Mortal Kombat (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Developer: NetherRealm Studios

Genre: Fighting Game

Release: Early 2011

PREVIEW

Okay, as great as it may have been for its market, Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe was a huge letdown for the hardcore fighting crowd.  Yes, we enjoyed pummeling the crap out of Superman with Scorpion.  But the watered-down fatalities (Joker’s censored gunshot was disappointing) and lack of gore made it feel less than a Mortal Kombat-based title should’ve been.  Still, we think Warner Bros. has learned its lesson, and after getting this necessary crossover out of the way, it’s ready to go back to bloody business with the return of the real Mortal Kombat. We managed to catch a glimpse of the game in action at E3 this past week, and came away very impressed.  So impressed, in fact, it almost took our pick as Game of the Show.

Not much has been revealed about the plot, but it looks like the galaxy is safe from the Justice League.  The Mortal Kombat tournament is back in play, and several classic heroes and villains are back in action, including Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero and Scorpion, among others.  They’re fighting in several familiar areas, including The Pit (made famous in the original) and The Living Forest (which was featured in Mortal Kombat II).

However, locales and characters aren’t the only things returning to form.  Mortal Kombat returns to glorious 2-D-style fighting action, similar to how the Marvel Vs. Capcom games work.  Yep, you’ll no longer be strolling in the third dimension, but rather concentrating on your usual 2-D combos and jumping left and right as you dodge attacks and plan some of your own.   That alone is reason enough for celebration, since we’re still trying to wash Mortal Kombat 4’s confusing movement system out of our heads.

That’s not to say the gameplay is going too primitive though.  There are modern touches that will make it stand out with the better fighting games coming out in 2011.  First off, you can perform custom combos, juggling opponents and hitting them with powerful moves to keep the blood gushing.  You can also play against others in a two-on-two tag mode, similar also to the Marvel Vs. Capcom series, although this hasn’t been confirmed for online just yet.  (Cross those fingers!)  Finally, there’s a new power bar on the bottom of the screen.  The more damage you dish out, the more its uses open up.  One lets you increase your attacks, while another activates X-Ray mode.  Here, you’ll close in on an opponent and deliver devastating blows, which are profiled through see-through X-rays.  You’ll see bones crack, skulls cave in and backs snap.  It’s wonderful, in its own violent fashion.

The guys at Gamestop got gameplay footage. Check it:

And we haven’t even gotten to the fatalities yet.  Ed Boon, one of the producers behind the original game, is working closely with his team to assure that the fatalities are ridiculously over the top.  One has Sektor, a robotic assassin, blast his opponent with a missile and THEN blast his or her body parts with smaller missiles.  Another has Kung Lao throw down his razor sharp hat like a buzzsaw, only to drag his opponent through it legs first until he or she is completely sliced in half.  The other ones are over-the-top as well, from Scorpion slicing someone’s head off (and in pieces) to Mileena having a nice little midnight snack – with your face.  Gross, but great.

Another thing we like about the new Mortal Kombat is the visuals.  This game really looks a few steps up from MK Vs. DC Universe, with better attention to detail on characters and plenty of small but significant touches in each backdrop.  In the Living Forest, for instance, the tree’s expressions actually look far more realistic, and not as plastered on as before.  The X-ray effect is absolutely dope, and the way your opponent becomes more bloodstained and tattered in each fight is terrific.  It sounds the part too, with plenty of familiar sound effects (“Get over here!”) and a few new ones scattered about.  And that’s just from the stage that we saw.

Wow.  Mortal Kombat is coming back next year, bigger, better and bloodier than ever.  Ed Boon and company are really going back to the way the series worked here, with plenty of touches for the old-schooler and enough new stuff to welcome new players with open, broken arms.  Look for more coverage in the months ahead as we highly anticipate this game’s arrival.  It’s definitely worth killing for.  “Fatality!”

Check out the Screens:

Battlefield: Bad Company was an effective spin-off for the long-running first-person shooter series, going with a less-than-serious tone while packing plenty of action-filled punch, especially when it came to destructible environments.  Leave it to Electronic Arts and DICE to top themselves yet again with Battlefield Bad Company 2, a game that gets right back into business.

It skips the comedic tone this time around, although the squad that appeared in the first game is back on patrol.  In the sequel, they’re hunting after a peculiar device that’s been around since the ol’ days of World War II, one that can level an enemy in a matter of minutes.  As expected, there’s resistance while searching for this item, but it’s nothing the soldiers of Bad Company can’t handle.  They’re used to it.

The game’s single player campaign follows Bad Company’s adventures, and there’s lots of action here, from mowing down soldiers overhead in a helicopter (with a chaingun, no less) to hitting the ground hard and defending against RPG-firing lunatics and soldiers galore.  There’s no shortage of weapons in the game, as you’ll constantly find new ones to add to your weapon cache.  There are some that work better than others, but you can’t go wrong with an assault rifle that fires off grenades.  And there’s no shortage of ammunition either, leaving you plenty of room to thrash the competition.

Once you’re done with the single-player campaign (which will only take a few hours, but is a fun ride), you can hop right into online multiplayer.  Here, you’ll take part in various maps (six on the disc, and multiple others that are accessible through the VIP pack, free with purchase of a new copy).  You can take part in Rush, Conquest and Squad Deathmatch, where the name of the game is survival and dominating areas.  Like the first game, Battlefield Bad Company 2’s multiplayer is effective and fun, and you can add Onslaught for an additional $9.99 to expand it even further.

Gameplay in general is great as always, like DICE always does.  The combat never lets up, and even getting behind the wheel of a vehicle can be exciting, as you fire off explosive rounds at pursuing vehicles and level a helicopter from the sky.  The first-person shooting is frenetic but never to the point you can’t keep track of your targets, and the way everything blows up – be it a building or a vehicle – is incredible.  No one can match DICE’s ability to create stuff that disintegrates in real time.  (At least, not yet.)

Graphically, Bad Company 2 is a step above the original.  The environments are more expansive this time around, with plenty of attention to detail in the deserts, snow-covered mountains and other terrain.  The explosions are dazzling, the animation is smooth (performing a successful headshot and watching your target collapse is sweet) and the camera never gets in the way of the action.  This is a sharp-looking product.  It sounds good as well, with plenty of great dialogue (the team is up to their usual antics, despite the slowdown in humor) and musical cues.  You’ll love every minute of it.

Bottom line, buy yourself Battlefield Bad Company 2.  There’s plenty to do online and off, and the gameplay and graphics really bring out the best in war.  Can’t wait to see what these guys do next with Medal of Honor.  Or Battlefield 3, for that matter.

For trailer check: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 preview

Check out these screens:

DanceDanceRevolution Systems Awarded to Top 100 Most Active Schools

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – June 7, 2010 - Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. continues to help combat America’s childhood obesity problem one state and one school at a time. Following its groundbreaking initiative with the state of West Virginia, Konami has brought its best-selling get-up-and-move video game to the biggest state in the union, California. The company today announced that DanceDanceRevolution will, for the second year, be a featured reward in the 2010 California Governor’s Fitness Challenge.

More than 1.3 million students signed up to participate in the 2010 California Governor’s Challenge competition, making the California Challenge the standard for statewide fitness challenges nationwide. In thanking Konami for its support, Governor’s Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld said, “Our Council is a big believer in promoting fitness for kids by providing schools the tools.  Konami’s reward provides 100 deserving California schools with a fun way to get kids up and moving and I think it’s fantastic.”

The California Governor’s Fitness Challenge, which ended on May 31, required participants among all k-12 schools to be active 30-60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for four weeks. The Council will announce  the finalist schools and recipients of the DanceDanceRevolution award in June.

“Konami is committed to keeping DanceDanceRevolution top of mind when it comes to fitness, not only with consumers, but also schools, governments and administrations who seek to further diversify their physical education curriculums,” said Shinji Hirano, president of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “DanceDanceRevolution has been proven to promote a healthy life balance of exercise and fun, which is why it is such a natural fit for us to participate in such an remarkable and important cause.”

Konami has also partnered with high-profile sponsors including the West Virginia Children Health Insurance Program and Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. for the 2010DanceDanceRevolution West Virginia State Championship Tournament.

For more information on the California’s Governor’s Challenge, please visit:
http://www.calgovcouncil.org/.

For more information on DanceDanceRevolution, please visit: http://www.konami.com.

Here’s the press release regarding the new/reinvented title:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:ERTS) announced today that NBA ELITE will be the new moniker of the long running EA SPORTS™ NBA videogame franchise. NBA ELITE 11 will revolutionize the way basketball simulation games are played, with an all-new technology base, a new control scheme and a real-time physics system. Currently in development for the PLAYSTATION®3 and the XBOX™ 360, NBA ELITE 11 will be available in retail stores this October.

“From the first day of development on this product, it was clear that we intended to pioneer a groundbreaking change in the basketball videogame segment”

“We plan to profoundly evolve the interactive basketball experience in a way that the category has not seen for a decade,” says Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “In NBA ELITE 11, we’ll introduce a gameplay experience that gives fans the control on the court that they have been begging for in a basketball game for years.”

Using the design principles from some of EA SPORTS top rated franchises, NBA ELITE 11 introduces several significant gameplay changes that center around user control. The new ‘Hands-On Control’ scheme allows for one-to-one responsiveness of a player’s movement and actions on the court, as opposed to traditional predetermined animations that require users to wait while a scenario played out before making the next move. Hands-on Control applies to everything within a player’s offensive and defensive arsenal, including: dribble moves, dunks, drives to the basket, fadeaways, mid-air adjustments, blocks, steals and more.

The new real-time physics system in NBA ELITE 11 allows each player on the court to move independently of one another, removing the two-man interactions that have long taken the user control out of basketball simulation videogames. In addition, a new skill-based shooting system requires accurate user input, based on a player’s position on the court, versus the randomly generated dice rolls that have driven shooting in basketball videogames in the past.

“NBA ELITE 11 will give gamers the same skill set that a pro basketball player has at his disposal,” said David Littman, Creative Director, NBA ELITE 11. “This is the first basketball simulation videogame where you are controlling every movement, dribble move, shot, dunk, lay-up, steal and block in real time with one-to-one control. You’re no longer going to push a button and watch the computer generate a long animation sequence. It is like being on a basketball court with an amazing set of skills. This is going to change what people have come to expect from a basketball simulation videogame.”

“From the first day of development on this product, it was clear that we intended to pioneer a groundbreaking change in the basketball videogame segment,” said Jordan Edelstein, VP Marketing, EA SPORTS. “It’s a whole new game that warranted a brand new name to fully capture the transformation we intend to deliver in NBA ELITE.”

Electronic Arts has been releasing basketball videogames since 1983. The first game, titled One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird, was one of the first basketball games to feature real NBA players. The franchise was rebranded to become NBA LIVE with the release of NBA LIVE 95, a brand that has carried on for 16 years culminating in last year’s NBA LIVE 10. EA’s NBA-licensed franchises have sold more than 25 million units since 1995*.

NBA ELITE 11 will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system with an MSRP of $59.99. It is developed by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball,NCAA® Football and NCAA Basketball, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®golf, and EA SPORTS Active.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visitwww.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

Super Hero Squad Online (PC, MAC….)

Developer: The Amazing Society/Gazillion Entertainment

Publisher: Gazillion Entertainment

Release Date:  Early 2011

Who’s a Marvel Comics fan…..practically almost everyone that has EVER read a comic book or seen the blockbuster movies, like Iron Man, Spider Man and the HULK. So what is the Super Hero Squad you might ask? Well this is Marvel’s take on the Avengers (a collective of Marvel super heroes that consist of Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, etc) but with a younger style and feel for an easy introduction to the Marvel Universe for those that have never picked up a comic book  or those that don’t know the lore of all the Marvel characters.

Super Hero Squad Online is a browser based MMO that runs on the Unity Engine. This title has been in development since last year and is slated to drop early 2011. You might be thinking that the development cycle has been relatively short for an MMO…..and you’re right. However game play looks really smooth and the characters look rich and polished. Developers at The Amazing Society (gotta admit…that just sounds BAD ASS!), are a collective of gaming industry veterans that bring big passion to this project. Jay Minn aka Doctor Aggro (yes Doctor Aggro…the team all have nicknames for themselves) gave us a quick preview and run through of the game and was also nice enough to talk to me about it.

The characters all have this vinyl toy look, which actually works well and gives the game a campy and fun feel to the game. The game brings a collecting concept that gives players the ability to collect as many characters as they can. This is quite a feat because players will be able access over 5,000 characters from Marvel’s extensive catalog! Like a typical MMO, players have to level up their characters. Each character comes with about 25 standard emote actions right out the box….(that’s just the minimum) and the game ships with about 50 characters to begin with. Part of them are what they call “Super Hero” emotes, which are character specific.

More after the Jump:

Players can explore the different settings and move vertically and horizontally throughout the environment. Settings of Marvel worlds range from but not limited to: Spider Man, Fantastic Four and Super Hero city (Super Hero City is like a mélange of a lot of the Marvel Superhero cities all in one). Gameplay is more action based and less turn based, unlike most MMOs. Combat missions will allow up to 4 players per squad.  Plus the different game modes would be: competition, collection and community. Each level of play is designed to be about 5-15 mins of play, which keeps the game fresh and exciting. This helps remove the long monotonous grinding feel most MMOs tend to have after a while. All the rounds are replayable, especially with different squad combos. In addition, each round has ratings for players that range from Silver to Adamantium. The game rates based off damage taken, KOs, combos executed, etc.

Now what would all MMO players want in their game? Alternative costumes of course! Super Hero Squad Online delivers that as well….with a little twist! The alternate costumes are really variant characters. For example, Hulk buster Iron Man or Wolverine. These variant characters come with brand new sets of combos and moves……the new costumes is a plus! =)

Well Gazillion and The Amazing Society are looking to unveil more during E3 so check back for more info when it drops. For now, if the game stays on track and the developers are able to integrate and utilize everything that they want, this game will be GREAT and take on (and possibly destroy) the competition in that space. I’m not a big MMO guy…ok…not at all…but I am actually looking forward to having hands on with this one!

Check out the Screens:

Developer: CAPCOM

Publisher: CAPCOM

Genre: Action

Rating: T for Teen

The ice may have melted away, but we still can’t shake this cold feeling that’s come over us with Lost Planet 2.  The long-in-the-works sequel has finally arrived after many months in the cooler (no pun intended), but now that it’s here, we can’t help but feel a little lukewarm over it.  It’s still a functional action game with plenty of big, bad Akrid to bring down to size, but its structuring and limitations may be too much for some players to bear.

Once again, you’re on the planet surface of EDN III, but the surface has melted away, revealing a tropic-like setting that’s anything but paradise.  Mercenaries are scattered about, driving around in giant mechanized suits and on foot.  If that isn’t enough, those pesky aliens, the Akrid, are back for more, hatching from the ground and inhuman generators.  Those are the least of your worries though, as you’ll soon run into bigger iterations.  We’re talking about a big six-legged beast and a grasshopper-like monster that won’t hesitate to smash you with its arms.

It sounds promising, but Lost Planet 2 comes up short in too many areas.  Part of the problem is the way the game is set up.  Instead of going through continuously long missions, they’re broken up into smaller sections.  So you complete a stage, wait a bit for the result, and then move onto the next one.  They’re varied, with lots to shoot at alongside your friends, but it’s annoying having to stop and go so much.  Furthermore, the lack of checkpoints is a real pain.  You’ll die and start all the way back at the start of a stage, rushing to get back into the firefight on the other side of it.

Another problem is starting up a game, whether it’s single-player or co-op.  If you’re by your lonesome, you’ll still need to set up a multiplayer match with three AI teammates, all of which are about as smart as a car bumper.  (That’s okay, the enemy AI matches their intelligence.)  This takes longer than expected.  It would’ve been nice for Capcom to just give us a “quick start” into Campaign.  The online co-op is solid, but it’s limited too often.  You can’t pause a live co-op sessions, and others can’t join you until your current mission is complete…however long that may take.

One thing the game does right is competitive multiplayer.  Going up against others in battle is a lot of fun, and there are several variations to choose from, including an addictive Akrid Egg hunt.  That said, it still won’t replace Call of Duty or Halo anytime soon.  It’s good, but hardly anywhere near where Capcom expects it to be.

As for the gameplay itself, it holds together, although too many functions are assigned to the B button.  Activating switches, melee attacks and running are all put to use on this one button, while the others serve separate functions.  You’ll still run and gun, hop into mech suits (good times) and use a rappelling cord to reach new heights, just like in the original.  Still, the option to change to a more convenient control method would’ve been nice.

Lost Planet 2 sounds outstanding.  A whopper of a music score plays in the background (although intermittently), and there are plenty of big bangs coming from your guns and grenades.  The soldier chatter gets a little tiring over time, but it’s never to the point that you’re groaning like you did listening to Resident Evil’s dialogue.  It could be better, but it could also be worse.

Then there are the visuals.  Graphically, Lost Planet 2 looks fine for a sequel.  It’s great to see the actual lay of the land for a change, rather than walking around in a winter wonderland and underground caves.  The tropical foliage definitely has some life to it, and the animation on the characters – particularly the massive Akrid bosses – impresses.  However, we did a comparison between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions to see what holds up better.  Surprisingly, despite the reported size limitations on the regular disc format, the Xbox 360 wins out.  It has a much smoother frame rate and far less bugs than the PS3 version.  And this after Sony’s edition requires a limiting 4.6 GB hard drive install.  That simply doesn’t make any sense.

In the end, Lost Planet 2 simply can’t overcome its problems.  Capcom did put some initiative into making the game different than the first, but its silly co-op rules, straining game set-up and questionable AI make it feel defrosted.  Let’s hope Dead Rising 2 doesn’t suffer the same fate.

Check out the screens:

UFC Undisputed 2010

Developer: Yukes Entertainment

Publisher: THQ

ESRB: Teen

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Release Date: 5/25/2010

Subhead: We brutalize a near-final build of THQ’s latest UFC brawler, and come away with a satisfying win (and bruised thumbs).

In a matter of weeks now, THQ will be pummeling store shelves with its latest iteration of the Ultimate Fighting Championship series, UFC Undisputed 2010.  To ready the hungry media for its forthcoming release, the company invited a select few (including us!) down to Las Vegas to check out a near-final build of the game.  Needless to say, we weren’t disappointed – even when we lost.

One of the biggest changes in this year’s edition of UFC Undisputed is the career mode.  Rather than just walk your customized fighter through the empty, lifeless ranks of a fighter organization, you micro-manage basically everything about them.  How they train (open or focused training), what areas they need work on (stamina, speed, etc.), where they learn new moves (basically through camp invites, in which there are dozens to choose from) and, eventually, the “big” fights where they make or break their career (mostly through UFC events or smaller affiliates) are all on the agenda.  It’s important to keep an eye on your energy levels, though, because you don’t want to overwork yourself on fatigue and risk injury.  Sometimes it’s important to take a rest day, just to balance out your levels in-between training sessions.  Even batteries need a recharge.

Every aspect of career mode is looking sharp thus far, and it works with a menu interface that’s easy to navigate through.  Choices are easy to make, and some of the smaller decisions, such as the answers you give co-announcer Joe Rogan during a post-match interview (should you be arrogant or nice?), can really help define which way your career goes.  Also, don’t forget to train, and don’t be afraid to try some new techniques with the other camps.  You might be surprised how helpful they are in the later match-ups.

If you prefer to just get down and dirty with the current UFC roster, you’re in luck.  The game features over 80 fighters in numerous weight classes, including Welterweight and Heavyweight.  Most of your favorites are present and accounted for, including Undisputed cover star (and current champion) Brock Lesnar, the stylish Anderson Silva (his winning pose is sweet) and Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, among others. It was great fun recreating some dream match-ups that have taken place, and even setting up a few that are yet to come.  (Who says Kimbo Slice doesn’t stand a chance against Lesnar?)

With gameplay, UFC Undisputed feels just as good as last year’s game – and in some ways, even better.  Along with the thunderous punches and kicks that can make or break a match (depending where you hit your opponent), the ground game is much more refined.  You can put your enemy on the ground with a tackle, or perhaps even a reversal (if they’re trying to get a lower advantage on you).  From there, if you’re the victim (of sorts), you can try and escape with some twists of the analog stick, or even reverse the move.  If you started the submission, you can finish it by clicking the right analog stick at the right time, then proceeding to turn the analog stick a quarter-circle to a half-circle to go for the tap-out.  This works better than we expected, although there are times that our armbar wasn’t as effective as, say, someone else’s.  (It’s really a matter of strength and, in some cases, luck.)

UFC Undisputed 2010 also shows signs of improvement in its presentation.  First and foremost, it’s great to see Bruce Buffer get some love from the developers.  (“It’s TIME!”)  Almost every other aspect of the UFC circuit is covered in great detail, from the highlighted sponsors on the mat (hey, Xyience is good stuff) to the beautiful ring girls to the enthusiastic crowds.  But the thing that’ll really grab your attention is the detail given to the fighters.  Every one of them looks like the real deal, save for occasionally odd staring moments.  We also like the small stuff, such as Kimbo Slice’s hairy-beyond-belief beard (seriously, you could hide car keys in there) and Brock Lesnar’s post-match taunt (is he asking for a Coors?).

This is one game we’re truly looking forward to…and we’ve only reached the tip of the iceberg so far.  Over the following month, Gameplaybook will have more coverage on UFC Undisputed 2010, including a visit to The Ultimate Fighter facility (look for news and pictures on that later this week), some truly warped fighter creations and, of course, our final review.  Be sure to check back for all the coverage, or we’ll send “Rampage” Jackson over to your house to get some answers.  No, really.  He’s sitting here in the office.  (Well, okay, he COULD be…)

Check out these screens:

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Release date: Spring 2011

Capcom has been just tantalizing fans of their games, especially their fighting games, with awesomeness. With titles like Street Fighter 4, Marvel vs Capcom 2 (downloadable version of the original game), Tatsunoku vs Capcom, the soon to be released Super Street Fighter 4, you think you’d get your fighting game fix quenched. Well the good peeps at Capcom think differently. They just announced a fan requested, long awaited title that quite honestly is shaking the gaming world, MARVEL vs CAPCOM 3!  WHAT?!!! Yeah your eyes do not deceive you…..Marvel vs Capcom 3!

It’s been a decade since Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes was unleashed unto the world. This new offering will be running on Capcom’s own advanced version of MT Framework, the same engine used in Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2.

More after the Jump:

What will the game offer? Well Capcom breaks the game down like this:

• Evolved VS. Fighting System: Wild over-the-top gameplay complete with signature aerial combos, hyper combos and other original systems. The evolved battle system takes the exciting mind-reading game to a whole new level!

• 3-on-3 Tag Team Fighting: Players build their own perfect team and use Assist Attacks and each character’s special moves to create their own unique fighting style.

• Living Comic Book Art Style: See the most adored characters from the Capcom and Marvel universes brought to life in a “moving comic” style, blurring the boundaries between 2D and 3D graphics.

I’m actually curious and excited about this title and like everyone else….patiently waiting to check out actual gameplay and gameplay footage when the time comes. Look out for Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds coming Spring 2011.

Check out some sweet ass pics:

MvC3

MvC3

Chris

Hulk

iron man

morrigan

Ryu

Wolverine

PREVIEW

Def Jam Rapstar (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

Developer: 4mm Games, Def Jam Interactive and Terminal Reality

Release Date: Fall 2010

Genre: Music

ESRB: RP (anticipating T)

Players: 1-2 Players

DEF JAM…..the LEGENDARY Hip Hop record label has teamed up with 4mm Games,
Terminal Reality and Konami to bring onto the world DEF JAM RAPSTAR!!!

I know what you’re thinking, “WTF….is this another music genre game?” Bluntly put, “YES IT IS!” However, there’s something about this game actually makes me want to jump for joy…..ok I actually did jump for joy, literally! I thought to myself finally a hip hop alternative to all the other music genre games out there, one with at least a little bit more soul and flavor. After the initial surprise, I calmed down and got a little bit skeptical. I wanted to give this a good looking over before I jump the gun.

Kevin Liles, Def Jam CEO (who I know of, since I did a little A&R work in the music industry), came on stage and presented the game. The one thing that really resonated with me was Mr. Liles saying, “I don’t know EVERYTHING, but I KNOW HIP HOP.” That alone in my opinion gave the game a little more credibility and curiosity as far as I was concerned. There was a small showcase by 4mm creative officer, Jaime King and Giant Bomb’s own Jeff Gertsmann, performing “Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang”…Yeah the Dr. Dre Classic, featuring Snoop! Gotta admit watching Jeff rock the mic and the stage the way he did got me mad excited for this game….and I wanted more.

So on to the game itself. Basically the objective for the game is to span console, web and mobile accessibility. It’s slated to drop FALL 2010. Def Jam Rapstar is running on Terminal Reality’s own “INFERNAL ENGINE”, which is the same engine that powered “Ghostbusters: the video game”. (kindda makes you wonder how versatile this gaming engine is)

The game modes are:

-        Battle mode: which allows you to compete locally head-to-head for the highest score

-        Duet mode: where both players sing and rap together to achieve the highest combined score on any given track

-        Solo mode: you can brush up and sharpen your timing and rhyming skillz on your own before jumping into the other modes

-         Freestyle mode: which allows MC’s in the making to bust their own lyrics over well-known producer’s beats, offering a chance to show and prove that they have what it takes. (No self respecting Hip Hop game will ever have this aspect missing from it…it’s practically blasphemy)

Unlike most other microphone-based games, Def Jam Rapstar features custom, proprietary voice recognition technology that judge’s lyrical accuracy. In addition to lyrical accuracy, the game also measures players pitch and timing to provide your complete score in real time.

Speaking about proprietary, Def Jam Rapstar is compatible with all 3^rd party microphones on the market….so you’re not held down by the man (of sorts).

What’s really unique about the game and what sets it apart from similar games like Sing Star or Karaoke Revolution, is that Def Jam Rapstar allows you to create a video of the performance starring yourself, edit, and then upload to www.defjamrapstar.com, a fully integrated online community where players can share their videos with the world to gain global recognition and become a bona fide rapstar, utilizing the PlayStation Eye or Xbox Live Vision camera. Once uploading your video, you can share it via social networking portals, like Facebook and people can vote on your performance. Games like Rockband and Guitar Hero can’t technically teach you how to play the guitar or the drums in real world situations (the possibility of sparking an interest to learn the real instrument might happen), but Def Jam Rapstar has that potential to actually give you a platform to showcase your skillz and quite possibly launch an actual rap career. Stranger things have happened….just look at Justin Bieber.

What’s a music game without the track list? NOTHING I TELL YOU! For a Hip Hop game, there’s no other place better than DEF JAM. The label is a pioneer in the game, with an extensive catalog that spans over 30 years I could go into the history of Def Jam and give those that are not familiar with Hip Hop a little 411, but I won’t. Let’s just put it this way, the game is said to come with over 40 songs on it’s release and DLC is also in the works. This means you can get the latest hits from today’s artists like, Ludacris and go all the way back to LL Cool J, Public Enemy and of course, Run DMC.

The tracks that were available for preview that night got me ecstatic. They showed us ten tracks….and half of them were straight up classics! That’s not my opinion…it’s a fact. With Hip Hop classics like Notorious B.I.G’s “Juicy”, 2 Pac’s “I Get around”, Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story”, The Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.”…..to present day bangers like T.I.’s “Live Ya Life” and Kanye’s “Gold Digger”, you can’t miss!

Initial confirmed Def Jam Rapstar gameplay tracks include

If everything goes according to plan and stays true to what they set out to do, Def Jam Rapstar could possibly be Hip Hop’s answer to Beatles Rockband! I’m eagerly anticipating and feenin’! In the immortal words of DMX, “LET’S GET IT ON!”

Check out some screens of the game:

Lil Wayne: Solo Gameplay

Wu-Tang Clan C.R.E.A.M. Duet Gameplay

LOST IN SHADOW (Nintendo Wii)

ESRB: Everyone (estimate)

Publisher: Hudson Entertainment, Inc.

Developer: Hudson Soft

Genre: Platform Adventure

Launch Date: Fall 2010

Hudson has been busy bees (get it?) lately. This time the present us with a new platformer/ puzzle styled game called “LOST IN SHADOW”. Hudson calls it a shadow based action game.

The gist of the story is, The main character’s (who’s a young boy) shadow is severed from him and is left to wonder.  There is a Tower that rises above all in an alternate world. No one knows who built this or why it was built.  One thing is certain, the Tower both sheds a large shadow and at the same time is filled with moving shadows. The boy’s shadow runs through the shadow of the Tower, solves mysteries and puzzles along the way, and fights off enemies that try to impede his progress. The boy is not affected by gravity but his movement is restricted within the thin boarder between light and shadow. The boy’s shadow is not alone in his endeavors as a creature of light, a winged sylph known as a “Spangle”, joins him on his quest.

The game has an interesting concept and gameplay mechanics. The main objective is to reach the summit with the main character’s shadow. Gameplay incorporates puzzles and the player utilizes light and shadows to create shadow paths….even gravity is influence during gameplay. You will battle shadow creatures with traditional weapons.

I have to admit, this game sounds confusing but upon seeing it and having hands on, I’m really interested and excited to see the finished product. I am a huge platform game lover and this gives the genre a new twist. Look out for Lost in Shadow coming to the Nintendo Wii in Fall 2010.

Check out these screens: