Video Games Today

We Have Entered The World, of Warcraft

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:13:00 +0000

With the opening of the World of Warcraft Cataclysm Beta, we have opened the VGToday World of Warcraft Pandora's Box, beta. All joking aside, Max of VGToday has finally got his hands on vanilla World of Warcraft. And as comes with all new console purchases on VGToday, we start our reporting frenzy! We have also added a new section to the staff info images, a World of Warcraft Main section. All staffers will have their Main's name, realm, and faction available to your friend requests! Look forward to some reaction posts to WoW (Yes, we are 6 years late to the party), news, and our struggling with leveling!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

PS: I'm a Night Elf Resto Druid.

Rumor Confirmed: Gears of War 3

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:45:00 +0000

Earlier this week, we reported a rumor that Gears of War 3 would be announced on CliffyB's late night appearance. Well, Clffy's been rescheduled to this upcoming Monday...but I guess someone forgot to tell the Inside Xbox crew. The Xbox team prematurely put the release date of Gears 3 on the Xbox Dashboard of Xbox Live members, because CliffyB was supposed to announce it the night before. This "leak" has now been removed from your Xbox, and Microsoft is refusing to comment. But we'd say it looks like our rumor was true. The "leak" does not mention specific dates, besides April 2011; but it is safe to assume, since our sources have been right so far, that April 11th, 2011 is the EPIC date.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/gears-of-war-3-announced-by-your-xbox/

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

XBLA Inventory Blowout!

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:12:00 +0000

There are still three more days left in the Xbox Live Arcade Inventory Blowout Sale! There are ten full arcade games with as much as 53% off the regular price. And we'd like to say, most of these games are some of our favorites! Hit the jump to check out all the sales.

South Park - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Super Street Fighter II HD Remix - 560 MSP - 53% Off
Defense Grid - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Rocket Riot - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Mad Tracks - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Track & Field - 240 MSP - 40% Off
Lumines Live - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Age of Booty - 400 MSP - 50% Off
Schizoid - 800 MSP - 50% Off
Wallace & Gromit episode 1 - 400 MSP - 50% Off

Get all the links to download these games here:
http://majornelson.com/archive/2010/04/01/xbox-live-arcade-inventory-blowout-sale.aspx

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Deal of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:06:00 +0000

One of our favorite XBLA games is this week's Deal of the Week for Xbox Live Gold Members. You can grab this awesome game for only 400 Microsoft Points! Just click the download link below to get playing!

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/00000001-0000-4000-8000-0000584108ff?cid=SLink

Update: We've heard reports Geometry Wars 2 is still priced at 800 MSP on Xbox.com, but via the Xbox 360 is is now 400 MSP. We are contacting Microsoft support now! Update soon!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Rumor: Gears of War 3

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:47:00 +0000

Wondering when your favorite chainsaw wielding friends will be returning? Well, we might have a clue. According to "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", EPIC Games' game developer Cliff Bleszinski will be appearing this Thursday night to announce "his next game". Could this be Gears of War 3, or is this bogus? Hit the jump to find out!

First, let's start out with a quote from the Kotaku article on this appearance on "Late Night":

The host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon writes that the design director for popular Xbox 360 exclusive Gears of War will be on his show next week to debut his next game.

Game developer Cliff Bleszinski, who worked on both Gears of War and Gears of War 2, has not yet talked about when the final game in the trilogy will hit the Xbox 360. And it may not be Gears of War 3 that Bleszinski will be talking about.

Reached for comment this evening, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon producer Gavin Purcell told Kotaku that Bleszinski's appearance will include a chat with the show's host. He declined to say what game they would be talking about, but said it is very exciting.

In addition, we spotted this on Jimmy's twitter:

Game designer Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) debuts his new game on Late Night next Thur. Set your TiVos! And your Xboxes.

This could spark some interest? Notice how Fallon specified "Xboxes", and how Gears of War has been an Xbox Exclusive game thus far. Now, we'd like to mention that it seems only natural that Bleszinski's next game is Gears of War 3, because of the current Microsoft release schedule. Normally, Microsoft likes to spread out it's exclusive games, and have one major one a year. Here's how it's went so far:

November 7th, 2006 - Gears of War
September 25th, 2007 - Halo 3
November 7th, 2008 - Gears of War 2
September 22nd, 2009 - Halo 3: ODST
-[?]-, 2010 - Gears of War 3?

So, you see how it makes sense to release Gears 3 this year, maybe on November 7th like the other two. One problem, Halo: Reach. Does it seem likely that Microsoft would release a Halo title, and a Gears of War title in the same year, or even in Q4 together? Very unlikely.

On to evidence #2. Edge Online reported in March that EPIC would release a trailer for Gears 3 on April 8th. April 8th? Yes, that is correct. That is the night CliffyB is expected to be on Jimmy Fallon. Interesting?

Well, Edge also continues to say that "Gears Of War 3 Releasing April 2011", and:

We understand that the game could be completed as early as this year, but that Microsoft is keen to release it during a different window to Halo: Reach – rumoured to be launching in September 2010 – and Natal, which is set to arrive this holiday.

“Microsoft’s keen to avoid a clash with Halo: Reach and wants Natal to own Christmas. That’s why we won’t be seeing Gears Of War 3 until next year, but expect a major marketing push ahead of its release,” said our source.

So now this is starting to make sense, to avoid the Halo and Gears collision in Q4 2010 (Like we described above). This evidence is also supported by what EPIC's Vice-President, Mark Rein, had to say to G4TV:

"We don't have any games coming out in 2010," said Rein, "so from a games standpoint, it's more about our customers' games, right? Already this year we've seen some pretty great games this year...so that'll be kinda cool."

So, to us, it seems like Gears 3 will have to wait until 2011 to make it's bloody debut. Although, these are just rumors. Don't take all of this like it's confirmed. We are just giving you the information out there, you make your own conclusions! But just in case, set your calenders for April 11th 2011!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Staff Searching!

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:04:00 +0000

Now that we are returning to a full week schedule of posting, we need writers! Please make a comment on this post if you are interested in any of the following positions. Thanks!

News Breaker: Cover the latest daily breaking news. Most demanding job on VGToday, as you must write many articles EVERY day!
Reviewer: You help review the latest games every week and tell our readers whether to buy it, rent it, or skip it.
Podcaster: You participate in our multimedia projects, like video reviews, our podcasts, and Gamerscore Weekly.

You must have proper grammar, spelling, and good communication skills to be accepted. You may be asked to submit a writing sample before being added to staff. It is preferable that you have a Windows Live Messenger account for quick staff communications.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Our New Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:53:00 +0000

Now that we're back, we need a new official schedule for our features each week! We have comprised a small list of special posts that will occur weekly, in addition to our regular daily news. Check them out!

Monday: VGToday-cast! Starting soon, we will have our very own, weekly 30-min. podcast! We will discuss news from the previous week, what we've been playing, and anything else!
Tuesday: Gamerscore Weekly! Yes, our popular Gamerscore Weekly video podcast will be returning to it's weekly achievement hunting!
Wednesdays: Outside the Box! Every Wednesday we will have a featured article that does not directly relate to video games. It could be tech talk, current events, etc. that we find interesting and note worthy.
Thursday: Rumor Thursday! Every Thursday we will investigate a popular video game culture rumor, and bust it or confirm it!
Friday: Freebie Friday! Everyone's favorite day of the week! Everyone friday, starting soon, we will be giving away free prizes. These can range from Microsoft Points/WiiCash/PSN Credit to Full Retail Games!

We hope you all like the looks of this new schedule! So be sure to visit us every day for our exclusive content!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Exclusive Lost Planet 2 Gun in Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:58:00 +0000

Need more incentive to download the free Lost Planet 2 demo? Well, earlier today Capcom confirmed that the "MG SP" gun, which is available in the demo, is only unlockable in the demo and will carry over, to the retail game, for folks who manage to unlock it in the demo. According to Joystiq, "...the MG SP could stagger opponents with a single shot and prevent them from squeezing off shots of their own with subsequent hits -- sounds useful."

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

USB Memory Coming to 360

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:43:00 +0000

According to Major Nelson's blog, the title update which will allow for USB storage on your Xbox 360 console will be hitting on April 6th. Microsoft is offering their own "brand-name" Flash drives for 39.99$ (8GB) and 69.99$ (16GB). Now, before you go and spend all your money on a third party 1 TB drive, remember you can only use drives of 16 GB or less. We suggest looking at ebay, amazon, and newegg for two cheap 16GB drives, one for each USB port on the 360.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Battlefield VIP Map Pack 2 Hits

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:30:00 +0000

The second VIP map pack for Battlefield Bad Company 2 has hit XBLA, the same day as the Modern Warfare 2 map pack. The map pack turns Arica Harbor possible to play in Conquest Mode and Laguna Presa on Rush mode. There are no "new" maps, but its free and adds maps for players who only play rush or conquest (not both). If you are a "VIP", or you bought the game brand new, you get the pack for free. If not you must buy "VIP" access, for 15$ (1200 Microsoft Points), to get any of the free VIP map packs (currently 2 available). Check out a tour of the two new maps, and a link to purchase the map pack after the jump!

Buy "VIP" Access: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0001-0000-4000-8000-0000454108a8?cid=SLink

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Modern Warfare 2 Map Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:24:00 +0000

The long awaited Modern Warfare 2 map pack has finally hit Xbox Live shelves. The map pack, which costs a staggering 15$ (1200 Microsoft Points), includes three new maps, along with two old favorites (Overgrown and Crash) from Call of Duty 4. Personally, we will be waiting until the price drops (or it is a deal of the week) to be joining in on the preadolescence fun. Hit the jump to see what we mean.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Respawned

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:51:00 +0000

...Could this be true? Indeed it is, VGToday is returning to giving you a daily dose of all things Video Games, today. We know you've heard this before, but we're serious this time. We will be posting up our new schedule of posting soon, as well as our new schedule for giveaways and the like. So remember to enter your email to the right (into the "Enter your email address:" section) to subscribe to our posts, and get email updates on our giveaways!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Deal of the Week: Bionic Commando Rearmed (400 MSP)

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:34:00 +0000

This week's "Deal of the Week" for Xbox 360 Owners is Bionic Commando Rearmed for only 400 Microsoft Points.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Download Link: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/00000001-0000-4000-8000-0000584108f1?cid=SLink

Duke Nukem Never

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:02:00 +0000

With the shut down of 3D Realms, it seems that Duke Nukem Forever will be delayed even more, after over a decade of development time. Take-Two Interactive still owns the publishing rights to Duke Nukem Forever and does not have plans thus far to provide funding for the completion of the much awaited game. Take-Two has also filed a law suit against 3D Realms for failure to complete the game and a depletion of Take-Two resources and capital. Looks like it is back to waiting for Alan Wake.

Enjoy?
The VGToday Crew

1 vs 100 Prizes Teased

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:25:00 +0000

With the release of the Primetime feature and "1 vs 100" rapidly approaching for Xbox Live Gold Members, a new trailer has been released from the Microsoft Vaults. This particular trailer shows a sneak peak at some of the possible prizes. These prizes, as expected, are redeemable items on the XBL marketplace. For example some of the prizes shown include 40,000 Microsoft Points, 800 Microsoft Point Arcade Games, etc. Hit the jump for the video.

Here is a link to Joystiq's article on the prizes (With a video included): Click Me!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Status of VGToday

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:23:00 +0000

I have decided to bring back the regular blogging as well as the weekly GamerscoreWeekly podcast. Alot of the staff have retired, so comment here if you are interested in joining the team.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

E74 Under 3-Year Warranty

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:33:00 +0000

You heard it right, Microsoft is [finally] covering the E74 error message under the three year warranty that previously only included the 3 light "Red Rings of Death (RRoD)". Microsoft stated that the E74 message means that your box has general hardware failure, the same as the "RRoD", so it will be covered like the RRoD is. If you have EVER previously paid to have a E74 error repaired, Microsoft is contacting people to give out 100$ refunds. If you do not get contacted within a month, you are advised to call support.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew!

GamerscoreWeekly Ep. 2: Gears of War 2

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

GamerscoreWeeklyEp.1: Civilization Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

A New Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Due to the recent lack of any blogging, VGToday is moving to the Audio Front. VGToday will not be doing weekly podcasts to replace the lack of blogging. We will have our first podcast in 2-3 weeks, if you're interested in being part of this podcast please leave a comment here with contact information!

UPDATE! Read Here

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Sorry!

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:27:00 +0000

You have no doubt noticed that no posts have been made on VGToday in a long time. This is due to some staff inactivity, staff deciding to leave, my computer breaking, and dealing with my Xbox getting RRoD. We will be starting again tomorrow.

Also, note that the Feedburner stats on the right are inaccurate again, showing a fair amount of subscriptions not there. I will contact Google about this, and get it fixed ASAP.

Thanks for you guys' patience!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

More Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:00 +0000

You have probably noticed our lack of posts lately, but that is all changing soon! We have all been really busy getting into this new year and I have opened up my new website (Click Here), which has kept me busy. We will start back up with the latest news next Monday!

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Killzone 2 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Can a single title save Sony's plight and ignite flagging PS3 sales? It's unlikely. Is Guerrilla Games' effort a defining PS3 exclusive blockbuster, which will at least assure long-suffering PS3 owners? Definitely. Is it worth forking out for a PS3? ... Possibly.

Ever since Sony's infamous use of CG sequences to demonstrate the "possibilities" offered by the PS3 back in 2005, Guerrilla Games' flagship title has found itself under a tremendous degree of scrutiny. Could the PS3 actually manage to pull off the visual quality hinted towards, or was it all just smoke and mirrors? Let's admit it; it wouldn't be the first time Sony has resorted to such trickery.

If rumours are led to be believed then a considerable budget and access to Sony's finest tools, technology, and talent have certainly helped to ensure KillZone 2 is worthy of that footage. Purists could argue that such fidelity is restricted to a handful of sections within KillZone 2 and they're largely cut-scenes. But there's little denying that Guerrilla Games' first PS3 title is a visual masterpiece, eclipsing everything we've seen so far on the format and putting the likes of Gears of War into its place.

Picking up the events two years after the original KillZone, Guerrilla Games has deliberately ensured knowledge of the 2004 PS2 title is not a pre-requisite to enjoy the action. An entirely new cast of characters face this struggle between the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) and the Helghan, with the return of Col. Jan Templar providing the only real link to the first game. The ISA's attack on the Helghast planet of Helghan also brings us up to date with the continuing battle between both factions and explores the deeper reasons of why.

So begins eight chapters of pretty intense shooter action. Let's get this out of the way immediately, KillZone 2 isn't the greatest first-person shooter ever created, but then again neither was Halo. Half Life 2 and Modern Warfare still manage to share that honour. But KillZone 2 doesn't need to be. Beyond ensuring a solid shooter experience, the key requisite for KillZone 2 is (rightfully or wrongfully) whether Guerrilla could actually pull it off. And in answer to this, PS3 fans will be happy to know it's a most certain yes. "Hollywood Realism" is the wonderfully opaque term Guerrilla Games has used to describe KillZone 2, something that actually isn't merely the hyperbole that it suggests. There's a constant sense of dynamism to KillZone 2 and the world of Helghan. Wind gushes across the Helghan terrain to create a convincing sense of atmosphere that you can almost feel, while the forceful physics engine creates a gameworld that's utterly believable. Objects fly across the sky when the action heats up, yet there's a sense of solidity to everything unlike the many flimsy, plastic examples we've seen in other shooters.

Unfortunately, although the game captures the visual flair of those trailers, it rarely manages to capture the diversity and concept in terms of the mission challenges and gameplay. All too often the game falls down into familiar territory, with only the occasional section straying beyond the genre's conventions of shooting increasingly tougher opponents. Although KillZone 2 ticks many of the boxes for a solid fps experience, throwing ambushes, squad, and solitary sections into the mix, the game's pacing and occasional bland level designs prevent it from reaching the echelons of the genre's finest. Guerrilla hasn't attempted to throw anything new into the mix, and who can blame them when the pressure was on to deliver the PS3's visual magnum opus? The strict reliance on the check boxes however is a little too stringent for our liking, and whilst sections such as the assault on a speeding train are solid enough, the overwhelming sensation is one of 'seen it all before'!

The assortment of arms is what you'd expect from a shooter with even the more creative Helghast weaponry failing to offer anything that feels particularly new. Equally the handful of sections that require you to jump aboard a tank feel as though they're included just because other shooters have vehicular sections. There are exceptions: jumping onboard the AA guns onboard the ISA Cruiser New Sun feels closer to Star Wars than most other attempts ("great kid, don't get cocky"), while the mech section later in the game is pretty remarkable - all the more surprising considering we're not traditionally fond of mechs in shooters (Quake IV anyone?).

The covering system is the exception. Its implementation can be compared to that of the Rainbow Six Vegas series, just without the gimmicky need to switch the view to a third-person. Tapping a shoulder button attaches you to the nearest wall or object, with the ability to move around it and lean and peek out of cover to shoot. It's not without its problems, but it does provide a more tangible blend of old-school PC style and newer examples without degenerating into the virtual equivalent of whack-a-mole.

Guerrilla certainly deserves credit for its implementation of motion-sensitive controls as well. Wisely opting to restrict its usage to the gimmicky nature that it deserves instead of trying to develop control setups inextricably based around it, KillZone 2 uses the SixAxis/DualShock 3 motion controls for subtle commands such as turning gauges, steadying your aim when sniping, or planting mines - brilliant. Thankfully it's also largely a solid game without the glitches or bugs that thwarted the original. AI is generally very impressive and puts up a good challenge, although the kamikaze technique of certain Helghan troops does provide a weakness that can easily be exploited. As did the availability of the Electricity Gun during a later stage, its imbalance completely removing the sense of challenge from a game that generally steps up in challenge suitably as it progresses.

Of course no shooter is worth its RRP on a single-player campaign alone. It's the online multiplayer that really makes KillZone 2 an essential purchase, and surprisingly where Guerrilla Games has been at their most inventive. Despite the clamour for online play, we've got to applaud Guerrilla Games for including the relatively rare addition of bot support.

With the inclusion of persistent careers linked with the XP system, KillZone 2 may not radically push the boundaries, but the 'Warzone' mode does at least provide something that feels fresh in a fiercely competitive genre. Essentially it's a compendium of tried-and-tested game types into one cohesive game. Such an example begins with the two teams attempting to gain control of command points, the victor winning the round, before the next objective is something like defending or attempting to assassinate a VIP. There's nothing particularly new but the idea to combine each type into one mode is genius, and you're left asking why nobody's really tried this before. The only potential pitfall for KillZone 2 to overcome is whether or not the PlayStation Network can sustain the huge number of hours we expect KillZone 2 to quickly notch up.

Final Rating: 9/10

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Street Fighter 4 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:25:00 +0000

The weight of a new Street Fighter game is not to be taken lightly. After about 10 years of ridiculous turbo hyper super extreme installments which added a new character or a new combo meter in piecemeal, we’ve finally gotten a full-on, true sequel in Street Fighter 4. And as someone who’s not even that big of a Street Fighter fan, it’s easy to see just how good it is. It’s the best 2D fighting game I’ve ever played, the best looking fighting game I’ve ever played and is definitely going to be a standard for a long time to come.

The basics: 25 characters, six of which are brand new playable characters in a Street Fighter game. There’s an arcade mode (a series of AI battles, book ended by story-driven animated sequences), a challenge mode (basically AI Time Trial and Survival challenges for leaderboards and unlockables), a training mode to walk you through each of the characters moves and online play. From a feature-list perspective, it’s pretty basic stuff. There’s no Virtua Fighter-esque quest mode to earn in-game cash or conquer virtual game arcades. There aren’t even minigames to beat up cars! But in place of all that, you have near flawless gameplay.

It’s hard to summarize the depth of Street Fighter, but the comparisons to chess in high speed seem pretty accurate. Everything has a counter, every character can beaten by someone of a higher skill level, and, unlike Soul Calibur, button mashers will be annihilated within seconds of stepping up against another opponent. To a certain extent, this makes it hard for newcomers, as you’re better off playing people around your skill level, but the whopping number of characters means you can always handicap yourself by picking someone you’re not really familiar with.

The biggest new additions to the fighting mechanics are focus attacks. Activated by holding down the Medium Punch and Medium Kick buttons, a focus attack is basically a charged attack that can absorb a single attack from your enemy, allowing you to unleash fury back at them. It’s easy to pull off, requires no complicated button combos, and adds another layer to the combat.

Ultra combos are also new. After taking a certain amount of damage, you’ll be able to unleash an extremely devastating attack back at your enemy. Usually this requires some complex button presses, but if the attack lands you’ll be taking about 1/3rd of your opponents life. It’s hugely telegraphed, but if you’re in mid air or getting up from the ground you may not be able to block it. The idea is to keep everyone in the game. Even if you’re getting crushed, you can still hope to land an Ultra and make a comeback. They also come with super flashy animations and are unique to each character, which makes pulling one off even more satisfying.

The visuals, though, may be the start of the show in Street Fighter 4. The level of detail poured into each and every character and fighting arena borders on OCD. Eyes bulge when hit, barrels knock over when you land an attack near them, monkeys do backflips in the background. Street Fighter 4 is full of life, and looks crisp and bright, a nice change of pace from the browns and dark greens of this generation of games.

There are qualms to note, though. In testing the online play alongside the public, we had major issues when trying to play ranked matches or quick join games. Either it wouldn’t let us connect or we’d be left playing in extreme lag, with a slideshow level of frame rate. Playing against friends in player matches seemed to cure this problem, but the lack of a party lobby system (as seen in Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix) means that you can’t have all-night round robin sessions.

The other big issue to consider is that the standard PS3 and 360 controllers are pretty inadequate for playing Street Fighter (or pretty much any other 2D fighting game). You can get by, for sure, but anyone with a joystick or a special gamepad will have a definite edge on you. That’s not really a fault of the game itself, but it’s something to consider if you’re looking to pick it up.

Lastly, we were a bit bummed by the lack of character customization in SF4. The game allows you to unlock 10 alternate colors for your characters, but secondary costumes are relegated to DLC. After seeing incredible character customization in games like Soul Calibur 4 and Virtua Fighter 5, it’s a shame Capcom didn’t go all the way with this one. We would’ve loved to have seen Guile with a big kitty helmet.

With all that said, though, Street Fighter 4 is an immaculate fighting game. The depth of play matched with the incredible visual fidelity makes it a new standard for 2D fighting games and may just revive what has become a niche genre.

Final Rating:8.5/10

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew

Halo Wars Demo Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Max Burke) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:06:00 +0000

The Halo Wars demo has hit the XBL Marketplace and we have our demo impressions for you. Halo Wars was developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game is a Xbox 360 exclusive title and releases March 3rd in North America. Hit the jump for my impressions.

The demo gives you the opportunity to play 2 missions in the human campaign, and play unlimited amounts of 1v1 skirmish matches versus the computer. I'll start off with the campaign. Your army is on the UNSC ship the Spirit of Fire orbiting the planet Harvest. Your first mission is a basic tutorial on how to move around and fight. You are then given a hero unit and you set off on the missions. The missions are nothing to scream about, the main part of this demo is the skirmish mode.

Skirmish mode allows you to play as both the covenant and the UNSC, but you must use the preselected leader. For the covenant you can be the Prophet of Regret and for the UNSC you can be the Captain of the Spirit of Fire. Each leader (Six total in retail game; 3 UNSC/ 3 Covenant) has unique units, bonuses, powers, upgrades, perks, etc. to help define their play style. The Captain can use an orbital "sniper bomb" known as the MAC Bomb. With the MAC bomb you pinpoint an area and deal major damage in that small Area of Effect. The Prophet of Regret can use his power to destroy enemies quickly. The prophet, who is a decent fighter/defender early game, can call down a "holy beam" for 10 resources a second to nearly "insta-kill" and units found under it. He also has the unique Honor Elite Guards. These are basically Elites equipped with only energy swords and can cloak to sneak around. From what I tested they are only good to make an early rush with or defend from an early rush. Once the opposing side has middle tier units they are useless, except to be canon fodder.

The demo does not include all units or all of the tech tree so it is hard to estimate how deep this game will be, but from the demo it looks deep enough to keep you interested but will look like a flat experience to hardened PC RTS fans. Another issue is the controls. Many sites have critically acclaimed the controls, but I beg to differ. Sure, the controls work for a console, but there are many useless things maped to buttons that could be used better off. For example, you can use the right trigger to jump between bases and when you pass one and want to go back, you'd click the left trigger...right? Wrong. The left trigger is used to increase scroll speed accross the map. Sure, the increased speed is nice, but could have been implemented much better. They could have just made the scoll speed gradually increase as you scroll, for larger maps.

Overall, Halo Wars looks like a step in the right direction for a console RTS, but it is not the final step. Future console RTS should use Halo Wars as a model, but expand on it. Think of Halo Wars as the skeleton, we just need to add the muscle to it now. Also, after playing EndWar, lack of voice commands seems like a step backwards for a console RTS. I would have really liked to see Ensemble add an option for voice commands for tedious controls, that would free up the controller even more for a deeper experience.

Enjoy!
The VGToday Crew