A couple of days ago, it was rumoured that Japanese mega-developer Square Enix would be the publisher of the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 in Japan. The company, best known for the Final Fantasy series, is attempting to expand its range of games to outside of the RPG mould. One can't help but find humour in the fact that possibly the largest shooter release of the year is going to be published by a studio associated with mostly RPGs.

Although there has been no official announcement by Square Enix, there is a teaser site that can be found here. The site features a large "2" fading in and out (the same "2" featured in the Modern Warfare 2 logo) and quotes from noteable military figures (also the same as Modern Warfare 2). All signs point to an impending announcement of Square Enix's deal with Activision, but - of course - there's always the chance that this is all just a big joke.

Tyson

Anyone remember Eight Days? That's right, that exceptionally looking shooter which was exclusive to PS3. If you don't remember it, you might want to take a glance at the above video. If you do remember it, you may also remember it was cancelled.

What for? Too little money? Not enough time? Nope, none of those - it was canceled to make way for EyePets. Now, we at GGTL aren't criticising EyePets - it looks awesome - but why cancel a triple-A title for it?

Well, perhaps they didn't after all. It seems to be a day of revelations today, with rumours of a Gran Turismo 5 Beta, and now new Eight Days screenshots have hit the web and lets just say, wow!

It seems to be looking great, with some really nice colours. Anyway, I'll leave them with you to judge. EyePets or this? Your choice.










Jacques

Labels: Eight Days, Jacques, Rumours, Screens

If we're taking the above image as evidence, then it certainly seems so. Found deep in the caverns of the interweb, the image - which clearly shows a PS3 download screen for the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5 - seems to point towards the possibility of Polyphony's racing sim being already in the first stages of Beta testing.

A beta for the game, due to release this winter, hasn't been officially mentioned or announced yet. However, GT5 is slated to feature over 1000 vehicles and 20 tracks, of which each has a few different variations. It'd be no surprise that a game on this scale would need some sort of beta testing phase to make sure that the online mode was up-to-scratch.

We'll keep you updated on anything else we get on this exciting story. Needless to say that all of the PlayStation teams' blood levels are at an all-time high with the prospect of racing around London before anyone else.

Linford

PLEASE NOTE: This is purely a rumour - nothing has officially been announced. We have provided the image so you have the information which we enjoy. Please do not take this as official.

Labels: Beta, Gran Turismo, GT5, Linford, Rumours

Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Ring any bells? Chances are that these classics rank high on many of your favourite games lists. From its announcement, the developers of Shadow Complex admitted to taking a heavy influence from these titles while working on the Xbox Live Arcade release. Some people may have been skeptical whether or not the studio behind Gears of War could create a game in the vain of Super Metroid and Castlevania: SotN, but after playing Shadow Complex they will realise that it is not only worthy of being compared to these games, but that it should be talked about with the same reverence as these classic titles.

After a Metroid-style power-up stealing, Shadow Complex starts you off as Jason Flemming. Jason is just a normal guy on a normal date in the woods with his normal girlfriend - that is until they decide to explore a nearby cave and Jason's girlfriend gets captured by a technologically advanced army called "The Restoration". Jason goes after his girlfriend and soon finds himself in the middle of a huge complex (a shadow complex, if you will), navigating his way around to find a way to get him and his love to safety. Although based on the universe of Orson Scott Card's novel, Empire, and written by comic book writer Peter David, the story in Shadow Complex soon takes a backseat to the action and exploration aspects of the game.

Shadow Complex is the first game that I feel truly earns the title of 2.5-D. The game only allows the player to move on a 2-D plane, and yet enemies appear, not only in front and behind you, but also in the foreground and background. This is an innovative addition to the game, but it usually makes for some frustrating points when aiming at enemies on different planes, and when trying to determine whether you are able to land on a certain platform or whether it is in the background.

When starting Shadow Complex, you will be armed with nothing by a t-shirt and a torch, but it doesn't take long for Jason to be able to hold his own against the games enemies. Promptly finding a pistol and grenades, you are able to take out green-coloured doors, but as the amount of other coloured doors in the base show, this is just the beginning. From missiles to a grappling hook, the power-ups in Shadow Complex are extremely satisfying and you will find yourself constantly itching to get your hands on the next one. A personal favorite of mine probably the most original power-up in the game; the foam gun. It's exactly what it sounds like too, a gun that shoots quick-hardening foam to be used however the player sees fit. There were a few too many power-ups that feel like they were taken straight out of Metroid, but Epic Games did a good job of making these items feel fresh.

The giant military base, of which the game is named after, is an absolute joy to explore. Although you're limited to only the large base and the wooded area surrounding it, there is enough varation to make the backtracking feel not only bearable, but fun. With the game constantly giving you new items, you will usually find something new every time you are required to go to a certain area. Looking at the map screen may be a little daunting to some players, but Shadow Complex gives the player an option of having a blue line on the map screen giving a specific path to the next object. Sticking to the path is not always the best strategy though, as off the trail is where you will find most of the hidden weapon upgrades (more missiles, health, etc.).

The controls are especially good. Jumping, grappling, and climbing the architecture is a breeze. The game falls short when aiming, however. Controlled by the right analogue stick, the overly sensitive aiming can be a problem in parts of the game where accuracy is required. This causes most of the encounters in the game to be most easily solved by wiggling the stick in the general direction of the enemy until enough bullets make contact. A little more auto-aim help could have easily avoided this problem. The aiming can be a huge frustration, as it is usually the reason for unnecessary deaths and soaking up more damage than you should have.

The graphics in Shadow Complex are gorgeous, especially considering that it is a downloadable game. Using the Unreal Engine 3 - the same engine used in such graphically impressive games as Gears of War 2 - the graphics impress. Up close, the character models are not especially pretty, but from the game's intended 2-D perspective, the environments and characters are all quite impressive. However, I also found many instances where parts of my character would clip though a wall, which could be off-putting and often pulled me out of the experience.

Although it is a single-player only game, Shadow Complex does have a mode called "Training Grounds". This mode challenges players to complete specific tasks using a limited amount of resources. The player is rated based on the time of completion and is ranked on an online leaderboard. These challenges are fun, and are a good incentive to keep players coming back.

Shadow Complex is awesome. Its minor flaws in the aiming and graphical glitches are no match for the games strong points. Exploring the world and finding new power-ups is a great way to spend an hour or two, and players will quickly find themselves losing track of time while playing. Shadow Complex can easily be called one of the best downloadable games to date, and could be considered one of the years best games, downloadable or disc-based. If you're a fan of the games that Shadow Complex draws its influence from, or if you've always wanted to check out Super Metroid or Castlevania, it is an easy recommendation. For only 1200 Microsoft Points, Shadow Complex is tremendous value, and is a game that no Xbox 360 owner should be without.

9/10

Tyson

Labels: 360, Epic Games, Shadow Complex, Tyson

There was a moment two days ago, after the gavel finally fell in a Swedish court, when it looked like the website known as The Pirate Bay had illegally uploaded its last torrent.

Having been told to be shut down, The Pirate Bay and its ISP, Black Internet, complied, and disconnected the site from the open sea of the internet. That decisive action lasted about... one full day, after which the site resurfaced defiantly, allowing its internet faithful to wench, pillage, and plunder their way through millions upon million of dubloons worth of invaluable digital media once more. Yarrrrrrrrr.

But did The Pirate Bay stop at simply disobeying a clear court order? Nope. They did what Blackbeard would have done - profited off of their blatant disrespect for the world's legal systems by selling a t-shirt.

The shirt reads: "I spent months of time and millions of dollars to close down The Pirate Bay and all I’ll get is this beautiful t-shirt!" According to The Pirate Bay's blog, it is in the process of being made, and as soon as it is ready will be sent "to the enemy frontline."

It's the internet equivalent of the entire Pirate Bay staff waving their collective penises at Sweden, while smirking. I, for one, am impressed.

On an only slightly related note, it looks like The Global Game Factory won't be able to acquire The Pirate Bay as it had once desired, due in major part to an investigation made by the Swedish government to see if they actually have the cash to do it.

If there's one thing I take from all this, it's that even when they're pale, nerdy Swedish men living far, far away from the Caribbean - I f**king love pirates.

Greg

Labels: Greg, Legal, The Pirate Bay

Ahoy there loyal readers. Its August 25th, 2009, a date which I, for one, am perosnally psyched about. Why, you ask? Well, today two incredible games which we have been following closely here at GGTL finally are ready to see the light of day (or the darkness inside my consoles to be more precise). If you've been following us, you'll know which games I'm talking about: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360); and Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP).

We know more than a few of you have been looking forward to these titles so we just wanted to go ahead and give you the heads up. PS3 owners getting Batman: Arkham Asylum will be pleased to know that free DLC for the title is already available. Fancy playing through a few challenge missions as the Crowned Prince of Crime, the Joker himself? Well, you can. Check out the PSN store and get your free download*.

Of honorable mention for you Fallout fans (for I know you are many), today also marks the release date for the second Add-on Pack for PC and Xbox 360: "Broken Steel and Point Lookout".

So go on, stop wondering why August 25th has decided to become an awesome day for releases, and just enjoy it. I know I will.

Joey

* We are unsure whether this applies to SCEE territories - it may only be available in North America at the current time.

Labels: Joey, Releases

You know what I love? A nice coffee in the morning. You know what else I love? Great video game soundtracks. I find that as I get older, soundtracks in video games are becoming more and more important to me. The more observant amongst you may have noticed that I gave Shatter an 8/10. While the gameplay is pretty cool, I don’t think that I would have given it that score without its amazing electro soundtrack that I’m still listening to today.

What relevance does this have to this article? Well, considering news is a little slow in the post-Gamescom video game world I thought I’d do a little run down of my top 5 favourite soundtracks of all time. (This list doesn’t include games with licensed music, for example GTA 4, or music games, such as Lumines)

5) Shatter

This game has an incredible, heart-thumping electro soundtrack which perfectly complements the game’s arcadey action. I loved this soundtrack enough to buy it online for more than the price of the actual game.

Highlight: Neon Mines

4) Breath of Fire 3

I may be biased because of nostalgia here, but this game’s upbeat and jolly soundtrack matches the game’s mood perfectly.

Highlight: The Town Loved By The Wind

3) Mirror’s Edge

This game’s trance-y soundtrack really suits the game’s art-style and gameplay well. Also, I generally tend to stay away from the trance/rave sub-section of electro, but this really swayed me.

Highlight: Still Alive

(Note: Matt may or may not have a huge crush on Lisa Miskovsky)

2) Final Fantasy 8

Final Fantasy 8’s music was incredibly necessary in the narrative of the game. Back on the PS1, facial expressions couldn’t be used to show emotion, and there was obviously no speech. As a result of this, Square had to use music to show what the characters were thinking and what the general mood was. This game’s soundtrack is so good that it was performed live in front of sell-out crowds all over the world.

Highlight: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec

1) Bully

Bully isn’t well known for its music. In fact, it’s not really known at all, forgotten in the dying days of the last console generation. This is unfortunate because it has an astoundingly good soundtrack that ranges from 70s style rock-pop to electro to good old chip-tune. I can’t stress enough how much you need to play this game, even if only for its soundtrack. Bully truly is a modern classic.

Highlight: The Big Game

P.S. Sorry about not posting in a while, had some crazy University business to sort out (I'm going to York :)).

Labels: Breath of Fire 3, Bully, FF8, Mirrors Edge, Shatter

When Zipper Interactive first announced their 256-player, online FPS, calling it MAG, many were skeptical - it was an unfeasible number of players... or so people thought. They've been proven wrong, and in spectacular fashion, as Zipper haven't only proven that they can handle that number of players, but that they can do it in style too.

The weapons list is looking pretty good too, with a well-rounded roster of weapons which allow for all sorts of different playing styles. The weapons for each team also seem to reflect their individual characteristics, which should be good.

SVER: 17 TOTAL

AN-94: 30 rds, long rang Assault Rifle with low recoil and good stopping power.
RPG: Rocket Launcher
Bizon: 64 rds, Accurate SMG.
PKP: 100 rds, Powerful LMG.
SVD: 10 rds, Decent semi-auto sniper rifle.
AEK-971: Accurate Russian Assault Rifle with VERY low recoil in Full Auto.
M870: 8 rds, Standard Pump Shotgun.
P90): 50 rds, Advanced SMG with low recoil.
AK103: 30 rds, Accurate assault rifle that uses the old Ak47 round.
Galil: 35 rds, A rugged assualt Rifle with decent accuracy.
RPK: 75 rds, Standard LMG.
Kriss Super V: 30 rds, An SMG that fires .45 cal and has low recoil.
SV-98: 10 rds, Accurate Russian sniper rifle that can use a silencer.
M82A3: 10 rds, Accurate Sniper rifle that is semi-auto and fires .50 cal
RG-6: 6 rds, semi-auto grenade launcher
F57: 20 rds, accurate pistol with excellent range and penetration.


RAVEN:10 TOTAL

AUGA3: 30 rds, Accurate, decent Assault Rifle.
MP7A1: 40 rds, Advanced SMG with high accuracy and low recoil.
L96AW: 5 rds, Extremely accurate long-range Sniper Rifle.
G3A3: 20 rds, Powerful and accurate Assault Rifle.
HK417: 20 rds, Powerful and accurate long-ranged assault rifle.
MG4: 100-200 rds, Accurate LMG with a fast fire rate.
Panzerfaust 3: Advanced, standard rocket launcher.
M870: 8 rds, Standard Pump Shotgun.
XM500: 5 rds, Bolt action .50 cal sniper rifle.
F2000: 30 rds, advanced assualt rifle with moderate accuracy.


VALOR: 6 TOTAL

M4A1:30 rds, Accurate Assault Rifle.
FN SCAR LW: 30 rds, currently in use by SEALs as a rugged and accurate assault rifle.
M249: 100-200 rds, Accurate LMG with fast fire rate.
colt 1911: 7 rds, standard medium power pistol.
AT4: single shot standard Rocket Launcher.
M14 EBR: 20 rds, Accurate Assault rifle, good stopping power at long range.

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how the MP7A1 is going to turn out. We'll have to wait and see how the weapons actually feel when the controller is in-hand when the game is released in January 2010.

Linford

A big cuddly 'thanks!' to LittleBigFerret of the EU PlayStation Forums for bringing this to our attention.

Gamer's Guide to Life provides this information as-is, for informative use only. We do not claim that this is the final list, and the list may change upon release. We just thought you might like to hear what we heard.

Labels: Linford, MAG, Massive Action Game, Zipper Interactive

That's right World of Warcraft fans - the rumours are true. Today at Blizzcon, Blizzard revealed that the third World of Warcraft expansion, entitled Cataclysm, will be coming to a PC near you. Most of the speculations circulating the internet were proven true, including a raised level cap to 85, and two new playable races: 'Goblins' and 'Worgen'. Blizzard stated that Cataclysm is set to release in 2010. Included below is a list of the major changes that will be in the expansion.

* Two New Playable Races: Adventure as one of two new races—the cursed worgen with the Alliance or the resourceful goblins with the Horde.
* Level Cap Increased to 85: Earn new abilities, tap into new talents, and progress through the path system, a new way for players to improve characters.
* Classic Zones Remade: Familiar zones across the original continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms have been altered forever and updated with new content, from the devastated Badlands to the broken Barrens, which has been sundered in two.
* New High-Level Zones: Explore newly opened parts of the world, including Uldum, Grim Batol, and the great Sunken City of Vashj'ir beneath the sea.
* More Raid Content than Ever Before: Enjoy more high-level raid content than previous expansions, with optional more challenging versions of all encounters.
* New Race and Class Combinations: Explore Azeroth as a gnome priest, blood elf warrior, or one of the other never-before-available race and class combinations.
* Guild Advancement: Progress as a guild to earn guild levels and guild achievements.
* New PvP Zone & Rated Battlegrounds: Take on PvP objectives and daily quests on Tol Barad Island, a new Wintergrasp-like zone, and wage war in all-new rated Battlegrounds.
* Archaeology: Master a new secondary profession to unearth valuable artifacts and earn unique rewards.
* Flying Mounts in Azeroth: Explore Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms like never before.

For more information on World of Warcraft: Cataclysm visit the official FAQ.

Tyson

Labels: Activision Blizzard, Tyson, World of Warcraft, WoW

I'm very exited about Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising - I'm looking forward to everything about it, if I'm honest, particularly its gritty realism. And, if things couldn't get better for OF2 fans, a new video has just hit the internet with details about the Co-op mode of the game. And it just makes me want it more.

Be warned - unless you're a fluent German speaker, you may have problems understanding the commentary. Part 2 will be up soon - keep your eye on GGTL for more on Operation Flashpoint 2 as we get it!

Jacques

Labels: Jacques, Operation Flashpoint 2, Video

A lot of exclusives end up on the XBOX 360. It was the same case with Grand Theft Auto 4. A whole new story mode was built called The Lost and Damned. It received rather good reviews and now it seems PlayStation 3 owners will be able to play it too. In a recent post on the official PlayStation forums, moderator Yaster posted about the goings on at Gamescom '09. Unfortunately, the post was quickly removed but one or two got hold of it. A contributor by the name of Philip Larkin got hold of the quote and here it is -
'And they were certainly showing some PS3 love - Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and the Damned was available to play in a special 18+ area, we didn't manage to get our hands on it due to the MASSIVE queue - but those inside looked pretty ***** excited.'

We are unable to supply a link as it has been taken down but..Yay!!!!

Jacques

Labels: DLC, Grand Theft Auto, PlayStation3

I love a free roaming game. There's quite a few out there at the moment: GTA, Mercenaries, Crackdown - all of them offer a slightly different take on the formula. GTA for example, is all about bing able to stick up a finger to the cops, whereas Mercenaries is all about how much destruction you can cause with one nuclear bunker buster.

Yet another take on the genre comes in the form of the Just Cause series. It takes from almost every other type of free roamer. The insane stuns from Crackdown and destruction from Mercs, mixed together in one big pot of manic action. The first game was rather successful... bar a few problems. One of which was the vast amount of unpopulated land you had to travrse.

The sequel is way into development and is heading to PC, Xbox and PS3 at the start of 2010. So far, is shaping up pretty well using the Avalanche Engine 2. And Avalanche have decided to put their fans into the game.

A current competition is running on the viral site for Just Cause 2. All you have to do is fill in the form and one of the 5 generals could take your name in game. Yes that right, people could be getting commanded by YOU! Or at least a virtual character with your name.

Heres a link to the site. Its about half way down the page. Good Luck!

Jacques

Labels: Competition, Jacques, Just Cause 2

Filmed at the Develop-award winning Side Studios, the nice people from the Assassin's Creed entourage (otherwise known as Ubisoft) interview author and TV-presenter, Mr. Danny Wallace, concerning his upcoming role in the second game to feature an assassin, some blades and a whole lot of violence.

Here's the first part for you all to enjoy. Be sure to tell us exactly what you think to Mr. Wallace and his part in Assassin's Creed II in our rather cosy comments section.

Linford

Labels: Assassin's Creed II, Interview, Linford, Ubisoft

When games developers first realised that viral sites do actually work when hyping up a game's release, it was commonplace for them to spring up a few weeks before release, with just enough cheesy acting and in-game glimpses to entice gamers to spend their cash. The same rule still applies now, and the latest developer to prove said point is Crysis developer, Crytek.

The website, found at http://www.crynetsystems.com/, hints to a game which could include alot of fancy technology and some very pretty computer systems. Including a detailed lowdown of what appears to be a character suit (the Nanosuit 2), two videos and various wallpapers, as well as the option to contact the fictional Crynet Systems and a mysterious login area, everything seems to be pointing to a game in which technological advancements and science go hand in hand with warfare.

We'll have to wait and see. And see we shall, when the game is released on PS3, 360 and PC sometime in the future.

Linford

Labels: Crysis 2, Crytek, Linford, News

Wow! Thats one word to describe this bit of news. Recently the closed beta for MAG was opened up to the Sony Official Beta testers. In a remarkable revelation Andy Beaudoin of Zipper Interactive has revealed that soon, it's going to be open for the public to see.

"On September 17 we will begin the beta open to the public," confirmed Andy Beaudoin, chief designer at Zipper Interactive statements to German videogames site, Eurogamer.de.

I for one am very exited about this one! Tell us your views and opinions, or what you'd like from MAG in the comments section.

Jacques

Labels: Beta, Jacques, MAG

Peter Molyneux made a big announcement at Gamescon in Cologne yesterday: one that will no doubt lead to a year of high hopes in the game community. Fable 3 is on its way to our living rooms, and should be here sometime in 2010.

I can see it now, new waves of excitement over simulations of dogs realistically looking sadly at pub windows while their masters realistically get rejected by barmaids who could realistically be riddled with STDs in a realistically-designed fantasy environment.

I'm wary of the third Fable installment. The way Molyneux hyped up the last two, only to see them both fall short, fuels my wariness. Every week or so for years our good friend Peter would dazzle gamers with tales of distant lands composed of non-linear storylines where you could rob a bank as a thief, save a princess as a knight, or get gingivitis as a barbarian. But both games fell short of his promises. Molyneux promised filet mignon the size of Mars, and gave us hamburger.

Here's what Pete had to say about his next crack at Fable: “The third child is always the problem child. The third game of any series tends to be a bit of a lull. We want people to expect the unexpected.

“Fable 3 will be new, fresh and different. I think there’s something fundamentally wrong with RPGs like Fable. The mechanics have been around since the ‘80s. I’m going to take that foundation and throw it away.”

"I want players to feel and experience what it’s like to be a ruler."

That could be fun. I have no idea what it entails, and the idea isn't really new to the fantasy genre specifically, but don't think I've played an RPG where I started off as a big kahuna and worked my way down to plebiaity.

Here's to hoping Peter's good for his word this time. There's a first time for everything.

Greg

Labels: Fable 3, Gamescom 09, Greg

Ever since it was announced at this years E3, Shadow Complex had been high on my list of anticipated games. The promise of a current-gen, Metroid/Castlevania style game by Epic Games, the studio behind Gears of War, had me squirming with excitement. Today, the game launched on the Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points and I wasted no time downloading it and hoping in to the campaign.

Shadow Complex starts you off, not as the main character, but as a fully upgraded government soldier. After teasing you for a few minutes with the overwhelming power, in true Metroid fashion, you are stripped of all the power-ups and begin playing as the games hero, Jason. Out in the woods with his girlfriend, the couple decide to explore a nearby cave. Upon entering the cave - which turns out to be a large, technologically advanced complex (hence the game's title) - Jason's girlfriend is taken hostage by the occupants of the base. Jason does what any good boyfriend would do and infiltrates the base armed with nothing but a flashlight.

The controls are spot on in Shadow Complex, I found myself easily maneuvering the games areas. The only points so far where the controls have been an issue is when pin-point shooting is required, as the aiming sensitivity seems a little touchy. The game helps slightly with this problem by giving all of your firearms unlimited ammo, making missed shots less of a hindrance.

Like the games that its inspired from, a main component of Shadow Complex is finding secrets. I've been in every corner of the complex, searching for hidden power-ups, and from what I've found so far, it seems as though the designers have done a great job of evenly pacing the amount of unlockables for the player to find. From extra grenades, to health extensions, anyone who enjoys exploring in games should have a blast with Shadow Complex.

Graphically, Shadow Complex is fairly good. While not overly impressive in comparison to some disc-based games, Shadow Complex rises to the top of the pack when looking at other downloadable games. Using Epic's own Unreal Engine 3 technology, the visuals in Shadow Complex will surely not disappoint.

I've only played a few hours of Shadow Complex, but it has already given me the impression that it is a quality product. Even while writing this post I am itching to get my hands on the game again and continue to explore the large world that Epic has created. Expect a full review of Shadow Complex on GGTL in the near future.

Tyson

Labels: Epic, First impressions, Shadow Complex, Tyson

When Sega announced that they had opened up a poll for fans to decide on the next Genesis game to be released on the Xbox Live Arcade, Earthworm Jim quickly rose to the top. The poll was restarted today with Earthworm Jim removed from the contest. But don't cry yet, Earthworm Jim fans: the reason it was removed was due to Gameloft announcing that Earthworm Jim will be coming to all consoles as downloadable content.

Sega had this to say. "Unfortunately, due to a licensing issue, we are no longer able to offer Earthworm Jim as an option in our poll. It was announced earlier today that Gameloft will be bringing Earthworm Jim to Xbox Live Arcade along with several other platforms. We are excited that our fans will soon be able to play this game."

It seems that Toejam & Earl has become the new fan-favorite, with about 42% of the votes at the time of writing this post. I'd rather see Streets of Rage in this position, but getting both Earthworm Jim and (likely) Toejam & Earl is nothing to complain about.

If you would like to vote on the new poll you can do so here.

Tyson

Labels: Poll, SEGA, Tyson

For weeks and weeks rumours about a newer, smaller version of Sony's flagship console had circled the internet. Now, its official. Kaz Hirai (the biggest of the big wigs over at Camp PlayStation) announced yesterday afternoon at Sony's much awaited Gamescom conference that the PS3 Slim is real and its coming at you faster than you can say "what now Mr. Gates?".

The PS3 slim is set to hit stores September 1st, 2009, at a reduced priced of 299€, £249.99 in the U.K., and $299 stateside. Hirai also announced that the new slim will also herald a price reduction of the regular PS3 model (PS3 Fat? Doesn't seem too catchy), also dropping to the prices listed above, as of tomorrow.

So all you readers out there who have been holding out on buying a PS3, waiting for that much talked about price cut, wake up and smell the Japanese craftmanship, the time is now my friends.

Let us know what you think of the new slim and the new price point in the comments section.

Joey

Labels: Gamescom 09, Joey, PS3 slim, Sony

If you like fighting games, or anime, or both, you are sure to appreciate the 2-D fighting goodness of Blazblue: Calamity Trigger. For those of you not familiar with the game, Blazblue is the latest fighting game from the geniuses at Arc Systems Works, who brought you the Guilty Gear series way back when. If all this means nothing to you, I'll be blunt: it's a fast, intense, over the top, in your face 2-D fighter, which makes no apologies for its complex fighting system, while leaving more than enough room open for casual gamers to enjoy. And did I mention the HD character sprites and animation in the game are a thing of legend? Well, they are.

Labels: Blazblue, Joey

When racing comes up in conversation between gamers, it tends to be the way that the same series', games and developers are spoken about. Almost anyone reading this article now will have heard of, played or be fanatic about Gran Turismo, Forza or even the more casual ones like Burnout or Destruction Derby. Which is fine, but it tends to be the way that developers who really know the racing genre are forgotten about. Eutechnyx, for example.

Really, it's fine - I was already anticipating those blank faces. Eutechnyx is the dev responsible for various decent racing games dating back to 1988 (on the Atari 8-Bit). Remember Ferrari Challenge? Not too bad at all. And then there were the not-so-great ones, such as Pimp My Ride and 007 Racing. But let's forget those and move on, because Eutechnyx's latest - a very realistic dish published by System3 - most definitely goes into the decent box.

Originally set for release in Spring 2009 - a window which came and went - Supercar Challenge actually decided that a closed beta phase was in order. Which was good for me, as I managed to get my hands on very early on in the beta phase. And now, with not long at all before release, System3 are giving out many more beta keys via various prestige gaming sites. Such as here, for example.

Although the game takes a long time to download and get onto - there's an around-500MB patch even after the initial install - it's immediately evident that Supercar Challenge is going to be decent, even before jumping into a game. The music and colours used are classy without feeling overdone, and the exterior car models are very good too.

Jumping into a game isn't difficult either - you have the choice of either joining an existing lobby or creating one of your own. Lobby hosts have a plethora of settings to fiddle with, which can change everything from the track, car and weather settings, right down to whether to use ADS, anti-lock breaks or traction control. Also, nicely, the more advanced settings are set apart from the simple controls, which allows those inexperienced racers to stick to the simple stuff, while more savvy players can mess about with the advanced settings and get things just as they like. It's a system which is fully-featured, but evidently considerate of its mixed audience.

In-lobby comms are clear and very-good quality, surprisingly for online game lobbies. A nice feature is the ability to speak to other headset-users when they're racing and you're waiting in the lobby - it's something which prevents people leaving the lobby because of long and boring wait times.

The racing mechanic itself is very good - while there is a steep learning curve for first time and inexperienced racers, the gameplay itself cannot be faulted. True, it may lean in the favour of regular racing gamers, with a very realistic, almost hardcore feel to the gaming, but an inexperienced racer can find themselves getting good times and challenging the leaders after practise.

In all, the beta is very impressive, and, if it weren't for the steep learning curve, would most certainly earn an A-grade in Beta Proficiency. If that particular exam actually existed. However, as it doesn't, all I can say is that to miss out on this beta - particularly when your favourite videogames site is handing keys out willy-nilly - would be a very silly move indeed.

Linford

Labels: Beta Impressions, Linford, Supercar Challenge

A recent post on Neogaf has shown yet another gaming comparison: this time, it's Uncharted. Cleverly, the poster has shown the original Uncharted video, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The images speak for themselves so I'll move over and let them.

Linky

Jacques

Labels: Jacques, Uncharted 2

A getaway through hostile territory isn't what you might call the most original of all gaming situations. However, it is one which definitely pleases if done correctly. Enter new Uncharted 2 footage.

The footage shows our main protagonist, Nathan Drake, alongside feisty females Elena and Chloe, helping a friend to safety. However, mutiny among the ranks threaten the group's chances of getting out of a very bad situation alive. Take a look and see what you think.

You can also take a look at a narrated version, kind courtesy of 1up. I still reckon it looks oh so awesome. We'll be on hand for any news Uncharted 2 related, so keep an eye on GGTL.

Linford

Labels: Linford, Uncharted 2

Many PC games, particularly those with very large fan-bases, are well-known for their modding communities. These dedicated groups of fans work day and night, doing the sort of work that would usually be left to proper games developers - writing thousands of lines of code, doing some pretty darn pretty graphics work and generally making a good game better.

It's no surprise, then, that Bohemia Interactive have decided to release modding tools for their recent, ultra-realistic military simulator, ArmA II. The tools, which allow users to modify and create their own camo, vehicles, models and weapons, or even create whole environments, can be downloaded from the Bohemia Interactive Studios community site.

“Our engine is designed from the ground up to allow the community and fans to easily create and share additional content,” said Marek Spanel, Bohemia Interactive's CEO. "We really appreciate the work done by fans of our games and by officially releasing these sophisticated mod tools we want to renew our commitment to them.

"These tools will simplify the work of the community; allow them the freedom of creativity and expression and to ensure that ArmA II provides them with an almost never ending source of entertainment and value."

It'll be good to see an active mod community on such a powerful and realistic game. Time to realise those boyhood dreams of running through a ruined castle, machine gun in hand, killing un-dead knights of olde. Why? Just because, now, you can.

Linford

Labels: ArmA II, Bohemia Interactive, Linford, Modding

According to Modern Warfare 2 fansite, mw2blog.com, the current Modern Warfare 2 weapons roster goes something like the below.

Featuring current favourites from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, such as the G36C, M4 Carbine, SVD Dragunov and H&K MP5, as well as more recently released and concept weaponry, the weapons roster is currently looking pretty well rounded, with an already larger choice of weapons to the last Modern Warfare game.

Personally, I'm looking forward to trying out the various new shotguns and assault rifles, and seeing which packs the best punch. Also, the inclusion of a new pistol - the Glock, famous for reliablity and ruggedness - is nice to see, and shows that Infinity Ward haven't forgotten that a good sidearmis just as important as a primary weapon. Good stuff.

The full list is below, should you want to take a look and curb your growing desire for MW2 information.

Linford

Assault Rifles
FAMAS - Bushmaster ACR - M16 - AK-47 - Steyr AUG A2 - Imbel MD3 - FN 2000 - G36C - M4 - MK. 14 EBR - G3 - TAR-21 - FN SCAR - FN FAL

Sniper Rifles
SVD Dragunov - Walther WA2000

Sub-Machine Guns
FN P90 - UMP .45 - TDI Kriss - H&K MP5

Shotguns
Franchi SPAS-12 - W1200 - Armsel Striker 12 Guage - Remington 870MCS - Winchester 1887 - AA-12

Light/Heavy Machine Guns
RPD - MK46 - AUG HBAR-T - MG4 - M240

Pistols
USP .45 - Glock 18/22 - M1911 .45 - Desert Eagle or Baby Eagle

Melee
Combat Knife - Ice Picks

Explosives/Grenades
C4 - Frag Grenade - Stun Grenade - Smoke Grenade - Semtex

Gun Attatchments
Red Dot Sight - Heartbeat Sensor - ACOG - Silencer - EOTech Sight - Thermal Scope - Master Key

Grenade Launchers
GP-25 Grenade Launcher - M203 Grenade Launcher - AT4 Rocket Launcher (Heat Seaking/Lock-On)

Armor
Riot Shield

Labels: Call of Duty, Infinity Ward, Linford, Modern Warfare 2

August 14th marked the 20th anniversary of the North American release of the Sega Genesis. To celebrate this occasion Sega has decided to let their fans vote on the next Genesis game to be released on the Xbox Live Arcade. Voters have from August 14th to August 21st to make their choice and vote on the Genesis Poll website. At the time of publish, Earthworm Jim has a commanding lead, taking up nearly half of the votes. Out of the options given, I'm very glad to see Earthworm Jim pulling ahead of the pack, although I wouldn't complain if Streets of Rage won either.

If you want to have a say in the decision of which Genesis game you want to appear on XBLA next, take a look over the nominees and vote for your favorite here.

Tyson

Labels: Classic Consoles, SEGA, Tyson

If you have been following the TF2 blog, you'll know by now that the unanticipated "Classless update" has been released. Deviating from their usual formula, Valve have chosen not to update a class in the standard "new weapons and a map or two" format. Instead they have gone for an array of new unlockable hats, a new game mode along with a bunch of new maps.

The main talking point has been the newly added "King of the Hill" mode - KOTH. In KOTH, players find themselves on almost symmetrical maps fighting to hold a single control point. It's basically Arena mode with respawns. All the fragging takes place around the single control point, with the occasional push forward for some old fashioned spawn camping when one team has the advantage. It does however get a little too hectic, as in larger servers where up to 32 players fight simultaneously it can be hard to employ any sort of tactics or gameplan. There also seems to be a large issue with frame rate problems present in this mode, as 6 or 7 heavies accompanied by 8 spraying pyros in a 10m square will take its toll on even the most high end of systems. It seems to me that this mode would be better suited to arena sized servers, usually 20 plays max. The accompanying new map for this mode, Viaduct, is the first official map (as clearly pointed out by the Valve blog) to include snow. Its a welcomed visual change but again it's hard on the machine. The other KOTH maps are mere rehashes of previous Arena maps.

The update also threw in three new non KOTH maps. The first of which is CP_Yukon. In an attempt to cater for the competitive TF2 scene valve have responded by including Yukon, previously only available as a downloadable custom community map. It's well made and visually sound, with plenty of alternate paths to flank. Like most 5cp maps it favours smaller teams rather than larger which tend to get caught up in a stalemate. The next is CTF_Sawmill - again, Valve have copied and pasted Sawmill into a new game mode. However, different from KOTH_Sawmill, the ctf version features some slight changes, such as an additional underground area for the intel. It is however another map that makes your PC work its ass off. The last new map is Arena Offblast, a nice little map that features a dangerous cliff and an indoor area. Standard arena style, but it is a little easy to get caught up in trying to knock opponents off the edge rather than kill them the old fashioned way, a rocket to the face.

New content aside, Valve have made lots of subtle changes too. The Force-A-Nature has been made less powerful, the sandman has a few changes and best of all the losing team now have new 3rd person fleeing and cowering animations which you just need to see for yourself.

I have yet to unlock any of the old hats from the random drop system, and unsuprisingly I have yet to unlock any of the new additions, but I'll just have to keep my eye out for players sporting them on the battlefield. To be honest I was expecting more from the update, but let's just hope this update was an attempt to hold us over that little bit longer until the rumoured Soldier Update is released. Knowing Valve, the next update should hit before Christmas 2010.

Conor

Labels: Conor, Team Fortress 2, Update, Valve

It's official: Ms. Marvel will be back to fight the good fight in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Activision has announced that the superpowered female powerhouse will be a playable character in the upcoming title, set to hit stores on September 15th.

Even though Ms. Marvel has been around since the 1960's, the character has just recently seen in a new surge in her popularity, due to prominent roles in epic story arcs such as "House of M" and "Civil War", not to mention a top spot in Marvel's ever popular Avengers team.

In the original game Ms. Marvel proved to be a balanced character, with the ability to fly, super strength and painful energy blasts all working in her favor. With all of those features being amped up for the sequel, plus a graphical overhaul promising to make her...uhm... revealing costume, even more, well, revealing, she's sure to be a favorite with the fans.

With this new character addition, there is only one slot left open in the character section of the games official page. Once the full roster is revealed we'll let you dedicated readers know exactly which of your favorite marvel characters will be invading your console of choice in September.

Excelsior True Believers!

Joey

Labels: Joey, Marvel Ultimate Alliance

UK retailer, Argos, announced that they will no longer be selling the 60GB hard drive version of the Xbox 360. This continues to hint that Microsoft will be revealing a lower price point for the Xbox 360 Elite.

"We are very sorry but Microsoft have discontinued this line," says Argos on its official website.

It is speculated that Microsoft will discontinue the 60GB unit, making the 120GB Elite console the main unit at retail along side the cheaper Arcade unit.

Tyson

Labels: 360, Financial, Tyson

According to company head honcho and Satan lookalike Peter Moore, EA Sports has finally solved the age-old problem of how to combine sports, women, and video games, and thereby tapped into the female gaming market.

"We're finally talking to girls," he told an audience at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival this morning. It probably seemed like a tall order to the crowd. There are plenty of female gamers nowadays, yes, but they are definitely not the majority. And I don't know about you readers, but most of the girls I know would object to playing a game based on the ancient enemy of girlfriends, professional sports.

He went on to discuss how.

“It was a challenge. How do we go after this audience? How do we talk to women? We had no idea. The only time our testosterone-fuelled business talked to women was about games for their boyfriends, sons or fathers. It was scary. We felt we had nothing that would appeal to a female gamer. But now some figures say up to 40 per cent of all gamers are female, so we had to address it using our game engines, the great EA Sports brand – and by re-thinking the way we want to market.”

Apparently, their rethinking was based on Moore's career at Reebok, and ended up targeting the housewife.

“When I was at Reebok years ago, we took some plastic and made it into a step. We bundled it with a great video and told people it would enhance their workout at home, which it did. We had a $150 million business within a year.

“We had to go after a similar niche with EA Sports Active, appealing to women – who probably spent their days at home looking after the kids, and who didn’t have the time or money for the gym. We spotted this rise in health, wellness and fitness gaming early. We reached 1.8 million sales in its first month – and we’re changing people’s lives as well."

He concluded: “We’re finally talking to girls. We finally have women as part of the EA Sports community. It’s not a franchise, but a full platform for us going forward. It compliments the Wii Balance Board.

“As Americans would say, it kicks your ass. You know about it after spending 25 minutes on it [the board].”

Getting women interested in gaming through an interactive household workout center, huh? It makes sense. If anything was going to bring adult women into the gaming community, I can see it being this, and not this. And never, ever this.

Greg

Labels: EA, EA Sports, Greg

Do the squeal of breaks make you hot under the collar? Does the smell of burning rubber make you go giddy with excitement? Do you regard a car as a work of art? Do you watch Top Gear on a Sunday night without fail?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this giveaway is certainly for you. If you didn't, but want in on a chance to play the upcoming Supercar Challenge before release, then stick around too, because we've got plenty to go around. Fifty, in fact.

Yes, we're giving away fifty - that's a five and a zero - beta keys which will get you access to the closed beta test of Supercar Challenge, kind courtesy of the very nice people over at System3. And it couldn't be more simple - just answer the following question and provide your email in the comments section to be in with a chance of winning.

What would be the main feature of your dream racing game?
REMEBER TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS TOO!

That's all you've got to do for us to pop you into our shiny hat of gaming goodness, and to be in with a chance of winning one of those beta keys. The giveaway will close at 6:00pm BST on 20th August 2009, and entries recieved after that closing time will not be entered. Good luck.

Terms and conditions As this is a European Beta Trial, you must have a valid European PlayStation Network account in order to redeem any beta keys you recieve from this competition. Please remember that this demo code is now three months old and was only really created to test out the network section of the game, so many, many changes have been made since it was released. Maximum ONE beta key per entrant. Multiple entries will not be counted.

First of all, I need you to please adhere to the strict rules of this Beta Trial. As with any other Beta, YOU MUST NOT RECORD AND POST FOOTAGE AND/OR SCREENSHOTS OF THIS GAME ONLINE. This is because the game is not yet finished and you MUST agree to these terms in order to be approved.

Secondly, please understand the nature of this beta trial. We have made it available so that people can try out the online aspects of the game. There are many aspects of the game that are not yet finished so you will certainly encounter bugs, glitches and crashes. However, fear not — this will not damage your machine.
Please note, you must have a decent signal in order to enjoy this game. In the race you may see cars jumping around the track — this is simply because those testers have a bad broadband signal.

Here is some information for the demo:

RACING CONTENTS
Cars: Enzo Ferrari, Aston Martin DBR9, Mclaren F1
Tracks: Nürburgring GP Circuit, Spa
Weather Conditions: Dry, Wet
Racing Options: 1-16 player Online (yes, you can race on your own if you want)
Car Liveries: various liveries available

RACING CONTROLS
Obviously there will be many options in the final game but for the purposes of this trial the controls are:

L Steer
L1 Look Left
L2 Brake
L3 Headlights On/Off
R Gear Shift Up/Down (in manual gear mode)
R1 Look right
R2 Accelerate
X Accelerate
O Handbrake
Tri Look Back
Sq Brake
Sta Options (DOES NOT PAUSE GAME)
Sel Change View

Steering Wheel: Logitech and Thrustmaster wheels are catered for.

PSN COMPATIBILITY
PSN accounts from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Belgium may not be compatible with this Sony Europe beta. You will know because you will get an ERROR message when you try to use the code. If this happens you need to set up a UK PSN account.

PENALTIES ETC
There are many options available to race hosts, ranging from no penalties, to full penalties and you can also set the game up so that players are disqualified after a set number of penalties.
Players will be penalised for cutting corners and overly aggressive behaviour

ASSISTS
All three racing modes are in this Beta. these are Assisted, Arcade and Simulation, the latter of which is fully customisable.

LIMITATIONS OF THIS TRIAL
Please understand that this trial is designed to give you a taster of what we're doing. Please also understand that the code this trial is based is now several weeks old (that's how long it takes to get it all approved and on the store).
Obviously there are only three cars and two tracks available. controller configuration is also limited and you don't have access to the Showroom (where you buy and sell cars and design your liveries).
The Damage meter is also off for this trial, so while there is visible damage you won't have to retire through excessive damage.

GENERAL TIPS
Don't underestimate how much of a difference there is between the handling of the cars and the way they handle in the rain.
I'd recommend jumping into the DBR9 and racing in the dry for a few races, just to get the feel of the game and the car, and to get used to the controls. Driving in the rain is a real challenge, especially in Simulation mode. Curbs are slippery, braking distances are vastly extended and braking while turning is a recipe for disaster.

Please note this is a Sony Europe trial so other territories may not be compatible. If your code does not work it may be that you live in a country that is not compatible. In this scenario please try opening a UK PSN account.
Because of the nature of Beta Trials you will have to download a 500Mb file. DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF YOUR CONNECTION THIS COULD TAKE UP TO 45 MINUTES.
After you have downloaded and installed the Beta you can start it, however, upon starting it you will be asked to download the latest patch for Stage 2. Again, this could take a further 45 minutes!

Labels: Beta, Competition, Linford, Supercar Challenge

Here's this weeks update for the store - Still no Metal Gear Solid...

Downloadable Games
Droplitz (£7.99/€9.99) PEGI 3+

Trial and Unlock Key
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (Trial free, Unlock Key £11.99/€14.99) PEGI 12+

Demos (free)
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood PEGI 16+

Add-On Game Content
Red Faction: Guerilla – Demons of the Badlands (£6.29/€7.99) PEGI 12+

Pain PEGI 16+
Museum Pack (£3.99/€4.99)
Knockin’ Bloks Pack (£1.59/€1.99)
Smooth Jarvis Pack (free)

LittleBigPlanet PEGI 7+
Ada Lovelace Costume (£0.79/€0.99)
Boudicca Costume (£0.79/€0.99)
Genghis Khan Costume (£0.79/€0.99)
Mozart Costume (£0.79/€0.99)
History Costume Kit Pack (£2.39/€2.99)
History Level Kit Pack (£3.19/€3.99)

Madden NFL 10 PEGI 3+
DB Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Dig Deep (£0.45/€0.49)
DL Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Game Day Instincts (£0.45/€0.49)
Hometown Hero (£0.45/€0.49)
LB Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Madden Max Pack (This pack contains ALL Madden packs currently available) (£6.29/€7.99)
Max Franchise Pack (This pack contains all of the Franchise packs available, Get all player, staff and scout packs combined)
Not Done Yet (£0.79/€0.99)
OL Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
One More Year (£1.19/€1.49)
Online Franchise (£6.29/€7.99)
Pick a Superstar (£0.79/€0.99)
PK Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Play Through the Pain (£0.79/€0.99)
QB Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
RB Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Star Player (£0.79/€0.99)
Super Superstar (£1.19/€1.49)
WR Scout (£0.45/€0.49)
Elite Status (£3.19/€3.99)
Expert Medical Staff (£1.19/€1.49)
Expert Scout Pack (This pack contains all 8 individual Scout Packs) (£2.39/€2.99)
Franchise Player Pack (This pack contains all the Franchise player packs available) (£2.39/€2.99)
Great Staff Pack (This pack contains all the Staff packs available) (£2.39/€2.99)
Skilled Medical Staff (£0.79/€0.99)
World Class Training Staff (£1.19/€1.49)

Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires PEGI 16+
Arabian Armour Set (women) (free)
Mystic Armour Set (men) (free)
Wa Armour Set (women) (free)
Shinobi Armour Set (men) (free)

Rock Band
Gorillaz Pack 01 (this combines the below three Gorillaz tracks in one pack) (£2.49/€2.99)
Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz (£0.99/€1.49)
Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz (£0.99/€1.49)
Re-Hash by Gorillaz (£0.99/€1.49)
Chest Fever (Live) by The Band (£0.99/€1.49)
Magic Bus (Live at Leeds) by The Who (£0.99/€1.49)
Piece of my Heart by Big Brother and the Holding Company (£0.99/€1.49)
White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (£0.99/€1.49)

Guitar Hero: World Tour
Activision Track Pack (free)

Themes (free)
Savage Moon Waldgeist – Red Theme

Wallpapers (free)
Fat Princess Wallpaper

Jacques

Labels: Jacques, PlayStation Store, Update

Ever since this game was announced I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for a chance to get my hands on it. Now that a playable demo has been released on the PSN and Xbox Live, I finally did. I know curious Bat-Fans want to know; was it worth the wait? You can bet your green Robin speedos it was! Even though the demo only gave me a little taste of what to expect of Arkham Asylum, I’m going to go ahead and say that this game brings you the Dark Knight at his finest.

The demo begins with Batman bringing the Joker into Arkham Asylum, the home away from home for Gotham City’s criminally insane. All hell breaks loose when the Joker escapes custody inside the Asylum’s walls, and Batman soon discovers he’s walked into a trap. The inmates are running the Asylum and you’ve just delivered them Gotham’s Crowned Prince of Crime to help them run the show. Of course, now that everything is going to hell the game lets you take control of things.



Now, even though the system works well and is definitely fun, I have to say that the combat was probably what I liked least about the demo. Sure, Batman looks amazing while letting loose those oh so flashy moves, but even though the fights look hard-hitting, they don’t feel hard-hitting. All in all I found the combat to be more style than substance, which wasn’t helped at all by the fact that the enemies were extremely easy to take down (I’m pretty sure I wasn’t hit once). Hopefully the difficulty was watered down for the demo, and extra combat options in the final game (by way of combos) will help spice things up.



The rest of the scenarios the demo set up were far more interesting to me, with a strong emphasis on stealth, strategy and resourcefulness. The best example of this is the last area of the demo, a wide open space being patrolled by four of the Joker’s henchmen. Armed henchmen + direct approach = lifeless Bat - hence, its time to put your thinking cap on. And think you shall, because the great thing about the game is that there are tons of different ways to take this challenge on, and each time I played through I took a different approach.

Here’s just one example: As I walk into the area (carefully avoiding stepping on my cape, mind you) I notice gargoyles set up on the walls surrounding the room. I quickly grapple on to the nearest one and survey the room. I dispatch the first guard quickly enough by glide kicking off the gargoyle. Having found his companion down, the next henchman arrives to inspect the area, I’m hanging upside down from the gargoyle waiting for him of course and quickly zip down, grab the unsuspecting b**tard, and leave him hanging off the gargoyle from his ankles (I had a little geek-gasm right there).



I taunt the two remaining henchmen by throwing a few batarangs their way while perched high above them on the gargoyles. By now these baddies are completely terrified, so much so that they begin to shoot at inoffensive cauldrons just because they made a noise. No joke. The henchmen were scared out of their minds, because of me, Batman. One word: Awesome. With the baddies in such a state it was fairly simple to glide down from the gargoyles and pull off stealth knockouts from behind the jittery goons. It was somewhere between perching up on the first gargoyle and hanging the second henchman from said gargoyle that I realized it: this will most likely be the best Batman game ever made. And here’s why: I felt like Batman. For a few minutes, I was Batman.

Making you feel like Batman is accomplished not only by making you a complete badass, but also by giving you access to all of the Dark Knight’s nifty gadgets. A great example is the cowl’s detective vision, which tints the screen blue, identifies enemies and friendlies as red and blue skeletons respectively (comes equipped with x-ray vision, as expected), and gives you an insane amount of information about your surroundings. Want to know if your opponents are calm, nervous or terrified? The cowl will measure their heart beats and let you know. Do you need to know that the security box controlling the doors was designed by Wayne Industries and programmed by Lucious Fox? Well, no, but the cowl gives you this information anyway, and the fact that the developers took the time to put such an incredible amount of detail into the game is just astounding, and comic fans, like yours truly, are sure to appreciate it.



As for the game's graphics - well, lets just say the developers had “an attention to detail” fetish apparently. Simply put, character models in the game are extremely well done. Batman, Joker and Commisioner Gordon all look great in the Demo, and truth of the matter is that even the random goons are sporting an impressive amount of detail. Yup, the graphics of the game don’t disappoint, as the developers made sure to create characters and environments that feel ultra-realistic with a comic world feel (think Watchmen). If I’m going to nitpick I do have to say that I found the character animations during the cutscenes a bit stiff, but just a bit, and it was nothing I couldn’t easily overlook, given how gorgeous Batman looks in motion during gameplay - I could spend hours looking at the cape flutter in the air. Well, maybe not hours but a good solid 5 minutes for sure.

I’ll leave it at this. The demo is impressive, really impressive. I’m excited about the game and have extremely high hopes for the finished product; however, although it might seem like it, I am not 100% sold. There are two reasons for this: Easy combat can be a huge problem for an action game, and can sink a lengthy adventure into the black hole that is repetitive gameplay; and there's the 'Comic-Book-Game Curse' - this isn’t the first time comic nerds around the world have gone into a collective frenzy of anticipation for a game, just to have their hopes crushed. What will be the final verdict on Arkham Asylum? I guess we won’t know just how good Batman’s latest venture into the videogame world will be until August 25th, but one thing I can tell you for sure, when Batman goes through those Asylum gates, I’ll be going along for the ride. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Joey

Labels: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Demo Impressions, Joey

The Championship Manager series, which has been giving football fans a chance to manage thier dream teams ever since 1992, is hitting PC gamers with the latest game in the series, Championship Manager 2010, come September 11th.

This new title in the classic series will be the first football game available that covers the 2009/2010 season, and when we say cover, we really mean it, since a new feature in the game will allow players to download real and current data and stats of the 2009/2010 season. This feature promises to make sure that Championship Manager 2010 gives fans of the series the most realistic management experience they've experienced to date. Ever wonder just how Alex Ferguson makes those tough calls while looking over the roster of Machester United? Now you can find out.


Another nifty new feature for the series is a 3D Match engine, featuring over 500 motion captured animations for the players, so you can not only manage your favorite team, but see it in action, geting a much more real feel as to how your managerial skills have affected your team. Fans will have lots to look forward to on September 11th, but if you'd like to try the game out before taking the plunge, make sure to download the playable demo which will be made available n the official Championship Manager website on August 14th. The demo will feature 6 months of game time and, to sweeten the deal, will be compatible with the final game upon release.


Joey

Labels: Championship Manager, Joey

I have to say, it's nice being press. Not only do you get to work with a great bunch of people doing something you love, but you also get some (ahem) perks of the job too. No, not that sort, behave. I'm talking about when a games company - let's say Ubisoft, for example - sends you a video to do with a very anticipated upcoming game - like, Assassin's Creed II, maybe.

So, when I woke up this morning to find my email inbox full of lovely gaming loot, I was excited to find the second dev diary from the people at Ubisoft Montreal. This one is all about how Ezio (our main character this time round) will interact with people, and we also get a glimpse at who. Exciting stuff, methinks.

The video quality isn't excellent on the stream, but you should be fine with it. However, if you want to watch the dev diary in all it's full-pixel goodness, you can click here and download it.

Linford

Labels: Assassin's Creed II, Dev Diary, Linford, Ubisoft, Video

Gearbox have released some pictures of Borderlands’ box art, and boy, does it make us guys at GGTL even more excited for Borderlands.

In case you don’t know, Borderlands is a game that has been through development hell over the last 4 or so years, shifting art style completely last year (thankfully). The game’s main claim to fame is its guns. There’s quite a few of them; somewhere over the 1 million mark (they lost count).

Anyway, at some point I’ll write a longer article about why I’m excited about Borderlands, but for now, take a look at this awesome box art!

Borderlands is currently shooting for a release date of October 20^th in North America and October 23^rd in the EU.

Are you excited about Borderlands? Do you think this box art looks cool? Tell us in the comments!

Matt

Labels: Borderlands, Box art, Gearbox, Matt

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