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PS3/X360 Preview - 'Darksiders: Wrath of War'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on Sept. 1, 2009 @ 7:33 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Darksiders: Wrath of War is an action/adventure game that gives players the ability to experience the supernatural destructive power of WAR, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, as he explores a demon ravaged world -- seeking revenge and ultimate redemption with a vast array of modern and mythical weaponry.

Wii Preview - 'Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on Aug. 30, 2009 @ 4:11 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles‘s story is based on Resident Evil 2 and includes Leon S Kenney and Claire Redfield. Its on-rails style gameplay and active camera will create a more immersive “Chronicles” survival experience. As in the last installment, this is a first-person game with extreme shooting gameplay and interactive pathways.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Borderlands'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on Aug. 14, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Borderlands is an all-new sci-fi action game combining elements of first-person action titles with player customization and vehicular combat.

PC Preview - 'APB: All Points Bulletin'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 23, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Realtime Worlds' latest project takes the universal theme of Criminals and Enforcement and brings it to a persistent, open world multiplayer setting in a modern, crime-ridden city.

Wii Preview - 'MySims Agents'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 17, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In MySims Agents you take on the role of a special agent hired to foil the sinister plans of Morcubus, lord of the underworld. By recruiting different MySims, each with their own special characteristics, you can build up your very own crime-busting team.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Dante's Inferno'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 15, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Dante's Inferno is a third-person action adventure adaptation of the medieval epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, telling the tale of Dante who journeys through the twisted, menacing nine circles of hell in pursuit of his beloved Beatrice.

NDS Preview - 'Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 12, 2009 @ 2:34 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is set during the KH II events, and has Roxas as the main character. You will explore a variety of Disney worlds in not only single-player mode, but also in multiplayer missions made possible by the NDS' networking features.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Dark Void'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 10, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Dark Void is a highly innovative action title that will deliver a groundbreaking combination of fast-paced vertical combat mixed with mid-air and on-foot action.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Split/Second'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 9, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Split/Second is an intense racing game set within the world of a hyper-competitive reality television show. Competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction, with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'James Cameron's Avatar: The Game'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 8, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game takes you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination. When conflict erupts between the RDA Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the Na’vi, Pandora’s indigenous people, gamers will find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilization.

NDS/Wii/PC Preview - 'World of Zoo'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on July 7, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

World of Zoo takes players beyond the fences and into their own zoo, allowing them to care for and build relationships with numerous animals through hands-on interactive gameplay.

PS2/Wii/PS3/X360 Preview - 'Cars Race-O-Rama'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on July 7, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In THQ's Cars Race-O-Rama, players will join Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks in Radiator Springs as they prepare their academy of student racers to compete in the Race-O-Rama Exhibition.

X360/PC Preview - 'Splinter Cell: Conviction'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 6, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

An investigation into his daughter’s death unwittingly leads former agent Sam Fisher to discover he’s been betrayed by his prior agency, the Third Echelon. Now a renegade, Fisher finds himself in a race against time to thwart a deadly terrorist plot that threatens millions.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Just Cause 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 5, 2009 @ 8:03 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Just Cause 2 stars Rico Rodriguez, back to wreak havoc once again, this time with a new destination – the huge playground of the Southeast Asian islands of Panau, in an over-the-top Hollywood-esque blockbuster of a video game.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 4, 2009 @ 2:06 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 features a deep, rich gameplay experience by offering total team customization, where players create their own team name, icon and vehicle, as well as establish their team reputation as they play throughout the story.

NDS/PSP/PS2/Wii Preview - 'Marvel Super Hero Squad'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on July 2, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Marvel Super Hero Squad is a multiplayer adventure game that will feature nonstop action-adventure gameplay and epic battles, as well as a breadth of the new, super-stylized Marvel characters.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'BioShock 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on July 1, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Set approx. 10 years after the events of the original, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. All along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to Rapture. You will play as the first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Assassin's Creed II'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 30, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In a vast open world environment, Assassin's Creed II invites players to incarnate Ezio, a privileged young noble in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of Italy, and seeking vengeance.

Wii Preview - 'Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 28, 2009 @ 9:57 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 is a classic 3D fighting game featuring new and improved gameplay mechanics and multiple gameplay modes, 40 3D environments to choose from, including nine completely new stages, over 30 characters, and for the first time, includes Wi-Fi multiplayer capabilities.

NDS Preview - 'Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 28, 2009 @ 9:47 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Chronicles of Mystery combines features of classic point and click adventure, logic games and hidden object games. Sylvie, a young archaeologist, is about to begin the greatest adventure of her life. Having received an invitation to France from her uncle, a renowned historian, she arrives only to discover he’s missing.

XBLA/PC Preview - 'The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 27, 2009 @ 9:18 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is a completely re-imagined version of the original that adds updated high definition graphics, a re-mastered musical score, and full voiceover to the classic adventure game originally launched in 1990.

Wii Preview - 'Dead Space Extraction'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 27, 2009 @ 9:13 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Dead Space Extraction is a prequel that reveals the events leading up to Isaac Clarke’s mission on the USG Ishimura in the original Dead Space game. Dead Space Extraction will marry the innovative motion controls of the Wii Remote with a frenetic first person perspective to create a new action-packed horror experience.

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Forza Motorsport 3'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 25, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Forza Motorsport 3 unites the racing game genre, making it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world’s most exotic and exquisite cars. Live the most realistic racing experience ever as you take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Dragon Age: Origins'

by Reggie Carolipio on June 24, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare’s return to its roots, delivering a fusion of elements from existing fantasy works with emotionally-driven narrative, heart-pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Aliens vs. Predator'

by Thomas Wilde on June 23, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In Aliens vs. Predator players will have the chance to take the role of the three infamous species; the Colonial Marine, the Predator and the Alien. Each of the three species has its very own distinct story-driven single-player campaign mode that interweaves with the campaigns of the other two species.

PC Preview - 'Jumpgate Evolution'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 23, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Staying true to its early vision, NetDevil has improved upon the original Jumpgate in every way, with a complete graphics update, and the integration of advanced AI features to ensure unpredictable and compelling situations.

Wii Preview - 'The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 22, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is a new third-person action adventure videogame where players assume the role of Aragorn and embark on his greatest quests from The Lord of the Rings trilogy as they wield his sword, bow or spear on foot and on horseback through an action-packed gameplay experience.

NDS Preview - 'Scribblenauts'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 21, 2009 @ 8:31 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In Scribblenauts the player uses the NDS touch-screen to help his character, Maxwell, acquire the starite in each level by solving a series of puzzles. In order complete each puzzle, players will use the stylus and notepad to write down the word for any object that comes to mind in order to reach the goal.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'The Saboteur'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 21, 2009 @ 8:15 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Pandemic Studios new open-world environment stealth-action thriller, Saboteur is set against the dramatic backdrop of occupied France and based on a true story, the personal tale of one man’s fight to find and kill the Nazi thugs who murdered his friends.

Wii Preview - 'Wii Fit Plus'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 20, 2009 @ 8:27 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. Players will find an additional dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized daily workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available.

Wii/PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Beatles: Rock Band'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 19, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

MTV Games and The Beatles license holder Apple Corps are developing a new video game that will be an experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles spanning the UK band's entire discography.

PSP Preview - 'Half-Minute Hero'

by Thomas Wilde on June 19, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Half-Minute Hero is a bold new concept of having the player save the world, 30 seconds at a time. The player must fight, shoot, summon, and protect in four distinct modes, each containing a different perspective and unique gameplay style, across a total of 120 varied stages. The 8-bit graphics and story elements provide a unique style and humor, while the hard-rocking soundtrack keeps pace with the breakneck speed of gameplay.

Wii Preview - 'Wii Sports Resort'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 19, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive, fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level, introducing a whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities.

Wii Preview - 'New Super Mario Bros. Wii'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 18, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Players can navigate the side-scrolling worlds alone as before or invite up to three others to join them at the same time on the same level at any point in the game for competitive and cooperative multiplayer fun in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Homefront'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 18, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Homefront is set ten years after the economic collapse of the United States and follows the American Civilian Resistance as they fight to reclaim their homeland from an oppressive North Korean occupation, featuring a personal, story-driven single player campaign and a full suite of multiplayer options.

PS3/XBLA/PC Preview - 'Trine'

by Tony "OUberLord" Mitera on June 18, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Trine is a fantasy action game where the player can create and use physics-based objects to beat hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. Set in a world of great castles and strange machinery, three heroes are bound to a mysterious device called the Trine in a quest to save the kingdom from evil…

PS3 Preview - 'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'

by Thomas Wilde on June 17, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Fortune hunter Nathan Drake returns in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Naughty Dog's blistering PS3-exclusive third-person action/adventure shooter.

PS3 Preview - 'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'

by Thomas Wilde on June 17, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Fortune hunter Nathan Drake returns in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Naughty Dog's blistering PS3-exclusive third-person action/adventure shooter.

Wii Preview - 'Deca Sports 2'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 17, 2009 @ 8:59 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Deca Sports 2, known in some parts of Europe as Sports Island 2, is an athletic offering, pulling together ten sporting events and pushing the player to their limits, fully using the Nunchuk/Wiimote to control your Mii like characters, including multiplayer.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Wolfenstein'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 16, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Set within a near-fictional, historical WWII setting, players take on the role of the heroic OSA agent BJ Blazkowicz as they are thrust into the unknown and unexpected to battle against combat troops, otherworldly forces, and the dark science created by a supernatural Nazi force hell-bent on world domination.

Wii Preview - 'Ju-On: The Grudge'

by Thomas Wilde on June 16, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

JU-ON: The Grudge, inspired by the Japanese classic horror movie JU-ON (known in North America as The Grudge), is a “Haunted House Simulator” where accessibility and instant scares are given priority over all other game aspects, with the original creator of the movie, Takashi Shimizu, serving as a creative consultant to game development.

PSP Preview - 'Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 15, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This? is a strategy game with some RPG mixed in where you, as the God of Destruction, need to help Badman, the overlord, help to save his underground empire.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Alpha Protocol'

by Reggie Carolipio on June 15, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Taking you on a suspenseful ride in the vein of James Bond, Jack Bauer, and Jason Bourne, Obsidian's Alpha Protocol has you work your way up the ranks as rookie agent Michael Thorton to become a bona-fide super spy.

Wiiware Preview - 'Redneck Chicken Riot'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 15, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In City Interactive's platform title, an insane chicken menace threatens to envelop the world and it's up to you to take them down. These chickens may seem perfectly normal (stalking the yard, pecking at feed, etc.) but underneath their quiet exterior lies a dark labyrinth that ends in madness.

PS3 Preview - 'Demon's Souls'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 14, 2009 @ 9:59 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Atlus U.S.A. has secured the North American publishing rights for Demon's Souls, a groundbreaking PS3 exclusive action RPG experience. Beautiful, compelling, and unforgiving, Demon's Souls is the hardcore RPG experience PS3 fans have been waiting for.

Wii Preview - 'Shiren the Wanderer'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 14, 2009 @ 9:56 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

The grandfather of the rogue-like RPG, the legendary Shiren series (also known as Mystery Dungeon) is all about tough-as-nails battles, thrilling exploration, finding tons of items, growing in strength, and most important of all: staying alive!

NDS Preview - 'Nostalgia'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 14, 2009 @ 9:53 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Nostalgia casts you as Eddie, a headstrong Londoner who amasses a group of companions to traverse the world in his steampunk-inspired zeppelin. As you navigate the open skies, you’ll explore mysterious foreign locales, slay all manner of fantastical enemies, complete a variety of thrilling quests, and ultimately, save the world from unfathomable evil.

X360/PC Preview - 'Alan Wake'

by Thomas Wilde on June 13, 2009 @ 8:31 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Set in the deceptively idyllic town of Bright Falls, Washington, Alan Wake places gamers in the role of the best-selling suspense author, Alan Wake. He escapes to this small town to recover from the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée and comes face to face with his darkest nightmares.

X360/PC Preview - 'Darkest of Days'

by Reggie Carolipio on June 13, 2009 @ 8:23 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Phantom EFX's Darkest of Days, using 8Monkey Labs' proprietary Marmoset game engine, is a story-rich, first-person shooter presenting an intriguing story of time-travel to some of the darkest periods in the history of mankind.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Bigs 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 12, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Known for its over-the-top style of gameplay, The Bigs 2 focuses on the big fast-paced moments in Major League Baseball with new opportunities to go up against MLB legends, more mini-games like Home Run Pinball, and a variety of other new features.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Brink'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 12, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Brink is an immersive shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character across all modes of play. You decide the role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind's last refuge for humanity.

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Halo 3: ODST'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 11, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Halo 3: ODST is a new game in the Halo saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in Halo 3 through the eyes of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant's invasion of New Mombasa.

PSN/XBLA/PC Preview - 'Droplitz'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 11, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Droplitz is an addictive puzzler that's all about strategically twisting and connecting mismatched dials to save precious droplitz. Just making a single junction is child's play; can you master the art of the combo or will you let your pipes runneth over?

X360/PC Preview - 'Section 8'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 10, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Section 8 is a futuristic FPS that brings strategy and tactics to the genre in a game where players can modify the battlefield on the fly. You are part of an elite infantry squad with a penchant for taking on suicide missions that no one else will tackle.

PSP Preview - 'Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 10, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Atlus U.S.A. has acquired the North American publishing rights for Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament for PSP, an action game overflowing with intense mech customization, an open-world mission structure, and fast-paced arena style combat.

PS3 Preview - 'ModNation Racers'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 9, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

ModNation Racers is a thoroughly fresh take on classic kart racing that empowers the player to personalize their entire game. Players can express themselves by creating their own Mod character, styling their own racing kart and even building – in just minutes – an imaginative track that can be shared with the rest of the PlayStation community.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Bayonetta'

by Reggie Carolipio on June 8, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

A witch with powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, Bayonetta faces off against countless angelic enemies, many reaching epic proportions. With magnificent over-the-top action and outlandish finishing moves that are performed with balletic grace, Bayonetta brings to life some fast-paced, dynamic climax combat.

X360/PC Preview - 'Lost Planet 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 8, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Lost Planet 2' story has advanced beyond Wayne Holden as players will now follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirates on their quest to seize control of E.D.N III. Players will move their heroes through different stories creating a truly unique and interactive experience.

Wii Preview - 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 8, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a unique, highly stylized action RPG players take on the role of a male ninja or female kunoichi, utilizing their ninja prowess to traverse the clever side-scrolling levels that feature vertical progression as well as the traditional horizontal stage advancement.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Def Jam Rapstar'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 7, 2009 @ 1:39 p.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Def Jam Rapstar delivers players a hip-hop experience that allows them to take on the role of a rapstar so you can rhyme and sing along with the greatest hip-hop tracks. But the game also offers opportunities where it’s also about creating all new rhymes, sharing your creativity and expressing yourself to the wider community and the world.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Singularity'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 7, 2009 @ 9:13 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Raven Software's new sci-fi shooter Singularity is set on a small, unnamed island occupied by the Russians, Cold War tensions rise once again when a U.S. pilot discovers the horrific truth that became of experiments with element E99 in the 1950s.

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 6, 2009 @ 11:23 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

SNK is bringing its 3D fighting game, Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, based on the arcade game, to the X360 later this year.

PS3 Preview - 'Heavy Rain'

by Thomas Wilde on June 6, 2009 @ 1:47 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain you don’t watch the story – you play it. The dynamic narrative unfolds through the player's actions - not cut scenes - and every action has a consequence.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 5, 2009 @ 5:53 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The King of Fighters XII'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 5, 2009 @ 4:51 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

SNK Playmore's classic arcade franchise celebrates its 15th anniversary with The King of Fighters XII. For the first time in series history, this epic martial arts showdown has undergone a complete graphical overhaul.

PC Preview - 'Star Wars: The Old Republic'

by Thomas Wilde on June 4, 2009 @ 5:25 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Star Wars: The Old Republic will let you explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining your personal story and determining your path down the light or dark side of the Force.

X360/PC Preview - 'Mass Effect 2'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 4, 2009 @ 5:18 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

The Mass Effect trilogy is a scifi adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life forms and mysterious uncharted planets. In this dark second chapter, Saren’s evil army of Geth soldiers has just been defeated, and humans, who are still struggling to make their mark on the galactic stage, are now faced with an even greater peril…

PS3/X360 Preview - 'IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey'

by Erik "NekoIncardine" Ottosen on June 3, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of WWII. Players can participate in some of the most famous battles piloting fighters, battle planes and heavy bombers across a range of 50+ missions.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Brutal Legend'

by Chris "Atom" DeAngelus on June 3, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. PDT | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Brütal Legend is a 3rd person Action/Adventure game starring Jack Black in the role of roadie Eddie Riggs, who sets on an epic quest to build an army of rockers with only a broad axe, a big block V8 and his faithful guitar in hand.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Flight Sim
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Gaijin Entertainment
Release: Q3 2009

When I arrived at 505 Games' meeting room today, they were ready with a couch, bottles of water in an ice bucket, and just one game: the Xbox 360 build of its upcoming flight combat simulation, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, coming to every major system except the Wii.

World War II is an exceptionally common ground for video games, and with so many fronts, there's bound to be one that hasn't been explored — like the one right above the heads of almost all of the

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Brutal Legend'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: EA
Developer: Double Fine
Release Date: "Rocktober" 13, 2009

Psychonauts is the very definition of a cult hit. It was released for the Xbox to solid reviews and poor sales, but word of mouth turned it into a real hit. All you have to do is mention it to people who've played it, and their faces will light up as they recall one of their favorite moments. The brilliant minds behind Psychonauts may not have released any new games since then, but they most certainly haven't been idle. Instead, they've been working on what

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

SNK is bringing its 3D fighting game, Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, based on the arcade game, to the X360 later this year.

X360/PC Preview - 'Mass Effect 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/RPG
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Bioware
Release Date: 2010

Mass Effect 2 opens up after the events of the first Mass Effect, with Commander Shepard in a pretty bad situation. A new enemy has appeared in the galaxy and is presenting a threat to humankind on par with the Reaper that Shepard defeated in the first game. Things have gotten so bad that Shepard was thought to have died in combat. Fortunately, he was rescued and recruited by a shadowy underground group who is looking for his help on a suicide mission. Shepard is the only human capable

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The King of Fighters XII'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Fighting
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Developer: SNK Playmore
Release: July 2009

The King of Fighters is a long, long running series. This fighting game series has been running at the speed of Madden for a major length of time, until it stopped annual releases in 2003 and went to subseries like Neowave and Maximum Impact. Now we're back to the original series, with the Roman numerals translating to 12, with a nice set of HD updates that bring the series into the current generation.

The standards of The King of Fighters are in effect: Take many SNK

PC Preview - 'Star Wars: The Old Republic'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Star Wars: The Old Republic will let you explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining your personal story and determining your path down the light or dark side of the Force.

PS3 Preview - 'Heavy Rain'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Heavy Rain is a dark, immersive and emotionally-engaging experience; one that expands upon the innovative ideas of 2005’s acclaimed Fahrenheit to create a noir-thriller where decisions are charged with importance and actions can have drastic and unforseen consequences. Breaking with traditional game conventions where

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Def Jam Rapstar'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Def Jam Rapstar delivers players a hip-hop experience that allows them to take on the role of a rapstar so you can rhyme and sing along with the greatest hip-hop tracks. But the game also offers opportunities where it’s also about creating all new rhymes, sharing your creativity and expressing yourself to the wider community and the world.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Singularity'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Raven Software's new sci-fi shooter Singularity is set on a small, unnamed island occupied by the Russians, Cold War tensions rise once again when a U.S. pilot discovers the horrific truth that became of experiments with element E99 in the 1950s.

X360/PC Preview - 'Lost Planet 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: TBA

Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions was one of the earlier games for the Xbox 360, and it really stood out for its unique gameplay and interesting premise. It had monster insects, a thermal meter, space pirates, a grappling hook and even giant robots, so it seems like it had enough features to be schizophrenic, but it all held together very well. It should come as no surprise that Lost Planet 2 is focusing on improving the formula set forth by the first game. Even those who left Lost

PS3 Preview - 'ModNation Racers'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Racing
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: United Front Games
Release Date: TBA 2010

Play, Create, Share: three words that catapulted Sony back into the systems race, as they challenged the Microsoft and Nintendo lineups with one word: LittleBigPlanet. With the kinds of physics and adjustments that you could make as you built your own levels, and the wrapping of simple, wonderful charm, Sony created a hit to challenge many. At this year's E3, they've shown that they hope to replicate that success with ModNation Racers.

Play. ModNation Racers is a twist on normal kart racing archetypes; player stats are

X360/PC Preview - 'Left 4 Dead 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Valve Software
Release Date: November 17, 2009

When Left 4 Dead 2 was announced at Microsoft's press conference last week, cheers went up from the crowd to celebrate the arrival of the sequel to the phenomenally successful zombie-smasher on the Xbox 360 as an exclusive title. It turns out that exclusivity had only extended as far as the console space because on the first day of E3, I managed to get a taste of the gory zombie-slayer on the PC.

A mission from the main campaign was available, and this

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Brink'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Brink is an immersive shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character across all modes of play. You decide the role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind's last refuge for humanity.

PSP Preview - 'Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: iRem
Release Date: June 30, 2009

Steambot Chronicles has become a significant series for Atlus. It's not a massive property that defines the company, like Shin Megami Tensei, but it's certainly a nice series that has a significant fandom. If what I saw was any indication, the PSP release of Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament should turn out to be fairly satisfying for fans.

Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament is slightly smaller in scale than other games in the series; it only encompasses one very large town and the areas around it. In a

X360/PC Preview - 'Alan Wake'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Set in the deceptively idyllic town of Bright Falls, Washington, Alan Wake places gamers in the role of the best-selling suspense author, Alan Wake. He escapes to this small town to recover from the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée. In Bright Falls Wake comes face to face with his darkest nightmares.

PSN/XBLA/PC Preview - 'Droplitz'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Blitz Game Studios
Release Date: June 2009

Atlus Software is starting to break into the casual space with several of their recent releases, such as manic puzzler Puchi Puchi Virus. However, one of their latest works breaks into the grand tradition of slow-paced, ultra-casual games meant to relax and inspire just the right amount of thinking. I spent some time at E3 demoing the PlayStation 3 and iPhone versions of Droplitz, but it's also coming to the Xbox 360 and PC.

Droplitz is a fairly basic puzzle game, somewhat reminiscent of PopCap's

X360/PC Preview - 'Section 8'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Section 8 is a futuristic first person shooter that brings strategy and tactics to the genre in a game where players can modify the battlefield on the fly. In Section 8 you are part of an elite infantry squad with a penchant for taking on suicide missions that no one else will tackle.

X360/PC Preview - 'Darkest of Days'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Phantom EFX
Developer: 8Monkey Labs
Release Date: TBA

Time travel and its paradoxical twists have always been popular tools for fiction to use as convenient foils in wrapping up loose threads or in creating new ways in which to create the same. The adventure game Timequest, from now-defunct developer Legend Entertainment, casts you as a time agent sent back to pivotal moments in history in order to correct subtle changes that another renegade agent had left behind. The Journeyman Project series had also explored the same approach, and in both, you could screw

Wii Preview - 'Shiren the Wanderer'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Chunsoft
Release Date: Q1 2010

Mystery Dungeon: Shiren The Wanderer was a roguelike for the Nintendo DS, with most of the trappings thereof (when a character dies, all items are lost, etc.) The game has had several console releases in Japan, and now the third is coming to the U.S. for the Wii. At E3, they were showing attendees a demo of the Japanese game and explaining everything to those who were interested.

The basics of Shiren the Wanderer are your standard roguelike. The game even features two difficulty levels, with a hardcore mode

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Alpha Protocol'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Release Date: October 2009

Stealth and adrenaline-soaked action are part of the spy genre's hallmarks, whether it is in trying to stop nuclear annihilation in Metal Gear or in slipping past enemy security by climbing along the outside of a cruise ship in Splinter Cell. Obsidian Entertainment is now set to shake up these conventions with a spy-based RPG that includes the combat, stealth, and plenty of options to allow a player to mix James Bond and Jason Bourne into the ultimate black ops agent.

While most spy games only have

PS3 Preview - 'Demon's Souls'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Atlus U.S.A. has secured the North American publishing rights for Demon's Souls, a groundbreaking PS3 exclusive action RPG experience. Beautiful, compelling, and unforgiving, Demon's Souls is the hardcore RPG experience PS3 fans have been waiting for.

Wiiware Preview - 'Redneck Chicken Riot'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Shooter
Publisher: City Interactive
Developer: City Interactive
Release Date: Oct. 2, 2009

Shooting should be one of the most generic genres on the Wii. Just look at all the gun-shaped items that have already been sold, and consider that some of the Wii's gem titles have included House of the Dead games. But the more I think about it, I haven't seen that many. As City Interactive's most complete game that isn't near release date yet, Redneck Chicken Riot is odd, perhaps inspired by Wallace & Gromit, but with a confusing idea of its very own.

The game is a pretty

PSP Preview - 'Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software
Developer: Ride On
Release Date: July 1, 2009

Before we go any further, let's listen to that little voice of Robin in our heads. You know you want to. Now, wonder who at Atlus decided this would be a name to trademark. Imagine that the title fits the actual game just enough to be even more hilarious. Just three minutes convinced me that Atlus has invested wisely in a game that truly captures its name like few other games on market. I mean, a lot do better and a lot

Wii Preview - 'Deca Sports 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Sports
Developer: Hudson
Publisher: Hudson
Release: Q4 2009

Sports-based mini-game collections might be the most specific genre you can get to on the Nintendo Wii and still find a metric ton of competing products. Wii Sports, Big League Sports, EA Playground and, of course, Deca Sports are just a few examples of the area and how crowded it can be. Now, Hudson's giving its work a sequel with Deca Sports 2, and they were showing it off at E3.

Fortunately, they've added several new ideas to the series to match with the 10 new games. Not only will

PS3/XBLA/PC Preview - 'Trine'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Puzzle/Platformer
Publisher: Nobilis
Developer: Frozenbyte
Release Date: July 2009

On the surface, Trine is not a difficult game to understand, as it is essentially a puzzle game in which you can switch on the fly between three varied characters. However, the basic puzzle mechanics and characters are mere underpinnings for the meat of the physics-based gameplay and cooperative play. The co-op was not present in our preview build, but the physics most definitely are, along with a surprisingly developed theme and production values for a puzzle title.

The three characters in Trine all have varied roles and

Wii Preview - 'New Super Mario Bros.'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Platformer
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release: Q4 2009

Nintendo came out of E3 2009 much stronger than they did in 2008. They started off our booth tour with their big announcement of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and I got to squeeze in some play time with the game.

If you've played the DS version of New Super Mario Bros., most everything is going to be familiar, including major elements of Super Mario Bros. 3 from the NES era, new and entertaining power-ups, and a fair supply of secrets to keep things interesting for a good, long

PSP Preview - 'Half-Minute Hero'

by Thomas Wilde on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Half-Minute Hero is a bold new concept of having the player save the world, 30 seconds at a time. The player must fight, shoot, summon, and protect in four distinct modes, each containing a different perspective and unique gameplay style, across a total of 120 varied stages. The 8-bit graphics and story elements provide a unique style and humor, while the hard-rocking soundtrack keeps pace with the breakneck speed of gameplay.

Wii Preview - 'Wii Sports Resort'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Sports
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release: July 26, 2009

Before you read any further about Wii Sports Resort, go do a bit of bowling in Wii Sports. Notice the subtleties that are there in the simulation, and those that aren't. The Wii Remote, ultimately, is limited, and many of those limits have been removed with the recent introduction of the Wii MotionPlus, which links to Wiimotes to let you do more with them. While it is launching with two EA Sports titles for Wii, the MotionPlus clearly seems custom designed for the upcoming Wii Sports

Wii/PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Beatles: Rock Band'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Rhythm/Music
Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: Harmonix
Release: September 9, 2009

How can a game be both so much more than its predecessors, and yet so much less at the same time? This conundrum defined what I saw of the upcoming Rock Band release, The Beatles: Rock Band. The game floored me as a Beatles release, but its heritage as a Rock Band game seems a bit tenuous.

The basics are all there; this is Rock Band, with one significant evolution and some major interface modifications that I'll get to in a bit. The big new idea

NDS Preview - 'Scribblenauts'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: 5TH Cell
Release Date: September 15, 2009

5TH Cell is perhaps the best DS game developer that no one has heard of. They've only developed a few games, but those games have been fun and innovative, making excellent use of the DS' various features to create games that would not be the same anywhere else. Drawn to Life was a platformer designed around creating your own character, while Lock's Quest was a combination tower defense and hack-and-slash game. Their upcoming game, Scribblenauts, is easily their most ambitious to date, and

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'The Saboteur'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Pandemic Studios' Saboteur will feature an open-ended world. Mixing regular first-person action with stealth, you, as a member of the French La Resistance, have to free Nazi-controlled zones. Reminiscent of Schindler's List, these zones will be displayed in black and white, but once successfully liberated, become colorized.

Wii Preview - 'The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Headstrong Games
Release Date: Q4 2009

With the exception of the poorly received The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, every modern LotR title has been based on Peter Jackson's very popular set of movies. This has caused most of the games to have a very similar, distinctive look: dark, grim, gritty and realistic; featuring the likenesses of the movie actors; and monster and enemy designs similar to those in the film. Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is still based on the movie, and you'll

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Aliens vs. Predator'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Rebellion
Release Date: January 19, 2010

Defying all laws of God and man, the Alien vs. Predator video games are actually really good. The Jaguar AvP is one of maybe two titles that justify the platform's existence, and the PC version has a devoted fan base even now, 10 years after its release.

The team at Rebellion that' responsible for making those original games has, for the most part, reunited, and they're working on a new, current-generation Alien vs. Predator title. As with the original games, you have the option to play

PS2/Wii/PS3/X360 Preview - 'Cars Race-O-Rama'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

In THQ's Cars Race-O-Rama, players will join Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks in Radiator Springs as they prepare their academy of student racers to compete in the Race-O-Rama Exhibition.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Dragon Age: Origins'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: BioWare
Developer: BioWare
Release Date: October 20, 2009

RPG fans have already experienced Bioware's storytelling expertise in titles such as Baldur's Gate and Knights of the Old Republic. When Bioware announced the development of Dragon Age, it helped the prolific RPG developer break out from the shackles of having to work within someone else's IP. Mass Effect's runaway success has already proven that the developer can easily stretch its legs beyond its former work, and with Dragon Age: Origins, it's ready to do the same within a world of dark fantasy.

At E3, a playable

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Forza Motorsport 3'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Racing
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Turn 10
Release: October 29, 2009

I didn't know what to expect at the Forza Motorsport 3 demo at E3, and not only because I haven't played the previous two iterations, but because we weren't actually told beforehand that the hush-hush appointment would be the Forza 3 demo. After checking out the game and chatting with one of the lead designers, though, Forza 3 certainly looks to be an impressive piece of work.

The developer immediately set forth the very interesting argument that there is no such thing as "arcade" versus "simulation"

PS3 Preview - 'God of War III'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War 3 is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell once more to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him.

XBLA/PC Preview - 'The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Lucastarts
Developer: Lucasarts
Release Date: Q3 2009

Adventure games are a bit of a niche genre. Compared to many other games, they focus on crafting an interesting and enjoyable story and don't require a tremendous amount of natural skill to play. Some adventure games take themselves incredibly seriously, such as the classic CD-ROM title, Myst, but the titles that are most fondly remembered by gamers are ones that had a sense of humor, such as Grim Fandango and Sam & Max, which are infinitely quotable and fun to replay. The Secret of Monkey Island was

NDS Preview - 'Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Adventure
Publisher: City Interactive
Developer: City Interactive
Release: Sept. 2009

City Interactive is a relatively new publisher, especially in North America. While they have been doing PC games since 2002, this is the first year that they've started on consoles with a few games for the Nintendo platforms. Among the games that they demoed at E3 was a DS iteration of their recently established adventure game series, Chronicles of Mystery. The game showed off just enough to potentially be a fun romp through a genre that has earned its resurrection on the Nintendo platforms.

Chronicles of Mystery: Curse

Wii Preview - 'Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 is a classic 3D fighting game featuring new and improved gameplay mechanics and multiple gameplay modes, 40 3D environments to choose from, including nine completely new stages, over 30 characters, and for the first time, includes Wi-Fi multiplayer capabilities.

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Assassin's Creed II'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Release Date: November 17, 2009

The first Assassin's Creed left me a bit cold. It was a visually stunning game with silky-smooth controls and lots of interesting ideas, but it also had enough flaws to be solidly average at best and tedious at worst. I was understandably hesitant when I went to see Assassin's Creed 2 during E3. Fortunately, Assassin's Creed 2 appears to have been designed entirely to counter every almost every criticism leveled against the original game. From the moment the demo began, I found that every

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'BioShock 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

BioShock was one of the more interesting games to hit in the past few years. A pseudo-sequel to the cult PC hit System Shock, it combined survival horror and first-person shooter elements in an interesting and exciting way.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action Role-Playing
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Release Date: September 15, 2009

It's hard to make a good superhero game but nearly impossible to make a good superhero team game. Characters like Superman, Spider-Man or The Hulk are hard enough to make work when the entire game is focused on them, but trying to put a bunch of heroes into a single game usually leads to iffy results, such as the lackluster Justice League games. The one notable exception to this has been the Activision superhero titles, X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. The two games

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Just Cause 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Avalanche Studios
Release Date: TBA 2010

The original Just Cause had some big ideas. It thrust gamers into a gigantic tropical sandbox and invited them to tinker with some interesting gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, glitches and an overall lack of variety kept the game from being anything above mediocre. There was the potential for a truly unique game, but it was buried under the repetitive gameplay. Fortunately, Just Cause 2 looks to be anything but repetitive. In our brief demo at E3, we got a glimpse of a handful of the game's

NDS/Wii/PC Preview - 'World of Zoo'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

World of Zoo takes players beyond the fences and into their own zoo, allowing them to care for and build relationships with numerous animals through hands-on interactive gameplay.

Xbox 360 Preview - 'Halo 3: ODST'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie
Release Date: September 22, 2009

Halo has always been the story of the Master Chief; it began with him waking up from cryostasis, and it ends the same way. The Halo universe however doesn't quite revolve around the Master Chief, as a number of the side materials, such as the novels and comics, also involve other characters. The first game to feature a story that didn't center on Master Chief was Halo Wars, and even that focused heavily on his fellow Spartans. Halo 3: ODST is unique

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Bayonetta'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Platinum Games
Release: Q4 2009

Hideki Kamiya's creative direction has inspired gamers and turned the tables on expectations with offerings such as Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry during his stay at Capcom's wonder factory. At Clover, his talents would paint a fantasy masterpiece through the cel-shaded artistry of Okami's gameplay. At Platinum Games and with Sega, he intends to do the same thing with Bayonetta. A playable demo was on the floor at E3, and Kamiya, along with producer Yusuke Hashimoto, were kindly on hand to discuss the game.

The

Wii Preview - 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/RPG
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Vanilla Ware
Release: September 2009

Xseed Games, what were you thinking when you let Muramasa: The Demon Blade slip out of your hands and over to Ignition? You had a game that could have potentially given you indie cred faster than NIS America and Atlus' 2009 lineups combined, and you ended up passing on it. You even said that it was going to be awesome in a released statement after dropping it. Man, that's a strange move on your part.

OK, enough about the publisher switch. Muramasa: The Demon Blade

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Eidos/Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Superhero games are a weird genre. On the surface, it seems like it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a good game, but they have some of the worst records as far as licenses go. Even games that are based on extremely popular characters like Superman or Iron Man tend to be mediocre at very best, but perhaps the greatest surprise here is Batman, whose failure record easily dwarfs his successes. For the last good Batman games, we have to

NDS/PSP/PS2/Wii Preview - 'Marvel Super Hero Squad'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Marvel Super Hero Squad is a multiplayer adventure game that will feature nonstop action-adventure gameplay and epic battles, as well as a breadth of the new, super-stylized Marvel characters.

X360/PC Preview - 'Splinter Cell: Conviction'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Action/Stealth
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Release Date: October 2009

A little while ago, Splinter Cell: Conviction vanished off the radar. It was originally supposed to come out in 2007, and there were even screenshots and videos of the game, which starred a long-haired, hobo-esque Sam Fisher who seemed to be very similar to Jason Bourne. However, sometime before the release, the game was quietly put on hold, and all info about it seemed to vanish. Earlier this year, Ubisoft revealed that the game was alive and well but had been completely reimagined. At E3 this

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Homefront'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Homefront is set ten years after the economic collapse of the United States and follows the American Civilian Resistance as they fight to reclaim their homeland from an oppressive North Korean occupation, featuring a personal, story-driven single player campaign and a full suite of multiplayer options.

Wii Preview - 'Dead Space Extraction'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Dead Space Extraction is a prequel that reveals the events leading up to Isaac Clarke’s mission on the USG Ishimura in the original Dead Space game. Dead Space Extraction will marry the innovative motion controls of the Wii Remote with a frenetic first person perspective to create a new action-packed horror experience.

PC Preview - 'Jumpgate Evolution'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: MMORPG
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: NetDevil
Release: TBA

It's not often that you see an MMORPG being played on three monitors. It's rarer still that you see it being played on three monitors for very good reason, as NetDevil's upcoming MMO, JumpGate Evolution, proved during E3. The developers were in more than a mild sense of panic as I stepped into their booth for my appointment. Their demo machines had been connected to the game's live server during the current friends and family beta test, but I can attest that E3's wireless is only remotely stable in

PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Wolfenstein'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Raven Software
Release Date: August 13, 2009

If there is one game that we have to thank for first-person shooters, it is Wolfenstein 3D. Despite being by any modern standards an extremely archaic game, it is the first FPS of any note, and it introduced a lot of the staples of the genre in some form or another, from secret rooms to the never-ending fun of fighting supernatural Nazi creations. While the franchise never quite reached the same popularity as Doom, the original Wolfenstein 3D is still a fondly remembered game.

NDS Preview - 'Nostalgia'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Role-Playing
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Matrix Software
Release Date: September 2009

Nostalgia is an interesting-looking RPG for the Nintendo DS. Combining steampunk with traditional JRPG styles, the game shifts the nature of RPG combat just a little and has you exploring an interesting take on the world in the late 19th century. Naturally, it's designed to be nostalgic for many RPG fans indeed.

The basic story casts you as a finely dressed young lad whose father was apparently has disappeared; during my time with the game, the exact details aren't yet made clear to the player.

PS3/X360 Preview - 'The Bigs 2'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Genre: Sports
Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer: Blue Castle Games
Release Date: July 7, 2009

One of the more popular sports titles in the early '90s was a little game called NBA Jam. Developed by Midway, it was best known for being a less serious take on the sports genre. You had all of the famous teams and a good number of the famous players, but the gameplay was more fast-paced and less serious than other official titles of the generation. It featured arcade-style gimmicks, such as an almost complete lack of rules and the ability to

Wii Preview - 'Wii Fit Plus'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. Players will find an additional dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized daily workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available.

Wii Preview - 'Ju-On: The Grudge'

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Post - E3 2009

JU-ON: The Grudge, inspired by the Japanese classic horror movie JU-ON (known in North America as The Grudge), is a “Haunted House Simulator” where accessibility and instant scares are given priority over all other game aspects, with the original creator of the movie, Takashi Shimizu, serving as a creative consultant to game development.