Holiday Games Gift Guide – Multiplatform December 20, 2012
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The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!
Now we’re going to talk about some great deals on multiplatform games. Now, it would be really easy to just draw up a list of all the new games that are out on multiple platforms and include new games like Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, and Assassin’s Creed 3, but those games are brand new and are still going for full retail price. While buying games like those are a no-brainer, here’s some games that are already out at lower prices and offer something extra special. Get them now while you can and hopefully they’ll be on your platform!
Dead Island Game of the Year Edition – Probably one of the most controversal games at release you owe it to yourself to pick up one of the most unique zombie games I’ve seen in recent time. No longer are you fighting through a postapocalyptic urban landscape, you’re fighting your way through an open world sunny tropical resort paradise. The best part about this is that all of the game’s DLC is included with this edition of the game, making it a really worthwhile purchase for those of you hoping to save some money. You can currently get this game for the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $29.99 US.
Zone of the Enders HD Collection – Zone of the Enders is a franchise we haven’t seen in quite some time. Released originally for the Playstation 2, the first game mostly saw sales as it included the first playable demo of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The ZOE HD Collection includes both the original game and sequel, The Second Runner, along with brand new HD support and animated intro cinematic. It also includes the currently exclusive demo for Metal Gear Rising Revengeance on the disc, giving you a first playable look at that highly anticipated game two months before it sees a release. You can get Zone of the Enders HD Collection for $39.99 US on the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360.
Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition – When Batman: Arkham City came out in 2011 it was not only the best superhero game ever made, it was easily considered one of the best multiplatform hits of that year. Over a year later, over thirty dollars worth of downloadable content has been released for Arkham City, including extra character costumes for Batman and Catwoman, extra challenge maps, and an entirely separate downloadable content expansion pack. Since all the DLC is included with the GOTY edition, this makes it a much better deal. You can get the Arkham City Game of the Year Edition for the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 for $49.99 US.
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection – The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection includes Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker. The game’s original graphics remain intact, but the framerate is amazingly high. For me though, the most important feature was finally you can play MGS2 and MGS3 in anamorphic widescreen, something I have wanted to do since I got my first HDTV back in 2005. The game even allows you to transfer save games from either the Vita version of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection to the PS3 or the PSP version of Peace Walker. You can probably find this game for $29.99 US on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 or Playstation Vita. Please note though, the Playstation Vita version does not include Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.
Mass Effect Collection – This one is pretty much a no brainer. The Mass Effect series has long been a staple of this generation. It was a science-fiction universe presented in a realistic way. It was a role-playing game but with a real-time battle system. You could play it as an RPG or play it as a shooter. The decisions you made impacted the entire universe and changed the story. Originally released as an exclusive Xbox 360 game, their popularity grew and grew and each sequel saw a release on multiple platforms. Now, Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3 are being bundled together and released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. In fact this will mark the first time the original Mass Effect game saw a release on the Playstation 3. You can pick up the Mass Effect Collection for $59.99 US.
Silent Hill HD Collection – There has been a lot of controversy about this HD Collection’s release since it came out. Featuring Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3, which were considered by many to be the best two games of the series, it may not have the framerate or polish as the original versions of the games do, but unlike the original versions of the games you can actually buy this collection brand new for a reasonable price. Silent Hill HD Collection is out for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 and you can probably find it for $29.99 US.
Saints Row the Third: The Full Package – I was a huge fan of the original Saints Row when it came out, and loved Saints Row 2 just as much. With games like Grand Theft Auto leaving a high bar to climb when it came to open-world action games, the Saints Row series solved all the problems I felt Grand Theft Auto had, and added in a completely absurd tone which kept me playing. Saints Row The Third continues this tradition with a completely zany story, an entirely new driving system, and weapons I can’t even repeat here for modesty’s sake. Now, with The Full Package, you get ALL the DLC included with the game with no extra charge. Given the fact that it is currently only a ten-dollar premium over the normal edition of the game, and the costs of all that DLC, that makes The Full Package a great deal. With the recent bankruptcy filing by THQ, there’s no word just how long this game is going to be on the shelves for. You can get Saints Row The Third: The Full Package for $49.99 US on the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.
Wow, that’s a lot of games across a lot of platforms! And don’t worry, we’re not even close to being done. Even more games are coming!
Holiday Games Gift Guide – Playstation 3 December 20, 2012
Posted by Maniac in Editorials.add a comment
The Holidays are coming pretty soon and I know that many of you may very well be opening up brand new gifts including a wide range of consoles and handhelds for the first time. However, with a new console or handheld comes the responsiblity to find some of the best games to get for it. The hope is to bring you a list of currently in print brand new games which are either some of the best for the platform or the best deals on the platform that you can easily pick up at the store for a reasonable price, pop it into your new gaming system and enjoy every second of it! So, in the time leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be posting a series of articles for each platform and handheld system currently on the market and tell you what are some of the must-have games for new console owners!
First off, we’re going to take a look at the Playstation 3 exclusives!
Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection – Since these games were originally developed and appeared on the Playstation 2, this collection is technically not a Playstation 3 exclusive, but trust me, you have never seen these staples of console gaming quite like this in glorious HD. They were based on the improved PAL versions of the games, but still feature all the secrets of the original Playstation 2 versions. Not only that but the HD Collection version includes enhanced graphical effects, higher resolution textures, and some exclusive behind the scenes documentaries about the making of the games,. Without a doubt this is the definitive version of these games. MSRP on the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection is currently around $19.99 US.
The inFamous Collection – When inFamous was released, it redefined what made for a superhero video game and allowed the player to make the decisions for themselves what they would do if they had super powers in a realistic urban setting. Would they become a hero or would they become infamous? The inFamous Collection contains both inFamous 1 and inFamous 2, as well as the entire expansion campaign for inFamous 2 which was released as downloadable content. The fact that the downloadable content campaign is included with the collection is a fantastic deal, as it alone goes for ten dollars. You can probably find The inFamous Collection in stores for $29.99 US.
The Resistance Collection – When the Playstation 3 launched, it had one must-have exclusive game on day 1, and that was the game Resistance: Fall of Man. Since then, the game has spawned two sequels, an online social game, and two handheld spin offs. The Resistance Collection includes all three Resistance games which were released for the Playstation 3 (Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2 and Resistance 3) and bonus content for Resistance 2 and Resistance 3. The Resistance Collection currently goes for $39.99 US.
The God of War Saga – There has probably been no bigger first-party exclusive franchise for Sony since the Playstation 2 era than the God of War series. It redefined what made for an action platformer, and unapologetically brought the Greek mythology it was based on to light. The God of War Saga is a compilation of all five, yeah I wrote that right, all five God of War games together, retooled and improved for the Playstation 3 along with access to the God of War Ascension Multiplayer Beta. One little warning, don’t confuse this with the God of War Collection or God of War Origins Collection which only feature two of the five total games the Saga version does and doesn’t offer Ascension beta access. The God of War Saga is $39.99 US.
Don’t worry, we’re not just stopping at the best games for the Playstation 3. You can expect more Holiday Gift Guides to come! Happy Holidays!
Nintendo 3DS XL Virtual Console Game Comparison December 18, 2012
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Maniac is loving the Nintendo eShop’s Virtual Console store, where he can finally buy all the original Game Boy games he missed out on and download them to the Nintendo 3DS. How does the visual quality of these virtual console games compare to the image off an original model 1 Game Boy? Well, lets break out an original copy of Super Mario Land and find out.
Mario Podcast December 18, 2012
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During the Mario Weekend I hosted on the site, I had a request from a fan that I do a Mario Podcast for the event. It was an interesting request, as it was something that I hadn’t planned to do. However, the more I thought about it the more I thought it was the right idea to do a podcast on Mario.
Mario is probably one of the most enduring mascots of my lifetime, and he continues to appear in new games even to this day. If I was going to do Mario justice I was going to need a lot of time, because I was going to have plenty to talk about.
The Last of Us Cinematic Process Video December 14, 2012
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For those of you who have been following the development of The Last of Us as closely as I have, you’ll know that its being made by Naughty Dog, the creators of the Uncharted franchise. Part of the reason why Naughty Dog was able to do such a phenomenal job bringing a realistic virtual performance out of their characters is because they had their voice actors actually perform their scenes in a motion capture studio. Naughty Dog is continuing this tradition with The Last of Us, their newest game, which tells the story of the survivors of a new parasitic apocalypse.
Sony has saw fit to post up a quick video of just how this process works and introduce a brand new character, named Tess, to us. Take a look.
The Last of Us is coming May 7th, 2013 exclusive to the Playstation 3.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Boot Camp 2012 Gameplay December 14, 2012
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Next year, one of the most classic in gaming franchises of the 3D era is going to be headed into a brand new direction for the franchise. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance follows Raiden, the hero of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty as he tries to make his way through a world free from the shackles of the Patriots and which the latest and greatest technology for war has become cybernetic augmentation.
We all saw a taste of just how powerful Raiden had become in Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of Liberty. Well, he’s gotten upgraded since then. Just how powerful is Raiden this time around? You will be able to take out a Metal Gear Ray single-handedly using only a sword. Take a look at this gameplay clip for what looks to be an epic boss fight.
But fighting Metal Gears is not all you’ll be doing in the game. If you would prefer to see some all new gameplay (that hasn’t already been seen in the recent demo) take a look at this new level shown at Boot Camp 2012, where Raiden has to navigate the sewers filled with augmented mercenaries. Will you attack up front or sneak around them? You decide.
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance is coming February 2013 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. A demo is currently out with the Zone of the Enders: HD Collection.
Dead Space 3 Two Ways to Play Trailer December 13, 2012
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Dead Space 3 is going to bring more than just a single player campaign that looks to conclude the entire Dead Space story, it’s also bringing an entirely new cooperative feature which has never been seen before in a Dead Space game, and probably hasn’t been seen before in any other game.
Previously, games which featured a single-player campaign which could be played cooperatively would justify this in the game’s story in one of two ways. One, that the second player would take control of a previously AI controlled sidekick already explained in the game story. This sidekick (or sidekicks) will follow you through the game’s story, allowing friends to drop in or drop out of controlling them at their leisure. The other option is the more common one where a game will create an identical second protagonist which looks by all appearances to be a clone of the main character and no mention will be made that our game hero now has a clone fighting with them.
That’s just not happening with Dead Space 3. By yourself you play as Issac Clarke, the same hero which survived the Necromorph attacks on the USG Ishumura and the Sprawl. You’ll be alone, and your only friends will be your wits and whatever weapons you can craft this time around. If you’re playing with a friend however, Issac won’t be alone. A new character, John Carver, will join Issac as they will work together to survive. The game’s storyline, while it will follow the same general path, will be altered to reflect the addition of a second player in the game.
So how does this dynamic story change with the addition of a new player? Take a look.
This is phenomenal and other game developers who plan to bring cooperative play. So really, if you really want to get the entire story in Dead Space 3, you’re probably going to want to play it alone, and then with a friend.
Dead Space 3 is coming February 5th, 2013 to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.
Nintendo 3DS XL Charging Cradle Review December 13, 2012
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If you take a hard look at the 3DS XL charge port, you can see what appear to be power connectors for a docking cradle. If you haven’t noticed a 3DS XL charging cradle being sold in stores, we haven’t either, but Nintendo certainly has made one. This custom charging dock appears to be sold exclusively through Nintendo’s Parts and Accessories website. It costs $19 US, and with the extra costs of shipping and taxes, it came out to about $25.
So, what does it look like? Is it any good? Is it worth the money? Take a look.
Mario Warfare Episode 1 Released December 12, 2012
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Did you ever wonder what would happen if the story of Super Mario was depicted a little bit more, realistically? Or perhaps, you just wanted to see heroes like Mario and Toad fighting with guns and kung-fu. Well, Beatdown Boogie, the makers of Modern War Gear Solid, has just released exactly what you want!
The first episode of the highly anticipated independently made fanfilm Mario Warfare was released to the internet yesterday, and it is just amazing. The film takes all the classic characters that we remember from the Mario series and completely turns the Mushroom Kingdom on its head, as King Koopa prepares to attack. Just who will defend them, and who will rescue the Princess?
This fanfilm was in production for quite some time. It was announced shortly after the conclusion of Modern War Gear Solid, and there was a lot of teaser material released about it, so people have been anticipating its release for months. I was planning to include this as part of Mario Weekend, but since it wasn’t out yet at the time that happened, I decided not to mention the series during that event and instead to hold off talking about it until the first episode released. Enjoy!
The Phantom Pain Spike VGA Trailer December 12, 2012
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There was probably no game that showed at the VGAs this year that was more controversial or praised than The Phantom Pain. On the surface it looks like an entirely new concept for a game. You play a wounded war veteran who lost his hand and has no memory of who they are or where they came from. Meanwhile everyone is trying to kill you and the rest of your squad.
Now I would be remiss to mention that it seems like everyone on the internet believes this to be a hoax trailer and that in reality this is a trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5. People have noticed several clues sprinkled through the trailer as well as during the Spike Awards Show which give credibility to this theory. Before this trailer launched, no one had heard of Moby Dick Studio, who the trailer credits as their developer.
Two days ago when I tried to do a simple search on them, I could not find their website through Google (however that problem has since been cleared up). If Google hadn’t heard of them until recently, that would mean that their site was so new that it hadn’t been added to Google’s search algorithms yet. Also, the fact that the website has a .se extension has made it harder for me to look up just who owns it through the usual search channels.
In particular, Hideo Kojima himself was at the VGA event, and witnesses saw several people wearing Moby Dick Studio shirts in the Konami VIP area. This could be because Konami is publishing the game, or the game is simply using Konami’s technology. Many people online think the game could be using Kojima Team’s FOX Engine, the engine powering Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. The rhetoric is the same from the other Kojima FOX Engine game, that everything in the trailer is running in real-time and the game is currently running on a high-end PC but will be on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
The first name of the person credited to be the game’s project lead is Joakim, an anagram of Kojima, the father of Metal Gear. Although I have been told that Joakim is a very common Swedish name and that could just be a coincidence.
There have also been a few Twitter accounts that have popped up claiming to be Twitter accounts for Moby Dick Studios, and while they have been obviously set up to continue the running joke that Joakim and Kojima are the same person, the official Moby Dick Studio site has said that all of them are fakes.
The Phantom Pain is coming to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
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