GDC09: Terminator Salvation hands-on

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Set two years before the movie bearing the same name, Terminator Salvation's, well, salvation from the realm of mediocre shooter-dom is in the hands of Bionic Commando dev Grin. Embedded within the film's production team from day one, sharing creations back and forth, the Swedish group hopes to set the game apart from every other third-person action game on the market by playing off the toughness and tenacity of the titular robots.

When we sat down to play the game for the first time, we found a functional shooter that didn't manage to terminate our generally low expectations of movie tie-ins.

While we were assured that the game does indeed look like the film on which it precedes in the series' canon, the wash of browns and greens which made up the first level's scenery, combined with its cover mechanic and even the look of John Connor himself, had us wondering if this really was a Terminator title or if someone had played way too much Resistance: Retribution. (It looks eerily similar at times; check out the screens.)

Continue reading GDC09: Terminator Salvation hands-on

GDC09: Terminator Salvation hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Video: Top ten reasons to play Prototype

Despite what the above trailer has to say on the matter, the number one reason to play Radical Entertainment's open world destroy-em-up, Prototype, is not "Deadly Shape-Shifting Action." No, the number one reason to play Prototype is because you can elbow drop a tank. More importantly, said action will cause the tank to explode. Sure, there are plenty of other cool things to do, like kicking people into tanks, throwing cars into helicopters or repeatedly power bombing soldiers off the sides of buildings, but come on: elbow dropping a tank.

You may disagree, but let us offer a counterargument: You. Can elbow drop. A tank.

Video: Top ten reasons to play Prototype originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Modern Warfare 2 trailer analysis hints at perks, locations, teddy bears

If you've been straining your eyes and ears over the recently released "soundwave trailer" for Modern Warfare 2, you may want to give your weary senses a rest, and turn your attention to one of two comprehensive breakdowns of the trailer that recently appeared in our inbox. The first is a video analysis from YouTuber d4v1dm0rt, which is embedded after the break. The second, a compilation of zoomed in screengrabs from the trailer (broken down by Binge Gamer's Mike Murakami), can be viewed here.

They probably spotted a few items you might have missed out on -- such as the brief image depicting five perk icons, four of which appear to be entirely new. Maybe you didn't catch the flash frame of O Cristo Redentor, which could be hinting at Rio de Janeiro as a possible in-game locale. Perhaps your keen gaze overlooked the momentarily visible teddy bear, which could symbolize ... cuddlier enemies? Yeah, we're still not too sure about that one.

[Thanks, David and Mika!]

Continue reading Modern Warfare 2 trailer analysis hints at perks, locations, teddy bears

Modern Warfare 2 trailer analysis hints at perks, locations, teddy bears originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Resident Evil 5 gets new Trophies in v1.02 patch

Resident Evil 5 was updated last night with a v1.02 patch. Taking a quick look at RE5's Trophy list, we've noticed that ten new Trophies, the ones linked to the upcoming DLC, have been added. The new multiplayer DLC isn't out yet and we're wondering if this new revelation means we'll be seeing it very soon -- perhaps as early as next week. But don't get your hopes up; Japan is the only region that has a specific release date and that's been delayed to April 9.

Other than the new Trophies, there weren't any other noticeable changes to the game. We've contacted Capcom for full patch notes and will update as soon (and if) we get them.

Resident Evil 5 gets new Trophies in v1.02 patch originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hanunman becomes first Indian-developed game, exclusive to PS2

PlayStation India is making big strides. SCEE will publish the first video game to be completely developed by an Indian game development team, Hanuman: Boy Warrior. This PS2 exclusive is about a young boy who must defeat enemies by freeing them of bad karma. "Good triumphs over evil," and it does so without the violence typical of most modern games.

Hanuman is rooted in Indian mythology and will be presented in both English and Hindi. "We are very proud to launch the first Indian game on PS2 with localized content, completely developed in India," said SCE's Atindriya Bose. "The launch of Hanuman: Boy Warrior has marked a very significant milestone in the Indian game development industry and also signifies the importance we attach to the Indian market and the Indian Game development industry."

Sony is one of the first companies in the industry to seriously focus on expanding the Indian gaming market. By investing in local development, Sony plans on making India a larger piece of the global gaming scene.

Hanunman becomes first Indian-developed game, exclusive to PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New trailer confirms that animals love Katamari Damacy Tribute

We know we should keep our enthusiasm for Katamari Damacy Tribute at reasonable levels. After all, creator Keita Takahashi has officially moved on, and the games haven't maintained the same charm since his departure. But then the trademark Katamari Damacy music kicks in (this time, performed by a variety of Japanese musicians), stuff starts getting rolled up, and we're enthralled. This trailer is fantastic, and not just because of the animal pictures.

The animal pictures do help a lot.

The trailer confirms the return of stages from previous Katamaris -- the gingerbread house is easily identifiable enough as originating in We Love Katamari. But there also seem to be new stages, like one in which your katamari causes plants to grow wherever it goes. There is further new content in the new music, the new 1080p presentation, and an optional (or restricted to certain stages) cel-shaded look. Just like that, we're in love with Katamari Damacy again! How disturbing.

New trailer confirms that animals love Katamari Damacy Tribute originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy confirmed for PAL territories

It's okay, Europeans. You can stop holding your collective breath. Dissidia, the Final Fantasy fighting game, will definitely be heading to PAL regions. The PSP exclusive will be available to purchase in the region this Autumn, a few months after the American "mid-year" launch. Hopefully, Europeans will be rewarded for their patience with a special edition and a branded PSP bundle, much like the Crisis Core release last year. Fingers crossed!

Gallery: Final Fantasy Dissidia

Dissidia: Final Fantasy confirmed for PAL territories originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

European PSN releases for March 26

Magic Carpet! It's a bit dated now, but that shouldn't stop you picking up the latest slice of nostalgia to be released on the PSN Store. We're pleased to see good PS1 games becoming available on a weekly basis -- even if Silent Hill mysteriously disappeared this week. Burn Zombie Burn is the game of the week, though there's plenty of DLC to pick up as well. PSP owners have a choice between Buzz! Brain of UK and Magic Carpet. Not quite as good a selection as last week, but better than nothing.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for March 26

European PSN releases for March 26 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Original Call of Duty rated for PSN, Xbox Live

Even without all of the perks, ranks, prestige ranks and zombified Nazis, the original Call of Duty still holds up as one of the most compelling shooters we've ever played. Activision is apparently hoping that the gaming community still holds a special place in their collective hearts for the best-selling 2003 title -- according to a PEGI (a European game ratings board) rating, the original Call of Duty is on its way to PSN and Xbox Live. Oh, and also, it apparently contains blood and violence.

Somewhat confirming that the PEGI rating wasn't just a cruel joke being played by sinister European masterminds, the ESRB has updated its rating for the PC version of Call of Duty to include Xbox 360 and PS3 tags. We've contacted Activision for further details -- we'll let you know whether you'll be busting out those old beach-stormin' shoes sometime soon.

[Thanks, Squeedom!]

Original Call of Duty rated for PSN, Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ratchet & Clank continue adventures in 'A Crack in Time' [Update]

As promised, Ratchet and Clank are coming back to PS3 this fall. Continuing the story from where Quest for Booty left off, Ratchet is on a mission to save Clank from the evil Dr. Nefarious. Through the time-traveling adventure, both of our heroes will discover secrets about their origins, their destinies and (presumably) their old, polygon-deprived character models.

No specifics have been revealed on price nor distribution, but A Crack in Time may again release as a downloadable PlayStation Network title at a budget price. (Quest for Booty launched at $15.) We've contacted Insomniac Games for more information, so stay tuned.

Update: The PlayStation.Blog has updated with new details, confirming the A Crack in Time will be a "full Blu-ray release." GT TV will feature the debut trailer this weekend.

Ratchet & Clank continue adventures in 'A Crack in Time' [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NPD: Rock Band surpassed $1b in retail sales in North America

Holy crap, you guys really like your Rock Band. A press release, citing NPD figures, has confirmed the franchise has generated $1 billion dollars in retail sales in North America alone since its November 20, 2007 release. If you thought that was crazy (it really isn't, considering Guitar Hero already surpassed the $1 billion mark), know that wannabe rockers have downloaded over 40 million premium songs from the Rock Band store. We can't say we blame you, as there are some pretty great songs to choose from.

Sadly, the press release doesn't tell us what songs were most popular, nor does it tell us what platforms people were downloading the most songs on, but we have a feeling we know what will be the most downloaded song. You heard it here first, folks!

NPD: Rock Band surpassed $1b in retail sales in North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Final Fantasy XIII's battle system explained

Anticipation is building for the upcoming director's cut of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, which is set to drain Japanese wallets of MP next month, as well as give eager gamers their first hands-on taste of Final Fantasy XIII. The demo, which comes bundled with the Blu-ray exclusive movie, also promises to give players an early look at how the anticipated sequel handles combat, which judging by a recent 1UP article looks to sample both Final Fantasy XII and Squaresoft fan favorite, Xenogears.

Much like the "Active Time Battle" system seen elsewhere in the series, XIII's gauge-heavy combat will likely tread familiar territory for series vets. Here different actions -- such as casting a spell or smacking an imp upside the head with a giant sword -- each siphon off a different amount of "time" from a meter, with more powerful attacks demanding a greater sacrifice of patience. This all sounds interesting, though like mom and apple pie, Final Fantasy and combat just go together. And while the series' battles may lack a flaky crust, their mix of spiky hair and androgyny can be just as filling. Well, maybe not as much as mother's rhubarb pie -- that stuff's to die for.

Final Fantasy XIII's battle system explained originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GDC09: Modern Warfare 2 coming Nov. 10

The IGF/GDCAs are over, but they left us with the taste of shooting dudes in our mouth, courtesy of a trailer that provided our first look at Modern Warfare 2. What did we think? Well, the last one was one of our favorite games ever, so we're pretty much ready to cast our arms akimbo and hold it forever and ever. Are we alone on this one? You'll have to check the video to judge for yourself. The lack of Call of Duty branding is pretty weird though. Infinity Ward tells us they're still figuring it out.

Also: It's coming Nov. 10! Freak out!

P.S. Robert Bowling tells us that you should scrub through the trailer for more details. So do that.

Continue reading GDC09: Modern Warfare 2 coming Nov. 10

GDC09: Modern Warfare 2 coming Nov. 10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo out tomorrow

Strikeforce is a rather radical departure for the aging Dynasty Warriors series. Yes, you'll still be unleashing massive combos on hordes of enemies, but now you'll be able to do so with stylish, outlandish moves. Taking a page from Monster Hunter, this iteration of the series encourages 4-player multiplayer.

A demo will be available on the PlayStation Store tomorrow, featuring "the strongest warriors of the Three Kingdoms." You'll want to grab three other PSP-owning friends in order to best tackle this experience.

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce will be out in April in the US, May in Europe. Check out a trailer after the break.

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce

Continue reading Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo out tomorrow

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo out tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GDC09: Actual Duke Nukem games on PSP/DS

Apogee's Duke Nukem Trilogy already eclipsed Duke Nukem Forever with its mindblowingly awesome, yet content-free, trailer. But now it has surpassed Forever even more, by existing! And, as if to show off, it's six games. Sort of.

As OhGizmo! explains, Duke Nukem Trilogy features three games, which have the same stories, but are presented in a different style on DS than on PSP. The PSP versions are M-rated, with content that will be "tasteful, but it'll still be Duke." The DS versions will be T-rated, and thus toned down a bit in terms of dialogue and gratuitous strippers.

The best part? The first game, Duke Nukem: Critical Mass, was actually there! There was a demonstration on both PSP and DS. Try that, Duke Nukem Forever. Try being playable on a game system.

GDC09: Actual Duke Nukem games on PSP/DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rag Doll Kung Fu producer explains game mechanic

If you haven't played the original Rag Doll Kung Fu on PC, the upcoming PSN-exclusive Fists of Plastic may seem a bit baffling. Utilizing the analog sticks and SIXAXIS controls, this "casual" 2D fighter plays unlike any traditional beat-em-up you've seen. It's hard to fully explain the unique premise of the game, so we think this video from the PlayStation.Blog will do the job.

We're certain the motion controls will be hit-or-miss with the community. We're thinking Sony will have to release a demo to let people get a feel for themselves if the rather bizarre controls suit their taste.

Gallery: Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic

Rag Doll Kung Fu producer explains game mechanic originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cross Edge release level grinding to May 24

Publisher NIS America announced this morning that the unconventional RPG Cross Edge will head to the US on May 24 after being delayed last month in the name of Trophies. Best described as fan service, the game was co-developed by Nippon Ichi Software, Idea Factory, Gust, Namco Bandai and Capcom, and features popular characters from such titles as Disgaea, Darkstalkers, Mana Khemia 3, Ar tonelico and Spectral Souls in a variety of questionable outfits.

Finally, PlayStation 3 owners hungry for some niche role-playing in their diets have a date to circle on their 'Girls of Anime' calendar. It's about time that thing got some action besides your ceaseless leering. Seriously, it's creepy.

Cross Edge release level grinding to May 24 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Xi infiltrates Home - and it's kind of neat

What is Xi? It's hard to tell from the "trailer" that was released only a few days ago. Now that it's live, it's much easier to decipher what's going on. This is PlayStation Home's first ARG (Alternate Reality Game), created by nDreams.

Xi is now live in both Europe and North America. Simply seek out the graffiti on the right in the Home Plaza and you'll be transported to the game Hub. It's at this point that you realize this isn't just another Home space, as the first thing you'll encounter when you enter the Xi Hub is an honest-to-goodness cutscene.

The cutscene introduces you to Xi itself, the Hub and one of the game's characters, Thom. You're immediately tasked with finding three pieces of paper littered around the Hub in order to continue with the story. There are a couple of missions to complete within the Hub right now, but from the looks of things there are plenty more to come.

Continue reading Xi infiltrates Home - and it's kind of neat

Xi infiltrates Home - and it's kind of neat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.