Already renowned for its multiplayer action, the Call of Duty series is about to ramp up the friendly fire with the launch of Call of Duty Elite.
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Whether you were a fan of the previous game or not, you can’t help but look at this trailer and say, “that looks interesting.” Much like its predecessor, Dead Rising 2 seems to be free roaming, but this time the setting is equivalent to a Las Vegas knock off Fortune City.
Although the locations you will be frequenting are unclear, it appears you will be exploring the city’s main strip. Chuck Greene will be replacing Frank West as our new Hero and zombie slayer. A motor cross champ, Chuck is a daredevil and is quite resourceful. He is able to use his skills as a mechanic to progress through the game.
What you can expect from Dead Rising 2 is chainsaws on staffs, chainsaws on motorcycles, and did I mention there would be chainsaws? Of course you will be using other weapons as well, one of them a moose head that you wear to plow through zombies.
Currently being developed by Capcom and Blue Castle, Dead Rising 2 is expected for release this year and will be for multiple platforms.
A crap load of BioShock 2 screens were released today, and boy do they look good! The sequel to the award winning FPS classic, BioShock 2 is said to be set in Rapture (as the previous game).
You will be getting a peek at the new Big Sister in these screen shots – as well as the ocean floor level of the game. You will also be getting a look at the returning splicers, and a first person perspective of a Big Daddy. BioShock 2 is set for release in the fall. Judging from these screens, it looks promising.
The Infamous Big Sister
The Ocean Floor Level
Splicer and Little Sister
Big Daddy first person view
We first announced this story way back in February, and at long last it has arrived. Let it be written that on April 21, 2009, the Left 4 Dead Survival Pack was released. If you have been waiting eagerly for this DLC, feel free to start screaming over top of your cubical “Left 4 Dead DLC, hooray!”
Survival Mode will take place at the horde trigger points within each of the 4 campaign modes. You will jump between each of these points, (each more intense than the last) until you reach the finale titled “Last Stand.” Described as being the high point of the Survival Mode, “Last Stand” is a lot like horde – on steroids.
According to Valve “Survival Mode draws on the planning and communication aspects of a successful Finale or Crescendo event, while taking it to another level. It rapidly hits a fever pitch that only a well coordinated team will be able to successfully survive. Everything from simply covering a reviving teammate, to making every shot count to minimize reloads becomes crucial in Survival Mode.”
Infected Spawn Curve
Courtesy of Valve, above is a graph depicting the infected spawn time of Survival Mode. I would suggest tattooing it to your chest. Valve has also provided us with “lull” time. Which was described by Valve as “a short interval of time during which nothing new will spawn.” These are the moments that you can catch your breath, reload your ammo, and heal.
XBL has just added another leg to the rumor of a Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 re-release. Last month the ESRB rating for MVC added PS3 and Xbox 360 to its list of platforms, leading some to expect a re-release for the consoles. Today, MVC achievements popped up – reinforcing that rumor.
Whether we will be seeing this title for PS3, Xbox 360, or just XBLA does not matter to me. As long as we get to see it. Until we hear an official announcement we will file this under the rumor section.
MVC was hands down one of the great fighting titles. It brought the Marvel Universe into the arcade, and pitted them against Capcom’s most cherished characters. This was one of my favorite fighting games, and I am personally crossing my fingers for this re-release.
Here is a pic of the XBL achievements.
Yesterday Ubisoft released a fantastic teaser on their latest project Assassin’s Creed 2. The teaser came in the form of a flash web page with a reversed message reading “Game Informer 04.16.09” Although the meaning of this message is a mystery, our Cryptology experts here at NBS are currently working on it.
The web page hosts a flash video with a Da Vinci style theme, in which the retractable blade that was made famous by the first game is featured. It’s at the end of the video that the backwards message appears, and if you have a mirror handy at that time you could read it. If not, just trust us that Game Informer is getting the exclusive on this game.
All I can say is… I’m really happy I have a subscription. Thank you Game Stop, for all the annoying messages reminding me to renew it. I enjoyed Assassin’s Creed 1 and I look forward to its sequel. What do you guys think? Can’t wait? Don’t care? Let us know!
Here is the teaser, enjoy!
Kotaku has been following 2K’s infatuation with the BioShock 2 subtitle “Sea of Dreams,” for some time now. Ever since the trailer (in which the subtitle first appeared) was leaked online, 2K just couldn’t decide whether they liked the subtitle or not. Apparently a decision has finally been made, and…drum roll…2K is officially not using any subtitle for the game.
2K spokesman Charlie Sinhaseni stated “We name most of our trailers at 2K and the name of the teaser trailer we released last October for BioShock 2 is called ‘Sea of Dreams.” “There was talk about adding that as an official subtitle, but we decided to simply keep it BioShock 2. We’re sorry for the confusion, but we’re glad people are so interested.”
There it is in black and white, expect BioShock 2 to be subtitle-less! Although I am happy they have finally made the decision, I wish it would have gone the other way. I kind of liked the subtitles, I think it would fit really well – if BioShock 2 does in fact turn out to be a prequel. What do you guys think? Do you like the subtitle, or hate it? Don’t care as long as you get to play the game? Sound off, and let us know what you think!
With as much success as Resident Evil 5 has had, it seems we can expect another installment in the famed Survival Horror series for sure! The only question is when? When Resident Evil Code Veronica was released we had to wait five years for Resident Evil 4, and then four years for Resident Evil 5. Safe to say we will have a similar span of time to wait for Resident Evil 6, right? Nope, try Eight years!
In an interview with FiveFWD, Resident Evil producer Masachika Kawata said “it could take anywhere up to eight years, but hopefully only four.” If Capcom does confirm they will be doing Resident Evil 6, my fingers are crossed for four. Eight Years is a long time, and the fan boy in me can’t wait that long!
Since the first glimpse of that glorious leaked trailer there have been rumors about BioShock 2 and what we can expect from it. Yesterday new info was released but could only be considered speculation at the time. Today the details for BioShock 2 have been confirmed as valid, thanks to ShackNews .
Confirmed! Confirmed! Confirmed! Here is what you can expect from BioShock 2.
Thank you ShackNews, much appreciated!
As a Survival Horror fan and a huge Resident Evil fan I am constantly hearing from gamers that Resident Evil is no longer a Survival Horror franchise. The fan boy in me cringes at these remarks, but I must admit the basic themes of this franchise have been through a major revamp. Progressively, the series has shifted away from its Horror themes. I am not dropping any bombs here and saying Resident Evil 5 is not a Survival Horror game but what I will say is that this franchise is not as scary as it used to be.
5.) Where are the Zombies?
This is the big question fans have been asking since Resident Evil 4. Resident Evil was originally THE ZOMBIE GAME, which made it terrifying. A putrefying corpse that knows nothing but hunger used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. Back in 1996 when the game was released Zombies were scary, now they are a novelty. Which is part of the reason they were nixed from the franchise I am sure.
Instead of Zombies in Resident Evil 4 and 5, we have LIVING individuals who are injected with parasites that attack the brain, making them totally psycho. The parasites continue to grow to the point of bursting from the head, killing the host. Although the concept of human experimentation is still quite frightening, I think the idea of a foreign entity growing in a person to the point of bursting out of them has been a long time Science Fiction theme. Alien is perfect example of this, although the splat was through the chest instead of the head.
4.) It’s a fine line between Sci-Fi and Horror!
Horror and Science Fiction are very closely related genres, and if you have a film with both elements you have to walk a fine line on which theme should be paramount. Films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Alien are films with fantastic horror elements, but the Sci-Fi theme’s of Futurism, and Space Travel are much more overpowering; deeming them Sci-Fi films.
The Resident Evil franchise has had a consistent Science Fiction theme, one that is a vital part of the main plot line, which is Umbrella Corp. A super secret corporation that specializes in radical experimentation. If you drop the theme of a haunted mansion (or city in the case of Resident Evil 2, and 3), and zombies but keep the theme of Umbrella – than you have a story based on labs and experiments, which in and of itself (sorry people) is a Science Fiction based plot line.
3.) Survival Horror Street Cred
More and more, horror films are getting more violent, and more shocking. Today there are horror films in the movie theater that would have only existed as independent films a few decades ago. Survival Horror is the same – the games in this genre have progressively become more and more disturbing, and if your game isn’t truly shocking it’s going to lose its street cred.
Survival Horror fans love violence, it is the bread and butter of the franchise but in the past few years it seems Resident Evil has been toned down. It is true that Capcom is trying to reach a bigger audience with this franchise, and the effects are clear. Resident Evil games now play like action shooters like Gears of War, and although both are violent they certainly don’t have the feel of Survival Horror.
2.) Location, Location, Location
Part of the strength of the original Resident Evil game and why it was genuinely frightening, was simply because you were confined to a single space; in this case the Spencer Mansion. The felling of being trapped is one of the oldest themes and most potent of the horror genre. The idea that there just may be a chance you will never leave that mansion alive added a feeling of dread to the game play. With Resident Evil 5 you have large open and expansive environments that nullify that feeling of being trapped, and ultimately detract from the terror.
1.) Action on Steroids
If you look at any great Horror film – what makes it great is the helplessness you feel while watching it. Whether it is Jason, or Freddy, or a little girl that crawls out of your T.V. set, they all have something in common; they can’t be killed! It is this theme of helplessness that is the Horror genre’s foundation, and Survival Horror is exactly the same.
With the Resident Evil 4 reboot it is hard to feel helpless when you have Leon S. Kennedy A.K.A. killing machine behind a shotgun picking off crazed villagers like they are those cardboard ducks at a carnival. The same can be said about Resident Evil 5 when you look at Chris Redfield, an all around BA military guy, you don’t feel quite so scared playing this game in the dark. The Characters in the Resident Evil games don’t seem quite so vulnerable any more, and that is part of the reason the franchise just doesn’t quite have the scares it used to.
Don’t get me wrong I still love this franchise I just have to except the fact that it has changed, and in some ways for the better. There are still Survival Horror themes in this franchise but it just does not feel the same. What do you guys think?
