Rainier's Articles


PS3/X360/PC Preview - 'Bioshock'

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

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Irrational
Release Date: 2007

It's been long enough that quite a few gamers have never heard of the System Shock games, two benchmark PC games that set the bar for challenging FPSes and, in their own way, for survival horror. When you hear older gamers talking about SHODAN or crawling through hallways with only a wrench to defend themselves, they're referring to the arguably classic System Shock 2.

(It's also unfortunately out of print. Would it be too much to ask that somebody run off another batch of those?)

Bioshock is a

'Ace Combat 5' (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

Introducing Wingman Command, 'Ace Combat 5' is the premier air combat game combining ultra-realistic graphics and dog fighting with the sheer excitement of commanding a squadron, knowing that their fate is in your hands.

“There is an incredible expectation of quality associated with the ACE COMBAT series,” said Garry Cole, executive vice president of sales for Namco Hometek Inc. “More than one million people have enjoyed ACE COMBATĀ®04 and our development team has been hard at work to make sure those fans have a great sequel to look forward to. With a compelling storyline, unbelievably realistic graphics and great new exclusive

'Street Racing Syndicate' (NGC/PS2/Xbox) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

SRS features the hottest rides on asphalt including real licensed vehicles ripped from the authentic world of street racing. The performance of these tricked-out street machines has been modeled realistically with lifelike physics and authentic damage effects that will thrust players into this high-speed world. From hot cars to beautiful girls, with booming bass, big bets and both sanctioned and illegal events, SRS is the only game that offers

PSP Preview - 'Tekken: Dark Resurrection'

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

Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: Q3 2006

This year's E3 featured an astounding number of PSP titles that were just plain fun to play, which is something that the handheld console has been lacking until now. Tekken: Dark Resurrection was among those titles, and it was perhaps the single game I put in the most time with during E3. While it is largely a straight port of the limited arcade release by the same name, T:DR is certainly more portable than an arcade machine.

The most important facet of any fighting game is

'Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2' (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 features top licensed tennis stars James Blake, Jennifer Capriati, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Richard Gasquet, Tommy Haas, Daniela Hantuchova, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Tim Henman, Lleyton Hewitt, Anna Kournikova, Amelie Mauresmo, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Serena Williams.

With licensed Grand Slam tournament venues, tennis fans can choose their favorite player and tour tennis’ most prestigious events, including the Australian Open, Roland Garros (French Open), Wimbledon, and the US Open.

“We’re excited to be working with today’s hottest

Ghost Hunter (PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

Rookie Detroit cop Lazarus Jones is thrust into the role of Ghosthunter after a routine patrol at a derelict high school goes awry. Lazarus and partner Anna Steele stumble upon the supernatural research center of Professor Peter Richmond where they unintentionally liberate a legion of poltergeists. A deadly spirit abducts Anna, while another ghost fuses with Lazarus, giving him the ability to see into the realm of the dead. Armed with second sight and a cache of weapons and gadgets, the idealistic cop is forced to take on the entire spirit realm in hopes of finding his valued

'Elveon' (X360/PC) - Screens & Trailer

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - E3 2006 May 12th

Get the Elveon trailer off WP (37mb)

PS3/X360 Preview - 'Army of Two'

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

Genre: Action
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Montreal
Release Date: 2007

We live in perilous times, my friends. These days, the game industry is either all about the single-player experience, or the dynamics of (God help us, sometimes massive) multiplayer. Remember back in the day, when it was only about two people? In games like Streets of Rage, Contra and Final Fight, you had to help out your partner every step of the way, or face mutual destruction. These days, we're lucky to get a "cooperative mode" in the games of our choice.

Enter Electronic Arts, who wants

'Spiderman 2' (NGC/PS2/Xbox/PS2) - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under E3 - Pre - E3 2004

Spiderman 2

Spider-ManĀ®2 – Based upon the biggest movie event of the summer from Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and including other world famous Marvel comic book characters, players experience what it’s like to be the world’s most celebrated Super Hero, Spider-Man. Players can swing, sling, dive, jump and scale the heights of Manhattan to protect the innocent, in a living city with Super Villains, common criminals, vehicles, trains and helicopters. Players re-capture the movie experience by following the main storyline or choosing to embark on missions

'Ridge Racer 7' (PS3) - Features & 18 New Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 1, 2006 @ 1:30 a.m. PST | Filed under Tokyo Game Show - Tokyo Game Show 2006 Day 1

Drift around corners at speeds over 160 mph taking the lead as Ridge Racer 7 brings gamers a driving experience unlike any other.

With a new platform comes new territory as RR7 promises to reinvent itself, allowing players to choose from 40 different machines and over 20 courses. With reversed courses, the total grows to 40, most in the series ever! Players can further enjoy the drift racing experience by taking part in the new customization mode, opening up the experience with up to 200,000 customization combinations. With full support of Sony’s new network service, Ridge Racer fans have an entirely