After Microsoft brought the games to E3 earlier today, Sony had a tall order ahead of them during their press event. And though it took them a while to get going…get going they did, as the last half hour of their two-hour event might have stolen the show.
I just got done watching Microsoft’s E3 Press Event. After revealing the console a few weeks back but showing no games, Microsoft promised that E3 would be all about showing the games for their new console, including a slew of exclusive titles. They certainly delivered.
The game that was to be known as True Crime: Hong Kong but was unceremoniously cancelled by then publisher Activision, is now reborn as Sleeping Dogs. The game, developed by United Front Games and published now by Square Enix, stars Wei Shen, an undercover cop that is sent to infiltrate the Triads. The plot of Sleeping Dogs plays out like and undercover cop story would. You go in with one set of ideals and throughout the story you bond with the criminals that you are meant to bring in. Loyalty and morality are then called into question. Its nothing any fan of gangster movies hasn’t seen before but it is entertaining enough to keep you playing.
Tequila Works has just released its first game, and its Deadlight for Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA). For an initial release Deadlight is definitely something special. With its 2D/3D side scrolling gameplay style, Deadlight joins the likes of Limbo and Shadow Complex as the next big thing on XBLA. Deadlight breaks new ground as yet another Zombie survival horror game. With a well written and engaging story you not only want to play this game more and more, you almost feel obligated.
Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Spec Ops: The Line is a third person military themed shooter whose story and character development outweigh its very generic gameplay. A massive sand storm has ravaged Dubai and U.S. Army Colonel John Konrad and his battalion volunteered to aid in the evacuation. The three man Delta Squad, lead by Captain Martin Walker, are sent to Dubai to investigate after they receive a distress signal from Konrad. The story in Spec Ops starts slowly focusing on developing the three members of Delta and setting up the plot. Then things start to spiral out of control as you watch these characters deal with the horrors of war and the consequences of their actions. This focus on a mature, grown up story is a breath of fresh air for this type of game. There is no global threat that only one super soldier can resolve, nor is there a clear binary moral dilemma. There are only difficult decisions that you are forced to make while trying to maintain your humanity.
With a new Amazing Spider-Man movie we get a new Amazing Spider-Man game. Now this automatically sounds like a terrible idea because movie tie in games NEVER work but there is always an exception to the rule. While I can’t really call this a great game it does what games are supposed to do above all else and that’s being fun to play.
The Amazing Spider-Man picks up where the movie leaves off so if you plan on seeing the movie I would do that first before diving into the game. When the game starts you are treated to a spoilerific lengthy cut scene preparing you for the adventure ahead. Bad Things happen and it’s up to Spider-Man to fix it. The Story ends up being good but eventually forgettable.
The developers at thatgamecompany are known for titles that emphasize emotional resonance over game mechanics. This philosophy has never been more evident than with their latest title, Journey.
The game’s premise is simple. You are a lone figure in a desert. There is a mountain on the horizon and on pure instinct you set off toward it. Along your trek you’ll notice things that encourage you to explore this beautiful world. Gathering bits of cloth similar to the scarf your traveler wears allow you to effortlessly glide with the press of a button while retrieving small glowing collectables allows you to stay in the air longer while gliding.
I don’t have too much experience with MMOs. There was one that I got into and played for about three years (and its not the one you think it is) and I had a good time with it. But the other one (the one you are thinking of) I just couldn’t get into for some reason. But when Star Wars: The Old Republic went live I couldn’t help but to try it.
Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum and its awesome. The story takes place a couple of months after the events of Arkham Asylum. The former warden-turned-mayor Quincy Sharp has sectioned off one area of Gotham City and placed all criminal and super criminals there. For reasons to be explained in game, Batman finds himself inside Arkham City caught between a super criminal turf war and Dr. Hugo Strange, the proprietor of Arkham City and a man who knows Batman’s true identity. It’s a very interesting story that will keep you hooked throughout the 10-20 hour experience.
Game play wise, Arkham City will be instantly familiar to those who have played Arkham Asylum. Combat wise Arkham City uses a simple to learn and fun to master. The face buttons are used to strike, counter, dodge, and stun while the shoulder buttons act as modifiers for Batman’s gadgets. Shooting your Bat claw at thugs and delivering a two-hit close line is something that should be in every game. Once you master the combat you’ll be pulling off 50-hit combos with ease. You’ll enter a room with 20 or so enemies and all you’ll wonder how many of those wonderful toys you can incorporate into a single combo. In addition to straight combat, Batman can also stalk his enemies and take them down silently. In some ways, this is a preferred option as enemies with guns are quickly introduced and as awesome as Batman is, he’s no match for a hail of bullets.
