After a week of postmortem at the LA Convention Center for E3, we here at LVLONE think its time to let you guys in on how we felt on everything related. Our Podcast was so long that we’ve divided it into three sections. We talk press conferences first then get into the real nitty gritty.
Topics of Discussion
The big three press conferences
Our brutal opinions and impressions of Microsoft Kinect and Sony’s Move
While in the last month or so we’ve had our fill of racing game releases, it would seem game devs are not done yet. One game to truly stand out of the racers we got our hands on at E3, MotorStorm Apocalypse would have to be one of them. Now in the form of 3D we took it for a test drive to see what it was all about.
Off the bat 3D gave the game a great sense of speed and depth’d you just can’t find without it. This is not to say that MotorStorm Apocalypse isn’t going to hold its own without it. Particles and objects seem to come at you in 3D like nothing we’ve seen before, this also improves your driving slightly. The game had a great draw distance and good framerate with the amount of chaos that was happening on screen. We did notice this somewhat graininess we experienced in the very beginning of the game which reminded me of PS2 graphics but it quickly cleared up.
The game will support sixteen player online multiplayer, four player split-screen, vehicle customization which you can then share with the community site, ranking system, matchmaking and a game mode created. We heard the game mode creator will let you design game rules, winning conditions and will even let you play online with them. If this is what’s in store for the future of racers then we’re on board for this one. Supporting multiplayer and a new way to play MotorStorm Apocalypse looks to be shaping up as the next hit in the series. The game was made for 3D and it shows, we’ll be sure to give you more info on the game as it comes in.
BlazBlue fans rejoice! The second rendition of Blazblue is set to hit the US shores in a little over a month for both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on July 27th. Aksys has already announced some DLC goodies to add onto the game, such as Mokoto as a extra playable character, a strategy guide in the Tutorial Mode, and a Challenge Mode, which with high-level combos. Finally, there will be additional trophies and achievements unique for the DLC.
Sony already has a very large library of media but talks have been reported by Bloomberg that Sony Corp and Hulu LLC are getting close to an agreement to bring Hulu to the Playstation 3 console. Sony’s E3 announcement of premium content for the Playstation 3 dubbed Playstation Plus, has had everybody wondering what good things could possibly come from paid content. Hulu may possibly be one of the first benefits of the premium content.
Just keep in mind all of this is still in talks and may not even come to fruition, but if Hulu and Sony do come to an agreement we should hear about it within the coming weeks.
Leading video games developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced Time CrisisTM: Razing Storm exclusively for the PlayStation 3. As the latest entry in the series, Time Crisis: Razing Storm delivers the most intuitive point-and-shoot experience ever as players have the option to use the revolutionary PlayStation Move motion controller or Guncon 3 for exceptional precision. Time Crisis: Razing Storm will also introduce a new multiplayer online battle mode, destructible environments, and engaging combat when the game is released throughout North America this fall.
Civil unrest and terrorism plagues the world as an influential and dangerous international military organization decides to declare war against the United States. The government deploys an elite task force to South America for the purpose of capturing the mastermind behind this conflict. The future of the free world depends on these special operatives. Can they stop this warlord before it is too late?
Improving upon the arcade hit, Time Crisis: Razing Storm will feature extensive gameplay modes that combine the series’ traditional shooting action with fully destructible environments. Arcade Mode will provide the perfect coin-op adaptation as players experience the adrenaline rush of defeating a chaotic onslaught of enemies. Much like the arcade experience, a friend can drop in and out at any time during the action. In Story Mode, players are able to freely move about the stages as a member of the elite Delta Team. With an arsenal of weapons at their disposal, players can navigate through different areas and silence anyone or anything that stands in their path. They can also strategically take cover behind objects, as well as lock onto enemies with the new Auto Look function. New to the series, a multiplayer Online Battle Mode will allow up to eight players from around the world to participate in cooperative and competitive fun. For a change in pace offline, Sentry Mode offers up to four players the opportunity to stop prisoners from escaping during a penitentiary riot that unfolds in the beginning of the main story.
Time Crisis: Razing Storm will also include two additional games: Deadstorm Pirates and Time Crisis 4 (Arcade Ver.) Just released in the arcades, Deadstorm Pirates allows players to set sail and step into the shoes of a young swashbuckler. Go forth on single or two player co-op arcade adventures while shooting down hordes of adversaries and extraordinary monsters. Deadstorm Pirates’ intuitive gameplay mechanics will have players manning the helm, firing guns and cannons, as they travel across the open seas in search for Poseidon’s Breath. With two players in tow, teamwork will be key to unleash an ever powerful combination shot. Revisit the dynamic partnership of Giorgio Bruno and Evan Bernard as they prevent a biological weapon from falling into the wrong hands in the arcade version of Time Crisis 4. Based on the 2007 hit, Time Crisis 4 features fast-paced action that allows players to take cover from a barrage of bullets, lead out, and then engage their enemies in either single or split-screen multiplayer modes. An online ranking system will be available in both Deadstorm Pirates and Time Crisis 4, so players can see how their performance stacks up against the world. Both games will also be compatible with the PlayStation Move motion controller and Guncon 3.
Konami unveiled Silent Hill 8, the eighth installment of the Silent Hill franchise. Scheduled to launch in 2011 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Staying true to the franchise’s original roots, the game returns with another third person horror experience, and an all new thought provoking storyline. Players will once again find themselves face to face with their deepest sins and fears in the strange world of Silent Hill.
The survival horror experience begins after a prison transport vehicle careens off the road, leaving lone inmate Murphy Pendleton stranded in Silent Hill. Gamers will encounter mind-bending puzzles, as well as horrific creatures and other world terrors using everyday objects from wooden chairs to glass bottles to fend off their enemies. The natural response, fight or flight is left to the player as they unravel a dark, thought-provoking storyline which will appeal to fans of the early, classic Silent Hill series, as well as anyone who enjoys a deep, psychological horror experience. In addition to the main storyline, players will also be presented with variable side quests along the way that can change depending on their play style, revealing unknown evils within the town.
Square Enix is sure bringing their love to the handheld market, at this years E3 more then one game was shown supporting the DS and now another is coming to the iPhone. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions will be making its way to the iPhone. Not much is known from this once PSP game but we do know that it’ll be hitting the App Store on September 15 2010 so stay tuned.
In the world of video games, a little star power always helps. rap artist, actor and video game aficionado Ice-T will voice the role of Griffin, a new character in Gears of War 3, releasing only on Xbox 360 in April 2011. Ice-T joins the cast with fellow hip-hop sensation Drake, bringing their voices and personalities to new characters in the Gears of War universe. Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios are apparently pushing that celebrity angle for “Gears of War 3,” as they’ve tapped Drake, the Grammy-nominated artist behind the current hit “Find Your Love,” to play one of the game’s main characters, Jace Stratton.
Jace Stratton only appeared briefly in “Gears of War 2,” and in that game the character was voiced by Nolan North. But the character has played a much more prominent role in the “Gears of War” comic book series. Stratton is one of the four playable characters in “Gears of War 3,” so Drake will get plenty of screen time when it comes out in 2011.
Ah when you thought there couldn’t be anymore music peripheral centric games, here comes another one before you can bat an eyelid. Before you toss this aside as just another music game however, I want all of you to pay close attention because their’s a whole lot new with this one. Rock Band 3 is really trying to raise the bar, and some.
This time around Harmonix is bringing a crazy amount features to the mix, most of which can be seen right from the main menu. There’s drop in and out of online play so when a friend plays with you it won’t drop the game like Rock Band 2 did. An assorting system is in place when selecting a song, this will allow players to make a bunch of custom search’s whether a short song, long song, song from Lego Rock Band, it’s all here. Players can also make and share set lists to make their ultimate playlists.
What’s more fun then that right? Well there’s more. Rock Band 3 will now be introducing a mini keyboard and before anyone out there starts going “that doesn’t sound like fun”, let us tell you now that it is! We had a chance to demo the keyboard and it works very well. It places the long white keys and short black keys as it would the guitar and drum notes in Rock Band. Only difference now is when played on anything above easy, the game alerts you to shift your fingers over for the next set of keys to hit. Sounds complicated we know but once you get the hang of it, it works great.
Not only have they done that but with the help of third party peripheral manufacturer Madcatz, they are introducing real guitars to the series! With a mini adapter from Madcatz, gamers can now plug in the Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar controller that literally has a hundred buttons on it. You can also use the mini adapter to plug in that real guitar you have lying around, cause we all do … Instead of buttons coming down on screen, it is replaced by numbers and sections of which your fingers should be on the guitar, these types of notes should become familiar over time.
Rock Band 3 is also introducing Pro mode, which will give players that really want an expert level of a challenge. This will provide pint point accuracy and could pretty much help you learn how to play a real instrument with real notes being displayed. If your having a huge party or get together Rock Band has you covered this time as well, with the addition of All instruments Mode allowing up to seven players to get in on the action.
This game is shaping up to be the ultimate experience not only for music games but the bridge between actual instrument playing. Time will only tell whether the learning curve for playing a real guitar will be as easy as it looks. We’ll bring you more hands on and info in the coming months but for now Rock Band 3 will be releasing late 2010 for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.
Ubisoft released Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands to coincide with the movie release as a interquel in the series. Although many people are use to these types of games not turning out to well, this game has familiar formula that works well for some, but not all. Does the series still live up to the name or does it need a new defining game?
This time the Prince starts off by helping his brother Malik, fight off an invasion. Armies of soldiers invade the kingdom and they are forced to retreat. As the fight proceeds, things don’t go as planned. Then out comes a Dijnn named Razia, helps guide the Prince in this quest to save the world. Â
Now everyone is familiar with Prince of Persia and if you don’t know the pattern, here it is: group fight, jumping through obstacles, another fight, another set of obstacles, finally the boss battle, and repeat. Your going to want to remember that as you play this game. Not to take anything away from the game because it does present a level of style which is different then others but you get the logistics pretty early on.
The gameplay in this platform game is pretty fluid due to acrobatic play. There are challenging puzzles, nice scenery and environments look great. There is really good lighting and proper use of colors. Hallways with traps, scaling deformed walls and many battles with enemies. The sword fighting has been fine tuned and simplified since the previous games, but the prince has some nice special attacks that come along with his upgrades. As you get closer to the end of the game the combative abilities are better and more useful. The in-game camera helps to show you where your next leap should be.
The Prince gains the ability to rewind time to save you from many, many traps, freezing water to hold and swing on, temporary invincibility and jumping a further length using enemies. To incorporate for this style of play, all of the abilities take some getting used to because you are no longer just stopping time, you are freezing it to use elements within the game. With the increase in difficulty of the game you must combine the use of the powers to survive. There is a leveling system that takes quite a while to build, but it aids your progression in the game. Â Boss battles can be pretty easy and are defeated pretty straight forward.
The story is not too dramatic, can get predictable and is along the lines of a usual Prince of Persia game. Progressing through the game introduces new abilities, challenges and puzzle solving making it enjoyable none the less. As an action-adventure game, it has a decent single player experience with plenty of achievements and different ways to go about particular scenarios. If you haven’t played any of the Prince of Persia games in the series, this ones pretty easy to pick up and play. Veterans will have a short run but none the less won’t want to pass it up.
