Finally, I got back on the horse after updating the PS3 and the game Red Dead Redemption. It kinda slipped under my radar that Rockstar Games released a patch back in August to fix the problem with the X/O button configuration on Asian consoles, but at least I got around reading the release notes. I vowed not to touch the game until Rockstar patched it and now having installed the patch, I must say, this game is AMAZING (and I got mauled by a pack of wolves)
There’s another reason why I decided to get back onto PS3 gaming after a long hiatus, and it can be best summarized in three words: Fallout: New Vegas. Yup, and the game is created by the guys who were working on Van Buren, Interplay’s unreleased version of Fallout 3. October 19th can’t come soon enough!
Guess who is back? Every year we hear about him coming back to the PC, but at the same time he has been a no-show and is a multi-year recipient/nominee for Wired’s Vaporware award. If he were a enterprise software project, it would have been a total nightmare that even a I.T project manager like myself wouldn’t dare touch. But guess what? Hail o the King, baby!!! Duke Nukem is coming back in a big way.
But before you go ahead and let out a yawn (and a mehh…), read this first: Gearbox Software, the guys and gals who brought us Borderlands have taken over development for Duke Nukem Forever, and they are bringining over to the PC, PS3 and the Xbox 360. Visitors to the on-going Penny Arcade Expo 2010 were treated to playable demos of the game!! (link) This is so cool I want to get a can of beer…and the game, of course.
Do you play video games with your partner/spouse? Well I do. My girlfriend and I usually take turns at playing Guitar Hero: World Tour on the PS3. Sometimes we have a go at Street Fighter as well and for some reason (maybe because I suck at fighting games), she ends up winning simply by button mashing. I would love to have another guitar though, so at least we can go head to head; this makes the following Play-Asia offer a tempting one:
The Guitar Hero Aerosmith – Guitar Bundle for the PS3 is going for a super low price of USD 39.90. That’s pretty crazy considering it comes with a Guitar controller. Furthermore, I like Aerosmith. Hmm. Anyways, if you are interested, you can get one for yourself over here: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-47yl-71-bp-49-en-84-j-70-2q18.html
If you are a budget gamer with a PS3, there are some interesting/popular titles that have been re-released as budget titles, perfect for penny-pinchers like yourself (and myself). Check them out:
One of my favourite games on the PS3 is about to get a sequel. While there was no doubt that Batman: Arkham Asylum would get a sequel, it’s surprising that the sequel expands on the whole “Arkham” thing, taking it city wide in Batman: Arkham City. This has a “No Man’s Land” scenario screaming to be added to it.
IGN has the scoop on the game, stating that Gotham City has become the new maximum security room for the criminals occupying the city. In addition to that, IGN has also obtained the covers of the latest issue of GameInformer, both featuring the upcoming game. Check them out:
Like Linkin’ Park? Check out their new single, The Catalyst, from their upcoming album “A Thousand Suns” embedded in a 5 minute+ trailer for the upcoming video game, Medal of Honor. And the best part is? The video is directed by their very own Joe Hahn. Here’s the video:
I’ve really got no business wandering around the streets of Kabul. One sure way of getting killed would be to stumble through a firefight and while my team mates are easily spotted, the enemy is elusive. The uniforms that those infidels are wearing seem to blend into the seemingly brown, olive green environment, making even sniping shots somewhat like finding a needle in a haystack. It’s only the muzzle flash that I’m able to see them but it’s a gamble to stick my head out to attract attention.
Three kills, a couple of medals and a dozen deaths later, my brothers-in-arms and I were victorious! In case you have not realised, I’m talking about the closed beta for Medal of Honor (for the PS3). It’s not as crazy as the Bad Company 2 demo that I played several months ago but it feels that Medal of Honor (at least in the Kabul level in the closed beta) has a stronger emphasis on urban warfare and CQC. Surprisingly it has been a lag free experience! More reports to come.
There are plenty of video game related news coming out of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, some of which were on my wish list, while some, were totally unexpected. First up would be the announcement of a Green Lantern video game, sharing the same name as the upcoming movie, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters. Among DC Comics superheroes, GL is ranked second in my Top 3 list, in between Batman and Superman.
I do have doubts about the game though, given that GL’s ring can basically create any kind of construct whereas the game allows players to utilise “over a dozen of constructs”. Pretty meh but I suppose you can’t give the player a sandbox but hey, if Scribblenaut can give some sort of unrestrained feel on the DS, why not GL?
OK, next up, news concerning inFAMOUS 2. I like the first game…a lot, and I like the character design for Cole (the protagonist). The decision to give Cole a total makeover (from gritty looking, pissed-off Cole to metrosexual Cole) for the sequel wasn’t met with much enthusiasm from plenty of people, particularly fans of the game. While I was pretty neutral, I’m rather happy to hear that Sucker Punch will be changing Cole’s look to look more like that in the first game!
If you always wanted to know who would win in a fight between Ryu and Jin Kazama, you may soon get the answer with the upcoming release of Street Fighter X Tekken. Yeah, you read that title right. It’s crazy but check out the trailer below:
My first introduction (in earnest) to the God of War series was actually God of War III. I didn’t like action platformers in the first place but the game was really polished both gameplay and story wise, and I ended up finishing the game in three days. Curious to experience what it was that started it all, I bought the God of War Collection for the PS3 and proceeded to beat the crap out of God of War I.
It was a pretty interesting experience. God of War I is like the unrefined hill-billy cousin to that of the slick God of War III, in terms of gameplay and controls; and this creates its own set of unique challenges. The trigger boxes for the QTEs were notoriously hard to hit and did you know that the developers shortened the time needed to solve one of the more annoying puzzles in video game history: the Spiked Room in the Cliffs of Madness. Check out the video below for a solution:
The storyline was no less epic though, culminating in the murder of Ares, and the ascension of Kratos as the new God of War. I finished God of War 1 a couple of weeks ago, after returning from a business trip in Jakarta. At the moment I’m currently playing God of War II. I consider the opening to be a little “mehhh…” considering that Kratos was dumb enough to be drained of his powers. As the game progressed to where I am now, the scale of the game made itself apparent and it’s huge compared to God of War I.
Looks like I can finally say that I no longer hold platformers in disdain anymore.
Plenty of cool video game trailers came out in the past couple of days during E3 2010, and the best part is you can check them out on Nine Over Ten 9/10. First up is Civilization 5, a PC exclusive that well, makes me want to get a new machine just so I can play the game. The unique part of this trailer it’s part documentary, interview and a showcase of what the game can do:
Next up is the return of NBA JAM! Yup, my generation of gamers should be really familiar with this over-the-top basketball fest. All I can say about the trailer (and probably applies to the upcoming game as well)…IT’S ON FIRE!!!!
While Metal Gear Solid Rising’s announcement that the main character would be the stiletto wearing cyborg ninja Raiden raised a few eyebrows, the trailer, dubbed, See How You Cut showcases Raiden at his best: chopping people up. The trailer is gory and probably requires a M rating, so hide your kids (!) before watching:
Last but not least, Kid Icarus Uprising. As the launch title for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS console it looks surprisingly epic, exceeding even my expectations for the game. I may just want to get the new console just because of this:
