weapon cartel, Fuerza de Voluntad, which is influential all over the continent. Team up with a friend and experience an immersive co-op mode. Enjoy dynamic minute-to-minute game play in various weather conditions and settings in the heart of a jungle. Smash objects and interact with them. Perform quick events and face your enemies with new powerful weapons. With plenty of weapon types and various vehicles at your disposal, put an end to the expansion of the paramilitary organization. Take full advantage of the Wii Remote™ controller and optional Wii Zapper™ accessory (sold separately).
Soccer Bashi (demo version) (Icon Games Entertainment, 1-2 Players, Rated E for Everyone, 0 Wii Points, full version available for 500 Wii Points)
Play through the 90 built-in game levels in several different play modes, including Arcade and Customizable Tournaments. Special level features include animated blocks, exploding blocks, shield blocks, invisible blocks and deadly 3D defender enemies. Face challenging end-of-zone bosses. Use the Level Editor to build your own levels – up to 100 user-created levels can be stored.
Tournament Mode allows you to create your own unique tournaments using built-in game levels or your own levels. Special Power-Ups and Super Power-Ups including lasers, bombs, flaming power balls and multiple balls and bats can help (or hinder) you on your way to the goal.
Bomberman Hero (Nintendo 64, 1 Player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points) Bomberman returns in his own full-on action game. One day, out of nowhere, a spaceship crash-lands on Planet Bomber. Journeying to the Peace Mountains to investigate, Bomberman encounters Pibot, the dazed robot pilot. According to Pibot, the evil Garaden Empire attacked Primus Star and kidnapped Princess Millian from Pibot’s escape ship.
Hearing this, Bomberman vows to save the princess, even if he has to travel the length of the galaxy to do it.
Bomberman is equipped with an infinite supply of bombs and can count on a variety of upgrades to aid him in his quest. His search for the princess takes him to five exciting planets, reuniting him with his old friend Louie and uncovering new items. Fly, swim, shoot and bomb your way through the galaxy and save Princess Millian.
G.G Series HORIZONTAL BAR (Genterprise Inc. 1 Player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 DSiPoints): This is a new type of action game that will have you swinging and jumping from bar to bar, just like the parallel bars in gymnastics. The controls are simple. Grab onto a bar, add momentum to your swing by pressing left or right on the +Control Pad, then jump and spin to the next bar by pressing the A Button.
Gauge the force of your swings and the timing of your jumps just right to cross the course in the fastest time possible. Do you have what it takes to be a star gymnast?
GO Series EARTH SAVER (Gamebridge 1 Player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 DSi Points): A giant meteorite is headed straight for Earth. Land your spaceship on the meteorite and set explosives to break off small pieces so the rock breaks up in Earth’s atmosphere. Chunks of meteorite that are too big will smash into Earth, wiping out mankind.
As an explosives expert, you can plant a series of bombs to create chain-reaction combos, easily blasting off chunks of rock the size of houses. You’ll also need to tackle the many strange alien life forms you encounter by either blowing them up or cunningly blasting around the piece of rock they’re standing on so they fall with the meteorite.
Can you save Earth from obliteration and secure the future of mankind?
JellyCar 2 (Disney Interactive 1 Player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 DSi Points): JellyCar 2, the hit driving platform game, is here and fully loaded with three game modes and more than 30 levels. Post high scores, best times and longest jumps in the Hall of Fame. With so much squishy goodness, you’ll want to drive JellyCar 2 all around town.
In Classic mode, drive your squishy car and use your special abilities to drive through squishy worlds. In Factory mode, guide the falling parts into matching chutes, tap the levers to open different pathways and guide each part down the conveyor belts. In Long Jump mode, you’re going for distance and speed – watch out for objects that can slow you down, and look for objects that can help give you a boost!
