The Art of Fable II

This game has been one of my favorite RPG’s this year. Instead of looking at reviews, previews and gameplay for once, I am just going to look at the artwork. Certain games shine much brighter than others in this area, and recently, artwork and art direction in video games has been kicked up a notch with some of the most beautiful artwork (gaming or non-gaming) ever seen.

Concept Artwork & Wallpaper

Initial Impressions of Fable 2

One word describes it well: Intelligent.

Every decision you make affects you. How hard you work, how you make money, how you purchase property, who you decide to do work for, what kind of expressions you show people around you, who you wield a weapon in front of, how you treat your dog.

All of those things affect the game and your character. I played the game and had many goosebump moments. Moments of realization that made me ask myself “Why the fuck couldn’t any other game think of this before?”. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Having played through it for 3 1/2 hours when I only intended to do so for about half an hour and then get some rest.

Let’s put it this way… as I sit here at work, and my 360 is at home turned off, my character is still making money off of the rent that I am getting from the property that I purchased in Fable 2 after I spent some time working with the blacksmith and with woodchopping.

You get what you put in and I’m getting about 150 gold every 5 minutes that goes by, whether I am playing the game or not.

FIRST BioShock 2 Teaser Trailer! :)

It’s been a while, and we loyal fans have waited a while for the sequel to what still is considered one of the best, if not the best action/rpg/shooting games ever made.

BioShock 2: Click image for video.

Fable II Initial Reviews Look Excellent

Let’s look at some of the reviews so far. They are all solid so far and indicate a huge success. I will be picking up my copy tomorrow and giving my initial impressions as well.

3DJuegos.com 9.1/10 here

GameSpot 8.5/10 here

PCWorld 100/100 here

Game Revolution B+/A+ here

IGN Australia 9.2/10 here

X-Play 5/5 here

GameSpy 4.5/5 here

8Bit Joystick 97/100 here

EveryEye Italia 8.5/10 here

CheatCC 4.5/5 here

GamingXP 90/100 here

Konzolista.cz A/A+ here

Level7 8/10 here

Dutch Gamer 8/10 here

Meristation 9/10 here

GamesOnSmash 9.9/10 here

GameReactor 8/10 here

IGN 8.8/10 here

TeamXbox 8.9/10 here

itAvisen 5/6 here

CVG 9.2/10 here

Play 88/100 here

Ars Technica (Verdict: Buy) here

Danish GameReactor 9/10 here

Xbox360Achievements 94/100 here

GameReactor Sweden 8/10 here

GameReactor Norway 8/10 here

Xbox360 Fanboy Positive Review here

IGN UK 9.5/10 here

GamesRadar 9/10 here

DailyGame 7.8/10 here

Spongy Chicken 9/10 here

Kikizo 9/10 here

PlanetXbox360 9.5/10 here

Snappy Gamer 5/5 here

Strategy Informer 9/10 here

RPGSite 96/100 here

EuroGamer 10/10 here

OXM UK 8/10 here

VideoGamer 9/10 here

Weapons of Quantum of Solace, Video Interview

6 minutes of pure awesome interview footage covering the weapons that James Bond uses in the upcoming video game. Click image for the video and enjoy!

My Top Game Picks – November 2008

Quantum of Solace: The Video Game – November 4, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

The last James Bond movie rocked. This one will be even better from the looks of it. Why does that matter if we are talking about the game? Well, they have stayed very true to the movie. The developers are using the same engine used in Call of Duty 4, so we know it will be solid and it will work with little to no bugs. Daniel Craig himself was reluctant of any Bond game, considering how bad Movie>Game translations go, so he test it out himself and gave it his approval. Could this be the next best Bond game since Golden Eye on the N64? I think it has a very good chance of it. Definitely a safe, if not great buy this November. Check it out:

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm – November 4, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

Yes, Naruto has been done before, but it has never looked or sounded this good. The graphics are simply amazing. You see almost no polygons and the gameplay makes you feel like you are living in the Anime world, recreated from the ground up. If you enjoy anything about Naruto as I do, then you will probably be very excited with the great battle system and gameplay. Look at the videos and become a believer! Cell shading didn’t even look half this good. I can’t wait to play as Kakashi!!

Tom Clancy’s End War – November 4, 2008 for Either Xbox360 or PS3

This is the first current gen game that is using audio input in a unique way. You can now use your voice to control and command an entire plethora of army and military personnel. Air support, tanks, soldiers, snipers, ground strike teams, all at your vocal cords. How many other games can do that? It’s very ambitious and I am very excited to see how this turns out. This could break some new ground if it turns out to be a big success, and other games will follow suit.

Resistance 2 – November 4, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

Insomniac games has an excellent record of making top notch games. The first Resistance game blew away what most people believed about first person shooters. It had solid gameplay, cool weapons and a really badass character, Nathan Hale. This one looks to improve the multiplayer, allowing 60 player multiplayer and all sorts of co-op fun. Now  you can play the campaign with friends or alone, whether you want to do that online or offline doesn’t matter. Their entire focus this time around was co-op. And from the videos I have seen and the reaction from the beta, this game is going to be better than crack.

Gears of War 2 – November 7, 2008 For Xbox360 (Exclusive)

This game shattered many records in gaming history. Considered by some to be the absolute best shooting game ever made, the second one seems to have improved on everything. Is more of the same thing good? I would say YES! And what you are getting in GoW2 is an improvement in graphics, gameplay and multiplayer as well as other things. Using bad guys as shields is just one awesome new addition to this game. In multiplayer, instead of having a capture-the-flag mode, they have a mode where you are to capture a player from the other team. HOW FUCKING AWESOME IS THAT!!!!! I can’t say any more. When will this game come out damnit! Check out deh vidzzzz!

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts – November 11, 2008 For Xbox360 (Exclusive)

So the first game didn’t re-invent the genre, but it was a solid platformer and a very good attempt by MS to enter into a market which is controlled by Nintendo (and partially by Sony at that time). The new game is going to have tens of hours of gameplay, lots of secrets, improved visuals and mroe than anything.. if it does well, it is going to re-invigorate the patformer genre. And that’s a good thing, because as much as I love shooting games, playing a platformer is more relaxing and explorative. Here’s some footage, decide for yourself:

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Release Dates -November 11, 2008 For Wii (Exclusive)

You wont find a lot of Wii games that I recommend. Why? Because that’s just how it is. I’m 24 and none of the games on the Wii really appeal to me and the ones that do are just re-iterations of GameCube games. Anyway, that’s besides the point. What we have here is a promising RPG with a great battle system. It’s exclusively for the Wii and the Tales series has been doing well recently, with the success of Tales of Vesperia in Japan and the U.S., putting the Xbox360 on the RPG map. Maybe Symphonia can do the same for the wii. What do you think?

Call of Duty: World at War – November 11, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

I am currently playing the beta for this game, and I had more reservations about it than anyone else. How can Activision allow the series to go from Modern Warfare back to World War II with Tom-Tom’s and crappy old Shotguns? I’ll tell you how.. because it’s awesome! It uses the same engine that CoD4 did and has almost the identical structure in terms of lobby, perks, experience. It’s really just a new paint job, but at the end of the day.. you now have new weapons, new perks, and vehicles. You can get into a tank with some buddies and do serious damage. At the end of the day.. its a slightly modified version of CoD4 which adds a lot of replay value to people who loved the original, which deserved GOTY, will this get the same treatment?

Mirror’s Edge – November 11, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

A lot of games this holiday season are bringing something new to video games or something improved. Mirror’s Edge is one of those games that brings innovation more than others. The only other game this holiday season that is more innovative is perhaps End War and LittleBigPlanet. In Mirror’s Edge, the action keeps going and you never have to get your hands dirty. You have an option. You can shoot bad guys like a standard fps, when it allows, or you can follow the salient red and blue and green colors and choose your own route, running, climbing and jumping your way around skyscrapers, rooftops and inside buildings. If it sounds like fun, that’s because it is..

Valkyria Chronicles – November 11, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

This game is going to go well under the radar. There is no hype surrounding it. However, do not be fooled, this game is not a typical rpg or battle sim. It mixes a bit of each genre and gives you a very unique blend of both. The art direction, anime style and battle system will keep you thrilled.  Take a look at some of the trailers and see what I mean. RPG fans should not miss this.

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Shaun White Snowboarding – November 11, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

Okay, so this is actually one of the only sports-oriented games that I am going to recommend. And the reason for that is personal bais. Yes, BIAS. I do not find it very entertaining to play a sports game based on the NHL, NFL, MLB or NBA, the reason for that is every year they come out with the same thing, just updated graphics, new rosters and new playbooks, etc. However, I’d much rather go outside and play basketball with some friends. Sports games imo should make a sport that isn’t as easy to play or gain access to, such as snowboarding, F1, etc. The last really fun snowboarding series I played without getting bored was SSX, and Shaun White is so much more than that. The graphics look unbelievable, the gameplay seems to be going in the same direction and there will be multiplayer options.

Tomb Raider: Underworld – November 18, 2008 For Xbox360 (Exclusive Chapters)

The action adventure genre has had some good additions recently, but none as significant as Tomb Raider’s return. Uncharted is the best game in the genre, and a lot of people felt that Uncharted took what Tomb Raider did right and made it even better and threw in some beautiful visuals. Now it’s Lara’s turn to show what she’s got. She has close to 3,000 animations for movement, she can vault and jump and dive like a real gymnast, can kick and melee attack tigers and other predators and overall is just a lot more natural than before. Remember the days where you had to line yourself up with the edge of a wall and face the absolute straight direction and then jump? Those days are over. She behaves and moves naturally now. The deelopers seem to up the ante on this one, putting a lot more art direction into it and a lot more focus on graphics, visuals and movement. Look at the way she moves… HOT DAMN!

Left 4 Dead – November 18, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PC

I don’t like the way Valve talks trash about the PS3, just like I dont like the way anyone talks trash about the 360 either, however, they do know how to make some very solid shooting games (Half-Life anyone?), and the games they develop almost always build a huge following. I want to shoot zombies, that’s honestly the best reason to get this game, that and you can play 4 player co-op! With all those zombies out there, stick together and help each other out. Team killing and friendly fire is always on, so be careful where you shoot. And at the same time, the AI is very smart and always learning, so if your a skilled player, it will throw more zombies your way and try to overwhelm you. SICK!!

Update: - Rise of the Argonauts has been removed because the release date has been pushed to January 27, 2009.

The Last Remnant – November 20, 2008 for Xbox360 (Timed Exclusive)

The quality of this game, from the voice acting to the graphics, looks right on par with the best of the FF series. We desperately need more and more RPG’s. Square-Enix has been lazy for a number of  years with simple DS remakes of old Final Fantasy games or with side projects and new IP’s that don’t do much for the hardcore RPG fans. Many fans have been getting bored with what S-E has been throwing out there lately. Yes, Final Fantasy XIII is going to be coming out sometime… in the next decade, but we can’t keep waiting for it. We need our RPG fix, and this seems to be it. Epic story? Check. Unique characters? Check. New battle system? Check. BRING IT ON THEN!!

2010 Toyota Prius! Here it is.

Whether you think it’s ugly or not, you have to admit that the Toyota Prius has made a historical impact on the state of cars in America today and the state of fuel efficiency. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to say that it inspires other car companies to make similar hybrid products, but I can say that they have sold extremely well and are considered the “green car” icon.

“Mechanically speaking, the new Prius is expected to arrive with a more powerful gas engine, bigger electric motor and, despite continuing to use nickel-metal hydride rather than lithium-ion batteries, improved fuel efficiency. It is the Prius after all.” (autoblog)

My Top Game Picks – October 2008

To make this list easier to follow, there are some guidelines. The games discussed herein are games that have a release date between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and in brief, why I think they are worth purchasing and for which console.

Dead Space – October 14, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

This game redefines science fiction survival horror, in space, with unique limb-detachment features. Shoot a bad guy in the head? He’ll swipe his limbs around till he hits you. Shoot a bad guy in the leg? He’ll just use his arms instead. Couple this crazy new idea with a solid survivol horror base and you have an excellent game, which reviewers are already saying trumps Resident Evil easily. Don’t believe me? Peep this trailer:

SOCOM: Confrontation – October 14, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

The SOCOM series has been gathering a great fanbase ever since the original. This one takes all of that and throws in a bunch of new features, better graphics, larger maps and a hungry fanbase. I’ve played the closed beta and was very satisfied with the way things were looking. It’s strategic style is a nice change of pace from typical shooters. If you decide to get this, which I strongly recommend, get the headset bundle, you’ll save yourself $30 over if you bought the headset separately and you will get a great official Sony bluetooth headset. Now what are you waiting for? Make some calls, get online and co-ordinate. Runnin’ and Gunnin’ will get you dropped like a fool!

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows – October 21, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

Let’s look at some basic truths. Comic book based video games do not do too well. However, there are some games which get their balls together and decide to stand up to modern day expectations and technical standards. The graphics and gameplay seem to be much improved. There is now a focus on the combat more-so than on swinging around wasting a lot of time. Wolverine and other superheroes will make their appearances, as well as a fair share of bad guys (Electro, King Pin, Venom). I’m not one to hold high expectations for a spiderman game, as past versions have dissapointed, but I do believe we have ourselves a winner this time!

Midnight Club: Los Angeles – October 21, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

Sure, Burnout Paradise is a great game. However, it is lacking some cool features. One of which is the ability to customize your ride. Well, look no further, Midnight Club LA looks to take what Burnout Paradise has started and pushed it to the next level. Now you can race with a ton of licensed vehicles, you can modify them and race them to your hearts content in a number of ways, online and offline in a sandbox environment. Peep the Ducati video:

Far Cry 2 – October 21, 2008 For Either Xbox360 or PS3

Let’s face it, the best shooter we have seen is Crysis, but that has never been available to console gamers. Now Far Cry 2 gives you hope. The graphics are simply amazing and you have the ability to create your own maps, right out of the box. With both online and offline modes, you just cannot lose if you buy this game. You are free to roam and kill in a large landscape (50km) in whatever manner pleases you. Do you want to go stealth? Go ahead, snipe their brains out. Do you want to strap up and run into the heat of battle? Go ahead soldier. Do it your way, but first buy this game.

Fable 2 – October 21, 2008 For Xbox360 (Exclusive)

The amount of RPG’s currently out isn’t a great deal, but the majority of them are on the Xbox360. This game is going to have a hundred ohours of gameplay, and even more with all of the side quests, etc. If you haven’t played the first one,  you should. It was an excellent RPG and this one takes all of that and improves upon it. “Fable II is the sequel to the wildly successful original that sold more than 3 million copies, offering even more choices and building on the core gameplay theme of Fable, where a player’s every decision continually defines whom they become.” In this game, you can get married, have children, have a dog or get rid of him.. among many other things not many other RPG’s have attempted to do.

LittleBigPlanet – October 21, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

Music games, shooting games, horror games, racing games. Yes, we have seen it all and done it all. It can get old after some time. So for anyone looking to just have pure unadulterated fun, this game is right for you. Create your own levels, with or without friends and play with … or… without friends. Upload your level onto the internet for all to play on and rate and rate other players’ levels as well. The types of levels you can create and things you can do in LBP are literally endless. No.. seriously.. I recently saw a video where someone made a Mirror’s Edge level. I have some insane ideas for levels and no.. they do not include a giant Penis like some of the levels already floating out there. Initial reviews are looking stellar and there is simply no equivalent to this game. It bends all genres.

Motorstorm Pacific Rift – October 28, 2008 For PS3 (Exclusive)

I have to admit that the first Motorstorm didn’t feel right when I first played it. It felt like I should have been going faster and overtaking people quicker. I was wrong. I wasn’t using the boost feature, nor was I using the best terrain for my vehicle. Learn your routes and how to properly use your juice (not manjuice) and you will have a ton of fun with this game. The second one improves in every aspect. If the desert atmosphere of the first game bored you, well get out your party hats, because now you can race your monster truck through lush jungles and volcanoes.

Fallout 3 – October 28, 2008 For Xbox360 (Exclusive DLC in Future)

It’s an RPG with over 100 hours of gameplay, with guns in a post apocolyptic environment. Okay.. right now I’m thinking of another sentence or more details to add, but all I can tell you is to keep re-reading that first sentence…. That’s says it all. With the shortage of RPG’s out there, and with the proven quality of Bethesda, and initial reviews which are calling it GOTY already… you know you cant go wrong. It’s a work of art.

New PS3 Exclusive: Demon Souls Pics

Here are some screenshots of the recently announced PS3 exclusive title Demon Souls. Click on image for larger version.

New HQ Star Ocean 4 ScreenShots

I found these just this morning on UOL Jogos, a spanish video game website. Click on the image for the super hi-res version and enjoy!