New Games |
- Watch The Destructoid Show on Virgin America NOW!
- New screens reveal a bit of XCOM: Enemy Unknown gameplay
- Mobile Steam app now ready for the rest of us
- King of Fighters XIII gets a patch and a price reduction
- Kingdoms of Amalur gets special GameStop midnight release
- Humble Bundle comes to Android (plus PC, Mac, and Linux)
- Some German politicians want their own version of SOPA
- Xbox Live adds Crackle and CinemaNow video apps
- Live show: Mash Tactics lives forever with NeverDead
- Vita downloads confirmed cheaper than cartridges
- Denpa Ningen, electro-magnetic men are invading Japan
- Dragon's Dogma has been delayed two months
- Strange: Valve games available on GameStop Impulse
- Unboxing The Darkness II with a badass Darkling statue
- Team Fortress 2sdays: You were killed by...
- Preview: Rhythm Heaven Fever induces grooving
- Ace Attorney film director planning worldwide release
- Demo Jimpressions: Syndicate
- Releases of the Week: SoulCalibur V, FFXIII-2, and more
| Watch The Destructoid Show on Virgin America NOW! Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST I can't believe I haven't posted about this yet, but if you happened to have flown Virgin America recently then perhaps you noticed our very own Destructoid Show hiding out in their "Best of the Web" category. We are indeed featured there, alongside four other Revision3 shows. If you plan on traveling Virgin soon, I recommend enjoying an episode of our program the same way I do - with a tall gin and tonicjuice, looking over at the person next to you and laughing loudly at your own jokes, waiting until they look over and eventually ask for your autograph. |
| New screens reveal a bit of XCOM: Enemy Unknown gameplay Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:30 PM PST February's cover title for Game Informer was the exclusive announcement of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. No, this is not related to the first-person shooter reboot of XCOM that is also in the works, but is instead a separate reboot that will be a return to the classic strategy gameplay from the original games. Game Informer also recently put up a sneak peek of Enemy Uknown's gameplay with plenty of screenshots to get you excited. It looks like you'll be taking control of a small squad of soldiers as you defend or attack various areas from alien attack. The game looks pretty incredible from the small glimpse, so definitely go check that out. Advanced Tactics: Exploring XCOM's Combat, Part 1 and Part 2 [Game Informer via RPS] |
| Mobile Steam app now ready for the rest of us Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:30 AM PST It's not every day you get to use "Valve" and "fast" in the same sentence, but I'm inclined to do so given the quick transition from closed beta to full release for the new mobile Steam app. It's a free download for Android and iOS, so you might as well. The app allows you to chat with Steam friends, view game listings, see what's on sale, and more. Having access to Steam on a device so close to your wallet is scary to think about. Unless you're a capybara, clearly. [Image] |
| King of Fighters XIII gets a patch and a price reduction Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:30 AM PST A patch that primarily focuses on improving the online functionality in The King of Fighters XIII is now live for PlayStation Network and will soon be available on Xbox Live. Here's what it does:
Beyond the patch itself, the game is now moving ever closer to budget territory thanks to a $10 price drop. Atlus has also shared a King of Fighters XIII t-shirt design for EVO 2012, which has Mai doing her thing. Of course it does. |
| Kingdoms of Amalur gets special GameStop midnight release Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST Regardless of how you feel about GameStop, you have to admit they have some pretty great promotions and incentives, like what they're doing for the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning midnight release. Three different stores will have special guests to help fans celebrate the new release. In Bellingham, MA, Curt Schilling, Founder and Chairman of 38 Studios and R.A. Salvatore will be stopping by, while Todd McFarlane will be in Tempe, AZ. Finally, in Cockeysville, MD, Ken Rolston of Big Huge Games will be saying hello. Since most cities have more than one GameStop, be sure to call in and check which store will be hosting these big names. If this isn't an amazing reason to go buy a game, I don't know what is. Go forth, and meet cool people! |
| Humble Bundle comes to Android (plus PC, Mac, and Linux) Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:30 AM PST The Humble Bundle has expanded its reach to cover Android devices with EDGE, Osmos, and Anomaly: Warzone Earth. Those who pay more than the average contribution, currently hovering at around $5.30, also get a copy of World of Goo. I want to believe most of you own at least one of these already, but not necessarily for this platform. It doesn't particularly matter either way, since they're throwing in Mac, Linux, and Windows versions of each game as well. Your needs should be met, unless you're holding out for Commodore 64 ports. |
| Some German politicians want their own version of SOPA Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:15 AM PST Members of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union, which form one of the ruling parties in the German government right now, like SOPA so much that they want their own version of it for Germany. While they admit that some parts of it are problematic, they are all for censoring the internet, even stating that such a law would not be about censorship but about "protecting artists from exploitation." They then go on to state that all those who protested against SOPA are basically helping sites like Megaupload with their illegal activities. While this sure sounds bad, especially since it comes from one of the ruling parties, I'm pretty certain that the German population is going to react as soon as such ideas get closer to become realized. Ever since SOPA and PIPA, people have been paying more attention to these issues, which hopefully will stop ACTA. Still, I'm amazed that some Germans want to import bad ideas like these. MegaUpload - CDU/CSU wollen Zensurgesetz SOPA auch für Deutschland [Gamestar] |
| Xbox Live adds Crackle and CinemaNow video apps Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:45 AM PST Your Xbox 360 plays even more streaming video with today's addition of both Sony Pictures' Crackle and Best Buy's CinemaNow apps. If you haven't checked out Crackle yet, it's packed with tons of free TV shows and movies, and they're all free. CinemaNow is Best Buy's streaming rental/purchase movie service. Both are now available for download on Xbox Live. Microsoft says that even more entertainment apps are coming later this year. |
| Live show: Mash Tactics lives forever with NeverDead Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST Tuesdays on Mash Tactics are now designated as the 'New Release Showcase'. Kicking off the first of many to come, King Foom is playing Konami's immortal hack 'n' slash NeverDead. Can Foom keep his head in this adventure through dismemberment? Get your Highlander references at the ready, and tune in to check it out for yourself. Mash Tactics airs Monday through Friday at 4p.m. Pacific on Destructoid's Twitch TV channel. Watch King Foom play a variety of games, each day with its own theme. With a heavy focus on community and viewer interaction, you can be as much a part of the show as anything else.
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| Vita downloads confirmed cheaper than cartridges Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:20 AM PST For those wondering if PlayStation Vita owners in the US will get a discounted price for purchasing the digital releases of their games as compared to boxed retail copies (as in Japan), it looks as though that may indeed be the case. An intrepid Destructoid reader was browsing through their local Best Buy store and snapped up some shots of company computers listing the digital versions upcoming Vita titles Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Little Deviants, Modnation Racers, Hotshots Golf and Escape Plan as being priced 10% below the physical copy. And then, just as we were getting ready to post about them, the gang at ShackNews got a confirmation from Sony who stated that while they aren't ready to give out details yet, Vita titles purchased over PSN will be subject to a discount. Great news. This is really a step in the right direction for Sony if they plan to get the mass consumer on board with digital distribution. [Thanks for the pictures, Jason!] |
| Denpa Ningen, electro-magnetic men are invading Japan Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:15 AM PST
Japan comes up with some weird, awesome things, and this is one of them. Denpa Ningen is an augmented reality 3DS title that has you hunting for adorable little dudes called Denpa Ningen. There will be RPG style battles and heroics. It should also be noted that the group responsible for this title is Genius Sonority. Their staff has done work on the Dragon Quest and Pokémon games, so if this 3DS game makes you think of those, that's why. Denpa Ningen looks like a fun title, and there is a demo out now, too bad it is only releasing in Japan for now, but hopefully, if it does well, we'll see it on the eShop here. If you can get the Japanese game, it comes out February 8th. Denpa Ningen coming to 3DS eShop in Japan [GoNintendo] |
| Dragon's Dogma has been delayed two months Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:45 AM PST Capcom has just made it clear that their upcoming action-RPG, Dragon's Dogma, will now land on May 22nd in the US and May 25th in Europe -- that's a two month delay from the original release date. One of the unique features of Dragon's Dogma is the new smart AI system, which reportedly allows your party members to have minds of their own, in addition to the ability to draw data from other people's games to change your experience. As well as the party AI, NPCs in the game will have full routines, Skyrim style. Originally I had no interest in the game, but apparently if you purchase it new at release, you get access to an exclusive Resident Evil 6 demo on July 3rd for the Xbox 360, or September 4th for the PS3 -- in the 360's case, that's over two months earlier than Resident Evil 6's November 20th release. Dragon's Dogma Delayed [Edge] |
| Strange: Valve games available on GameStop Impulse Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:15 AM PST GameStop's digital distribution service, Impulse, now offers a few of Valve's hits for download. This is the first time Valve's games have been made available on a digital service outside of Steam. Gamasutra says that Portal 2, Left 4 Dead, Half-Life and The Orange Box are now available via Impulse. You'll still need to register the games through Valve's Steam client, though. Hell, you might as well just buy them on Steam. Think of the games being on Impulse as a wierd sort of link to Steam, bringing GameStop's customers and their purchases to Valve's service. It seems like Valve is not worried at all about their competition. |
| Unboxing The Darkness II with a badass Darkling statue Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:45 AM PST
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that one of the best parts of my job is receiving mysterious packages in the mail from various developers and publishers. Sometimes we know to expect them, and other times they're a wonderful surprise. This morning, I came into work to find a cryptic box from 2K games on my desk with only the word "Destructoid" written on it. Knowing it had to be related to The Darkness II, I opened it with a fervor strong enough to actually tear the plastic cover of the game. Guess I'll have to be more careful next time! |
| Team Fortress 2sdays: You were killed by... Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:30 AM PST Welcome to another exciting edition of Team Fortress 2sdays! Every Tuesday, a bunch of us Dtoiders hop online and play Team Fortress 2 on the official Destructoid server; you should join us! Last week's session was INCREDIBLE! The server was near-full all night long, and many a Dtoider experienced the joy of handing my ass to me. Hit the jump to check out the gallery (thanks to all who sent in screens!) and join us tonight for some more mayhem! Here's what's on the docket tonight: Server: 63.208.142.126:27015 Maplist: Note: Hate any or all of the above maps? Fret not! Our maplist -- like the rest of our server -- is always evolving! If you don't see your favorite map/mod/whatever, head on over to the Team Fortress 2 thread in our forums and let us know what you'd like! After all, it's your server, too! Also, we'd love to recap this week's events during next week's post, so take lots of screenshots and email them to andydixon[@]destructoid.com! Who knows, you might even see your very own giblets appear on the front page! We'll see you online! |
| Preview: Rhythm Heaven Fever induces grooving Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST We've all had a song -- sometimes one we don't even like -- stuck on repeat as we go through our daily routines. It can be agonizing at times, but there is a reason even the worst song becomes infused in the recesses of our subconscious: the music is catchy. Wubudubudubudubudub! This is the infectious beat that has been echoing inside the depths of my brain ever since I had the chance to go hands-on with Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven Fever. No matter how hard I try, I can't shake this sound. It's a true testament to the charming music minigame collection's addictive rhythmic gameplay and unforgettable jams. Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii) The idea behind Rhythm Heaven Fever is fairly straightforward: complete a visually off-the-wall music rhythm challenge with as few mistakes as possible. Each stage, for lack of a better term, contains its own unique look and musical style that is a cross between WarioWare, Inc. and PaRappa the Rapper. The game's presentation is quirky, but with its simple two-button controls -- no motion needed -- it's hard not to become quickly captivated by its charm. The first minigame I played was called Hole in One. Sports lovers and fans of The Lion King will easily be amused by this challenge that sees monkeys tossing, or in the case of the larger Rafiki-esque baboon, chucking golf balls at you. The goal of the stage is to hit each ball with perfect timing in order to achieve a hole-in-one. It's fairly basic at first, especially with the little monkey gently lobbing golf balls at you, since there are visual cues a player can look for if they just aren't feeling the beat. But for those who want to obtain the "Superb" ranking for the stage, reliance on visual cues will only get one so far. In my experience, I most successfully found the rhythm when I closed my eyes and listened to the music. Everybody processes sounds differently, and in the case of Hole in One, the visuals actually distracted me. In the game First Date, the player has to keep bouncing balls from intruding on a date at the park. Basketballs, soccer balls, and footballs -- each with their own bouncing beat -- are set to come crashing in and scare away two cute golfers on a date. As the balls bounce in, pressing the A button has the guy trying to impress his date by nonchalantly kicking away the balls while she stares at the furry little critters. There is a visual cue for the soccer ball and football -- when they reach the apex of the player's knee, quickly press A -- but for the basketball and its double beat bounce, well, it's all up to mastering the rhythm. Here, Rhythm Heaven Fever makes itself a rewarding experience. You really have to find the rhythm to be successful, but there are still tricks to follow in the game's clean Flash-like animations, so players don't get overly frustrated. Mastering each stage takes rhythmic skill, but having fun is easy for anyone who just wants to enjoy the eclectic and sugary visuals. For those who want to share the experience of becoming a rhythm master, Rhythm Heaven Fever offers a handful of cooperative games as well. From what I could tell, there are five games for friends to sink into. The first, of two, that I was able to take a stab at was Fork Lifter. The goal is to catch as much food that comes flying by, lightning-fast, as possible. It's a more frantic game than any other that I had played, but one that becomes easier once the flow is figured out. The other multiplayer game I tried was Micro-Row. This game was more musically inclined than the previous minigames I had played. Hitting the A button in time pushes tiny single-celled organisms around the environment in unison, like synchronized swimmers. As the song continues on, the level zooms farther out, making the reliance on actual rhythm more important than any visual sign a player may have been using. The look of Micro-Row was abstract yet accessible, and reminded me a lot of the underappreciated Electroplankton. Outside of the main game and multiplayer, bonus and endless games that are equally as challenging, if not more so, can be unlocked throughout the game. Toy Car (which is all about timing), Police Call, and Mr. Upbeat (a new addition for the game's North American release) are just a few of the extras to discover. Nintendo was pretty hush-hush on what most of the games are like, but from what I could tell, each looks to provide an extra distraction to help round out the overall package. With over 50 games plus a cavalcade of extras, there is definitely a welcome variety for fans of the series. While the majority of the Rhythm Heaven Fever is single-player, it lends itself extremely well to the party atmosphere. I only had a chance to play a small sample of the game, but its intoxicating Japanese style had me dancing and nodding my head to every song. Look for Rhythm Heaven Fever very soon, as it hits stores on February 13. Wubudubudubudubudub! |
| Ace Attorney film director planning worldwide release Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:30 AM PST What a glorious week it's been so far! First, Ace Attorney 5 is a really real thing, and now this bit of concentrated awesome. What do we have in store for tomorrow? Localization confirmation of Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney perhaps? The Ace Attorney movie premiered a few days ago at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where it was received extremely well. The film's subtitles used the characters' Western names as opposed to the Japanese ones, which director Takashi Miike confirmed as part of plans to release the film worldwide with region-specific dubs and subs. That... makes me happy. Film site Twitch goes on to say that the film runs over two hours long but that not a minute is wasted. The narrative is packed, the characters are deliciously hammy, and the hairdos are stars in and of themselves. Everything sounds wonderful. I can't wait! IFFR 2012 Review: ACE ATTORNEY leads the witnesses! [Twitch] |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST Boy, that Syndicate sure is a first-person shooter! That is my initial thought after giving Syndicate's co-op demo a spin. When I say that, I don't mean to imply I'm one of those folk who hate a game just because it's bears the name of an older game in a different genre. I say that because, right now, there's nothing else to say about it. That really is all Syndicate's demo tells you. You have three loadouts to choose from, with bog-standard weaponry including shotguns, assault rifles and sniper rifles. You can heal and revive your friends, and from there you just ... shoot. You shoot stuff in very grey environments until there's nothing left to shoot, then you move on to the next grey area and shoot more stuff. The action is fairly typical of the genre. It feels weighty, but rather uninspired. There's a shallow scoring system to provide a hint of competition between players, but there's really nothing you've not seen before. You just trudge forward and shoot at enemies as they wander erratically around the map, occasionally waiting in a checkpoint room to resupply, before trudging forward and shooting some more. Some players have since been saying they enjoy the tactical element of the game, but I'm not seeing it yet. So far the only "tactical" element is breaching -- one player breaches a target to weaken it, while the others provide support. This contextual command is also used for healing and reviving players. It's a cute little add-on, but it's hardly "tactical." This is, of course, merely one co-op level, and I'm informed by those who have played more levels that it's one of the weakest. I sincerely hope there's more to it than this, because the sample gameplay isn't exciting. In fact, it reminds me very much of last year's mediocre Codemasters offering, Bodycount. If the demo is indicative of the overall experience, then Syndicate is looking very much like just another forgettable first-person shooter. I sincerely hope the demo isn't indicative of the overall experience, and that somebody in marketing just made a very poor choice of level. |
| Releases of the Week: SoulCalibur V, FFXIII-2, and more Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:45 AM PST
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today sees the release of a few long-anticipated games. SoulCalibur V and Final Fantasy XIII-2 (360, PS3) are the big ones that come to mind, followed by Konami's NeverDead (360, PS3) and finally, Rhythm Party for Kinect on Friday. Anything looking good to you this week? |
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