It's been a long time since we last had a Dreamcast-related news post around....
The homebrew scene is still keeping the DC very much alive these days.
GunLord is finally available to buy! It's a classic run'n gun game for the Dream, think Turrican, and is available on disc & cartridges for both Dreamcast and Neo-Geo AES & MVS.
It was developed by the German indie studio NG:Dev.Team and had been previously announced for this June 14. It will now be available in a bunch of various versions, even limited and collector, for this Thursday 21. A regular, a limited, a Newcomer Bundle and finally a Double Bundle are available to order! I'll be sure not to miss out the "Dragon Box" version, for the 25.
And last for the day(?) some Marios and a Sega Adventure/Platformer title.Mario is back! Twice!
There's a New Super Mario Bros. 2 coming up for the 3DS. And a New Super Mario Bros. U for the, well you guessed it, Wii U. (...now, I kinda wish they'd call it the Nintendo Wuu instead...)
This first high-definition Mario Bros. game is looking pretty nice! Like the original Super Mario Bros. 2 or Mario Galaxy 2, this one will be a direct sequel of a previous Mario title. It will feature up to 5-players in co-op. Check out these lovely pics:
I recognize the usual themes and tropes of Mario levels. Looking great!
And here's the debut trailer:
I'm glad to see the first big new Mario mainstream game being a sidescroller on this new system!
Time to check some more M-Rated titles and other violent stuff~ (yeah, I'm trying to group these by themes the best I can... :P) Have you checked out all these new Dead or Alive 5 videos? This new episode in this classic fighting game series is shaping up quite nicely - no pun intended.
The newly reformed Team Ninja is working quite hard on keeping the quality up to the series standards while reimagining the series in both its art direction and gameplay. More relastic visually, new chara design, much more impressive graphics and a new game control optimised for both fans and newcomers. Check out this kickass trailer featuring new faces...
So.. when will get a proper Virtua Fighter Vs. DOA? (personally, I've always been crossing fingers for a Virtua Fighter Vs. Tekken...wait a second... Virtua Fighter X Tekken X DOA anyone??)
I love the new art style, much better! The gals look great, the dudes kickass! I'm glad the girls have finally each different facial aspects/structure instead of the copy/paste doll faces from past games.
Fans of the modern Castlevania, rejoins and check out this badass looking sequel to the recent episode:
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 shown here above in a lil' teaser. But you get the point. It does imply most of the gameplay. (wave of large group of enemies, etc.) It seems it will follow the DLC ending which followed itself the game's ending...
And to stay on the subject, here's the trailer for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate:
This spinoff (interquel) will follow the classic "metroidvania" formula of past games.
Though all this business seems to be confusing to follow for the fans. Now the Dracula and Belmont families are officially related and Trevor is Simon's father!
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Aliens Colonial Marines might be coming later than originally expected or planned...and then delayed...again..and again...and again... Anyway, things seem to be back on track with now a release date for next February 12 in 2013.
Check out these new pics!
The game will coming up for HD systems as well as upcoming next gen console Wii U! And, I don't mean to sound strange, but that seems to be the most original version. Having the movement sensor on the controller-screen pad is a genius idea!
And they even got copies of what the collector edition will offer at E3:
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And finally to kick ass this post with style, with - easily for me - the random surprise of this year's E3 of the day. Star Trek the videogame, apparently.
This would be co-op prequel to the J.J.Abrams Star Trek reboot movie is an upcoming game that will tie up with the new movie coming up in theaters soon.
It does look like a sort of Mass Effect/Uncharted hybrid kind of game, with co-op. And it's very random. Oh so random.
So random it will actually feature "The Gorn Hegemony" as enemies. Yes, them!
Chris Pines and Zachary Quinto will reprise their roles from the 2009 film - as Captain James T Kirk and Mr. Spock respectively.
It seems the game will be oustanding! It will include some new elements such as naval warfare and a complete and realistic weather system. (the weather in past games was more locally and settings generated, to set the mood during the story).
And here's some gameplay just for comparison, to see how more improved and realistic it is now:
And accompanying this title there will be a 2nd Assassin's Creed game, on a portable system. Like with much of the previous titles.
This time something more original though.
Assassin’s Creed III Liberation will be an exclusive episode for the Vita. But unlike past PSP and DS game it won't feature Altair or Ezio, or bring Connor from the main new episode on a portable adventure.
Instead it will have new story that takes place in New Orleans and stars the series’ first ever female heroine! How cool is that! I've been hoping to see some more new characters and original protagonists on portable episode. And now I see it will have this kickass lady as main character - something I'd have even preferred in a main episode.
Anyway this looks like 1 definitive good reason to get this console! (like I wrote here in the past, I need at least 5 good reasons to wanna invest in a new system)
Sony already announced a bundle with the game, something that will sell some consoles no doubt!
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Meanwhile, the new Rayman gets explained and new infos.
Rayman Legends seems to be confirmed for almost all possible systems. (Wii U, PS3, 360, 3DS, Vita, etc.) But only the Wii U version's been showed, as well as it's Wii U exclusive aspects, such as using the screen-gyroscopic controller, etc. A new returning character from Rayman 2 named Murphy. And more!
The game is a direct sequel to Origins and will sport more of the same kind of gorgeous 2D graphics. I'm not a big fan of the new shading. But it looks great nonetheless!
Check this out, there's some mix of 2D and 3D here and there, and it looks fantastic!
But WAIT! That's not all! Some other ips have returned, such as Sam Fisher!
Splinter Cell Blacklist looks simply amazing! It seems it will have a new engine, and spotlight the best gameplay elements of the franchise so far. I hope for more Conviction that Double Agent personally. Also a core element from the series has been announced integrated into the gameplay now. What could it be...?
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist will be out next year. It will bring some more Assassins Creed element to the series, with more walls and buildings being climbable!
Welcome to Forth Echelon...
Can't wait to see Sam back in action!
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And that is not all! Ubi also announced some new ips unlike many others.
Such as Watch Dogs. It will be an action thriller that plays like an open-world "superhero" game. With tech and gadgets at your services.
And if that wasn't enough for ya, there's also a more simpler and mindless fun game, ZombiU for Wii U! Don't disregard it due to its title though.
Looks legit to me!
It seems this one was built from the remains of Killer Freaks from Outer Space, Ubisoft's former Wii U horror exclusive -shown at E3 last year - which has been canned and recycled it seems. This could well be a nice surprise for next year!
After some teasing for a while on Ron Gilbert's part, Double Fine's all-new title has finally been properly announced!
And what a twist, it will be produced by Sega! Sega is (not only my fav but also) one of those producers that has always been for more original IPs than just recycling sequels all the time. (well, besides the usual annual Sonic game)
These last couple years, Sega West's been pretty much open about a rich and varied digital lineup. They just announced a partnership with Double Fine Productions (Tim Shaffer's company, responsible for the likes of Psychonauts and Brutal Legends). Their latest project? A strange platformer-adventure game from Ron Gilbert (creator of Monkey Island)!
This new IP will be called The Cave - no relation to the indie title Cave Story! - it has been announced for early-2013 for console systems and PC in download only. Check out the Official Website.
The game seems to be a pretty fun looking sidescroller. Ron promised various surprises and interesting bits. It's about a fantastic underground cave you will explore from a team made from 3 characters you'll select (Maniac Mansion-style). The story is about an amusement park and an hidden basement to explore, with castles and whatnot underground.
It's a concept that has been on Ron Gilbert's mind for quite a while actually. It will be Ron's first real project since he joined Double Fine recently, and the studio's first collaboration with Sega. Ron's been quite happy with the teamwork with Sega, they still believe in original titles and adventure nowadays!
But take what you're seeing with a grain of salt, it seems it's neither final nor something they wanted to show actually. As some guys from Ubi just said recently:
"An internal video showing images of Rayman Origins’ sequel has leaked over the Internet,” said the firm. “This video was intended as a purely internal demonstrative video, and in NO way represents the final game, the final console or their features."
This explains the fake-3D look and strange way it doesn't bland as well or look as cartoony as Origins. It's just tests!
I can't wait to see on which systems this will be available! (please...Xbox 360 too..), specially since I don't like the idea of buying a new system, like the upcoming Wii-U, at full (expensive) price. But it looks like that version will get some extra content, like platformers often used too in the "old days". (remember the original Rayman? or Earthworm Jim? etc.) And apparently people who have bought collector editions of Ubisoft games, those that came with the statues, will be able to get new levels??? Through barcodes or via a "chip" like the Skylanders game on the Wii perhaps? Does this mean an Assassin's Creed level like the Rabbits showed there? A Splinter Cell, a Prince of Persia, etc..? Nice.
Michel Ancel's mascot might be back in a game that will surely contain the same sidescrolling platform, co-op gameplay, etc. And it's great news if you ask me! I would totally love to play around with Rayman in more levels using a similar fashion.
Here's some first pics of an early build of the game, probably:
Can't wait!
Hopefully they add in some more interesting characters to Rayman and Globox. Color palette-swap or not, I'd love to see the Tarzan-Rayman from the first game back, why not even Tonic Trouble?? It would be nice for a change. Or even other Ubisoft popular character, why not? (Sam Fisher? Altair? Jade? etc..)
Here's a little bunch of diverse gaming-related news from today and this past weekend :P First up, Crysis 3 in video! The debut trailer for this big expected sequel - which honestly I still need to catch up from the beginning! But I will, mark my words, I will!
Lookiing great. A return to form to Crysis 1's universe over the bland futuristic city of C2. Another trailer's expected for tomorrow.
And I'm guess this will be out on HD systems (360+PS3) as well as PC. Good news is that the original team's still on the series, Crytek Frankfurt - not EA! And this one's for 2013.
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Lollipop Chainsaw gets a new trailer! Check it out, it's about "Sisters" 'n' stuff:
Additional characters? Sign me in! I'm getting more and more hyped for this one, a title I wasn't honestly that much interested in to begin with! (even though I love Suda and No More Heroes...)
Out on June 12 as the trailer indicates.
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Warner seems to hint at some upcoming new DLC for Batman: Arkham City.
As it was announced, it looked like we would be getting some all-new Robin story chapters...but from the looks of it, either Harley Queen's gonna be playable instead or she's the villain in this new content...?
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Nintendo announced a new Mario again!
It seems that a New Super Mario Bros. 2 will coming to 3DS this August!
Personally, I think I'll wait for the eventual re-release on Wii (Wii-U?), like the previous NSMB..which reminds me, another one I wanted to get...
Here's some pics!
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And finally, on the macho/testosterone-side of video games, here's a new pic of the upcoming Halo 4 - which has already a release date as early as this November 6(!!!).
I got to say, generic science fiction or same ol' FPS again, I have to admit these pictures do look nice. I'm glad to see a modern next gen FPS with this wide range of warm colors, not just the usual dull grey-sh tones.
It's gonna be the first one not developed by series creator Bungie, but by the all-new 343 Industries studio. Let's see if they can make a more interesting and exciting story and not just a yearly re-release of their famous multiplayer shooter.
