Who would have thought that wearing body armour would be needed in Skate 3? I guess old habits die hard for Isaac Clarke from Dead Space, seen here in a screenshot taken from the game.

Via Game Culture

I’ve decided to post everything that I blog about over at Game Culture dot com here. This is because I am doing my best to keep readers interested in my work and obviously, trying to support the Game Culture dot com (the site I freelance for) at the same time. Kinda like killing two birds with one stone, so-to-speak.

So today’s post is all about my views on Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield Bad Company 2. Please feel free to comment over at Game Culture’s forum (would be nice to get some support there)

Here is an excerpt from the original post:

Put yourself in a similar position in BFBC2 and you’ll find it alot less harrowing at lower levels and alot easier to kill people, irrespective of their rank. I’ve been killed by many players who were ranked lower than me. Having better weapons, ammunition and gear helps but it doesn’t make it impossible to kill someone of higher rank. This is not so obvious in MW2. Sure, you could argue that you need to be able to complete a kill streak of a particular number first to gain access to things like Harrier Strikes in MW2. So perhaps it’s more about the different game mechanics rather than the player skill level. Regardless of this, the ‘kill streak’ rewards of MW2 definitely makes the game more challenging to play at lower levels. BFBC2 doesn’t have a ‘kill streak’ mechanic at all.

You can view the post in its entirety over at Game Culture dot com.

Thanks and enjoy!

I felt like being a little dramatic with the title of this post because Dante’s Inferno brings out the poet in me… and as it should. The game is based on ‘The Divine Comedy’ and is riddled with excerpts from the poem written by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. If you haven’t the faintest idea what The Divine Comedy is, that’s OK too, you won’t need to know to be able to enjoy Dante’s Inferno but it helps if you want the full experience.

I can’t yet talk about Dante’s Inferno (it doesn’t release until the first week of February worldwide) in specifics but what I can say is that the storyline and characters are truly out of  this world and if you’re into your character driven games, you’ll love it. It’s set in third person perspective with lots of fighting and bloodshed, especially of the demon-killing kind.

I thought I would post a different image this time instead of a screenshot of the game. This image is taken from the DC comic based on the game released last month in the US on DC’s Wildstorm imprint. There is also a really cool animated movie based on the game releasing in the UK early next month. Created by some of the best animators in the world, Dantes Inferno the movie looks positively fantastic as does the graphic novel.

You can find the official website for the game here, the website for the movie here and the comic details here.

So what are you waiting for? Go to hell why don’t ya

As you can tell, I am all over Mass Effect 2 and I am happy to announce that if you’re an ME fan you will ABSOLUTELY love what is coming. ME2 doesn’t release in New Zealand until the 29th of January but it is easily one of the most anticipated sequels of the year. I will admit though that initially, I was not a serious ME fan when it released. Without sounding like I am dumping all over the Xbox 360 console here, I honestly believe that part of that feeling came from playing ME on the 360 rather than the PC. The experience I am having now playing Mass Effect 2 on the PC is a whole lot more fun and intense. I can’t pinpoint exactly what is different other than ME2 seems like a much more polished game – not to mention the fantastic storyline work the writers have done and some of the hippest dialogue I’ve seen/heard in a game for a while.

Mass Effect 2 also borrows a bit of star power from the incredible voice acting talent; Carrie Anne Moss, Martin Sheen, Seth Green, Tricia Helfer to name a few. But above all is the incredible world of Mass Effect 2 (I’ve only played two hours of the game and I’m already addicted!) Once you take command of your ship, spend some time exploring her – the graphics, animation and environments of Mass Effect 2 are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Every environment is the same – immersive, beautiful to look at and exciting to play in.

BioWare just can’t do a thing wrong. They are fast becoming one of my favourite game developers. I’m finding myself totally immersed in their games of late and it’s simply for no other reason other than their games kick ass. Which leads me to believe that the game I can’t stop raving about (Star Wars: The Old Republic) will probably be the end of all my freetime when it releases next year. I’d gladly give up reality for a few weeks for a light saber and the chance to run wild in a universe that BioWare and LucasArts have created, they’re just that good.

I received some early code for Dragon Age: Origins for PC from EA a month or so ago and only got to play a little bit of it then. It’s only recently in the process of turning my back a little on the crapfest that is Aion that I’ve really managed to sit down and concentrate on Dragon Age. I can tell you now that it’s a fantastic game and I haven’t had the pleasure of playing an RPG as good as this for PC since Dungeon Siege II.

Another reason I’m so interested in Dragon Age is because it’s developed by Bioware and I am really amping myself up for the Star Wars MMORPG they’re working on. I figured if I played Dragon Age, it might give me a better idea of what’s to come with Star Wars: The Old Republic. And not since Gears of War II have I looked forward to another game (those who know me will know how absolutely crazed for that game I was).

The storyline is extremely emmersive and the characters are equally as great. If you’ve played RPGs before you’ll know the drill so I won’t go into unimportant game mechanics as this is not a review. I am just really liking this game, and can’t stop playing it. Aion almost pales in comparison to the fun I’m having playing Dragon Age.

So I am really looking forward to the game expansion coming out very soon. I couldn’t imagine how anyone could play this on the 360 and get the same level of enjoyment out of it that I do on the PC. The last time I even attempted something that resembled an RPG on the 360 was Fable II and I stopped playing that shortly after I discovered that coop wasn’t really true coop in the way I had come to know it. In fact, it was bitterly disappointing. When you’ve played some of the best RPGs on the PC, there’s nothing that can really rival that experience on the Xbox 360. That’s my opinion and it won’t be changing any time soon.

Of course, one game that I was thoroughly impressed with on the 360 that could be loosely classified as an RPG was Star Wars The Force Unleashed. I absolutely loved that game and I am REALLY looking foward to the sequel also coming out this year. It’s going to be a great gaming year for sequels, especially for me. I seem to be really moving away from shooters though and settling more for RPGs this season.

But back to Dragon Age – I think the code I’m playing is a little buggy because in a lot of the fight sequences, the characters I control in my party never do what I need them to. In alot of cases, I had to reload the game just to get the characters to play together and fight together. This is after I had programmed all the presets for each character class as well. As I don’t own the retail version of the game, I can’t really comment if this is just a programming bug or not. But it can be a tad irritating having to restart the game just to get characters to fight in unison, especially when you’re up against difficult mobs like an Ogre (and they are very formidable in Dragon Age).

Which brings me to the difficulty level. I doubt my skills with RPGs have dropped that much but I honestly couldn’t defeat the Ogre on hard. I had to change down the difficulty level just to pass that section of the game. I’m not proud of it but at least I passed it I’ve also had a really frustrating time of breaking into chests that are locked. None of my characters had the correct skill and when I finally acquired a character that could do it, what do you know? Not a single damn chest in sight! I cringe to think of all the phat lewts I’ve missed out on (sorely evident by the lack of funds on my part to buy upgraded equipment at the vendor).

All in all though, this game is kick ass. I am really loving the character integration when discussing the plot and continuing the story. Although the dialogue may be a little off in some places, the different opportunities you’re given to alter your character’s path and destiny are fantastic. If SW:TOR is anything like this game, it will definitely be the game I’ve been waiting to play (I am hoping for a way better experience than the one I’m having playing Aion).

Format: PS3

Release version: Review code (non-retail release)

Distributor: EA New Zealand

Developer: EA Montreal

I have a huge and I mean huge review guide which is literally 47 pages long with tips and guides for reviewing this code for the sequel to Army of 2. And I am trying (no, make that struggling) to remember whether or not I was allowed to even post about this… oops.

Anyway, I’m going to only because I have a crapload of things to catch up on since I redesigned this website and if I don’t start getting through this material now, I’m going to lose my opportunity to stay on top of it. Ugh.

Boy, do those masks look cool!

Ok so sue me for really liking the masks. When I played Ao2 I actually went out of my way to try and collect the masks lol. I just can’t help collecting things  in games – nevermind about the ammo or the weapons (OK, I actually did do my best to upgrade my weapons too – I’m not that much of a nub!)

Army of 2 40th Day features Rios and Salem from the previous game doing what they do best which is pretty much just kicking ass and taking numbers. The tactical game mechanics present in the original game are emphasised alot more in this so you’ll be doing a whole lot of rescuing your downed buddy, dodging a deluge of bullets and watching your aggro meters all over again.

What’s new in Army of 2 40th Day?

Ao2 40th Day really does feel a whole lot like the original. I can’t say that’s a bad thing because I did enjoy Ao2 but as far as being a different game is concerned, nope, it’s not. It really is a very similar gamestyle to the previous game except with more weapons, different enemies (as you’re fighting in China) with a few different strategems added to spice up gameplay.

Decisions, decisions

The decision making process is also emphasised alot more in the sequel, putting you and your partner in really compromising positions mostly with the outcome of dying if you do the wrong thing. So whilst that’s pretty disheartening, in the long run, you can always shoot the crap outta everyone and be done with it, right?

Army of 2 40th Day releases in New Zealand on the 15th of January, 2010.

Electronic Arts Inc announced that the playable demo for Dante’s Inferno will be available as a free download on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live on December 24.  Dante’s Inferno takes gamers on a quest through hell, in an action-packed adaptation of part one of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy.  The ‘Gates of Hell’ demo includes the entire opening level and gives gamers a taste of the terrifying odyssey to come in the Nine Circles of Hell as depicted in the full game.

In the demo of Dante’s Inferno, players are introduced to Dante Alighieri’s re-imagined past as a crusader who returns home to Florence to discover his true love, Beatrice, murdered.  As her soul escapes her body, she is kidnapped by the dark shadow form of Lucifer.  Sworn to her rescue, Dante must journey to the Gates of Hell and beyond to battle undead monstrosities, unholy boss demons, and Death himself.  Offering a glimpse into the vast world of Dante’s Inferno, the demo serves as a prelude to the player’s perilous journey to the inner bowels of hell.

“The world of Alighieri’s Dante’s Inferno is such a rich, detailed, and often alarming universe, that all of us at Visceral Games put our hearts, and dare I say souls, into creating something truly intense and exciting,” said executive producer Jonathan Knight. “We hope gamers enjoy this tease of hell, and come away from the experience lusting for more when the game comes out.”

Developed by Visceral Games, the award-winning developers behind the critically-acclaimed Dead Space franchise, Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Gamers will get to go to hell in New Zealand beginning February 5, 2010 for PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 36 video game and entertainment system as well as the PlayStation Portable (PSP).  The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Dante’s Inferno is not yet rated in New Zealand. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow the Dante’s Inferno team at Visceral Games on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com where the team explores a new circle of hell, with new content and updates on the ninth day of every month.

Details of the Dante’s Inferno demo follow from the official press release announced via EA:

Coming this December, the ‘Gates of Hell’ demo includes the entire opening level and gives gamers a taste of Visceral Games’ blockbuster adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy.

The ‘Gates of Hell’ demo will introduce players to the game’s hero, epic story and intense action gameplay, tracing Dante’s battles from the surface all the way to the Gates of Hell. Players will experience fast-paced hack-n-slash combat as they fend off waves of enemies before taking on the ultimate battle against Death. After defeating this boss, Dante will be armed with Death’s scythe, a powerful holy cross, and will be ready to tear open the Gates of Hell. The demo also features two stunning cinematic movies made by Blur, the award-winning visual effects, animation and design studio.

EA’s Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Gamers will get to go to hell in New Zealand on February 12, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation Portable.  The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Dante’s Inferno has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.  For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow the Dante’s Inferno team at Visceral Games on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com where the team explores a new circle of hell, with new content and updates on the ninth day of every month.

The beta for Battlefield Bad Company 2 will be available for PS3 users on November the 19th, 2009. More details follow from the official EA press release:

DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc studio announced the upcoming Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta exclusively on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Starting November 19, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to experience the unprecedented action, destruction, vehicular warfare, squad play and open sandbox environments that only Battlefield can deliver. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 provides a true all-out war experience like no other modern warfare game. Beta keys will be available in New Zealand by pre-ordering the game from participating retailers.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta will feature the Arica Harbour map, where up to 24 players can compete in one of the game’s four intense multiplayer modes called Rush. This new map displays a superb balance of vehicle and infantry combat, as the American assault unit attacks the Russian army base with full force, advancing further through a beautiful desert town and towards the industrial area in a desperate attempt to overtake the Arica Harbour. Heavy vehicle warfare on the first bases gradually turns into an intense infantry fight as the level progresses, showcasing this best-in-class online war experience.

In December 2009, DICE will invite players to participate in a PC open beta. Then, early next year, all players worldwide will get to experience this premier shooter when DICE releases a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer DEMO on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 5, 2010 in New Zealand for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC.

For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on the Battlefield franchise please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.

EA have released details of the Battlefield Bad Company 2 Limited Edition game which will be available in New Zealand from March 5, 2010:

DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio announced a Limited Edition release of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the premier first-person shooter of 2010. The Limited Edition game features six special gameplay unlocks that give players a tactical advantage on the battlefield from the minute they fire up the game. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has been recognized by critics worldwide for its uncompromising action gameplay, unprecedented level of destruction, vehicular warfare, squad play and open sandbox environments in a modern warfare game. Available while supplies last, the Limited Edition version of the game will be sold at the same price as the standard version of the game with participating retailers in New Zealand from March 5, 2010.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edition delivers six special customizations early to give players a day one advantage in multiplayer matches. Four vehicle warfare unlocks will immediately enhance the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 best-in-class online vehicle warfare experience, delivering extra firepower, radar, and armor for the vehicles. Additionally, the tracer dart attaches to any enemy vehicle and allows RPG-toting teammates to track, lock on, and destroy their adversary. Seasoned veterans of Battlefield 1943™ will be able to immediately re-acquaint themselves with two classic and highly powerful weapons, the M1A1 submachine gun and the M1911 pistol.

The full list of six unlocks are as follows:

Four vehicle warfare unlocks

• Improved Vehicle Armor – An up-armor package is mounted on all vehicle types, decreasing the effect of both explosive and penetrating warheads, significantly improving vehicle survivability.
• Supreme Vehicle Firepower – Additional weapon packages are mounted for the driver of all armored vehicles, greatly expanding the range of targets the vehicle can successfully engage and destroy.
• Vehicle Motion Sensor – Use this electronics warfare package to locate enemy units in direct proximity to the vehicle.
• Tracer Dart Pistol – This magnetic dart attaches to any vehicle surface, allowing squad members to track, lock on, and fire rockets onto moving targets even beyond line of sight.

Two classic Battlefield 1943 weapons

• M1A1 Submachine Gun – Reliable but heavy this classic weapon is a powerful force in the hands of any Battlefield veteran.
• M1911 Pistol – Highly customized M1911 are favoured for its dependability and the power of its large .45 calibre round.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be available on March 5, 2010 in New Zealand for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC.

For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on the Battlefield franchise please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.