Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.
Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/rss/eurogamer_frontpage_feed.rss
games pc games video games xbox games arcade games best xbox games
Monday, November 14, 2011
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean First Look Preview -- Captain Jack Sparrow Gets Bricky With It
What happens when Pirates of the Caribbean meets LEGO? Well, besides LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game.�You get swashbuckling blocks and a lot of attention to detail. But what does the search for a plastic Black Pearl look like? Apparently, not like plain old plastic bricks. But don't take my word for it. Check out what Nikole Zivalich had to say when she checked the game out at GDC.�
"At first glance, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean looks like a LEGO game; it's colorful, it's bouncy, and everything is made of LEGOS. But after my glance turned into a stare, I noticed the jungle I was in had textures, leaves, vines, none of which were made of LEGOS. What surprised me wasn't simply the detailed landscape, it was how detailed it was. Another level I was shown took place on a pirate ship, but rather than being on a shiny, plastic Black Pearl, I was on a rotted wood, lines in the planks, realistic looking pirate ship."
Find out even more in our LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game First Look Preview.
free pc games history of video games new video games online games pc game reviews pc games download pc games list pc games strategy top 10 pc games top xbox games
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Before the GameCube Arrived
We're only a week away from November 18 now, the day that will mark the 10-year anniversary of Nintendo's GameCube. The Big N's fourth home console after the NES, SNES and N64, the Cube made it out to market at a time when Nintendo's fans were in a similar situation to where we finds ourselves today.
The circumstance we're experiencing now, at the end of the Wii's life cycle and looking forward to the release of the Wii U, is a lot like what the fan situation felt like 10 years ago. We first started drawing those parallels earlier this week with our article The Final Days of the N64, where we looked back on the Nintendo 64's final successful Christmas season, its last wave of notable software and the failure of what would've been that console's swan song, Conker's Bad Fur Day.
We left off our story in Spring of 2001, when there was still another half a year to pass before the Cube would finally go on sale in November. So what happened next? How did Nintendo's fans deal with zero new first-party releases for the home console for six months straight? Read on as we continue the tale, and continue drawing parallels to today's events. These were the days before the GameCube arrived.
THEN: The N64's Mario Party 3 went on sale on May 7, 2001. When it did, it became the last first-party console title Nintendo would ship in America until November 18, when the day one launch software for the GameCube arrived. So what did the company sell to its customers in the six months in-between? A brand-new portable, of course!
The Big N's console business went almost entirely dark while the spotlight turned to the launch of the Game Boy Advance. The GBA was the long-awaited successor to the aged original Game Boy and transitional Game Boy Color handhelds, a true 16-bit-esque upgrade to the 8-bit style that Nintendo had been pushing in the portable space for over a decade.
The Game Boy Advance's arrival on store shelves was an important precursor to the GameCube's launch, too, because Nintendo had plans to bridge the gap between its portable and home console businesses. A wave of "connectivity" software was being prepped behind the scenes, and anyone investing in a GBA unit in the summer of 2001 was also buying an early GameCube controller, in a way. Later titles like Pac-Man Vs., The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles would all make use of the handheld's screen as a secondary display for what the Cube was projecting onto the TV.
That was a little bit beyond 2001, though, and probably the more prominent memory for fans who experienced the GBA launch were the problems that plagued it. Nintendo's software selection was criticized when the day one release Super Mario Advance ended up being nothing more than a slightly tweaked port of the old Super Mario Bros. 2.
And gamers were not at all pleased with the default screen in the first wave of GBAs. It had no lighting solution built-in and so was frustratingly difficult to see without tons of external lighting set at just the right angle. Aftermarket lighting kits did big business as Nintendo dealt with consumer complaints, and ultimately the remodeled Game Boy Advance SP was launched in early 2003 to officially address the issue.
NOW: Any of that sound familiar? It should, since the events here in 2011 have played out very similarly to those of 2001. Only this time the portable taking precedence has been Nintendo's 3DS.
Company president Satoru Iwata has recently gone on record to admit that the resources dedicated to shifting portable development from the DS to the 3DS has had the side effect of sidelining work on new Wii games, resulting in the current gap in the release schedule similar to what the months preceding the GameCube saw - they seemed to be saying, "If you're a Nintendo console gamer, sorry. But wouldn't you like this nice, new portable in the meanwhile?"
The 3DS has been a mirror image of the GBA's other issues, too. Its screen has been criticized for its own shortcomings, along with the rest of its hardware design - leading many to predict that a redesigned "3DS SP" will be coming along soon. That prediction has only grown in strength as the system heads toward the end of this year, with the release of the Circle Pad Pro acting much like the aftermarket lighting kits sought to alter original GBAs.
The 3DS launch lineup was torn a new one by disappointed fans across the industry and Internet, and the outcry has been much more intense than it was with any previous portable. Nintendo has apologized for this too, and thankfully the final months of this year leading up to the Christmas season have addressed that issue well (just as the arrival of great original titles like Advance Wars and Golden Sun helped offset early concerns about the GBA library being nothing but SNES ports.)
And, just as much as the promise of the Game Boy Advance wouldn't be realized until the GameCube came along, Nintendo once again seems to be in the position of lingering portable potential right now. Connectivity between the 3DS and upcoming Wii U won't be as much of a focus as what the Big N was working on 10 years ago, but the Wii U's own screen-equipped new controller is absolutely an echo of that decade-old idea - and hopefully now, having seen the solid design of Nintendo's multi-screen games during the GameCube's life cycle, we can be a bit more encouraged and patient in this current console transition waiting period.
Source: http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ignfeeds/all/~3/fyMLpvPjpqw/1212291p1.html
video games xbox games arcade games best xbox games computer games download xbox games free pc games history of video games new video games online games
Best Buy Black Friday ad leaks, deals include Assassin?s Creed Revelations for $35
You may have missed this, but basically every single game that matters is launching this month. And we?ve given out so many glowing reviews, we don?t blame you for wanting to jump in a midnight launch line immediately. But wait! You?re obviously forgetting the magical 24-hour period known as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when everything is on sale and people are trampled for a $99 HD TV. Today Best Buy?s Black Friday ad has leaked weeks ahead of time and includes some crazy deals that might cause you to delay some purchases.
As posted on a Black Friday deals site Best Buy has some crazy sales for the official start of the holiday shopping season. Chief among the game deals are major recent releases going for $30, including Arkham City, Rage, Battlefield 3, and Uncharted 3. What?s an even bigger shocker is that games that come out next week are on the sales list, including Need for Speed The Run and Assassin?s Creed Revelations going for $30 and $35 respectively. So maybe remember that when you?re about to pay $60 next week for those titles. We also spotted special 3DS bundles that pack in Super Mario 3D Land and Ocarina 3D for just $10 over the retail price of the handheld by itself.
Now this story isn?t meant to be an ad for Best Buy, as these types of deals will probably pop up in all the usual spots like Wal-Mart, Toys ?R Us and Target too. And if you?d rather not line up at 3 AM after Thanksgiving, you should find similar deals on Amazon too, as history has shown the online retail usually does its best to match those low prices. We?ll keep you posted on any other crazy as they pop up.
used xbox games video game reviews video games cheats video games online video games stores xbox 360 games xbox game list xbox games reviews games pc games
?Super Mario 3D Land? Review
Nintendo 3DS owners having been begging for a 3D Mario title since the handheld first launched back in March of this year, and Nintendo has finally answered their prayers in the form of�Super Mario 3D Land. Nintendo is aiming to end the less than stellar drought that has been plaguing the portable system since launch, and Super Mario 3D Land will more than quench the thirst of handheld enthusiasts.
There are a few faults that may frustrate players but, at the end of the day, this game is the reason why people bought their 3DS, and it should be owned by everyone with the portable.
Super Mario 3D Land throws the all-to-familiar plumber into a new environment that is fine tuned to accommodate the Nintendo 3DS? glasses-less 3D abilities. The graphics in this game are easily the best found on the 3DS to date, and fans won?t be disappointed by the use of 3D either. Unlike many other games, 3D actually serves a purpose and is essential for certain areas in the world. The game actually goes out of its way to troll players who are playing through the game with the 3D turned off, and having it on makes every leap from platform to platform much easier. Super Mario 3D Land is the first game on this handheld that uses the third dimension in a way that it doesn?t feel like a gimmick, and that?s a massive accomplishment.
There are initially eight worlds that Mario is tasked with going through to, once again, rescue Princess Peach. There are plenty of familiar faces, both friend and foe, and more importantly one returning power-up in particular that newcomers and loyalists will enjoy. Mario faithfuls will also be delighted when they learn that the goal pole has been returned to its rightful place at the end of each level ? effectively replacing the star at the end ? as well as the infamous Airship levels that were notorious for their challenging difficulty. The Mushroom Kingdom feels more familiar in Super Mario 3D Land then it ever has before, and that?s in large part because of the nods to the series? past.
Power-ups have always been an important part of Mario games, and Super Mario 3D Land is no exception. The classic Tanooki suit makes its triumphant return to the gaming scene with a few alterations. The suit has been modified ? this time allowing players to briefly hover and slow their decent after a jump and that serves a huge purpose when trying to navigate different platforms. Other power-ups include the propeller box, Boomerang Plant, and Fire Flower, and each serves a purpose that can be especially helpful ? and occasionally crucial ? in completing certain obstacles. The power-ups are great and all, but there isn?t much variety, and after a while the powers they bestow upon Mario can become a little stale.
The one thing that is instantly noticeable after playing through a few worlds is that the levels are extremely short, and can actually be completed within four or five minutes. These aren?t massive worlds like those found in past games like Mario Galaxy, but instead are nice little bite-sized pieces that are perfect for anyone who just wants to pick up and play some Mario. It?s easy to think that smaller worlds are a bad thing, but Nintendo has designed each of the worlds, and the levels that fill them, to be extremely fun and rewarding. Don?t worry, this title provides gamers with countless hours of content, but we?ll get into that in a bit.
Super Mario 3D Land will lure players into a false sense of confidence by making a majority of the first levels easy to complete and traverse through, and then it slowly (but surely) begins to turn up the proverbial heat. Some of the later levels will have players loudly cursing at their handheld in an attempt to scare it into submission after several deaths. If you reach a point where you?re not able to complete a certain level then the game will grant you power-ups to help get frustrated players over some difficult humps. Five deaths will grant players a Tanooki suit that will make them completely immune to enemy attacks, and if they still can?t manage to get the job done then after 10 deaths players will receive the fabled P-Wing and it will teleport them to the end of the level. These special power-ups are completely optional however, so those who are enjoying the challenge don?t have to use them.
The best part of Super Mario 3D Land isn?t in the first eight worlds, as many will likely assume. The real challenge begins after completing World 8 and defeating Bowser for, what many believe to be, the final time. I was a little disappointed after beating Bowser because I thought I had completed the game in a short amount of time, but after the credits rolled I learned just how mistaken I actually was. Another eight worlds immediately unlocked, and I was given access to a modified Tanooki suit with a bandana (which allowed Mario to change to stone) and after a short while I also earned the ability to play as Luigi.
Each of the levels that appear after completion of the initial game take place in previous levels, but occasionally players are tasked with different challenges. There?s a shadow race where Mario will have to race against his evil doppleganger Shadow Mario, and a ?Time Challenge? mode where players will have to scurry across a level?s terrain in search of more clocks to increase what little time they often have left. When a level pops up that isn?t a time challenge or shadow race then it will be a redesigned area for Mario to jump around ? one that players have yet to experience.
Super Mario 3D Land is one of those pickup-and-play games that fans of the series and newcomers alike won?t be able to put down. There is a ton of content that will keep players preoccupied for hours on end, thanks to the difficulty of later levels and compulsive need to collect all of the star badges that are hidden within each level. The game isn?t without flaws though, as making certain jumps can be a little difficult at times when it?s hard to judge the depth on some platforms, and the lack of additional power-ups is also noticeable. However, our mustachio?d friend is in some of the finest form ever on the Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario 3D Land is a must-own game for Nintendo fans.
Follow me on Twitter�@TheRileyLittle
Super Mario 3D Land is out now for the Nintendo 3DS.
�
�
Our Rating:
4 out of 5
Source: http://gamerant.com/super-mario-3d-land-reviews-riley-115931/
video games online video games stores xbox 360 games xbox game list xbox games reviews games pc games video games xbox games arcade games
Catherine Brings Sexy Puzzle Gaming To US This Summer
Atlus has announced that the formerly Japanese-only sexy action-adventure puzzle game Catherine is coming to the US this summer from the director of Persona 3 and Persona 4, Katsura Hashino. We've mentioned Catherine before and it's described by Atlus as "an unprecedented exploration of the pleasures and horrors of love." The game follows the story of Vincent, a young man who is plunged into a love triangle between his girlfriend Katherine and his titular one-night-stand Catherine.
The game will feature multiple endings as well as co-op multiplayer modes called 'Escape With or From a Friend'. Catherine is being released for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 consoles.
used xbox games video game reviews video games cheats video games online video games stores xbox 360 games xbox game list xbox games reviews games pc games
Rayman Origins Screenshots Gallery
Welcome to our Rayman Origins Screenshots Gallery!
Rayman Origins is an upcoming platform game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, and PC (iOS) platforms.
The game is due to be released on November 15th (NA), November 24th (AU) and November 25th 2011 (EU) for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. It will also be released for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita at a later date.
The story follows Rayman, his friend Globox and two teensies as they fight Darktoons and other evil creatures that have infected the Glade of Dreams.
The latest screencaps and artworks from the game will be posted on this page. Many of these awesome images make great desktop wallpapers too.
We will add to this gallery as soon as we find new screenshots and share it with you!
xbox game list xbox games reviews games pc games video games xbox games arcade games best xbox games computer games download xbox games
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)