By Duane / 2010-09-03 08:16:41Worms, Worms, Worms, its been a staple of the British gaming industry for over a decade, slowly evolving, sometimes trying bold new things that don't quite work out (Worms 3D). Every so often a new edition is released, unfortunately the feeling is that the series peaked with Worms Armageddon ten years ago. Even so, its always nice to have a new release to play with, with the hope that it can attract more people to play against, and by releasing Worms Reloaded through Steam (with a couple of bonuses thrown in for those that pre-ordered), that appears to be the goal of Team 17.
What we have here then is a compilation and rebranding of the games released on the consoles' digital distribution platforms. Neither of the games received a huge reception, but both were as entertaining as you'd expect from Worms, in short there wasn't really anything new on the plate and it looked a little lean, particularly in the weapons department. Worms Reloaded has tackled this by giving the player a greatest hits of Worms weapons without including too many of the gimmicky arsenal. This, tied to the tried and tested 2D gameplay and a tweaking of some of the devices' power has made for a much more streamlined and focused battle experience.
To add variety there are more customisation options than ever before, including more voices, hats, gravestones and even flesh tones for your team of worms. There's also a variety of single player modes, offering you the chance to learn different approaches to abusing your opponents squad and different methods of using each weapon and the landscape around you, the feeling of improvement as a player as you progress through the single player modes is incredibly rewarding, especially when you manage to turn the tuition into a victory in a multiplayer match.
So Worms Reloaded is a tuned down "Best of" for the Worms series, there'll always be things that fans will feel should be included, but overall Team 17 have succesfully blended the past with the present making the game as fun and as accessible as it ever was and best of all it doesn't feel tired in any way.
What we have here then is a compilation and rebranding of the games released on the consoles' digital distribution platforms. Neither of the games received a huge reception, but both were as entertaining as you'd expect from Worms, in short there wasn't really anything new on the plate and it looked a little lean, particularly in the weapons department. Worms Reloaded has tackled this by giving the player a greatest hits of Worms weapons without including too many of the gimmicky arsenal. This, tied to the tried and tested 2D gameplay and a tweaking of some of the devices' power has made for a much more streamlined and focused battle experience.
To add variety there are more customisation options than ever before, including more voices, hats, gravestones and even flesh tones for your team of worms. There's also a variety of single player modes, offering you the chance to learn different approaches to abusing your opponents squad and different methods of using each weapon and the landscape around you, the feeling of improvement as a player as you progress through the single player modes is incredibly rewarding, especially when you manage to turn the tuition into a victory in a multiplayer match.
So Worms Reloaded is a tuned down "Best of" for the Worms series, there'll always be things that fans will feel should be included, but overall Team 17 have succesfully blended the past with the present making the game as fun and as accessible as it ever was and best of all it doesn't feel tired in any way.
Yakuza 4 gets western release date
By Mark / 2010-09-03 04:59:28
Next spring!
That means it's been about a year between the Japanese and Western releases of the game, and without all the will-they-won't-they faffing around we were subjected to with Yakuza 3.
On top of that, Sega blogger ArchAngelUK "can at least confirm to you that the much loved Hostesses will return in Yakuza 4 in all their alluring glory" after they were missing from the third game.
I'll just go revive Ben.
By Mark / 2010-09-03 04:59:28
Next spring!That means it's been about a year between the Japanese and Western releases of the game, and without all the will-they-won't-they faffing around we were subjected to with Yakuza 3.
On top of that, Sega blogger ArchAngelUK "can at least confirm to you that the much loved Hostesses will return in Yakuza 4 in all their alluring glory" after they were missing from the third game.
I'll just go revive Ben.
Super Mario All-Stars to make Wii return
By Mark / 2010-09-02 13:36:46
Andriasang reports that Nintendo have confirmed a title called Super Mario Collection Special Pack, to be released to retail in Japan next month.
Super Mario Collection is the Japanese name for what we know as Super Mario All-Stars, the enhanced SNES compilation of NES Super Mario Bros. games.
It has been implied by a retailer that this will simply be the NES games again, to celebrate Mario's 25th anniversary.
However, no real details have been forthcoming from Nintendo (other than "Yes, this game does exist"), and despite talk of an accompanying booklet on the history of Mario and a soundtrack CD, I personally can't imagine a world where four NES games glued together can command a pricetag that makes the product worthwhile for retailers.
Worth keeping an eye on, I think.
By Mark / 2010-09-02 13:36:46
Andriasang reports that Nintendo have confirmed a title called Super Mario Collection Special Pack, to be released to retail in Japan next month.Super Mario Collection is the Japanese name for what we know as Super Mario All-Stars, the enhanced SNES compilation of NES Super Mario Bros. games.
It has been implied by a retailer that this will simply be the NES games again, to celebrate Mario's 25th anniversary.
However, no real details have been forthcoming from Nintendo (other than "Yes, this game does exist"), and despite talk of an accompanying booklet on the history of Mario and a soundtrack CD, I personally can't imagine a world where four NES games glued together can command a pricetag that makes the product worthwhile for retailers.
Worth keeping an eye on, I think.
By Mark / 2010-09-01 20:55:44First impressions: "Wow! I can actually read the on-screen text!" Chalk one up for Dead Rising 2 being an improved sequel.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is the much-publicised 'playable prologue' to Dead Rising's forthcoming full-fledged sequel, seeking to bridge the storyline gap between the two games- explaining how lead character Chuck Greene comes to find himself in the Zombie-infested Las Vegasalike Fortune City.
It explains it by putting Chuck- and his daughter- in Still Creek, a small town near to Fortune City, trying to find out exactly what it is behind the zombie outbreak which has taken his wife and infected his daughter. As he stops for gas, he sees his truck, and his supply of zombie antidote Zombrex, stolen, stranding the pair of them as the zombie hordes close in.
It is at this point that we are launched straight into the game, and immediately back into familiar DR territory, an open world full of shambling undead, terrified survivors and random objects to pick up and fling at them. And the most important feature of Dead Rising, nice pink dresses to put your big, hairy bloke of a player character in.
For the most part, the return of all this is welcome, and comes with a few changes- for a start, three save slots replace the solitary slot from the first game, for most a welcome change, but one that arguably undermines the time management element of the first title, a seemingly needless move considering that Case Zero is played over a significantly shorter length of time. Another helpful streamlining feature is that it is now possible to attack zombies while carrying a survivor, rather than having to put the survivor down, wait for the animation to play out, attack the zombie, go back to the survivor, pick them back up, and then wait for that animation to play out before you could get back to actually playing the game.
The biggest change is the inclusion of 'combo weapons', where certain weapons can be taped together to create a more powerful one- although only in certain locations, and to a guitar soundtrack that would embarrass an A-Team montage. Otis is also gone, and in his place is Bob, a store owner who stands on a roof and will wave at you until you respond to his call, rather than call you on a walkie-talkie and ignore you if you don't respond in time, which is a much better way of handling the survivors.
Fundamentally, however, the game plays much the same as its predecessor, which allows us to concentrate more on the game's form.
Rather than being a traditional 'demo', as such, Case Zero takes the form of a short, self contained game with a definite ending, rather than just tailing off into what would otherwise be "The Rest Of The Game". It also comes with a price tag of 400 MSP, or about £3.40.
Taken on its own as an 'episode' of Dead Rising, the title stands up, and I can see myself enjoying five or six of these, released periodically, just as much as a full length, retail Dead Rising. Knowing that there's a full length, retail Dead Rising on the way, however, leaves a nasty taste in the mouth since you've paid for what is ultimately a demo, and even at its low price can seem to be a way of gouging players, especially score whores who want another 200 gamerscore, which could become a worrying trend should less scrupulous publishers decide this game is a success.
Also, despite its completeness, its brevity causes it to lack the same sense of scale that the first game did, and the chaos that ensued when having to make a decision between continuing with the survivors you are already on the way to save, taking the survivors following you somewhere safe, or firefighting newly-discovered survivors.
So long as this game remains separate content, and not part of the game proper, Case Zero is definitely worth your time, and makes a nice starter for the main course due later this month.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is the much-publicised 'playable prologue' to Dead Rising's forthcoming full-fledged sequel, seeking to bridge the storyline gap between the two games- explaining how lead character Chuck Greene comes to find himself in the Zombie-infested Las Vegasalike Fortune City.
It explains it by putting Chuck- and his daughter- in Still Creek, a small town near to Fortune City, trying to find out exactly what it is behind the zombie outbreak which has taken his wife and infected his daughter. As he stops for gas, he sees his truck, and his supply of zombie antidote Zombrex, stolen, stranding the pair of them as the zombie hordes close in.
It is at this point that we are launched straight into the game, and immediately back into familiar DR territory, an open world full of shambling undead, terrified survivors and random objects to pick up and fling at them. And the most important feature of Dead Rising, nice pink dresses to put your big, hairy bloke of a player character in.
For the most part, the return of all this is welcome, and comes with a few changes- for a start, three save slots replace the solitary slot from the first game, for most a welcome change, but one that arguably undermines the time management element of the first title, a seemingly needless move considering that Case Zero is played over a significantly shorter length of time. Another helpful streamlining feature is that it is now possible to attack zombies while carrying a survivor, rather than having to put the survivor down, wait for the animation to play out, attack the zombie, go back to the survivor, pick them back up, and then wait for that animation to play out before you could get back to actually playing the game.
The biggest change is the inclusion of 'combo weapons', where certain weapons can be taped together to create a more powerful one- although only in certain locations, and to a guitar soundtrack that would embarrass an A-Team montage. Otis is also gone, and in his place is Bob, a store owner who stands on a roof and will wave at you until you respond to his call, rather than call you on a walkie-talkie and ignore you if you don't respond in time, which is a much better way of handling the survivors.
Fundamentally, however, the game plays much the same as its predecessor, which allows us to concentrate more on the game's form.
Rather than being a traditional 'demo', as such, Case Zero takes the form of a short, self contained game with a definite ending, rather than just tailing off into what would otherwise be "The Rest Of The Game". It also comes with a price tag of 400 MSP, or about £3.40.
Taken on its own as an 'episode' of Dead Rising, the title stands up, and I can see myself enjoying five or six of these, released periodically, just as much as a full length, retail Dead Rising. Knowing that there's a full length, retail Dead Rising on the way, however, leaves a nasty taste in the mouth since you've paid for what is ultimately a demo, and even at its low price can seem to be a way of gouging players, especially score whores who want another 200 gamerscore, which could become a worrying trend should less scrupulous publishers decide this game is a success.
Also, despite its completeness, its brevity causes it to lack the same sense of scale that the first game did, and the chaos that ensued when having to make a decision between continuing with the survivors you are already on the way to save, taking the survivors following you somewhere safe, or firefighting newly-discovered survivors.
So long as this game remains separate content, and not part of the game proper, Case Zero is definitely worth your time, and makes a nice starter for the main course due later this month.
Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury Coming To XBLA
By Ben / 2010-09-01 15:29:31
I've never really been too keen on Bangai-O, that said I'm happy to see it's done well enough over the years for a HD version to be released.
Called Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury, the game is due in November and will include a level editor and online leaderboards.
I can see the online leaderboards being a huge success actually, possibly more so than the multiplayer it seems to lack
By Ben / 2010-09-01 15:29:31
I've never really been too keen on Bangai-O, that said I'm happy to see it's done well enough over the years for a HD version to be released.Called Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury, the game is due in November and will include a level editor and online leaderboards.
I can see the online leaderboards being a huge success actually, possibly more so than the multiplayer it seems to lack
By Duane / 2010-08-31 06:02:26It's sometimes amusing how one poor entry into a well liked series can seriously hamper the success of any future releases. There's no denying that despite some strong releases in the franchise, Tomb Raider is still struggling to shake off the shackles of 2003's Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.
Releasing a download title via the means of XBox Live Arcade (and soon PSN and PC) appears to be a reaction to this on the surface of things, but its only when you get your hands on the game you realise that Crystal Dynamics have possibly done so as a means to try out something completely new with the previous First Lady of Gaming. What we have here is a really strange mash-up of Tomb Raider, Geometry Wars and Torchlight, which on the surface sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I'll break it all down for you. The game is played from an isometric camera, which gives it that Torchlight feel, as does its graphical style. Both are really well done and very rarely does any scenery get in the way of your view of the landscape, the camera is pulled out just enough to provide you with enough space to aim at any creatures and enemies that may come your way. This is where we come to the games aiming. Using the left stick to move, you use the right stick to aim and have full 360 degree control of where Croft points her weapons, which has fantastic animation I might add. Holding down the Right Trigger will result in Lara opening fire on whatever is in line with the direction she's pointing her guns in, so that covers Geometry Wars. Classic Tomb Raider comes in the shape of the games visual appearance, which returns to the traditional sandy coloured tombs, and the puzzles, which rely heavily on switch activation (of varying kinds).
Crystal Dynamics have also strived to include an aspect of meta-gaming with in Guardian of Light. Rather than just rely on the Achievements for this, there's all sorts of things to collect in levels that unlock upgrades and weapons for you to use throughout the game. Keeping in line with the Geometry Wars feel to the game there's an element of score attack too, complete with leaderboards, and with co-operative multiplayer (which at the time of writing is limited to local co-op only, but will be online once the PS3 and PC versions are released, something to do with Microsoft wanting timed exclusivity getting in the way of utilising the games netcode or something), there's something here for everyone. Weighing in at 1200 MARPS (£10.20), the price may put people off, luckily the demo is quite sizeable and gives you a fair idea of wether or not you'll enjoy the rest of the game or not. But in my opinion, this is one of the better Tomb Raider games in the entire series.
Releasing a download title via the means of XBox Live Arcade (and soon PSN and PC) appears to be a reaction to this on the surface of things, but its only when you get your hands on the game you realise that Crystal Dynamics have possibly done so as a means to try out something completely new with the previous First Lady of Gaming. What we have here is a really strange mash-up of Tomb Raider, Geometry Wars and Torchlight, which on the surface sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I'll break it all down for you. The game is played from an isometric camera, which gives it that Torchlight feel, as does its graphical style. Both are really well done and very rarely does any scenery get in the way of your view of the landscape, the camera is pulled out just enough to provide you with enough space to aim at any creatures and enemies that may come your way. This is where we come to the games aiming. Using the left stick to move, you use the right stick to aim and have full 360 degree control of where Croft points her weapons, which has fantastic animation I might add. Holding down the Right Trigger will result in Lara opening fire on whatever is in line with the direction she's pointing her guns in, so that covers Geometry Wars. Classic Tomb Raider comes in the shape of the games visual appearance, which returns to the traditional sandy coloured tombs, and the puzzles, which rely heavily on switch activation (of varying kinds).
Crystal Dynamics have also strived to include an aspect of meta-gaming with in Guardian of Light. Rather than just rely on the Achievements for this, there's all sorts of things to collect in levels that unlock upgrades and weapons for you to use throughout the game. Keeping in line with the Geometry Wars feel to the game there's an element of score attack too, complete with leaderboards, and with co-operative multiplayer (which at the time of writing is limited to local co-op only, but will be online once the PS3 and PC versions are released, something to do with Microsoft wanting timed exclusivity getting in the way of utilising the games netcode or something), there's something here for everyone. Weighing in at 1200 MARPS (£10.20), the price may put people off, luckily the demo is quite sizeable and gives you a fair idea of wether or not you'll enjoy the rest of the game or not. But in my opinion, this is one of the better Tomb Raider games in the entire series.
XBox Live Prices Set To Rise
By Ben / 2010-08-30 17:39:38
You may have already received the email giving you the bad news, but the cost of XBox Live subscriptions is set to rise.
To be honest, if you're British and reading this then it probably wont affect you too much (yet...) unless you buy your subscription by the month. If that's the case then it's going up from £4.99 to £5.99
The American's are hardest hit, with their monthly rate jumping from $7.99 to $9.99, 3 months $19.99 to $24.99, and the full year $49.99 to $59.99
There's a lot of people saying they will now abandon Live once their subscriptions run out, and given that we're getting to the point where people will be buying their second or 3rd console, maybe they will start picking up 3rd party games on the PS3 or PC (or Wii I guess). But then as always with these things, people say a lot of things, and I dare say come the release of Gears of War 3 et al, they'll be back on board
By Ben / 2010-08-30 17:39:38
You may have already received the email giving you the bad news, but the cost of XBox Live subscriptions is set to rise. To be honest, if you're British and reading this then it probably wont affect you too much (yet...) unless you buy your subscription by the month. If that's the case then it's going up from £4.99 to £5.99
The American's are hardest hit, with their monthly rate jumping from $7.99 to $9.99, 3 months $19.99 to $24.99, and the full year $49.99 to $59.99
There's a lot of people saying they will now abandon Live once their subscriptions run out, and given that we're getting to the point where people will be buying their second or 3rd console, maybe they will start picking up 3rd party games on the PS3 or PC (or Wii I guess). But then as always with these things, people say a lot of things, and I dare say come the release of Gears of War 3 et al, they'll be back on board
Reach For The Stars
By Ben / 2010-08-30 05:05:49
I don't really know what to say about this, but here goes.
Microsoft have cobbled together a celebrity team to face off against a team of experienced (I assume) gamers to promote Halo Reach.
Because the celebrities wouldn't stand much of a chance on their own they've been assigned a captain, 17-year-old Lewis Chapman from Newark in Nottinghamshire. Young Lewis is going to be taking charge of Jason Bradbury from the Gadget Show (a decent gamer from what I've seen), R'n'B artist Mr Hudson, T4 presenter Jameela Jamil, England rugby player Ben Cohen, and occasional England captain Rio "Brapp" Ferdinand
While Chapman used his time to try to spur his team on, saying:
"I would like to say to my new team members, 'Get practicing! You might be celebrities, but you better be good on the night!"
Rio decided to take a far more antagonistic path saying:
"His or her voice won't be as deep as ours. They'll be squeaking and telling us exactly where to run and who to shoot,"
I'm sure your captain really appreciates being merked like that Rio
By Ben / 2010-08-30 05:05:49
I don't really know what to say about this, but here goes.Microsoft have cobbled together a celebrity team to face off against a team of experienced (I assume) gamers to promote Halo Reach.
Because the celebrities wouldn't stand much of a chance on their own they've been assigned a captain, 17-year-old Lewis Chapman from Newark in Nottinghamshire. Young Lewis is going to be taking charge of Jason Bradbury from the Gadget Show (a decent gamer from what I've seen), R'n'B artist Mr Hudson, T4 presenter Jameela Jamil, England rugby player Ben Cohen, and occasional England captain Rio "Brapp" Ferdinand
While Chapman used his time to try to spur his team on, saying:
"I would like to say to my new team members, 'Get practicing! You might be celebrities, but you better be good on the night!"
Rio decided to take a far more antagonistic path saying:
"His or her voice won't be as deep as ours. They'll be squeaking and telling us exactly where to run and who to shoot,"
I'm sure your captain really appreciates being merked like that Rio
One more Worms Reloaded trailer
By Duane / 2010-08-26 10:46:57
Out today on Steam (priced at £17.99 ), below you'll find the final Worms Reloaded trailer, titled "Back with a Bang". Enjoy.
Amazing to think that its 10 years since Worms Armageddon (15 since the original Worms!)
Show/hide video
By Duane / 2010-08-26 10:46:57
Out today on Steam (priced at £17.99 ), below you'll find the final Worms Reloaded trailer, titled "Back with a Bang". Enjoy.Amazing to think that its 10 years since Worms Armageddon (15 since the original Worms!)
Show/hide video
Oh If Only
By Ben / 2010-08-25 16:24:45
Unfortunately the below video isn't in game footage (click the 'Show' button), rather an animation designed to look like Mushroom Hill (Act 2) from Sonic & Knuckles.
Maybe one day we'll see a Sonic game like this, meaning no disrespect to Sonic 4
Show/hide video
By Ben / 2010-08-25 16:24:45
Unfortunately the below video isn't in game footage (click the 'Show' button), rather an animation designed to look like Mushroom Hill (Act 2) from Sonic & Knuckles.Maybe one day we'll see a Sonic game like this, meaning no disrespect to Sonic 4
Show/hide video
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