IndieCade at E3 2012: A Mother’s Inferno << Gaming Irresponsibly

rhillis

Senior Staff Writer/Production Assistant for Gaming Irresponsibly. I am happily married to the love of my life, and we are expecting our first child this November. It's a girl! Other than that, I love writing and video games (what else would I be doing here). XBL GamerTag: HlLLlS, PSN ID: Syndikyt, Steam ID HlLLlS. Add me if you want to play. Follow me on Twitter @rchillis!!!!

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IndieCade at E3 2012: A Mother’s Inferno

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Jun 132012

When Gaming Irresponsibly made it over to this year’s E3, we had the pleasure of making our way to the IndieCade booth for some one-on-one time with upcoming indie games. For those who don’t already know, IndieCade is one of the largest independent gaming events in the world. In previous years, IndieCade has played host to many of the industry’s leading indie games such as Limbo and Fez. This year, at E3, IndieCade did not disappoint. Games from all different genres, backgrounds and platforms were on display, and we had the chance to get our hands on some.

Most of us here at Gaming Irresponsibly are huge fans of the survival horror genre, and let us tell you, A Mother’s Inferno will not disappoint. The game is creepy, and when we say creepy we mean, “lose your son on a train, grab a piece of glass, slowly cut the head off a dead mummy looking guy who will then guide you through to a room where you cut off a dancing black chickens head” kind of creepy. The visuals in the game will make you think twice about playing it alone in the dark, and with good reason. The in and out flashes of colored blurs helps the game create a very unsettling atmosphere, which is what you want out of a good horror game. A Mother’s Inferno was developed during the course of one month, from November to December 2011, by students from the Danish Academy of Digital Interactive Entertainment.

The game plays just as most computer games do, using WSAD controls as you try and pilot your way through the very strange world. While nothing in particular is grabbing from the gameplay, you will feel the tension when you actuall have to grab something by the head, and slowly slice it off using a broken piece of glass. Seriously, it is disturbing, in a good way, well in as good of a way that slowly cutting off a head with a piece of glass can be.

The game really hits its stride with the ambiance and atmosphere, as you are thrust into a situation where you lose your son very quickly and for no apparent reason, while aboard a train. You quickly begin your search for him, knowing nothing and experiencing very sharp movements and questionable images. As you make your way to the front of the first car, you will be greeted by a very, what’s the word, horrifying being, instructing you to cut off its head so that he can help guide you to your son. After that life altering encounter, you find yourself in the next car, where your next decapitation attempt will come in the form of a large, dancing shadow chicken. Sounds funny, not funny. When its lifeless body is still flapping around on the ground, you may begin to feel bad for the big guy, but don’t he was an asshole.

In all seriousness, A Mother’s Inferno looks like a very interesting title, especially to fans of the horror genre. Another good thing about A Mother’s Inferno is that you can play it right now, for free, right here: A Mother’s Inferno. Give it a try, if you dare! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA…………….sorry.

Gaming Irresponsibly will be bringing you more hands on looks at some of the indie games featured at this years IndieCade E3 booth. Stay tuned for more updates on great indie games from developers all over the world, coming directly from the largest event dedicated to indie games, IndieCade. You can learn more about IndieCade at their website, www.indiecade.com!

IndieCade at E3 2012: Dark Dot

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Jun 132012

Dark Dot was developed by Gambit Game Lab, exclusively for the iPad. We got a chance to play Dark Dot, while being instructed on how to play by one of the developers. Dark Dot is a scrolling shooter that features some very familiar mechanics, while incorporating some new and unique ideas. In Dark Dot, the player controls a small army of minions, and escorts them from the beginning of the level to the end. Using the touch screen features on the iPad, players maneuver their way through obstacles and enemies, while trying to reach the end of the level, where you will attempt to destroy a large crystal. Once the crystal is destroyed, you will complete the level and move on to the next.

What really sets Dark Dot apart from most scrolling shooter games is the total control of your small army. You can move them up and down, back and forth, like in most games of the genre, but you can also control their formations and change them on the fly. Want your tiny minions to form in a small circle for a more concentrated assault, simply draw a small circle on the screen. Want a wide rectangle in order to cover more ground, just draw a wide rectangle. You can conform your little warriors in any number of positions, so long as it is in some sort of shape, making sure all the edges connect. You can also expand and contract your current formation, using the pinch mechanic. Is your circle too small and needs to be larger? Don’t draw a larger circle, simple pinch your fingers close together and expand them on the screen. This also works to shrink shapes as well. This is a great use of the touch screen mechanic, and a very challenging way to approach such a unique title.

During you venture through the game, you will stumble across some strange formations on the ground. When you encounter such a formation, you can gain power-ups and score multipliers by reconfiguring your army into the corresponding shape, making sure at least one of your little guys is touching each of the specified rings. Gaining these power-ups are crucial to completing each level, as they give you temporary invincibility as well as increase your attacks by 300 percent for a short time.

The real challenge in Dark Dot is trying to configure your army into shapes that will fit through small hallways, while attempting to dodge incoming fire and trying to defeat attacking enemies. The game will take a while to master, but it is easy to play, and offers a great challenge for those who seek one. Lucky for you, Dark Dot is currently available for download in the Apple App Store, and the best part about it, it’s free!!! That means if you own an iPad, there is no reason why you shouldn’t already be downloading Dark Dot and experiencing the wonders it has to offer.

IndieCade at E3: Coalesce

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Jun 132012

Coalesce is currently still under development from creator Jeremy Gibson, currently a game design faculty member at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. While talking to Jeremy, he showed me some of Coalesce’s mechanics and gameplay. The game utilizes the touch screen mechanics of the iPad letting players touch and drag a line across the screen in an attempt to connect orbs of similar colors together.

While playing through the first few levels, there were only a few colors, and a few orbs. This was a great introduction to someone who has never played the game before, but as the previous levels were completed, the game became more challenging to complete. After the first few levels, Coalesce began adding more orbs, and more colors. The objective of the game is easy, in theory, but as the phrase goes, it is easier said than done.

The problem you will encounter with Coalesce is that when you mix even one orb of a different color in to an already existing array of orbs, the collection of colored orbs will scatter out, leaving you in an even worse position than you originally started. This makes drawing sharp lines and planning future moves very important as to not cause chaos. The mechanics were spot on, and the games was wildly addictive. Many profanities were echoed as I would place the last blue orb with the rest of its collected family, only to notice as the orbs drew closer together, that a yellow or pink orb had slipped in, scattering my cohesive family of blue orbs across the screen.

The game sounds easy and fun, but there is a catch. What really makes a game such as Coalesce stand out is the multiplayer. The game can support up to 4 players, all touching the same screen, trying to collect similar colored orbs together during the same level. This proves to be more difficult, as Jeremy, myself and another player were all trying to connect the orbs, while at the same time trying not to spoil already collected formations and trying to avoid stepping on each others toes…er fingers. This feature makes Coalesce a game that friends can play together, while interacting on the same screen at the same time, giving you that reminiscent feeling of playing multiplayer games locally with friends.

Coalesce looks like it will be a solid indie game for the iPad when it finally arrives in the app store, connecting friends together to achieve a common goal. Currently, the game is close to being finished, but with Jeremy busy with teaching at such a prestigious school, in a growing and successful department, he assured me that a September to December release date in most likely. Regardless of the release date, Coalesce looks like it will be an amazing game, and for those of you who love indie games, and have an iPad, it is definitely something to watch for.

Review: Mad Riders (PS3)

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Jun 112012

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Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

Recently, we here at Gaming Irresponsibly had a chance to get our hands dirty with Ubisoft and Techland’s newest downloadable title, Mad Riders. For those who don’t know, Mad Riders is an off-road style racing game that features insane stunts, fun race modes and fantastically designed tracks. When you first begin playing Mad Riders, you are not given too many options, as you are limited to which tracks you can run, ATV’s you can ride and characters you can control. As you progress through the single player tournament mode, you will begin to unlock new rides, custom paint jobs, crazier tricks and more challenging tracks. This is done through an experience point leveling system that many have become accustomed to seeing. The more tricks you do and races you win, the more points and levels you gain, thus unlocking fresh content to experience during your next race.

I personally have never been a fan of off-road racing games, but Mad Riders had me hooked from my first race. The tracks where fun to play and challenging to master. Each new track I encountered seemed to have similarities to the previous one, at the same time offering a new and unique experience. The blurred effect when using the boost mechanic seemed to fit just right, and while you may have been going insanely fast, you never felt as though you had lost total control of your vehicle. Speaking of control, the most important part about a game of this genre is ‘control’, and Mad Riders delivers. The controls are sharp and responsive, and guiding your racer from start to finish seems fluid and natural. The fact that you can pick up the controller, and feel as though you have known how to play this game forever, is a welcoming experience.

Mad Riders features a variety of different game modes and content. Racers can choose to battle it out in a standard, ‘first to the finish line’ mode, as well as a timed solo mode. There is also a race that has you racing around a small, trackless area, capturing flags in order before your opponents. As for the vehicles, there are a variety of options to choose from. In addition to being able to choose vehicles aplenty, there are paint customization options. This can be used to create custom fenders, handles, frames and rims. If that wasn’t enough, you also get to choose a rider to go along with it. Most of the riders you can choose from are realistic and of the human variety, but Techland throws in a great mix of fun with options like choosing a mummy or a gorilla to man your ATV. The customization options are great to have, and if you don’t like the preset paint jobs on your ride, you can always create one of your own.

The graphics and sound are just as on point for a game of this genre, offering great sound effects and stunning visuals. The game doesn’t stand out graphically, but the trick animations are amazing and the crisp look of the gameplay will draw you in. All-in-all, the game offers nothing we haven’t seen before in a downloadable title when it comes to the audio/visual department, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anyone that plays Mad Riders will have no qualms with the look and style of the game, as it is a beautiful world to compete in.

OVERALL

Mad Riders is simply a great buy. For around 10 bucks, you can experience a wealth of content in both single player and multiplayer modes. There are tons of levels to obtain and content that needs unlocking, and you are certain to have fun doing both. The game does a great job of pacing itself in the single player experience. Just as you feel bored with your bike, rider or tick set, guess what you just unlocked? New bikes, riders and trick sets. When it comes to the arcade style, off-road style, racing games, Mad Riders has to be at the top of the list. The controls are near perfect, the feel is crisp and natural and the overall gameplay is fun and exciting. Races are just short enough that gamers will experience the “one more race” effect, thus ensuring a few minutes turns into a few hours. The game really is spectacular, and a must buy for fans of the genre.

FINAL SCORE

Graphics 87		Audio 87		Gameplay 95
Creativity 90		Execution 98		Offset 90

9.1

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

PROS

Great gameplay
Fun tracks and tons of content
Replay value
FUN, FUN, FUN

CONS

Contact with other riders can seem sketchy at times

Madden Mobile/EA Sports Line Up (Electronic Arts E3)

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Jun 042012

Just announced at the Electronic Arts E3 press conference was Madden Mobile. Madden mobile will be more of a social game that can be played on Facebook or a mobile device. It will integrate with other users playing all over the world. FIFA 13 will offer more of a social aspect to its experience. A mobile app will be available to keep you connected to the game with those who want to stay connect with you. FIFA 13 also will tweak its gameplay as it does every year. More dribble moves, better off the ball control and attacking are both things you can expect from FIFA 13.

Gaming Irresponsibly will be bringing you updates as they are made available for the duration of E3. Stay tuned for more news and happenings from the industry’s largest convention here at GamingIrresponsibly.com! You can also follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Battlefield 3 Premium Announcement (Electronic Arts E3)

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Jun 042012

Announced at EA’s E3 press conference, Battlefield 3 Premium. Battlefield 3 Premium will include special dog tags, character and gun camouflages, and advanced early access to the upcoming expansion packs: Close Quarters, Armored Kill, Aftermath and End Game. The service is available today for around 50 bucks, and if you are playing on the PlayStation 3 console, you can access the new Close Quarters expansion right now!More than 20 new vehicles and 10 dog tags will be available for those who purchase Battlefield 3 Premium. Is this something you are interested in purchasing?

Madden 13: Now With New Features (Electronic Arts E3)

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Jun 042012

The new Madden announcement came following what was an epic locker room speech by Ravens all-pro linebacker Ray Lewis. The game will feature updated physics that will take in to account multiple factors while playing such as; player size, weight, speed and trajectory. Madden 13 will also feature a more online integrated system allowing more connectivity with users from around the world. The game will also feature an RPG mechanic where completing challenges will reward players with experience points they will use to level up their characters. Madden can also connect to Facebook and Twitter, in game, to show your friends and followers what you are up to in the world of Madden. So, what do you think? Are these new changes something you are looking forward to? Will this Madden be different than previous installments? Let us know!

Black Ops 2 DLC to Premier on Xbox 360 First

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Jun 042012

In a not so shocking announcement, Microsoft unveiled at their E3 press event, that the next installment of the Call of Duty series would feature downloadable content, available first on the Xbox 360 console. It comes as no surprise, since the franchise has been doing this for the past few installments, but to end a show with that announcement seems kind of odd. Everyone could guess that the Xbox 360 would have first dibs on DLC, so it is hard to explain why it was saved as the last announcement. Are you surprised by the announcement?

Resident Evil 6 Gameplay Revealed (Microsoft E3)

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Jun 042012

During the Microsoft E3 press event, we were given an exclusive look at Capcom’s upcoming title Resident Evil 6. The game looks to venture back to what made Resident Evil 4 great, with a touch of nostalgia from Resident Evil 2. You awaken, as Leon Kennedy, in a burning city street, with zombies surrounding you. The game features some heavy action scenes and seems to really be focused more on the survival aspect of the genre instead of the horror. Although at the end of the play through, you find yourself surrounded by what can only be described as ‘the most massive amount of zombies imaginable’. Still, from what was shown at the Microsoft press conference, the game looks like it may take its ques from RE4 and leave the mess that was Resident Evil 5 behind. What do you think? Are you excited about Resident Evil 6?

New Tomb Raider Gameplay (Microsoft E3)

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Jun 042012

At the Microsoft E3 Press Conference, the latest gameplay footage of the new Tomb Raider game set to release early 2013 was revealed. A new, stealthy Lara Croft was shown in action as she zipped around between small huts, shooting enemies from behind cover with a bow and arrow. There was quite the action after her cover was blown, as she ran through the level, knocking over barrels, shooting enemies with a shotgun, and even running towards an incapacitated enemy and finishing him off brutally with a knife. After a series of bad turns, Lara is then thrown into a quick time event in which she frantically falls from a cliff, trying to open her parachute. From the gameplay, the title looks amazing and is sure to impress when it releases. Look for the game in early 2013, and expect the first available DLC to come out exclusively on the Xbox 360 console.

Kinect Getting Sporty (Microsoft E3)

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Jun 042012

During the Microsoft E3 press conference, as expected, the Kinect began to play a huge role early as EA Sports games were demonstrated using the Kinect sensor. During gameplay footage of FIFA 13, you were able to call out to other players, and even be penalized for shouting swear words that are within ears reach of an official. When the next Madden is available, you will be able to change routes, call audibles and even hike the ball. Joe Montana was needed to show this new feature off, apparently, as he stepped on stage to help demonstrate the Kinect features in the next Madden. The Kinect will no doubt be getting more love later in the show, and we expect some more Kinect features during EA’s press conference later on. Shortly after, Nike unveiled Nike+ Kinect Training, a feature that allows you to work out, track progress and even compete with other users. How do you feel about the more athletic Kinect features?

New Halo 4 Gameplay Revealed (Microsoft E3)

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Jun 042012

Microsoft didn’t waste any time opening up the Electronic Entertainment Expo with a bang. The first actual gameplay footage was shown during the conventions opening keynote presentation. The game features a more advanced looking HUD and more polished graphics (as expected). The gameplay footage took place inside a sprawling jungle landscape with attacking Covenant forces. Shortly after, a new threat was revealed, giving us what will more than likely be the villains of the second trilogy. The tag line “an ancient evil awakens” was plastered at the end of the demonstration. Also, during a brief trailer after the live gameplay footage, a very upset and deteriorating Cortana was shown. The game seemed to play just as similarly to previous Halo titles, so fans of the Bungie made titles should not be disappointed with what 343 Studios has produced. Did you see the gameplay footage? Are you excited for more Halo? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Snapdragon by Qualcomm to Break Gaming World Record

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Jun 042012

Sandwiched between all the packed media events and industry social gatherings, Qualcomm is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest video gaming marathon on a tablet. This is no small feat, in order to break the record, gamers at the event will need to play for 26 straights hours (we have been assured by Qualcomm staff that there will be medical precautions taken, and everything will be safe). Here is a description from Qualcomm that gives the details of what you can expect to see at the event:

Join Qualcomm as we name our record setters and award the $20,000 cash prize to our first place contestant June 6 at 5:00 p.m. in the Gilbert Lindsey Plaza in front of the LA Convention Center.

Gamers will play one of five games on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9:

·         Let’s Golf 3(Gameloft)
·         Virtua Tennis (Sega)
·         Galaga: Special Edition (NAMCO Bandai)
·         Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick)
·         Blood & Glory (Glu)

Throughout the challenge, gamers will have a chance to win a number of prizes – up to $50,000 in cash prizes and some cool swag (see official rules for prize breakdown). Any gamer left standing after the 26 hour marathon will compete for the $20,000 cash prize in a playoff round June 6 at 4:30pm featuring Homerun Battle 2, by Com2uS. To learn more, visit: www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon/worldrecord.

As stated above, the event will be going on all night Tuesday night, right outside where the LA Convention Center and Staples Center meet. So, if you find yourself in the downtown Los Angeles area on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, make sure you stop by the Qualcomm booth and take a look at the record setting attempt by the Snapdragon team.

Ryan’s Rant: Learn to Love Delays

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Jun 012012

Over the course of the past two months or so, the gaming industry has played host to a number of various push backs, deadline failures and delays. The reason for each of these varies between wanting to put out a quality product or not meeting specific goals within their alotted time frame. Delays are nothing new to the gaming industry, and they are something that will always be present. It is easy to say, learn to live with it, but that seems like a terrible way to look at the situation. A better way to look at it would be to learn to love them. Here, we will list a couple of reasons that delays help benefit the consumers, as well as, the developers, and why having delays is really a good thing in the long run.

For many of the delayed projects, the reason boils down to nothing more than the developers not being happy with the current build of the game. This could mean unappealing gameplay, massive bugs or glitches, or even going a different direction artistically. Regardless of why they are delaying the project, it is to the benefit of both the gamer and the developer. The developer wants to create the best gaming experience for their customers. If they are not interested in that, then they are not a very good developer. By wanting the best experience for the gamer, the developer sometimes needs to make a bold decision. This decision is something as simple as stepping back, looking at the project and the direction it is heading, and telling everyone, “hey, this is not what we want”, then making the appropriate changes. What this really means is that the developer, no matter what, wants the best experience and does not believe it is possible to achieve given the current situation. This is a good thing, a very good thing.

Imagine if every game that had ever been delayed was forced to release at the time it was originally quoted. Think of BioShock, Metal Gear Solid 4, Twilight Princess, just to name a few. These were some of the greatest games to come from this generation of console gaming, but would they have been if it weren’t for critical delays in the creative process? Would BioShock have been the powerhouse AAA series it is today without going through some necessary bumps and bruises along the way? Absolutely not, just ask the developers. They thought it would take more time, people moaned and groaned, and after it was all said and done, the gaming community was given an amazing title worthy of numerous awards. By saying to all the excited and rabid fans, “hey, you are going to have to wait another six months”, they aren’t telling them it is going to be bad. They aren’t telling them it isn’t going as planned, they aren’t telling them it isn’t even going to come out. What they are telling them is that they want you to love their game, and if that means a few more months of hard work, sacrifice, and the occasional hurtful comment, then so be it.

Game developers want people to love their games. It is true that some games should be delayed, but due to certain circumstances (i.e. games released in conjunction with popular movies, cookie cutter annuals), they are not. Battlefield 3 should have been delayed a month or two, perhaps if that had happened, they may have avoided a poor start and a long lasting bug problem. Diablo III might have also benefited from a week or two delay, just to insure that the servers were ready to handle the millions of fans that had waited over a decade for the popular title. The cases are isolated and debatable at best, but you get the idea.

It used to be that when I was younger and heard about a game I had been waiting to release for sometime, I would be enraged. I would curse to the skies as if the developers were looking down at me, laughing as if they only delayed the game to piss me off for their own amusement. But eventually I came to realize that by delaying the game, I wasn’t so much guaranteed a perfect game. What I was guaranteed was that the people making my game want me to love it, they want it to be perfect. These guys that are spending endless hours slaving away at art design, story writing and coding were just as excited to finish this game the way it was intended to be finished, not the time it was intended to be finished in. They wanted me to wait, because by waiting, they believe that I will have a more enjoyable, memorable experience. Then I began to love the delays. I would say, “great, that game got delayed, it must not be ready to come out yet. Take your time and make it amazing”. I feel as though most people are in the same boat as me, but you cannot help but noticed the mod of angry internet users that bombard message boards with profanities.

Basically, learn to love delays. They are there to make sure you aren’t pissing away sixty bucks on a piece of garbage that you thought you wanted. So what if Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, Aliens: Colonial Marines, South Park, BioShock Infinite and Metro: Last Light have been delayed until 2013. I say we all just sit back, relax, and use our income tax checks to purchase a slew of great titles lined up for early 2013.

Looking Ahead: Expect Gears of War 4

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May 312012

Not much has been said about the future of Epic Games’ successful, Xbox exclusive mega series, Gears of War, and for now, that is just fine. But with the overwhelming financial gain and massive critical acclaim the series has generated over the years cannot be ignored forever. The games still remain a staple of Microsoft exclusive titles that seem to be running few and far between, so it would take a fool to expect, no matter how the last game left off, that Microsoft or Epic Games would let such a money making machine dwindle off into the distance. Will there be a Gears of War 4? Is the future of this franchise nonexistent or is there still some creative gas left in the tank? Let’s go over some of the possibilities the future of the Gears of War series may hold, and tackle some of the features and story that we may come to expect.

First we will begin with when this game might be announced or released. With Epic Games recently unveiling screen shots from its latest engine, Unreal Engine 4, it would be safe to assume that any future iterations of the Gears series would appear on that engine. Epic has no doubt been working tirelessly on this technology, and creating a game with a proven track record utilizing this technology could be a good selling point. It seems as if every game created in the most recent generation of console and PC gaming has used Unreal Engine 3, and Epic would certainly want to continue that trend with its latest creation. Seeing a Gears of War game on an updated and more polished version of a popular engine just may help Epic continue to dominate the market. This of course would most definitely require the next Gears game to be played on the upcoming generation of consoles. With Microsoft and Sony having yet to officially announce their new hardware, the transition from this generation to the next seems increasingly imminent. The game will more than likely release on one of these consoles, completely created using Unreal Engine 4. And with Microsoft seeming to be a bit short handed in the exclusives department over the past couple of years, you can bet that they will try to keep the license exclusive. But don’t count Sony out. Epic has stressed their interest in creating a popular game for multiple platforms in the past, and if Sony has anything to say about it, they will try their best to steal away another Microsoft selling point.

When we last left Marcus and the rest of the Gears, he had just removed his bandanna, took a seat on the sand and breathed a sigh of relief. The ending of Gears of War 3 left everyone feeling as if the series had reached its conclusion, much like the Halo series did with its third installment. Not so fast. You witnessed just how quickly Microsoft resurrected the Halo franchise when exclusives began dropping and you can expect they will do the same with Gears of War. With the game running on Unreal Engine 4, primed for a new generation of consoles, this game could be a great tool to use in putting more next generation Microsoft consoles into homes worldwide. Only a fool would believe that this is the end of Gears of War, as most companies will generally squeeze the life out of any popular franchise in order to make a buck. And that is exactly what Gears of War is, a money making machine. So what story can we expect from the next Gears game?

As mentioned before, the game had a pretty solid closing, leaving everyone feeling finished and satisfied unlike other popular titles (ahem…Mass Effect 3). So what might Marcus and the Gears encounter on their next go around? With the Locust having been all but eradicated, and the Lambent threat no longer existent, the likelihood of the gang facing another, much tougher opponent, seems like the best bet. The story for Gears of War was nothing amazing, but the characters were intriguing and the main plot has lots of appeal. It was something that we had already seen, yet never seen before. Alien invasions are nothing new to gaming, but for them to come from within the very soil upon which you stand was a fresh take on a tried and true idea. You can expect the story to take a turn towards the bizarre, with fresh new enemies, and perhaps a touch of the old ones.

As for the multiplayer, Gears of War has nearly always hit the nail on the head, using nearly to describe the lackluster experience from the second installment. Gears of War 3, however, was packed full of different modes, maps and unlocks. The game was really complete in terms of DLC, map varieties and a plethora of different modes such as Horde, Beast, Co-op and your basic Deathmatch battles. Expect the next Gears to build on that even more. With the success of the additional modes like Beast and Horde, you can very well anticipate that Epic will cater to fans of these gameplay styles. More waves in Beast mode, for starters, would be a good indication of their intent to build upon a successful product. You can also guarantee that old favorites such as Gridlock and Mansion will make an appearance for those who want a little nostalgia and wouldn’t mind seeing older maps re-imagined on a brand new platform and engine.

So, there it is. The next Gears will more than likely play host to a new console, as well as a new Unreal Engine. The story will likely seem a bit out of left field, with the Epic team having to create a whole new enemy in an already existing universe, but it shouldn’t be an issue. The multiplayer will most certainly be bolstered a bit, with a larger focus on the Horde and Beast modes. Regardless of whether or not you think Gears might be done, the fact still remains that it is one of Microsoft’s very few exclusive hits. combine that fact with Sony having more and more first party exclusives, and you can ensure that Gears has yet to see its final day. Now, tell us what you think. Did we get it all wrong? Is Gears of War finished? Did we insinuate anything that you think to be completely false, or was their anything we missed? Let us know what you expect from the next Gears of War title. What are your hopes for the franchise? What do you want to see from the series. Let us know in the comments below.

Review: Max Payne 3 (Xbox 360)

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May 292012

-Error reading from ESRB datastream-
Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

It has been over a decade since we first encountered Max Payne in July of 2001, and nearly as long since our last meeting, and for Max Payne fanatics, it seemed even longer. Even though the series had seem to fade away into the infinite abyss, fans of the beloved antihero thirsted for more. Now, Rockstar Games has had their hand in the Max Payne franchise for quite a while, but never have they ventured on their own to develop and publish a Max Payne title without the help of Remedy Entertainment. After Rockstar announced that it would venture back into the drug addicted, alcoholic induced mind of Max Payne, many feared out what may become of the once popular franchise. But rest assured, from the moment you begin your journey through Max Payne 3, you get the distinct feeling that Rockstar Games, sans the Finnish developer, hit another home run. Now that the introduction is out of the way, lets continue with the basics.

Story

In Max Payne 3, you begin, more or less, as a personal security detail for a very rich and famous South American family known as the Brancos. The Brancos are a trio of brothers that include; Victor, a successful politician, Rodrigo, a wealthy businessman, and Marcelo, a party crazed socialite. During a small cocktail party on the roof of the Branco family’s skyscraper, one that just so happens to overlook the most poverty stricken areas of Sao Paulo, a group of masked terrorists burst through the doors in search of the Branco brothers. After an attempted kidnapping of both Rodrigo and his main squeeze Fabiana, Max and his partner, Raul Passos, discover that the party crashers belonged to street gang Commando Sombra. From there, the games takes you through the ‘highs” and lows of the life of Max Payne. The endless nights of binge drinking and pill popping have yet to heal the wounds his departed family has left behind, and each day seems harder than the next for Max. Between getting drunk and drinking more, Max seems to have let another kidnapping take place, only this time at a popular nightclub. This time, Commando Sombra is successful in acquiring Fabiana, and Max is left to try and pick up the pieces. The game continues to take you on a journey through Sao Paulo in search of Fabiana. Soccer stadiums, abandoned boat yards, and even a little New Jersey flashback are some of the locals from the first act alone. Overall, the story is great, and fans of the series will appreciate the references to the previous installments of Max Payne, as well as the vivid and painful story lead writer, Dan Houser, and his team have created.

Graphics and Visuals

The look and atmosphere of Max Payne 3 is incredible. The graphics are nothing that we haven’t seen from this current generation of consoles, but that is to be expected with Rockstar developed games. The game may have been released near the end of this generations life cycle, but it definitely did not push the bounds of visual technology. With that being said, the graphics were still above par, and the Tony Scott style effects during the incoherent drug binges were a very welcome touch. Occasionally, you will come across some cut scenes that feature key words being visually displayed throughout the screen. Most of them are important to the story, but some are just there to add some ‘kick’ to the overall story. The best part of the game, however, are the slow motion kill cams and bullet time, but more on those later.

Audio and Sound

The music in Max Payne 3 is excellent. The sharp tones during moments of uncertainty help to build the tension. As far as the narration is concerned, James McCaffery reprises his role as Max Payne, offering some nostalgia for those that have played previous titles. The dialogue may seem cheesy and over the top at times, but it works. Occasionally, Max will utter a one liner worthy of a B rated action flick. Such instances occur when you come across pills during the game (pills are what regenerate your health, just like previous Max Payne titles), or progress to the next checkpoint. Other than that, the game fires on all cylinders audibly.

Gameplay

Now, time to talk slow motion gameplay. The bullet time feature is just as it has always been, you jump out, activate the bullet time feature, begin mayhem. No matter how simplistic, or how redundant the feature has become over the past few years, the bullet time feature has been such an awakening. The newer addition to the slow motion killing department is the new slow motion kill cam. What this does is that during your encounter with the last enemy in a specific area, the slow motion kill feature will be in effect. After you kill this last enemy, you are taken immediately into the slow motion kill cam mode. Here, you can watch slowly as someone you have just murdered is repeatedly filled with lead, all the while you are controlling the speed of the person’s death by slowing the kill cam using the appropriate button presses. As far as single player is concerned, the gameplay is excellent, sometimes the aiming can get a bit wonky, but that is to be expected from a Rockstar developed game. This can also be avoided by using soft and hard auto target locks that the game allows you to chose as opposed to the free aim mechanic. Multiplayer is a welcoming surprise, as the matches are quick and packed full of action. There is nothing really new about the way Rockstar has introduced the multiplayer into Max Payne, but the online gameplay feels surprisingly fresh and strongly increases the replay value of the title. Like most online multiplayer games that have been released in the past five years, the game features tons of unlockable guns and characters which become available upon reaching certain levels.

Final Verdict

Max Payne 3 is an excellent game. It may have warranted more attention if it hadn’t tried to compete with the simultaneously released mega hit, Diablo III. Regardless, for console gamers, Max Payne 3 was the major release for the month of May. The title has been met with critical acclaim aw well as great user feedback. The game also utilizes the Rockstar season pass, in which you can purchase all of the future downloadable content for a one time transaction at a discounted price. It has been discussed that there would be somewhere near seven future content plans and that the season pass would save you just above 35%. So keep that in mind if you want to add some more longevity to your Max Payne 3 experience. For those who are interested in the Max Payne 3 Season Pass, it would be 30 bucks. Overall, the game is amazing. The environment and atmosphere created by Rockstar can easily dump you into the hectic and drug riddled world of Max Payne. Rockstar does an amazing job here of using visuals and audio to tell an amazing story, and the unique camera angles and visual effects layered on top of the cinematic cut scenes gives the game a little more edge and mystery. And when it comes to the gameplay, forget about it. Nothing is cooler than jumping from behind cover in slow motion, and blasting four dudes to pieces before they even have a chance to pull the trigger. That is why Gaming Irresponsibly gives Max Payne 3 a final score of:

Graphics 89		Audio 90		Gameplay 91
Creativity 85		Execution 95		Offset 95

9.1

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

PROS

Great Audio
Fun Multiplayer
Involving Story
Bullet Time/ Slow Mo
Drugs and Booze
Excellent Use of Visual Effects

CONS

Dialogue Seems Cheesy Sometimes
Free Aim Has Small Issues

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on KickStarter?

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

May 192012

Recently, the following image surfaced on the internet, showing an upcoming kickstarter.com project called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The game has already raised over eight million dollars, and has already shattered tons of kickstarter.com records.

Image courtesy of Reddit.com user "davidandgoliath"

Actually, the picture is a lie. This game does not exist (that we know of), and it most certainly would never show up on kickstarter.com. This poses a big question though, should big name AAA titles seek funding by using this rapidly growing website? Would gamers actually pay the developers to develop the game BEFORE it was actually made? If you could throw down a few bucks for the next Gears of War title for some extra special goodies, would you be so inclined as to do so? Like it or not, kickstarter.com has launched a new way for games to flourish or fail. Companies like Double Fine have seen great success in using this form of financial funding, but for every Double Fine there are a slew of companies that don’t hit their goals . So, what do you guys think? Are AAA titles on kickstarter.com something we will see in the future? Do you like the way kickstarter.com gives smaller companies a chance to produce a quality game and think AAA titles should stay out of it? Let us know all your thoughts on the subject in our comments section below.

With Kevin Pereira Out, Is G4TV’s Future Bleak?

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

May 092012

Today, Kevin Pereira, host of G4′s popular hour long weekday segment, Attack of the Show, announced that he will be leaving the show to pursue other ventures. He released the following statement early Tuesday afternoon on G4tv’s official website:

“For the last ten years, G4 has provided me a phenomenal career filled with countless once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and the chance to work with some of the most driven, talented and passionate people in the business,” said Pereira. “I want to thank our viewers for allowing me to inform and entertain them each and every week.” He also added, “ “I plan to turn my attention to full-time with my production company Super Creative and live touring nerd-carnival leetUP,”

This may come as a shock to most people, because Kevin Pereira was often seen as the face of G4. While neither party has declared what caused Pereira to announce his departure, the absence of his presence on Attack of the Show will be hard to ignore. G4 took quite a bit of time trying to find a replacement for Olivia Munn just a little while back, and it may take even longer to replace a talent such as Pereira. This news also comes just a few weeks after Adam Sessler released a statement informing his fans that he too would not be returning to G4. His representative released the following statement on April 25th:

“Television personality Adam Sessler and TV network G4 are parting ways, with Adam’s last episode as host of G4′s “X-Play” airing on the network today, Wednesday, April 25. Adam has been hosting the show since it first aired as ZDTV’s “Gamespot TV” in July 1998 and he also served as Editor In Chief of games content at G4. His current projects include starring as himself in the Summer 2012 movie “noobz” and consulting with a film production company on theatrical feature adaptations of video games. Adam intends to stay in front of the camera and continue as a key voice within the games industry. He also sings and is available for weddings and bar mitzvahs.”

This was also a shock, and an equally huge loss to G4tv’s staff. The two men were the most influential hosts of popular G4 television shows in recent past, and provided added coverage of the gaming industries largest conventions. Both men will be sorely missed. So what gives with the departure of two of the most important hosts on two of your more popular shows? Both have been there over 10 years, and they both exit within two weeks of each other, that seems fishy. What ever the cause for their departures, you can rest assured that this will not bode well for G4 and its viewers.

You can read Kevin’s farewell article on G4tv.com here. You can also check out more on Adam Sessler’s departure here. Pictures and comments courtesy of G4tv.com.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect From The Elder Scrolls Online

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

May 062012

It had been rumored for quite some time, but this week RPG super giant, Bethesda Softworks, announced that The Elder Scrolls Online was indeed a game in development and would eventually see a release. With the overwhelming success of Oblivion and the recently released Skyrim, it was only a matter of time before an announcement of the rumored title finally saw the light of day. MMORPGs have had great success in the past, and one based in the world of the Elder Scrolls franchise seems more than destined to grab some shares of that market. With the amount of gamers that have experienced at least one of the popular Bethesda role playing games, it may be the most highly anticipated MMORPG in history, maybe even more so than Star Wars: The Old Republic. So a game made by such a successful development team, with insurmountable hype behind it warrants a few questions and even more speculation.

The Elder Scrolls series has been nothing short of epic. In just its first month, Skyrim nearly eclipsed the total lifetime sales of its predecessor, Oblivion, and clocked well over half a billion dollars in retail sales before the end of 2011. That kind of growth will put any Elder Scrolls title at the top of the hype meter and you can expect similar numbers from the online game. The game will sell well, and even has the possibility of surpassing MMO superstar World of Warcraft as the most popular multiplayer online RPG. So, what can we expect from The Elder Scrolls Online? What type of features might it have and what kind of gameplay might be expected? Let’s go over some of the stuff we might see and some things we hope to discover from this upcoming title.

If recent history is a factor, you can bet your bottom dollar that the online version of The Elder Scrolls will have no shortage of dragons and shouts. Fus Roh Dah has become a phrase well known in the gaming community, and everyone loves dragons. If dragons are featured, they will most likely play a part in dungeons and raids, with a high possibility of spotting them around towns and villages during real time world events. As for shouts, it would be very likely that one of the playable, and possibly most popular, classes would be that of the Dragonborn variety.

As for the other classes, it can be expected that the typical classes from Elder Scrolls past will make their returns. Splitting up mixtures of ranged, melee and magic seems like more than a possibility, with typical classes such as mages, archers and warriors making an appearance. Bethesda, however, will be creative enough to label these classes with better titles other than the basic ones used for so many MMOs. As for races, there would be little point in changing them from the traditional Elder Scrolls games, since that is what the vast majority of fans have already known and come to love. So you can expect Nords, Orcs and a variation of Elven based races will make an appearance, as well as some of the others from previous titles such as, Argonian and Breton.

Dungeons, like every other MMO, will be part of the experience. How else will you be able to team up to obtain the highest level weapons and equipment? Dungeons will each have their own back stories and enemies, but how these dungeons will be accessed has yet to be seen. One possibility may be the use of Oblivion Gates that allow teams of players to enter and begin destroying the baddies within. Regardless of how they are accessed, they will most likely be the same basic “instance” practices used by most other MMOs.

The world of The Elder Scrolls Online will most certainly be breathtaking. The previous games have been known for their beautifully sculpted landscapes and large, expansive worlds. In a game that will have to feature such things; Bethesda will absolutely come through in this category. According to the popular RPG creator, the entire continent of Tamriel will be available to explore. Previously each Elder Scrolls game featured a specific “province” of Tamriel, such as the eastern territory of Morrowind, the capital city location in Cyrodil (featured in Oblivion), and the northern, snow capped kingdoms of Skyrim. Each of these maps will be available as playable areas, and the game will be set approximatley 1000 years before the events of Skyrim took place.So, you can expect the most expansive and incredibly massive world that has ever been seen from the popular software developer.

Recently, MMO games have taken a turn from a more turn based attack system and implemented a system that involves more action. Like in the previous Elder Scrolls games, you can expect that Bethesda will continue the growing trend and stick with a non-turned based battle system. They seem to work better, and since Bethesda is already used to creating such RPGs, which is most certainly what we will see in the online title.

We all know that they will be there, and any combination of Bethesda and an MMORPG will have its fair share of bugs. The game will be heavily tested and probably feature a lengthy series of open and closed beta test before release. Regardless, bugs will be everywhere in the first few months of the games release, we can only hope that they will be minuscule and not be anything game breaking. With the amount of people that will be playing the game at launch, it can be determined that the first month of so may not be a pleasant experience, so keep that in mind.

Now that we have gone over what you can expect from The Elder Scrolls Online, it’s time to delve into what they can do to make sure this title lives up to the hype. What do us as gamers want to see? What changes can they make to ensure that this experience is a fresh take on a popular genre? What might they leave out that would enrage the internets?

We need dragons. Plain and simple. Good, now that the dragon conversation is over, The Elder Scrolls online has one major issue that needs to be addressed before any speculative talk can begin. That is the big issue here, and it needs to be solved before it becomes a problem. Bethesda has had these issues in the past, and MMOs are traditionally the worst when it comes to bugs. Make sure this doesn’t break the game, and we can all live the rest of our virtual existences happily. Also, the game needs to be unique. Gamers don’t want to play an Elder Scrolls version of World of Warcraft, so don’t try to imitate them. They may have a great product, but you have a great intellectual property and tons of fan support. There is no reason anyone should pop this game in and see the same old thing they have for the past few years, i.e. Rift, Warhammer.

We need dragons. Plain and simple.

One thing that WoW doesn’t do well, but others have succeeded in doing is the world event. This has become a staple for popular games such as Rift. This would be fairly easy to do with Skyrim having random encounters with dragons throughout the world. The same should apply in the online game as well. How great would it be to visit a small village in the middle of nowhere, only to see it being decimated by a vicious dragon? Screaming over the local chat channels to rally troops around the village in order to take down an invading dragon seems likely and should happen. Did we mention we love dragons? Also, random spawned Oblivion Gates would be a welcome addition, especially amongst party groups. Hunting down these gates throughout the world and obtaining high quality gear and weapons would be a fun and innovative way to infuse some of the history of The Elder Scrolls lore, as well as, work in some great world event features.

The game is nowhere near release, yet speculation and hype will continue to build until it does. Fans everywhere will be looking for info on what is to be expected and what features we will see, and until Bethesda releases that information; we will all just have to play the waiting game. With all the tools and fanfare surrounding The Elder Scrolls Online, there should be no real reason why the game can’t be a huge success. There has yet to be an MMO that has taken the reigns from World of Warcraft, but The Elder Scrolls Online has the potential to slay the giant. One thing is for certain, no matter what happens, no matter what has been said or what will be said, The Elder Scrolls Online will sell like no other. Bethesda will make sure of that. The game will more than likely break records for MMO sales at release, and if they can minimize the bugs, may continue to do so.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently being developed by Zenimax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks and currently has no set release date. As soon as more information arrives, we will be more than happy to report it. Until then, we will just have to wait and see.

New Call of Duty: Black Ops II Trailer Revealed

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

May 012012

Today, Activision and Treyarch revealed their first trailer for the next installment of the Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The trailer reveals a more futuristic Call of Duty experience and will be available on November 13th. There will be more information revealed during tonight’s NBA playoff games on TNT. Here is the official reveal trailer incase you missed it.

So what do you think of the new trailer? Are you excited about the next Black Ops? Disappointed? Does the thought of battling in the near future excite you, or does it make you less likely to play it? Let us know in the comments below.

New Skyrim DLC Announced

Posted by rhillis 1 Response »

May 012012

This summer, on the Xbox 360, Bethesda will be releasing the first DLC pack for the critically acclaimed The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Other than the rough estimate on the time the DLC will be availabale, and that it will bear the name Dawnguard, little else is known about this future content. One thing is for sure, E3 will more than likely show us more about Skyrim: Dawnguard and what it has to offer.
What do you expect out of this new Skyrim DLC? More dragons? More shouts? Let us know what you want out of Skyrim: Dawnguard.

Indie Game of the Week: Dead Pixels

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

May 012012

This week, Gaming Irresponsibly is choosing yet another zombie themed indie game. Yes, there are more zombie indie games than there are people to play them, but this one is definitely worth the time and money. CSR Studios, a one man company created by John Common, created what could be one of the most fantastic games to ever grace the Xbox Live Indie Game marketplace, Dead Pixels. Dead Pixels is described as an “8-bit zombie simulator”, where you move about a two dimensional world, blasting waves of zombies, while rummaging through abandoned shops for supplies. The game has elements of role-playing as well, allowing you to visit traders which will sell you upgrades that level up specific traits such as luck, strength, bargaining and so on. The game blends this role-playing element with arcade style action with fluidity and grace, and must be experienced for those of you who may love both indie games or zombies.

Dead Pixels thrusts you into New Hexington, NY, a city that has been taken over by zombies. A toxic waste spill, from a local chemical plant,found its way into the water supply, and in three short days, turned all of the dead into living. After a botched attempt by the military to control the situation, the city was quarantined until further notice. Lucky for you, a group of survivors have a helicopter on the other side of the city, and its your only way out. To get there, you must fight your way through the streets of New Hexington collecting supplies, and avoiding death. The story is nothing to write home about, but it serves the purpose of driving your character from one end of the city to the other. The real greatness of Dead Pixels, is the gameplay.

The game plays much like many older arcade-style, 8-bit, two dimensional side scrollers. You can move up and down, side to side, using your weapons to defeat enemies and using power-ups to aid you. Pretty simple, but the game gets deeper by adding a role-playing element as well. While progressing through Dead Pixels, you will have the ability to visit abandoned shops and store. These shops and stores will be home to a variety of power-ups, valuables, medical supplies and you new best friends, guns. All of these items can be picked up, but don’t get too excited, the more weapons and swag you tote with you, the closer you get to becoming over-encumbered, which will more than likely make you zombie bait. There is also the occasional trader located within the city. These are marked by green arrows pointing towards the door, or signs painted in green as well indicating that there are living still inside these buildings. Once at the trader, you can purchase goods such as health and ammunition or sell off some of the valuable items you snagged along the way. There is also the choice to upgrade specific abilities. You can add more strength, allowing you to carry more stuff, or upgrade you melee or weapon skills, which will grant more explosive attacks.

Another great thing about Dead Pixels is the style and flare that it presents to the gamer. The screen in general has a 70′s horror movie feel to it, as the screen seems to crackle and pop with small imperfections strewn across its landscape. The in game intermission is a nice touch as well, poking fun at older movies and drive-ins with adds for concessions. You may notice, while playing through Dead Pixels, that the game pays more than just an homage to the first Resident Evil game. The weapons feature the last names of the main characters, for example the Redfield Beretta or the Valentine Shotgun. You will also notice some of the streets named after them as well, such as Wesker Avenue. Some of the more subtle tributes will include umbrella shops in the mall, painted with an alternating red and white pattern, as well as, the Moonlight Sonata playing in the background of the trader shops throughout the city.

Overall, Dead Pixels is a must buy. Despite most zombie games catering to a specific audience, Dead Pixels does a great job of opening it up to everyone, giving each something great. It is a great 2D action arcade style game, with deep RPG elements. The combat is amazing, the controls are good and John Common did a fantastic job of crating a small world with such great ambiance. The game also features a few extra chapters, The Solution and The Last Stand, so those that haven’t gotten enough Dead Pixels, can have a little more. If you don’t want to face the pending zombie apocalypse alone, the game does feature a local multiplayer, where you can bring along some friends to blast the undead with. If you want to try Dead Pixels, you can head on over to the Xbox Live Indie Game marketplace and purchase it for 80 Microsoft Points ($1.00).

Every week, Indie Game of the Week will feature a popular, and entertaining Indie Game and share it with our community. Do you have a suggestion for next weeks game? Have you played an indie game lately that knocked your socks off and want to help tell the world? Then follow Ryan Hillis on Twitter @rchillis. You can also like us on Facebook, and leave us feedback on what titles you would like to see featured.

Looking Ahead: Expect Mass Effect 4

Posted by rhillis 44 Responses »

Apr 272012

"Shepard, going up this beam of light will result in your death, and everyone else's confusion.

Now that Mass Effect 3 has been out for a while, and the controversy of its lackluster ending beginning to die down, it’s time we take a look at what future possibilities the popular science fiction franchise may hold. Spoilers for the entire series will be prevalent throughout this article, so if you haven’t finished the Mass Effect games, you have been warned.

At the end of Mass Effect 3, whether you chose to accept it or not, Shepard stops the Reapers one of three ways, sacrificing his life in the process. Of course there is the shot of him taking a small breath if you satisfied certain criteria, but for futures sake, let’s just assume he is dead. It’s not like we haven’t been here before. Shepard died at the beginning of Mass Effect 2, and through the tireless efforts and endless resources of Cerberus, Shepard was resurrected. That would appear to be near impossible to occur by the galaxies current standards, with the Mass Relays having been destroyed and intergalactic space travel came to an abrupt stop. That wouldn’t necessarily mean that resources aren’t available to bring Shepard back to life, but with Earth spending its recent time fighting against a near unstoppable force, it’s highly doubtful Shepard could return from the dead again. So what does that mean for the next Mass Effect? Well if Shepard is officially dead, it would be hard to think, especially because of recent heat thrown BioWare’s way, that they would attempt to bring Shepard back to life, since it may create more plot holes. If Shepard is truly dead, we can guess that BioWare would select a new hero to become the face of the franchise.

Love is a battlefield, too bad we don't really know what happened on it.

But what if Shepard lives? This is probably the most likely scenario due to the massive amount of fan feedback, but with BioWare saying that Mass Effect 3 was to be the final installment of Shepard’s story, it can be assumed that he would not be the main focus of Mass Effect 4, or even a playable character. We can take from this, the same conclusion as if he were dead, in that Mass Effect 4 will feature a new hero.

So what we have determined is that Shepard is probably alive, and most likely not the main focus for Mass Effect 4. As per the ending for Mass Effect 3, we have also determined that space travel is no longer a possibility for the near future and Shepard’s squad is abandoned on a far away planet. Now, if BioWare wanted to stay within the same universe with Shepard and gang, the next Mass Effect wouldn’t seem to have space travel as a feasible option of travel. It’s not impossible that some one in the galaxy didn’t reverse engineer a Mass Relay, but it is never alluded to in previous games. They are something that was just found and never replicated. Knowing this, space travel would more than likely prove as another plot hole in a story that has too many to begin with. The idea of rebuilding Mass Relays or the reinstitution of space travel, don’t seem like very attractive ways to lure in a very upset fan base.

Taking all things into consideration, there is one strong possibility that may be possible. The game would more than likely take place near the end of Shepard’s life. The aged and crippled hero could still be featured in the story, as well as some other old friends. This would help keep those attached to the characters from the series happy, as well as allow for a ‘passing of the torch’ between Shepard and the newer, younger hero. It would also allow for the pulling of the heart strings on those comrades that passed away during the Reaper battle. The game would more than likely feel a bit more primitive, as space travel and intergalactic communications have just recently begun to prosper. The reinstatement of the Spectre forces and a new committee of selected councilors would be more than likely as well. It would be obvious that a new enemy would be featured in Mass Effect 4, either hostile aliens still reaming from the recent battles, or maybe something more treacherous than the Reapers. The Reapers did always say it was inevitable that life should end, and that it could not be stopped. Maybe something else could be the reason, who knows at this point.

"I don't always end games, but when I do, I make sure you don't know what the f*** just happened."

There are many directions BioWare could chose to go with the franchise. First Contact Wars, the Krogan Rebellion, a future Reaper Attack, the Prothean/Reaper battles, the possibilities are endless. They have created a rich history and intriguing back stories, so we can assume the next game will be just as great as the last three. The franchise is too popular to let die, and EA would never let a potential profit just go by the wayside. And after the fan feedback on Mass Effect 3′s ending, BioWare probably wants redemption. Regardless of the scenario played out in the next title, it will be a hit and will sell millions, but we will haut have to wait and see what BioWare and EA choose to do with our beloved series.

Looking Ahead: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 272012

With the success of the Call of Duty franchise of the past four or five years, it is a certainty that they will continue to release annually. Each game in the series has sold boat loads of copies an the next one will be no different, you can count on that, but Modern Warfare 3 seems to have fallen off a bit when it comes to critical acclaim. The game received negative feedback from the community for its lack of innovation and seemingly repetitive gameplay. You can be sure that Activision and Treyarch have taken notice to this negativity an are expecting to announce this years installment as soon as next week. The general consensus is that we can expect Black Ops 2 due to its overwhelming sales and it’s continued support and success. So what can we expect from Activision’s upcoming first person shooter?

The new Call of Duty announcement will happen on May 1st, during the NBA playoffs.

We may not like it, but Call of Duty’s gameplay isn’t broken, so they are definitely not going I attempt to change it. You can expect the same general gameplay elements that have been present in previous Call of Duty games, with the exception of a few tweaks here and there. What gives the Treyarch developed games a longer lasting playability is the insanely popular Zombie mode. The mode will more than likely remain on any Treyarch made Call of Duty titles, as they have already been present on their last two games. The mode offers cooperative play with a nice twist and is a welcoming addition to a series that can feel repetitive. Considering how Activision handled the last Black Ops DLC pack, a pack containing all Zombie mode maps, it can be determined that the Zombie mode will begin taking more of a role from a production and sales standpoint.

The one thing that seems to change each year with Call of Duty is the way you obtain weapons, upgrades, perks and weapons attachments. Whether be through leveling up, achieving selected amounts of kills or headshots, or purchasing them with game created credits, the tools used to upgrade your arsenal have varied from title to title. You can bet money that Activision will try and change this yet again, in an attempt to extrapolate on a functional system.

When it comes to graphics, Call of Duty has never stood out as industry leading. The game has always hung its hat on a 60 frames per second frame rate and simplistic and effective controls. With the hype and success of DICE’s Frostbite 2.0 engine and the beauty of the environment, Activision has probably taken note of this and may seize the opportunity to crush what little FPS competition they have. The graphics will more than likely be a little better than in previous titles, but it remains to be seen of they have overhauled their game engine in order to do so. As long as the game continues to rule online multiplayers, you can bet that the engine will remain the same.

You can bet money on Treyarch beefing up the Zombie mode.

The story for the single player campaign has always been entertaining and with criticism over Battlefield 3′s lackluster story, there is no real completion from first person military shooters. The story will continue to remain intriguing, short and entertaining, just as it has the past few years. The point is, as long as Call of Duty titles are selling like hot cakes, Activision will not do too much to jeopardize its sales. This is both good and bad as it hinders innovation and creativity, but stand steadfast in producing new content that does not lower expectations. The games are all very similar, with the exclusion of a few bells and whistles, and that is something you can expect from Black Ops 2. But with each title, a fresh coat of paint has been applied in order to keep the games fresh and appealing. For Black Ops 2 that could mean a larger focus on the Zombie mode, more hidden Easter eggs such as Dead Ops Arcade, a exciting single player campaign and a complete overhaul of the upgrade system. We will know more about this later this week as Activison is set to announce the next Call of Duty game May 1st.

Review: The Walking Dead (PS3)

Posted by rhillis 1 Response »

Apr 262012

-Error reading from ESRB datastream-
Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

It started out as a hit graphic novel. Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead was gritty and appealed to a wide range of zombie loving enthusiasts. It gained so much popularity, that the novels were quickly adapted into a popular television show that began airing on AMC. After the show was deemed a success, Kirkman thought to expand the universe even further by allowing TellTale Games the opportunity to develop The Walking Dead game. Where as the television show is more of an interpretation of the original novels, The Walking Dead game runs canonical within the graphic novel universe. For those fans of the graphic novels and television show, the story takes place around the same time Rick is in the hospital, at the beginning of the outbreak.

This episodic zombie adventure begins with protagonist Lee Everett, a former professor at the University of Georgia Athens (UGA), removed for his recent murder conviction. Lee finds himself handcuffed and sitting comfortably in the back of a older gentleman’s squad car. After a back and forth conversation with the officer, you begin to get the feeling that Lee is not as murderous as he seems, still, the officer continues to advise him about his life choices. Heaps of police cars, medical units and even air support are seen flying into the city of Atlanta, as Lee and his escort make their way out of the city. This doesn’t seem to phase the officer one bit, as he calmly explains right and wrong to Lee, failing to pay attention whilst speeding on the interstate highway. A man stumbles into the roadway, and despite Lee’s warning, the cop strikes the man, sending the vehicle off the side of the road. The game then takes a predictable turn, as you begin to unravel Lee’s story.

Now, the game doesn’t have the amount of control that some would have anticipated, yet it is full of action. The gameplay is, more or less, driven by your directing the course of the story and less on total character control. This approached has been subject to controversy among many gamers, but nevertheless, it is a game, and a damn good one. As you progress through the story, you will use timed button presses, quick time, button mashing events and limited character movement. As you make your choices throughout the episode, you will shape the individual course of Lee’s story by making an impact on the characters around him. This helps develop vivid characters and help discover just who Lee is and what happened in his past. The story is a fantastic one that should make fans of the franchise very proud. Just because the button pressing and character movement seem limited, shouldn’t discourage gamers from playing The Walking Dead. On the contrary, the games beautiful art styling and impressive story telling are more than enough to warrant the small price tag.

As stated before, the gameplay in The Walking Dead is quite limited, but each action you preform has a distinct purpose and possible future consequences. The comic styled art is as beautiful as can be imagined and the story is fantastically told. The game really fires on all cylinders and the only real downfall is the lack of character control. The best part about The Walking Dead is its episodic releases. There are set to be five episodes released, one about each month, and after each episode is finished, you can catch a sneak preview of the next episode cut in a television premiere manner. The game is packed full of action, tense moments and thrilling scares. The Walking Dead is available now on the PlayStation Network and PC, and will be released on the Xbox Live Marketplace this Friday. You can grab the game on any of these platforms for about five bucks.

Pros:

Great Storytelling
Good Character Development
Beautiful Artwork
Ominous Audio

Cons:

Little Character Control
Have to wait a month before continuing the story

Taking everything into consideration, we give The Walking Dead a final score of:

Graphics 85		Audio 91		Gameplay 75
Creativity 84		Execution 85		Offset 90

8.5

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Bargain Bin: Piece de ‘Resistance’

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 252012

This week, the Bargain Bin is going PlayStation 3 exclusive, bitches. That’s right, we are venturing into the alternative timeline universe, where the Russians fucked up, and all of Europe has been destroyed by the Chimera. Resistance: Fall of Man was developed by Insomniac Games, published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released in late 2006. It was the must own launch title back then and won numerous awards for PlayStation 3 Game of the Year. Sales were great, but many eventual purchasers of the PlayStation 3 may have missed out on a great title. In the following year, Resistance was near the top of the charts for game sales on the PlayStation 3 platform, and earned itself among the first batch of PS3 Greatest Hits titles. The game has aged, as all games do, yet the experience is great, the gameplay is excellent, and for the prices you can find this game for, it is simply a must buy for PS3 owners everywhere.

The Story

You begin the game in 1945, as an American Soldier named Nathan Hale. The soft voice of a woman tells you of the outbreak of the Chimera, an alien race that has quickly taken over most of Europe. After the Chimera spread across Russia and into western Europe, the dug through the channel, making their way to England. This is where the story of Resistance: Fall of Man takes place. American troops are sent into England to help with support. In exchange for our troops, weapons and tanks, the Brits promised to give us something that was beyond our creative abilities. Of course you won’t find out what the details of the exchange until later. From there, you are taken on a ride throughout the English countryside, smashing Chimera and taking all their swag. The game plays solely in the first person perspective, except for the few times you operate vehicles such as tanks.

The Gameplay

The gameplay in Resistance: Fall of Man is some of the smoothest you will ever see. The aiming mechanic is spot on, and strafing through the world seems as crisp as possible. The game features the basic story mode, as well as both cooperative play and versus multiplayer. The online versus multiplayer obviously wont garner the same amount of fun as it once had, due to the lack of players available to play with. But if you can find those players out there, you can still create clans and custom games. As of December 2008, both of the downloadable map packs for Resistance: Fall of Man were offered for free as a holiday gift from Insomniac Games in anticipation for Resistance 2, so what little experience you can have with the versus multiplayer has now been expanded free of charge.

Audio/Visual

When comparing the game to recently released titles, you can clearly tell that Resistance: Fall of Man has aged. The graphics are good, no doubt, but they are nothing compared to the likes of Resistance 3. The audio in the game seems a tad bland. It doesn’t do a great job of trying to get you into the story or the battle. It just seems like randomly generated English phrases muttered by your fellow soldiers, or insults slurred in you direction from the attacking Chimera. This is all to be expected of course as Resistance was a launch title for the PlayStation 3 and is nearly six years old.

The Verdict

Although the game appears to have aged a bit, and does not offer trophy support, it is still a great buy. You can easily find the game in the used section of your local retailer, and if not, can find it very quickly online. You can still buy new copies of the game for pretty cheap, since it was released as a PS3 Greatest Hit, but for the prices you can find them at used, it is recommended that you take that route. All in all, Resistance: Fall of Man is a great game. It has smooth controls that any first person shooter (FPS) fan can appreciate and it has a variety of multiplayer modes. You can find Resistance: Fall of Man at the following locations, online prices do not include shipping and handling.

GameStop – Used in-store or online for $4.99. $4.50 if you are a Pro Member.
Best Buy - Used online for $9.99.
Wal-Mart - New for $25.55, available online only.
New Egg - New for $27.99.
Amazon.com - New starting at $16.91. Used starting at $2.75.

Review: Journey (PS3)

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 252012

-Error reading from ESRB datastream-
Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

Recently, That Game Company and Santa Monica Studios released a downloadable title exclusive for the PlayStation 3 entitled Journey. The studios are responsible for other popular downloadable games available on the PlayStation Network such as flOw and Flower. Those were both great games, but Journey trumps both, make no bones about it. The game features a red robed creature that you move throughout the world as you embark on a “journey” to get from the dusty, dry sand covered desert to the beautiful lush landscape that is the top of a mountain. The game is nothing short of breathtaking. The graphics a clean and crisp, the music will move you and the story is told so wonderfully, that you don’t even need words to tell it. The game costs $14.99 and is only available on the PlayStation 3 PSN store.

As stated before, the game features you as you play a red robed character making his way from a desolate desert to a luscious landscape. While arriving at the top of the mountain may be the goal, you will need some help along the way. This is where you scarf comes in. Think of this scarf as your life bar. The bigger it gets, the easier it will be to make it to the top of the mountain, and if you are not careful, you can have some of that pretty little scarf taken away. The way to obtain a longer scarf is to locate shiny emblems scattered about the world of Journey. Some are easily noticeable, but there are some that are cleverly hidden. Regardless, the more you find, the more you can jump, and jumping is something you are going to want to do. Your scarf holds a charge, and when it is full (as indicated by the emblems and engravings illuminating from the scarf) you can jump. As you jump, the engravings will begin to disappear, and you will need to recharge the scarf in order to jump again. You can recharge the scarf one of two ways, you can interact with other cloth beings in the world of Journey, or you can come in to contact with a fellow journeyman and easily recharge your depleted scarf.

You will encounter vast changes in the world of Journey. As you begin trudging through the scorching desert, you will quickly be treated to uniquely designed levels that use different visuals and different gameplay mechanics. One level you are walking in sand, the next you are surfing quickly on it as you weave in and out of ruined archways. Then you may find yourself deep inside a dark tunnel, avoiding large and dangerous creatures that aim to take your scarf. After that is a cold and unforgiving ascension to the peak of the mountain that features a slow moving, wind gushing environment. Journey will most certainly take you through an array of scenery and emotions, and it does so with an almost simplistic perfection. The best part about the game, is the replay value. The core experience of your first play through will last roughly about an hour or so. Not a very long game, but Journey is not a game you simply play once. As you beat the game more times, and discover more hidden objects, you rode design will become more elaborate. This can be noticed on other players as will, as some of them will have more detailed robes, as others will have the standard basic robe.

The game boasts wonderful visuals as your terrain shifts from sandy dunes, underground tunnels and snowy peaks. The game utilizes the environment so well in fact, that you actually begin to feel warmer by looking at the relentless gaze of the sun. The world has been creatively designed from top to bottom to put you as deep into the journey as possible, and Journey does a perfect job of enriching you within its world. What may make the world seem even greater is the musical score. However great you may think the graphics are, the musical score is that much greater. The emotional you feel as you experience the ups and downs of Journey are not as cut and dry as every other game. The game does not you a single word, so you have to discover your own feelings about the game as you play it. The music does a wonderful job of showing you what emotions the situations call for. By listening to the perfectly composed tones, you feel what your character ‘feels’.

The gameplay is very simple and anyone that has ever held a controller can pick Journey up and give it a play. With the left analog stick, you can move your character about the world, while the right analog stick rotates the camera. You can also rotate the camera using the PlayStation 3 controllers Sixaxis support, which adds another element to your gameplay. Other than that you can only ‘chirp’, which is the way you activate random pieces of cloth and glyphs, as well as communicate with other players you may encounter on your travels, and you can jump (which is limited by the amount of charge on your scarf). That is it, run, chirp and jump. Pretty simple, yet the game will feel so deep and meaningful.

There is so much that can be said for a game that completely tells a fantastic story so well, all without using a single word. The game utilizes vivid imagery and excellent musical composition to make you feel the pain that others have suffered during their failed attempts at making it to the top of the mountain. It says so much about the gaming industry and how far it has come that nearly any person that plays Journey can relate to a small, red robed, desert dwelling creature. That anyone can relate to this small ‘thing’ and feel it’s pain, feel it’s triumph. The fact that all of these experiences and emotions can be felt by anyone and related by everyone, all without using a single spoken word is one of the most wonderful things you can ever hope to experience in a video game. There is absolutely no reason that any gamer with a PlayStation 3 should go a moment longer without having played this game. With that being said, here is our final score:

Graphics 92		Audio 100		Gameplay 95
Creativity 97		Execution 98		Offset 95

9.6

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Review: FEZ (360)

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 252012

-Error reading from ESRB datastream-
Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

Just last week, Fez, the super-hyped Xbox Live Arcade Game created by independent developer Polytron, was finally released into the world. The game had been in development for years, and few ever thought the game would actually see the light of day. The game was announced by Phil Fish, the games creator, back in 2007. It was then announced that the game would be released in the summer of 2010. When that didn’t happen, and the months piled up, not many people were too sure about its future. But is is April 2012, and Fez is a finished product, available to those who want it, for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

You play through the world of Fez as a lovable white ‘thing’ named Gomez. You awaken in your home one day to learn that you have received a letter from an elderly man that lives at the top of your village. From there, you are treated to the always familiar 2D platforming basics, running and jumping your way to the top of the village, in order to see the old man as he requested in his correspondence. Along your short journey, you can explore others houses, and interact with the other villagers. You will begin to find out what everyone thinks of the village, Gomez and the fact that there are no such things as cubes, only squares. After you reach the top of the village, the old man then tells you all about cubes. They are real, you can live in them. Your mind will be surely blown at the events that immediately transpire.

Fez is an incredibly hard game to describe, because it contains so many elements. It is more or less a retro, 2D platforming game that features three dimensional shifts. You actually only play in the standard two dimensions, and shift your perspective between three dimensions. As you shift your perspective, you can then explore the new 2D territory, allowing you access to a newer part of the map that you were unable to see before. Think of it was a cube. You can only play on one face of the cube, going up and down, as well as, side to side. Now if you rotate that cube, you now have a new side to play on, while the side you were previously playing on is now in the background. The execution of this very difficult concept has been done really well, and the puzzles it creates are some of the most difficult in gaming to date. The game is definitely a challenge for even the most experienced puzzle solvers.

The game takes you on an ’8-bit’ journey through a expertly crafted world, puzzle by puzzle, in search for the ever important Cube. The more Cubes you get, the more places you can go, and the only way to get more cubes, is to find them by solving complex puzzles, searching hidden nooks and deciphering DaVinci Code-like encryptions. You will also discover the existence of the Anti-Cube. For every Cube, the must in fact be an Anti-Cube that keeps the balance. The Anti-Cubes are much harder to find, and require the solving of more difficult puzzles. The game is simple in concept, run around the world collecting Cubes and Anti-Cubes, not hard right? If it were only that easy.

The games mechanics are very simple. You can jump, move side-to-side and interact with the environment when prompted to do so, much like any other 2D platformer. Then there is the perspective shifts that require the pressing of the left or right bumpers/triggers. The gameplay is very fluid, and the shifts between perspectives seem smooth and natural. The graphics are nothing spectacular to display, as the game purposely uses retro-styling to tel the story of Fez. It is a nice change of pace, and has a very Scott Pilgrim-like feel. The music is wonderfully crafted, and probably necessary, as the smooth tones of Fez seem to serenade you throughout what can be a very frustrating experience. What is the most surprising about this game, however, is the execution. It may have taken a while to finally see its release, and it may even be a bit buggy some of the time, but the way Fez has you interact with the world, constantly shifting your screen around in order to discover and experience new things is masterfully crafted. The puzzles, no matter how difficult they seem, work perfectly with the level design. The game is a gem, and everyone should really try and experience the wonder of Fez.

Pros:

Wonderfully designed levels
Great musical score
Challenging puzzles
Lots of replay value
Reminiscent graphics

Cons:

A bit buggy
Will make you feel stupid

Taking everything into consideration, Fez is a great game, and it was definitely worth its long awaited release. Phil Fish and the rest of the team at Polytron have really created something special here, and that is why we give Fez a final score of:

Graphics 70		Audio 92		Gameplay 97
Creativity 95		Execution 87		Offset 85

8.8

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Indie Game of the Week: I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 242012

This week for Gaming Irresponsibly’s Indie Game of the Week, we are going to take a trip in the ‘wayback’ machine a couple of years to 2009. Back in ’09, Ska Studios’ James Silva developed an indie smash hit that received tons of praise, I Made a Game With Zombies In It (or as the official title puts it, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1). The game debuted on Xbox Live’s Indie Game market and featured a hilarious soundtrack, smooth gameplay, and you guessed it, zombies! Ska Studious also developed hit arcade games such as The Dishwasher series, which were met with critic acclaim. The game won a slew of awards in 2009, and after playing through it one time, it is easy to see why. The experience of playing I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1 is like nothing you will ever find on the Xbox Live Indie Game Market and you can get if for a buck.

The game mechanics are simple: one stuck moves your character directionally while the other stick fires the weapon you currently have equipped. Lots of games use this technique, but you would be hard pressed to find one as entertaining. As you make your way through hordes of zombies, green blobs and even some diamond shaped foes, you are treated to a musical composition that is nothing short of glorious. The beat and tempo shifts between periods of lighter and heavier mob waves and the lyrics during the chorus are hysterical. Tons of power-ups litter the screen as you grab speed boosts, protective shields and more health. There is also a vast array of weapon variants such as flamethrowers, machine guns, rocket launchers and more. The game also features a local multiplayer mode that features up to four players on one console. For those players that love high scores and proving your worth in the world, there is also a leader board available so you can gloat to your friends just how much better you are than them at killing waves of oncoming zombies.

As far as indie games go, James Silva makes some of the best around. Ska Studios develops some top notch products that fans of gaming can (and should) appreciate. The wonderful mix of an entertaining soundtrack, beautiful creativity and the always welcome zombie horde have pushed this game into a must play. The only downfall of this indie gem is that there isn’t more of it to go around. An online multiplayer would have been nice, and the game could benefit for more modes, and customization options. The game is available in the Xbox Live Indie Game marketplace and you can score it right now for a measly 80 Microsoft Points (or about $1.00). It is definitely a must buy for fans of zombie games or those that love indie titles. You can’t go wrong with I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1, the game is just too much fun for such a small price. This quite possibly has to be the best bang for your buck when it comes to gaming experience and price. You most certainly will get your moneys worth ten fold. This is why I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1 Is Gaming Irresponsibly’s Indie Game of the Week.

Bargain Bin: Dawn of the ‘Dead Rising’

Posted by rhillis No Responses »

Apr 182012

This week, in the Bargain Bin, we are going to take a walk down Memory Lane, which just so happens to lead to the Willamette Mall, located in Willamette, Colorado. What is the Willamette mall, and why is it important you ask? If you didn’t already know by the title of this article, you might need to do some self-reflecting, but anyways it’s the setting for Dead Rising sillies! Dead Rising was a surprising smash hit released by Capcom in August of 2006. The game stars freelance photojournalist Frank West, as he ventures to this fictional mall in rural Colorado in search of a ground breaking story. Before we continue, you must know that although this is a game that features zombies and a mall, it is in no way a depiction of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. I know this for a fact because it says so right on the box.

The Story

You begin your journey to Willamette Mall via a small helicopter flying over a rural city in Colorado. Frank and the pilot exchange a few sentences about why he is there, and you discover that Frank has been tipped off that something big is about to happen in Willamette. As you cruise above the small town, you will notice that the military has blocked off all access to Willamette. Frank then requests a closer look, and you are taken into the city. As you fly closer to the city, you begin taking aerial photographs of the happenings in town. You take notice of the violent nature of some of the people in town, and quickly realize that something has gone terribly wrong here. You are then taken to the roof of the local mall, where you will discover what has happened to the people of Willamette. You descend from the roof of the mall, into the main entrance lobby of the mall. You are greeted by a few characters that will soon meet an unfortunate fate. One of these characters is an hysterical elderly woman, who will stop at nothing to find her little lost poodle. Stop at nothing means, “I am going to open these barricaded doors that are holding off hoards of zombies, so that I can save my stupid dog, no matter the cost humanity will suffer because of it.” Yep, that is how zombies get into the mall, a dumb, old lady. The story here is nothing earth shattering, but the secrecy, strange people and government cover-ups should keep you interested between massive zombie killings.

The Gameplay

The staple of Dead Rising isn’t a great combat system, smooth controls or a great narrative. What makes Dead Rising rise above most zombie games, (see what I did there), is that you can use virtually anything in the mall as a weapon to kill zombies. That is right, almost anything. See that potted plant? Weapon. What about all those umbrellas that cascade over the tables in the food court? Weapons. Hey, are those a sack of precious jewels from the local jewelry store? Weapons. Yes, the amount of items used to kill zombies in Dead Rising is massive and creative, but it is not the only thing the game offers in terms of gameplay. As you make your way through the zombie infested mall, you will begin with one mode. This mode is called 72 Hour Mode, which is the main story mode that leaves you inside the mall for 72 hours, surprising, I know. During this 72 hour period, you can do whatever the hell you want. Save people, do the main missions, kill zombies or run around all willy nilly. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you make it back to the roof, 72 hours after you landed so that the helicopter that dropped you off can pick you back up again. This isn’t 72 hours in real time, but in simulated game time, so don’t worry about having to sink 72 hours to finish the game if you don’t want to.

While you can kill massive amounts of zombies in Dead Rising, you can also take interesting photographs (Frank is a photojournalist you know). These pictures, just like killing zombies, will net you PP, which are points needed to level up. You can gain PP by taking great pictures, killing zombies in interesting ways, completing missions, saving survivors or upping your total kill count. As you level up, you are treated to more health nodes, more inventory slots and even special moves Frank can execute in order to destroy more zombies. At first, the controls will seem a bit wonky, especially the aiming of the camera and guns, but they are very quick to adjust too. The mechanics of the combat leave something to be desired, but the auto lock on feature when you flick your stick towards the zombie you want to attack is usually spot on. The inventory is easy to access, just by pushing the left or right bumpers in the direction you want to sift through, you can highlight whatever weapon you want quickly and easily. The game is certainly not the sharpest controlled game, but it could very easily be a lot worse.

The Price

Here is the best part of the game, the cost. Right now, the cheapest place to buy the game is at GameStop, used. There is will cost you about $4.99, and if you are a pro member at GameStop, you will get ten percent off the purchase of a used game, making your grand total around $4.50. You can also find a used copy of the game at comparable prices over at Amazon.com. If used isn’t somewhere you want to go, amazon.com, as well as, newegg.com have new copies of the game for sale, both hovering around the $10.00 range. If you have never experienced Dead Rising and you own an Xbox 360, five dollars is more than worth the cost of this game.

GameStop: $4.99 Used Pro Member 10 percent off, $4.50
Amazon Between $3.50-$6.00 Used. Around $10.00 New
New Egg Around $10.00

The Verdict

Listen, this was a great game for $60.00 back in the day. With the massive increase in Xbox 360 hardware sales since 2006, there are many Xbox 360 owners who may have never played this game, especially since most console selling games had not been released yet (Gears of War, BioShock, Halo 3). So to be able to experience this game for a measly $5-$10 dollars is such a steal. The gameplay is fun and innovative, the story is decent and will hold your attention and it has fucking zombies in it, that is reason enough to buy the game. There will be times when you are surrounded by hordes of the dead, and you will begin to feel anxiety set in. These are moments that cannot be passed up, especially if they are as cheap as a used copy of DEad Rising. So, if you haven’t played this game, love zombies or are just looking for something new to play, Dead Rising is certainly worth your time and money.

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