Just in case you missed the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launch trailer last night at the beginning of the newest episode of South Park or even the airing that took place during the World Series, here it is again for your viewing pleasure.  As we all know the release of Modern Warfare 2 is only days away and people have already taken off work and kids have come up with the newest version of the “Modern Warfare 2 Flu” to stay home to play the newest version of Call of Duty.  Enough of the teasing already Infinity Ward, we are ready for the game, but November 10th can’t get here soon enough.  So take another look at the trailer and if this is your first time enjoy!

How bad is it? Just wretched enough to set back race relations in this country four decades.

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About our scale… the number of words in our review reflects the score of the game. In practical terms, you could assume that games reviewed in 49 words or fewer should be avoided, games reviewed in 50-75 words would make a decent rental, and games reviewed in 76 words or more would make a solid purchase.

Game Review: Brutal Legend
Release: October 16, 2009 (US)
Genre: Action
Developer: Double Fine
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M
Website: http://www.brutallegend.com/

Brutal Legend is a game from the legendary game developer Tim Schafer, it features Tenacious D front-man Jack Black as the voice actor for the main character Eddie Riggs. And the game is full of metal. Tim Schafer said that he wanted the game to be like playing the front cover of a heavy metal album and trust me it is. You can’t go for a minute without seeing some huge monument that looks dark and epic. This game encapsulates the feeling of metal, every cut scene or every voice line that is said in the game makes you feel like holding down your middle fingers and doing the symbol of metal with your hands in the air. The writing in this game is phenomenal and Jack Black delivers the lines so perfectly with his trademark yelling awesome voice making him the perfect person to be the voice of Eddie Riggs.

Eddie Riggs is a Roadie, and the job of a roadie is to help the band. If something goes wrong on the stage, it’s a Roadies job to make sure that it is fixed. In the words of Eddie Riggs. “by the time that you notice that the roadie is on stage, he is already gone”. The game starts with Eddie doing his normal roadie stuff behind the scenes of a concert, when all of a sudden through a series of events he dies.. oh did I mention that blood gets into his belt buckle that his father gave him and he gets plunged into the land of rock!

Eddie soon realizes that his standard guitars can now be used as weapons and he has plenty of epic rock skills. And then this is where you begins, you soon acquire the deuce also known as the Druid plow and you have a huge open world of metal. The story is too deep and awesome that I won’t get too far into it and spoil it for you, but all I can say about the story is that it is one of the top story lines that I have played this year. Absolutely amazing writing.

The gameplay itself is so hard to describe because it encapsulates at least 3 different genres. You have an open world to explore, with plenty of collectibles in it but then what most people don’t realize that this isn’t just a one person sword slashing game. You get the power to control a whole army of metal! Once you gain control of this huge army, you have very basic controls over the army, you can upgrade your units, get more units from the stage, and do basic controls, such as attack over there, come back. etc… If I’m honest with you, I’m really disappointed by this section of the game, it really doesn’t fit in and i was going into this game not even knowing this part existed.

Eventually you start getting into a groove with this game. You do a mission that involves you playing as Eddie Riggs on foot, you do a mission in which you command your army. And you do a couple of the side missions to be able to get more upgrades for your vehicle. Rinse and repeat. The side missions get tedious and boring after a while, even with guest appearances by people like Kyle Gass. The soundtrack is amazing, as you can expect, every single song on the soundtrack is a classic amazing rock song, and you will love it every second when you jump in your car and the speakers start thumping out a glorious heavy metal anthem. The graphic design is also amazing, you can tell that every mouth movement and rock statue has been finely crafted by the guys over at Double Fine.

Final Thoughts: Brutal Legend is a game that you either hate, or love. But the problem that you have is that if you like one genre, then you might not like the other genre’s in the game. So you may end up dreading getting to the next part of the story for the bit you don’t like. But if you have been a fan of rock, metal, Jack Black or driving around in an awesome car with rockets fastened to the side, then Brutal Legend is definitely for you.

Yesterday the web went crazy with the rumor that you would be able to buy an Xbox 360 Arcade Edition from WalMart for $199 that comes with a $100 gift card bringing the Arcade Edition to $99.  Well it is true as WalMart has placed the ad up on it’s website confirming the offer.  I do realize that it is only an Arcade Edition, but go to your local GameStop or such and try to pick up a used console for that price it just won’t happen and with that $100 gift card you get when you buy the console you can go to their website and purchase the 60GB Hard Drive Live Bundle for $89.96 and that comes with free shipping to your local store.  This proves to be one of the best buys I have ever seen on a new 360, even if you are looking into just replacing your worn out 360 for a new one this is a great deal, because you still have that $100 to spend on a new game or some new accessories for your 360.

Hothead Games announced today that Jonathan Blow’s fascinating platformer, Braid will be premiering on the PSN in North America on Thursday November 12. The European release date will be forthcoming soon. No word yet as to how much Braid will cost when it arrives on the PlayStation Network.

In Braid, PS3 gamers will finally be able to play as Tim as he traverses the painted-world full of puzzles that can be unraveled with a creative use of time. In each world time acts differently and players must learn how to uses these differences to advance in the engrossing story that questions perceptions.

Braid is rated E 10+ for players 10 and older.

Be prepared to see a lot more CBS television shows on your favorite gaming console or device.  CBS Consumer Products announced today that eight new video games based on CBS’s television shows are headed to gaming consoles, PC, iPhone, and handheld devices now and in the next year.  These games will be coming from different game companies which include Ludia, Ubisoft, Merscom, Legacy Interactive and Mindscape.

Available right now is C.S.I. Criminal Scene Investigation: Deadly Intent on the Nintendo DS, Wii, PC, and Xbox 360 from Ubisoft.  Other CBS shows coming out in the next calendar year are The Amazing Race, Diagnosis Murder, Ghost Whisperer, Hollywood Squares, Criminal Minds and Survivor.

For full release line, hit the jump:

CBS Consumer Products provided a general timeline for the additional television games release and what platforms they are being released on:

AVAILABLE 2010:

The Amazing Race (Ludia Inc.)
Get ready for around-the-world competition with the video game based on the eight-time Emmy® award-winning television series The Amazing Race where team players split up in pairs for a remarkable journey across exotic locations in a race against time. Players will face frantic challenges and tasks as they navigate through detours, roadblocks and other unpredictable game elements from the show. Working together strategically throughout the game is essential as each team tries to discover hidden clues that are crucial to getting them to the Pit Stop first – and one step closer to ultimate victory at the check-in mat. This video game will be launched throughout North America across multiple platforms in tandem with the show’s 16th season.

Survivor (Mindscape)
This game is perfect for any fan of the show Survivor. Players will be able to live like the contestants on Survivor. With challenges such as fishing, collecting food and participating in Immunity challenges, players will compete to outwit, outlast and outplay in order to be crowned the ultimate sole Survivor. Available on Wii & Nintendo DS platforms.

AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY 2010:

Diagnosis Murder (Merscom)
Available in early 2010, this is an adventure game where the player must find different items in a scene to use as clues in order to solve the mystery. Available for the PC/Mac, this video game will be sold on most casual gaming websites and at major retailers.

Criminal Minds (Legacy Interactive)
In the Criminal Minds game, players will be able to take on the role of different members of Behavioral Analysis Unit to solve a series of five shocking crimes. In order to track down the killers and solve each case, players will need to examine crime scenes for clues, interview witnesses and suspects, analyze evidence and build a profile based on real-life criminal profiling techniques. The videogame is slated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2010 on the PC.

Ghost Whisperer (Legacy Interactive)
Debuting in early 2010. Ghost Whisperer will be the first-ever video game based on the hit series. Written by Emmy Award-winning television writer Lance Gentile, the PC game calls for players to embark on the adventure of helping the recently departed move on to the afterlife and providing closure to loved ones left behind.

The Hollywood Squares (Ludia, Inc.)
This timeless TV game show experience comes to fans everywhere on the platform of their choice. The Hollywood Squares game will feature all the favorite elements of the show as played on television, as two contestants play head-to-head in a bid to win money and prizes. Nine open-faced cubes make up the tic-tac-toe style “board” for the game which are occupied by celebrities/TV personalities. The stars are asked questions and players judge whether their answers are true or false, all the while incorporating outrageous “zingers” and “bluffs” to fuel the fun. Each correct answer earns the player a square on the board, and the first player to mark three squares in a row wins the game. Additionally, the game will incorporate bonus video of the funniest moments from the TV show. The North America-wide exclusive deal will result in games across major platforms including PC/Mac, consoles, iPhone™ and iPod® touch. The first of The Hollywood Squares games is slated for release in 2010.

This is just a little Public Service Announcement from your friends.  If you are planning on using a modded Xbox 360 to play pirates games stay away.  Microsoft is on the look out for people not complying with the modded console requirements, this will not only lead to a ban, but the said console will banned for life.  So if you buy a modded console don’t plan on getting online with that console ever!  I know most of us would never think of doing such a thing but beware of the consequences if you do, also make sure if you buy a used console from someone that that console has not been struck by the Ban Hammer.  Here is what Major Nelson had to say:

As you may have read online, we’ve been actively banning consoles from Xbox LIVE that have been modified to play pirated games. Our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority. All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them.  This would also be a good time to remind you that the warranty on an Xbox 360 console is not transferrable and if you purchase a used console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE.

For those who are looking forward to EA/DICE’s sequel to Battlefield: Bad Company, March 2, 2010, can’t get here soon enough. The box art for all platforms and for both the standard and limited editions (LE perks to be detailed below) has been revealed.

For those who pre-order the limited edition (I say pre-order because that may be the ONLY way you will get one from your local retailer), you will receive the following ALREADY UNLOCKED at the game’s start:

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 favored for its dependability and the power of its large .45 caliber round.

I stated above that they would be ‘already unlocked’. If you decide to purchase the standard edition, you will have to play through the game in order to unlock the four vehicles and two weapons. You’ll miss out on the limited edition box art as well (I’m sure THAT matters).

I’m currently unaware of any physical swag that’s coming packaged with the limited edition. Given that the Battlefield franchise has always been a mostly multiplayer title, this approach is being used in order to give a ‘digital head-start’ to those players that want to immediately jump into MP action and have everything at their disposal. While not everyone will jump at this, there will be those that nab the limited edition specifically to have a leg up on the competition on Day 1. If you can wait a few days and grind through the single-player, I’m sure that the effort will be worth it.

Source: Battlefield Blog

Limited Edition Unlocks Trailer (YouTube)

Box Art

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of attending the Eurogamer expo in London. We saw a lot of games we’d already seen at PAX but got hands-on on several we hadn’t yet witnessed. There was also a particularly fascinating keynotes address from David Cage; Director of Heavy Rain and Fahrenheit.

In the evening we finished off with a round table discussion podcast hosted by Kropotkin of Superhappyfuntimeshow, Elmo and Michael of Joypod were there to lend their particular expertise. You can find and listen to the whole show here on the SHFTS website.
Many thanks to Krop, Joypod and everyone we met and worked with, including old Cowboy Paul and DC listener Mr McFluffin who we played a little Beatles Rock Band with on stage.

‘The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood’ is the fourth of five episodes in Telltale Games’ episodic grog-drinking game series ‘Tales of Monkey Island’. At last glance, our pirate hero, Guybrush Threepwood, was bound and being taken back to the mad scientist, the Marquis de Singe, by the pirate hunter (that he had mistakenly trusted), Morgan LeFlay. Unfortunately, once Morgan has her payment, Guybrush is served a Voodoo summons that causes him to walk, uncontrollably, to the Pirate Court of Flotsam Island. ON WITH THE TRIAL, uh, I mean REVIEW!!

*GULP* Yes, your Honor.

In this portion of our hero’s adventure, Threepwood is slapped with multiple accusations of offenses that he had a hand in earlier during our adventure. Stan is back (apparently from a previous Monkey Island adventure), and this time, he’s prosecuting you, while selling his ‘Trial of the Century-y-y-y’ memorabilia. At any rate, Guybrush has to use that keen intelligence of his to slap together a defense against these charges and acquit himself so that he can cure everyone of the Pox of LeChuck, which has taken its full effect now. My favorite character, by far, in this episode is Wallace P. Grindstump. He is both the judge of the Pirate Court as well as the owner/operator of Club-41, the pirate bar, not 15-20 paces away. I don’t want to spoil anything, as this episode reveals MANY answers to questions that we have been forming throughout our journey.

Given that this is another chapter in an episodic series of games making up one title, the controls and gameplay are the same as with the prior three chapters of this pirate-y adventure. You move around with either W-A-S-D or Up-Down-Left-Right, as well as left-clicking on objects with the mouse to interact with them. Conversations are still dialog-driven with items in your inventory affecting interactions, so long as you left-click on the item from your inventory (open your inventory by using ‘I’ or moving the mouse all the way right and left-clicking on the pull out tray and selecting the item) and use that item to left-click on the person/object with which you want to interact. ESC still takes you back to the menu and SPACE still pauses the game.

Morgan and Elaine are 'working things out'... "HUSSY!".. "CRAZY!!"

For me, the strengths and weaknesses seemed to even out. First, the strengths. The animation is beautifully done, as always. If your machine can push the higher resolutions (1280×960, I believe, is the max), then you are truly watching an animated movie come to life before your eyes. While it won’t rival anything that Pixar puts out, it’s certainly worth your time. Also, the dialog, while not as funny overall from the earlier episodes, still made me giggle enough to warrant putting it as a strength.

Now for the weaknesses. Maybe it’s just me, but this chapter seemed to absolutely fly. I finished in roughly 3 hours. I may just be starting to get the hang of how these types of games work, though. I’m not saying that this episode is shorter than the others by any means. Another reason why this one flew could be because all of the action takes place on Flotsam Island. A normal person not using a *cough*guide*cough* would likely take quite a few hours to make it through this, especially figuring out the map that you are given later. Another weakness is the tone of the ’second’ portion of this chapter (once you clear yourself of the charges). Threepwood witnesses and is a part of a couple of starkly negative events that may turn off some of the younger players, so parents be cautioned. Again, I won’t spoil anything for you because this is definitely the climax of the series, in my opinion.

Elaine: EN GARDE, YE PASTY, FOUR-EYED FRENCHMAN!!

Patrick’s Final Say: As with the previous entries in the series, this chapter had it’s ups and downs. While I think that the ups and downs in this chapter are a bit more even than the chapters before it, this sets the stage for the final chapter, and there certainly has to be a level of conflict, which was one of my personal downers for this chapter. At any rate, this chapter is a MUST PLAY in order to get that level of conflict and plot twists needed to make for a great pirate story.