Can you believe we’re two months into 2012 already? Seems like the holiday games rush wasn’t that long ago. Maybe because I still haven’t caught up on all the games they released at the time. Considering Mass Effect 3 is out in only a week, I may never be caught up again. Have I mentioned how excited I’m getting for Betch Shepard to start brutalizing every Reaper in sight and rip a new asshole into anyone who complains about her methods? Well, if not, I have now. On to the news.
While I’m on the subject of Mass Effect 3, the full trophy/achievement list has been announced for game. If you’re not a hunter or whore for those things then you probably don’t care. But if you do enjoy your virtual pats on the back you might like to know how they’ve handled the multiplayer trophies. Online only trophies or achievements are a genuine gripe for many players who either don’t care for online play or can’t really use it due to slow connections. Let’s not forget they require a Gold subscription on XBox as well. For those players, the announcement of online multiplayer in this third game was very disapopinting. But it seems Bioware and EA don’t want to alienate them. There are several trophies on the list that can apparently be unlocked in either single or multiplayer modes. For instance, the “Enlisted” achievement requires you simply start a character in multiplayer or customize one in single player. At a rough count, it appears there are eight T/As with these multiple options. But don’t think that means this will be an easy 1000 points or platinum. “Unwavering,” a gold trophy, requires you to finish all multiplayer maps on Gold or every single player mission (including sidequests) on Insanity difficulty. As in the prior two games, you’ll also need to beat the game on Insanity if you plan to max your rewards. And trust me on this one, Mass Effect 2‘s Insanity was very well-named.
Saints’ Row: The Third has yet another DLC pack on the way. THQ has definitely done a good job with continued support for the game, and with making good value for the Season Pass. Although the bonuses offered with the Bloodsucker Pack seem a little strange for release this far into the life of the game. A 25% cash boost, $2,500 hourly income, and the ability to scavenge four times the cash from drops all seem like they would have been more useful in the first couple of weeks of release. Obviously that’s not the only addition. As the title would suggest, this add-on also introduces the ability to regain health by drinking someone’s blood with the right stick. The pack is available starting today for $1.99 or free with the Season Pass.
A few more details have surfaced on Medal of Honor: Warfighter. As expected, this is a return to the Tier 1 Operators and will be running on Frostbite 2.0. Regarding the single-player campaign, expect to see some familair faces. Preacher, Voodoo, and Mother are confirmed and other “major characters” are promised. The story will be loosely based on actual terstimonials from real-life Tier 1 Operators being credited as co-writers. I’m not sure how Danger Close defines words like “simulation” and “authentic” but apparently this will be the latter, and regenerating health is back. A one-shot kill “hardcore” mode is planned for veteran players. There are also plans for co-op , most likely a campaign a la Battlefield 3. If this all sounds like your kind of fix, it’s scheduled for October 2012.
If you’re a PSN user and want to get a discount on some top games Sony given you the perfect opportunity to undermine their voting system for the Gamers’ Choice Awards. Based on PSN user ratings, Sony has put together a list of ten categories, three games per category, and are asking us to vote on the best of 2011. Except they’ve already promised a 30% discount on the winners (50% for Plus subscribers). Does anyone else see why that’s a problem? I definitely think inFamous: Festival of Blood was the best PSN exclusive of last year. But it was also one of their bestselling title (possibly even number one). Considering the number of people who already bought it, why would they vote now to give it a 30% discount. Wouldn’t they do better to vote for one they don’t have, like PixelJunk Shooter 2? It seems like the only honest votes will come from people who have either played the entire category, or don’t care about the ones they haven’t played. You’ll be able to begin casting votes from the store with today’s update for nine of the categories and will get a free theme as a thank you. The tenth category, Best Indie Game, will have online voting that gets you a voucher for another theme.
Sometimes you hear a game announcement and just can’t help but get excited. Other times you hear and just think, “why?” Guess which one of those happened when I heard that Critical Mass is developing a game based on The Boondock Saints, a twelve-year old movie. As an entertaining film, it accomplished its goal. As a co-op shooter that comes way too late? It will probably be about as good as any other movie-based game.
It seems I can’t get through a single week of VGQH without having to address more rumors about “next-gen” consoles. We have no data at this point that can really get us excited or build any expectations for the next XBox or PS4, but it doesn’t seem to stop developers from dropping hints that they’re coming. Over on the Zenimax website they’ve got a job listing for a Future Generation Console Programmer. According to the listing, “Bethesda Game Studios is looking for experienced programmers to work on cutting-edge technology for an unannounced game on future-generation consoles.” Is this The Elder Scrolls VI? Fallout 4? The Fallout MMO? A new IP? The bigger question is when is it coming? The job could be listed to fill a needed position for a project already underway, or it could be looking to fill a new team that hasn’t started production. The difference is a big indicator for the remaining development cycle, which could still have years to go.