Monday, September 17, 2007
Unreal Tournament 3
Midway gave us an extended look at the latest build of Unreal Tournament 3 at this year's Leipzig Games Conference. On display were a variety of vehicles, weapons, and a new multiplayer mode called Warfare. Both the PS3 and PC versions were on hand and we got a look at both along with a bit of hands-on time with the PS3 build. First up we saw the PS3 build and got a tour of Necropolis. The mode of play was capture the flag in a vehicle rich area, which makes the fast game of Unreal Tournament 3 even faster. Or at least it would have been fast paced if there was any opposition present in this opening part of the demo. The map was empty for a purpose though: We were about to get a look at several sweet looking vehicles and weapons. On a vehicle enabled map, those without a ride can hop on a hoverboard at any time to up the speed. You can't attack in this mode, but it evens the playing field a bit in terms of speed at least, or for more speed a friendly vehicle moving by can be latched on to for a free tug. For those playing on PS3, six-axis control can be used to direct the hoverboards. A hoverboard probably isn't a match for the first vehicle shown. The Viper is a fast moving, hover ride that can send out energy shots which bounce around the environment. For a utilitarian, the Viper might be enough. For our taste, we liked the Scavenger more. This energy orb with three long tendrils attached runs along using the tentacles a bit like a spider. The arms can be pulled in to start rolling and then whipped out to attack. It may not be the most effective ride, but it looks quite swanky.The last vehicle shown to us was the Nightshade. This stealth vehicle can go invisible while it moves around and has access to several seriously cool weapons. By uncloaking, the Nightshade gains the ability to drop spider mines and stasis fields. The spider mines do just what their name implies; unleash a series of mobile spiders that track enemies and detonate themselves. The stasis field unleashes a large, green tinted cube that slows anything inside of it down to a crawl. Choke points become death traps, flags can be given added protection, and things generally look cool when the stasis field is put up.
Then there is the redeemer. It's a personal nuclear weapon that only spawns in multiplayer maps every few minutes, but you'd do well to watch closely for its presence. Six-axis controllers can steer the nuke in mid-air, or you can just use the standard flight controls. You don't have to be too accurate with it though to take out a whole swarm of enemies. It is a nuke after all.After this look at the weapons of war, the demo switched over to the PC version for a first look at the Warfare mode. This new team based objective mode that involves a series of nodes that concentrate the action. The goal is to take out the opposing team's power core while protecting your own. That's the main goal, but getting there requires a bit of work. Scattered through out the map are a series of nodes that can be captured. A tactical map can be brought up to see your progress as well as outlining how the nodes are connected. Capturing connected nodes extends your power link with the goal of reaching the enemies main base, thus rendering their power core vulnerable to attack. If the enemy regains control of an orb while you're attacking the power core, the core once again becomes shielded from your attack until you reconnect your series of nodes. However, any damage that you may have dealt while the shield was down is permanent, ensuring a slow but steady drain on at least one of the bases.Neutral nodes can be captured instantly by carrying orbs, or they can be converted using link guns. Orbs can also protect you when you're near a friendly node, or in other maps may be used for other tasks such as raising bridges. Once an enemy takes a node, they become entrenched and you'll have to take out a shield around the node before you can take it yourself. In addition to primary nodes, secondary nodes that don't lead to back to the main grid can also be captured though they'll only provide new weapons or vehicles.
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008
It began with a few seconds buried in a WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 trailer. In between talk of fighting styles and random clips, Sandman dropped a match on a folding table and the thing burst into flames.THQ cut to some other action, but the image lingered in the minds of SmackDown fanboys worldwide -- did we just see what we think we saw? Was that for real? Would this be the year flaming tables finally get introduced into the premier professional wrestling game?Yes. Yes it is, but THQ and Yuke's aren't stopping there. This year will also see the inclusion of flaming, barbed wire two-by-fours, more audience interaction than ever and barricade moves that'll make you think twice about what's possible on the black behemoth -- and it's all thanks to ECW.
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Say what you want about old school ECW -- it was more brawling than wrestling, the talent was never as good as other organizations, some other statement that shows you're a lame ass, etc. -- but after a morning of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008's ECW Extreme Rules Matches, we can tell you everything that made the organization special has made it into this year's game.As you're about to see below -- we've uploaded lots of video and images for you to peruse -- we went nuts and threw caution to the wind for this feature. Sure, we could've stuck with who has debuted on our daily Countdown, but Rey Mysterio and Batista in an ECW Extreme Rules Match just didn't sound right -- but the Innovator of Violence Tommy Dreamer and new blood Elijah Burke? Now, this is extreme.When the match type was announced, some of the more jaded among the SmackDown brethren rolled their eyes and wondered how this would be any different from a hardcore match. The answer is that this is the embodiment of what it must be like to wrestle in the ECW arena in Philly. Our Dreamer/Burke match started with the ECW icons in the ring and weaponless. There weren't any cheesy items sprawled out in or around the ring -- it looked just like a regular ECW bout. Lucky for us, the match also plays like a normal ECW fight as well. There's no count out and no disqualification, but unlike a hardcore match, pinfalls and submissions can only take place in the ring. Just like in the old days when Paul couldn't afford a Titantron, you can't wander into the backstage labyrinth like you can in a traditional WWE hardcore match -- you have to keep the action in front of the live fans.
OH MY GOD!Think that sounds weak? It isn't. In fact, the fan interaction is what makes this mode feel like it's torn from the glory days of the Dudleys, Mikey Whipwreck and Francine. As Tommy wailed on Elijah outside the ring and around the barricade, fans would present weapons to the ECW Legend who could either take the tool from the blood-thirsty fanboy and bludgeon Eljiah with it or -- using an environmental grapple -- have the fan hold the object out while Tommy hurled Elijah into it. Guitars, championship belts and even beverages make their way from the front row fans -- sadly, no one's decked out in a neon windbreaker or the long hair/shades combo -- and into the faces of the fallen.At one point Tommy, while performing an Ultimate Control grapple, carried Elijah over to the barricade and we were prompted to press up on the right joystick. When we did, Tommy lifted Burke. When we pressed the stick down, Tommy let the heel go and Elijah's face met the barricade. Later, a fan held out a crutch, Tommy laid Elijah over the barricade and the right joystick commands popped up for us to decide how long we wanted to wait before we jerked the stick down and slammed the rehabilitation tool on Elijah's back. When Burke had been beaten on enough, Tommy rested against the barricade and celebrated with his fans.For those who loved ECW enough to suffer through ECW: Hardcore Revolution and ECW: Anarchy Rulz!, your prayers have been answered.
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Say what you want about old school ECW -- it was more brawling than wrestling, the talent was never as good as other organizations, some other statement that shows you're a lame ass, etc. -- but after a morning of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008's ECW Extreme Rules Matches, we can tell you everything that made the organization special has made it into this year's game.As you're about to see below -- we've uploaded lots of video and images for you to peruse -- we went nuts and threw caution to the wind for this feature. Sure, we could've stuck with who has debuted on our daily Countdown, but Rey Mysterio and Batista in an ECW Extreme Rules Match just didn't sound right -- but the Innovator of Violence Tommy Dreamer and new blood Elijah Burke? Now, this is extreme.When the match type was announced, some of the more jaded among the SmackDown brethren rolled their eyes and wondered how this would be any different from a hardcore match. The answer is that this is the embodiment of what it must be like to wrestle in the ECW arena in Philly. Our Dreamer/Burke match started with the ECW icons in the ring and weaponless. There weren't any cheesy items sprawled out in or around the ring -- it looked just like a regular ECW bout. Lucky for us, the match also plays like a normal ECW fight as well. There's no count out and no disqualification, but unlike a hardcore match, pinfalls and submissions can only take place in the ring. Just like in the old days when Paul couldn't afford a Titantron, you can't wander into the backstage labyrinth like you can in a traditional WWE hardcore match -- you have to keep the action in front of the live fans.
OH MY GOD!Think that sounds weak? It isn't. In fact, the fan interaction is what makes this mode feel like it's torn from the glory days of the Dudleys, Mikey Whipwreck and Francine. As Tommy wailed on Elijah outside the ring and around the barricade, fans would present weapons to the ECW Legend who could either take the tool from the blood-thirsty fanboy and bludgeon Eljiah with it or -- using an environmental grapple -- have the fan hold the object out while Tommy hurled Elijah into it. Guitars, championship belts and even beverages make their way from the front row fans -- sadly, no one's decked out in a neon windbreaker or the long hair/shades combo -- and into the faces of the fallen.At one point Tommy, while performing an Ultimate Control grapple, carried Elijah over to the barricade and we were prompted to press up on the right joystick. When we did, Tommy lifted Burke. When we pressed the stick down, Tommy let the heel go and Elijah's face met the barricade. Later, a fan held out a crutch, Tommy laid Elijah over the barricade and the right joystick commands popped up for us to decide how long we wanted to wait before we jerked the stick down and slammed the rehabilitation tool on Elijah's back. When Burke had been beaten on enough, Tommy rested against the barricade and celebrated with his fans.For those who loved ECW enough to suffer through ECW: Hardcore Revolution and ECW: Anarchy Rulz!, your prayers have been answered.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Call of Duty 4 Beta Blowout
Call of Duty 4 beta goes public on Monday, August 27. A few fortunate members of the press got a chance to enter the beta a little early. And yeah, even the IGN editors managed to somehow sneak in. We spent the better part of this week getting capped by Infinity Ward's best and brightest. It was a blast (thanks to the C4).
The beta gives gamers a chance to play on three of COD4's multiplayer maps: Overgrown, Vacant, and Crash. We recently gave in-depth details on the COD4 beta. None of that info and none of our feelings about Call of Duty have changed. It's incredible.
However, we now come at you with loads of direct-feed HD video. And we've pulled together an 11-minute video preview of Call of Duty 4. Until then, check out a dozen new movies of yours truly kicking some ass online.
The beta gives gamers a chance to play on three of COD4's multiplayer maps: Overgrown, Vacant, and Crash. We recently gave in-depth details on the COD4 beta. None of that info and none of our feelings about Call of Duty have changed. It's incredible.
However, we now come at you with loads of direct-feed HD video. And we've pulled together an 11-minute video preview of Call of Duty 4. Until then, check out a dozen new movies of yours truly kicking some ass online.
Mafia II
Out in the insanity that is the public show floor of the Leipzig Games Convention, 2K Games has constructed a small amphitheatre for its world premiere of Mafia II. We took the opportunity to step in on this brief trailer to see what the fuss was all about. What we found was a sharp looking game packed to the brim with stereotypically Italian mafia characters wielding guns. Unfortunately for us, these guys must have been that special German type of Italian mafia as they spoke the language of this host country throughout the trailer.While we couldn't gather much as far as plot goes, that didn't stop us from paying close attention to the on-screen visuals. The trailer begins outside on the streets as cars and trains zip by. The action then moves into a restaurant where we were treated to a nice close-up of the excellent character models. We can't be sure whether everything we saw was using the game's engine or not, but if it is this game is going to be a treat for the eyes. The faces, particularly the animations, were a treat. The necktie on the first character we zoomed in on looked almost real.
After a calm, dinner table discussion where we can only guess at what was said, the trailer moved into a montage of what the game is all about; action. Gunshots, mafia style executions, and more guns being put to use interspersed with some words we couldn't understand filled up the majority of the latter half of the trailer. The ending, though, was a memorable one. After a brief chat inside of a car, with one guy chugging alcohol in the backseat, the camera flashed outside. There, the group was looking down at the camera that was placed inside of the now open trunk of a car. Cringes shuddered through the crowd, the trunk was slammed, and then the trailer ended.
Tekken 6
He could very well be the phattest, with an F, fighting game character since E Honda! Bandai Namco showed off a playable build of Tekken 6 at the "JAMMA" Amusement Machine Show in Chiba yesterday, and Bob was one of the main draws.Officially announced as a new Tekken combatant a few days back, Bob uses a free style version of karate. He may look big and powerful, but he also has surprising speed.This surprising combination actually works into Bob's storyline, as the character supposedly left the fighting scene temporarily in order train himself so as to maintain his speed while building power and weight. Upon his return, people merely viewed him as fat, prompting him to join the King of Iron Fist Tournament and show off his skills.For this latest playable showing, Bandai Namco has reportedly worked some new technology into the game. New shaders allow for better cloth textures. You can see for yourself in the new screens Bandai Namco handed out at the show.Tekken 6 is set to make its official arcade debut later this year. The PS3 version is expected some time in 2008.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
FIFA 08 Hands-on
If you're one of us "crazy" Americans that adore the beautiful game, then it might please you to know that the updated rosters currently in this preview build of FIFA 08 have David Beckham on the LA Galaxy. He doesn't even have a sprained knee. Bonus! If you're from another country, you're probably more interested in the updates to the long-running FIFA franchise this year's game boasts and how the game itself plays. We'll get to that… just after we're done crying as we remember those almost injury-free times with Beckham we had.
Updates are always welcome, and FIFA 08 has its fair share, but they build on a major issue sports games have seen become more and more prominent in recent years. In order to get started in a game like FIFA 08, you really have to know the game of soccer and the videogame itself before you can play. If you're a casual fan or new to the sport, remembering to send a player into space and then lobbing in a through ball can be tough. Also remembering how to do it (Left trigger plus the Y button to lob a through ball on Xbox 360) is more than you can ask of an entry level player.
Helping to ease one of these two issues is the new Be a Pro mode. Here you can take on the role of a single player while the game's AI controls the rest of your teammates. The only influence you can have over your teammates is the same you'd get if you were actually on the field. You can call for a pass or call for a through ball, but if you're not open or in a good place the AI will often ignore you. Since the focus is on a single player, the camera used in normal games hits the bench in favor of one that puts more emphasis on your player rather than the ball.
Taking control of a single player may seem like it would take a lot off of your mind, but the Be a Pro mode doesn't let you sit around like a bum. In fact, the game constantly grades you on your performance as it awards you points for things such as calling for passes at the appropriate moment, completing passes, making on-target shots, or successfully defending an opponent. At the same time, you'll lose points for committing fouls, losing jostles for headers, being out of position, or flubbing passes. To help you learn how to play the position, an arrow will appear that directs you to the right place if you're out of position. Red circles will also appear around opposing players to let you know who you should be marking on defense. Even if you know what you're doing, you'll find that getting the highest ratings at the end of a match is no easy task.
We found that taking control of a defender adds a whole new dimension to the traditional FIFA game as most of the action takes place off of the ball. It almost begs to be extended into a full career mode. However, the Be a Pro mode doesn't continue beyond a single game. Offline, it's meant simply as a training exercise rather than an extended career mode akin to what we've seen recently in several other sport titles. The mode also exists online as it allows you to join up with nine other players for a five on five match where each person controls a single player.
The AI hasn't had the final touches put on it just yet, which is good because we experienced more than a few things that shouldn't ever happen in any level of soccer, let alone the pros. For the most part, players react well. Turn the difficulty up and you can watch even the worst teams string together beautiful series of passes and then hustle back to collapse on defense into the right positions to easily intercept rudimentary attacking passes. But, as we said, a few glitches remain. We're pretty certain a goalie should never turn and rip a ball off of his own goalpost as a means of clearance. But FIFA 08 isn't finished, so these crazy happenings might never occur in the retail release.
Updates are always welcome, and FIFA 08 has its fair share, but they build on a major issue sports games have seen become more and more prominent in recent years. In order to get started in a game like FIFA 08, you really have to know the game of soccer and the videogame itself before you can play. If you're a casual fan or new to the sport, remembering to send a player into space and then lobbing in a through ball can be tough. Also remembering how to do it (Left trigger plus the Y button to lob a through ball on Xbox 360) is more than you can ask of an entry level player.
Helping to ease one of these two issues is the new Be a Pro mode. Here you can take on the role of a single player while the game's AI controls the rest of your teammates. The only influence you can have over your teammates is the same you'd get if you were actually on the field. You can call for a pass or call for a through ball, but if you're not open or in a good place the AI will often ignore you. Since the focus is on a single player, the camera used in normal games hits the bench in favor of one that puts more emphasis on your player rather than the ball.
We found that taking control of a defender adds a whole new dimension to the traditional FIFA game as most of the action takes place off of the ball. It almost begs to be extended into a full career mode. However, the Be a Pro mode doesn't continue beyond a single game. Offline, it's meant simply as a training exercise rather than an extended career mode akin to what we've seen recently in several other sport titles. The mode also exists online as it allows you to join up with nine other players for a five on five match where each person controls a single player.
The AI hasn't had the final touches put on it just yet, which is good because we experienced more than a few things that shouldn't ever happen in any level of soccer, let alone the pros. For the most part, players react well. Turn the difficulty up and you can watch even the worst teams string together beautiful series of passes and then hustle back to collapse on defense into the right positions to easily intercept rudimentary attacking passes. But, as we said, a few glitches remain. We're pretty certain a goalie should never turn and rip a ball off of his own goalpost as a means of clearance. But FIFA 08 isn't finished, so these crazy happenings might never occur in the retail release.
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