The game will be delayed until thoughts pass from the earthquake and tsunami.

Then the Cambridge based team released the screen shots of the Enslaved which is on the same scale of beauty as of Shadow of the Colossus or Oblivion. A game based in post-apocalyptic New York is something you may have wanted to wait for Crysis 2 for but Enslaved did something so very rarely seen in a Apocalyptic world, they made it green and full of life. Imagine I am Legend but with the vegetation completely in charge of the metal corpses that once stood proud as a beacon of Capitalism then get some of the best looking emotional acting we have seen, even Heavy Rain seems to pail to the facial gestures that this game produces. So when our interest was peaked it came to our attention that once again the king of CGI, Andy Serkis, was to feature as the main protagonist and as another main character that can’t be announced without some spoilers.  Something that worried some people was the fact that the writer of the 28 days later was the script writer as not everyone likes that film (Well me). So after a short delay we have completed the game and have mixed feelings, few bad, just mixed.

The game starts with the muscle bound ‘Monkey’ caught by the slavers of pyramid, a mysterious group of slavers that gather the very last humans alive for some unknown reason. You witness an escape by an attractive woman who inadvertently allows you to escape. The opening level introduces some combat basics and the rigid platforming and it ends with the young women launching the last escape pod of the crashing slave ship, with Monkey holding on for dear life on the outside of said escape pod.

Climbing

This has been one of the area’s that has gotten mixed feelings; the problems is that the crumbing buildings, while astonishing pretty, just carries no challenge. you can only grasp highlighted objects and it is impossible to fall. This creates somewhat of a problem as in Assassin’s Creed or Drakes Uncharted the games climbing holds an edge of tension, of fear. This fear is what immerses you, you feel like it’s you who could fall to certain death if a certain ledge is missed. So in Enslaved it becomes harder and harder to find yourself becoming engrossed, no matter how hard we tried we just couldn’t find ourselves caring in the plot no matter how good the acting, it’s like if Shawshack Redemption was set in Norwich you just feel that this is wrong. There are good bits however later on especially when racing piggy up the rusting titan, this added suspense, fear and competition. The climbing is in most of our opinion the biggest flaw in the game and it is truly a shame as it fix it all they would have to do is make sure we are terrified of not dropping Gollum down a two hundred foot drop.

Combat

As mentioned earlier the last game that Ninja Theory made was Heavenly Sword where combat was the Bread, Butter and filling of the games enjoyable but bland sandwich. So now with some variety, even the mediocre climbing is an improvement, the combat had a real chance to flourish and it does; unfortonatly it takes around four hours for that flower to bloom. Early on you will press triangle more then you blink. There is, again, no real challenge until you escape the decrepit ruins of New York for the wilderness, it’s here that combat evolves into a tense and challenging experience that will have on the edge of your seat and gripping your controller so tightly with suspense you very well might need a new one. It was also here that I began to find myself caring for the Characters and their stories. The combat is a simple aspect with light and Heavy attacks, strangely you don’t get combos and the only way increase your fighting prowess is to buy up grades to your combat staff. So again mixed feelings but we think by the end of the end the combat is both satisfying and challenging enough to keep to roaring on through the engrossing plot.

Plot

Here is where Enslaved pulls it’s trump card. As mentioned Monkey was on the outside of a launched escape pod and when it inevitability crashed into a landmark of Manhattan, this is where the main plot element is introduced. The female escapee goes by the name of Trip. Trip just happens to stumble (sorry) over a slave headband that kills then wearer if they disobey orders. The crafty technophile then modified the pain inducing headband to activate to her voice and Enslaved (Do you see what they did there) poor unconscious Monkey. When Monkey awakes he is told, in a nutshell, that he must get Trip back to her hippie commune around 300 miles away or she will active a lethal dose of pain. This catalyst works really well as a plot driver and in the cutscenes that follow you see a relationship come to life, with added comedy and drama it all builds up to a dramatic and Rhetorical conclusion. The story is balanced and well written and with the most believable characters seen for a long time in a game. (Heads up, when piggy is told the sad news that is by far the best character emotion I have ever seen in a game).

Overall Enslaved is a brilliant concept with a great story but some key problems in gameplay. The flat difficulty curve in the first half diminished the far superior second half  and if the whole game had been a captivating as the second half it would be an instant classic but it wasn’t and you couldn’t be blamed for not fighting through to the end. So great for a rent, when price falls to £25 pick up a copy if you can afford it but full price would be hard if not impossible to justify with such promising games so close.

78/100

The above images are the collectors editions of the forthcoming game from Ubisoft. This collectors edition is different from your run of the mill collectors editions coming out with every major release these days.
* The Harlequin Jack-in-the-Box Collectible (exclusive to GameStop customers only) or The Doctor Jack-in-the-Box Collectible (available at all other participating retailers)
* Two Exclusive In-Game Single Player Maps
* Hard Copy Strategy Map of Rome
* Exclusive Art Book

Bonus Disc

* Exclusive Making-of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Video
* Digital Sneak Peak at the Assassin’s Creed Comic
* Trailers
* Game Soundtrack

The other collectors edition announced was the codex edition. Avaible only from play.com

As well as bonus content, the package includes the Assassin’s Creed II prequel mini-movie, Assassin’s Creed Lineage on DVD, a Codex book, a bonus DVD with the game’s soundtrack, multiplayer character cards and a map of Rome to help you avoid getting lost around its labyrinthine streets.

Additionally, there’s another secret bonus character in the package to be unlocked, reperesented by a dark silhouette in the promotional image.

Next we come to the pre-order bonus characters.

The Officer and The Harlequinn: Only available via preorder from HMV or Play.com

Lastly we come to the achievement list contained below.
***Spoilers ahead***

*
*
*
*

There are spoilers contained within this achievement list. If you do not want to spoil the campaign or any part of the story for yourself, go back now.

Technical Difficulties 10

Attempt to access DNA Sequence 9 for the first time.

Battle Wounds 20

Complete DNA Sequence 1.

Sanctuary! Sanctuary! 20

Find a secure place to hide and re-enter the Animus.

Rome in Ruins 20

Complete DNA Sequence 2.

Fixer-Upper 20

Complete DNA Sequence 3.

Principessa in Another Castello 20

Complete DNA Sequence 4.

Fundraiser 20

Complete DNA Sequence 5.

Forget Paris 20

Complete DNA Sequence 6.

Bloody Sunday 20

Complete DNA Sequence 7.

Vittoria Agli Assassini 20

Complete DNA Sequence 8.

Requiescat In Pace 20

Complete DNA Sequence 9.

A Knife to the Heart 50

Secure the Apple of Eden.

Perfect Recall 30

Achieve 100% Synchronization with a Sequence.

Déjà vu 20

Replay a Memory.

Undertaker 2.0 20

Discover the Shrine in the Catacombe di Roma.

Golden Boy 20

Discover the Shrine in the Terme di Traiano.

Gladiator 20

Discover the Shrine in Il Colosseo.

Plumber 20

Discover the Shrine in the Cloaca Maxima.

One-Man Wrecking Crew 20

Discover the Shrine in Palazzo Laterano.

Amen 20

Discover the Shrine in the Basilica di San Pietro.

Bang! 20

Destroy the Machine Gun.

Splash! 20

Destroy the Naval Cannon.

Boom! 20

Destroy the Bomber.

Kaboom! 20

Destroy the Tank.

Home Improvement 20

Upgrade 5 buildings in the Antico district.

Tower Offense 20

Burn All Borgia Towers.

Show Off 20

Complete 10 Guild Challenges.

.. .- — .- .-.. .. …- . 20

Solve all of Subject 16’s Puzzles.

Perfectionist 20

Earn 3 gold medals from the Animus Virtual Training Program

Brotherhood 20

Recruit 3 Assassins.

Welcome to the Brotherhood 20

Train a recruit up to the Rank of Assassin.

Capture the Flag 30

Remove All Borgia Flags in Rome.

In Memoriam 20

Collect All Feathers.

Dust to Dust 20

Find 1 Artifact in the Present.

Serial Killer 20

Perform a Speed Kill Streak of 10.

Spring Cleaning 10

Kill a guard with a broom.

Your Wish is Granted 10

Throw money in a well

Fly Like an Eagle 10

Jump with the parachute off the top of Castel Sant’ Angelo.

The Gloves Come Off 10

Win the highest bet at the Fights.

Mailer Daemon 20

Access your email in 2012

Synchronization Established 10

Complete an entire Session with at least one kill (Multiplayer Only).

Needle in a Haystack 5

Kill your target while hidden in a hay bale (Multiplayer Only).

Strong Closer 20

Take the lead 10 seconds before the end of the session and go on to win (Multiplayer Only).

Fast Learner 25

Kill your target and escape your pursuer in less than 10 seconds (Multiplayer Only).

Job skills 20

During Open Conflict, kill your target and escape (Multiplayer Only).

Download Complete 40

Reach Level 50 (Multiplayer Only).

Role Model 20

Get all the Co-op bonuses in 1 session (Multiplayer Only).

Overachiever 20

Score 750 points or more on a single kill (Multiplayer Only).

Abstergo Employee of the Month 20

Get every bonus at least once (Multiplayer Only).

Ahead of the Curve 20

Perform a double or a triple escape (Multiplayer Only).

X-Men Arcade, a popular 1992 cabinet arcade classic which allows players to join their favorite X-Men characters in what is widely considered their first great video game appearance, will be released in a home version for the first time ever!

X-Men Arcade is slated to release in Fall 2010 for the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade, and brings the fun and excitement of the hit arcade game to next-generation consoles as players can engage in multiplayer action with Cyclops, Colossus, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine whote to use their special powers to save mankind from the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and other terrible threats. Players will have to fight off hundreds of Sentinels, along with Super Villains such as Pyro, the Blob, Wendigo, Nimrod, the White Queen, Juggernaut and Mystique, as they battle their way to Island M to take down the Master of Magnetism, Magneto, and save Kitty Pryde and Professor Xavier.

1-4 players will be supported locally and 1-6 players supported online. Online Drop-in multiplayer is activated, allowing anyone to jump in on the battle at any time. High-definition heads-up displays, menus and local/online leaderboards have also been integrated to track statistics and scores. Players will be able to select the Custom Match Mode that will allow them to choose the kind of session they would like to join by setting the amount of players, difficulty and what level to start in to create a truly unique online experience. Players will also have the ability to select the Create Match Mode where they can establish themselves as the host and have the ability to control incoming players, number of players, difficulty setting, and starting level to have complete veto power over the match. For players looking for the ultimate X-Men challenge, multiple difficulty modes will also be available.

“Just like with our comics, Marvel has a rich history of great video games, and we’re happy to play our part with Konami in reintroducing this classic to fans of all ages,” said Seth Lehman, Vice President of Digital Licensing for Marvel. “Fans have been clamoring for X-Men Arcade to hit consoles for 18 years now, and we’re confident they’ll find this re-release was worth the wait. The game looks and plays exactly like we remember it – all without the added worries of being low on quarters when you’re closing in on Magneto.”

I’ve never heard for this game myself but I’ll definitely try it out, as I’m a big fan of the X-Men franchise and this looks to have a lot of value for an arcade game. How about you?

An upcoming X-Men video game created in collaboration with Marvel and Activision is said to “Give players unprecedented control of their fate” and is slated for release next fall. The all-new original video game casts players as new mutant recruits in a rich, branching storyline that features a deep element of choice and gives players ultimate control of their destiny.

Attendees of New York Comic-Con can get a sneak peek of the game in Activision’s booth #1833. Head to the Marvel Games Panel on Saturday, October 9, at 10:45 a.m. in Room 1A06 and you can get a chance to learn more about the original storyline written by acclaimed Marvel X-Men: Legacy writer Mike Carey.

Activision has published several other Marvel-licensed video games such as Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3, and X-Men titles such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and X-Men Legends 1 and 2. Their latest Marvel video game, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, was released on September 7, 2010 in North America to fairly positive reviews from critics.

First of all I’d like to say something, Sony just because you have every developer drooling with watering eyes over you, like a room full of D&D players when Jessica Alba walks in wearing a bikini, doesn’t give you the right to bend me over and start thrusting. I plaid seventy fuckin’ pounds (around six million dollars) for my pre-order of AC:B and one of the reasons for this was the chance to play the multiplayer, before those fucktards who swear incessantly and call you a “Freaking NOOB!” after you kill them in COD or Halo, got their Cheeto covered hands on it. But no, you said to Ubisoft “hey if you let the people stupid enough to buy Playstation Plus get the Beta first then I’ll take off this money bikini”. So I had to wait a few days longer then said fucktards and when I finally get on the Beta the game rooms were emptier then my little black book.

The game started up and I swear I’d put on AC2 as the whole pre-game loading section was a similar as the deli commonwealth games are to Cholera land. Then when I finally started I was offered an offline tutorial where I killed three NPC’s with worrying ease and I didn’t get taught how run away from my pursuers. I personally would class this as worse training then learning how to hide under your desk when a nuclear bomb goes off down the road. The problem with the tutorial is it misses the biggest part of the wanted gameplay and that is having the thrill of hunting a live human which happens to be much smarter then any AI (well most are) while having the same activity aimed squarely at you. So when I first got into the multiplayer after around an hour of waiting for a game lobby to accept me I was beaten so badly I felt like crying. I’m a huge fan of the AC franchise, mainly thanks to the amazing second instalment and I consider myself as good at killing templar’s as sclerosis of the liver but so badly was I beaten I went into denial and didn’t play the beta for a few days. So when I when finally forced myself into the beta once more I let slip the dogs, screamed havoc and jumped into the fire (translation: I abounded stealth and went freestyle) and you know what not only did this make the game easier, it made it for fun and rewarding. Instead of spending ten minutes slowly walking and getting picked off every five seconds, I climbed, sprinted then found the target and with great levels of skill killed them in all manor of ways. The barbers Straight razor being a personal favourite.

Now there are aspects I really hope are implemented before the November release. The first is to have a mode where you can use full-on combat, perhaps an online arena match in the coliseum? Another aspect is I hope the full version has more maps and modes but I’m already sure there is. Lastly I hope to the flying spaghetti monster that they bring in better self defence systems, this lead to numerous problems as soon as I saw someone run towards me and I knew he was my assassin but from fifteen feet away he locked onto me and because the game didn’t think he was being suspicious enough I couldn’t run or even block the attack. You can be walking or running down a street but if someone attacks from above you have nothing to do but stop and enter an animation of certain death, there is no way of dodging air assignations and so EVERY fucker does them making it only a matter of time before your being dry humped with a blade in your neck.

Overall I think Assassin’s Creed multiplayer holds huge potential but I don’t think they have got it right first try. They did the same with the single player in the first one before correcting it in AC2. Good story, concept and gameplay but repetitive and you never quite feel as awesome as you do in the single player of AC2. For the moment I give it 70/100 but if a full combat system is put in place and the game mechanics tweaked I believe it could be extraordinary.

I’ll also add a link to tank gameplay (yes tank) and before you ask Da Vinci DID design a tank for Pope Alexander the 6th (Rodrigo Borgia): Exotic gameplay trailer

Lastly, in the introduction I mentioned Sony becoming friendlier with developers like Ubisoft, EA and most importantly Valve. The question is why? Not that it’s a bad thing, in fact it’s better for people like me then Mrs Alba (yes Mrs, unfortunately) in that bikini but it’s clearly not money as if it were we all would be in Microsoft’s pocket. No I think it has finally come the time were developers just can’t use the out-dated tech that lies within the Xbox 360 and no makeover can change that. This could cause trouble as the Kinect now has so much riding on it, if it fails Microsoft may well pull out of gaming or they will release the new Xbox too early and this pattern will be repeated until they do pull out. So will Xbox survive another five years, probably but ten years?

I just can’t see MMXX being graced with an extra X//

I got a chance to go to Eurogamer and test out a few games, however one of the games i will never forget was Motorstorm Apocalypse in 3D, the fantastic graphics, the fantastic look of all the rubble coming straight at you, it was something you would call hmmm? FANTASTIC

The game itself was already great but 3D added a whole new element to it, as all the buildings fell down and crashed you could see all the rubble coming right at you and straight past you, there was even an electricity part of the track where you could see all of the electricity leap out, it really was something to remember

Let’s be frank. There’s a huge line between brave and stupid and with Panasonics announcement of its new “Jungle” handheld. I fear that they fall into the latter of the two groups stated above.  Naturally the announcement was met with confusion and a lot of skepticism.  After the failure of the 3DO it was thought Panasonic had hung up its hopes of being a gaming company.  While we cannot tell you exactly what kind of line-up of games this bad boy will be packing or even what kind of graphics it is capable of producing.  The full specs of the Jungle have not been released to the press or the public as of now.


However, we can give you an idea of the competition it will be facing. Nintendo, who is sitting on top of the portable market and preparing to launch their new handheld, the 3DS. The 3DS is capable of producing 3D graphics without the use of special glasses and has the ability to toggle this off and on at the users whim. Meanwhile, Sony is prepping the PSP2 while not too much is known officially seeing as Sony seems to want to keep things concerning this machine on the down-low at this time.  Finally, we come to Apple eating up a small share of the market with its portable devices (ie: iPhone, iPad, iTouch)


One thing is for sure. Panasonic will face some stiff competition and will need to get some developer backing to get this handheld to work and not to have a 3DO repeat.

As we all know, Killzone 3 will have Move support and what’s great about Move is that all you have to do it literally press two buttons and you’ve got a headshot, great right? not great. Auto aim for Move will be in the Story and Multiplayer, since this feature will be added to multiplayer it will be incredibly unfair mainly because all the move players would be getting headshots while all the Dualshock players would be getting killed and so on, so we can understand the developers confusion on whether to allow Dualshock players and Move players on the same servers



I got a chance to visit Eurogamer on Oct 2nd and I must say it was fantastic, I visited the Killzone 3 Developer Session and one of the questions were “will there be Dualshock Players And Move Players On The Same Server?” Steven Ter Heide who was up there trying to answer as many questions as he could before he had to go wasn’t really sure, he mentioned that there has to be a “balance” and that if multiplayer was going to be unfair because of the automatic headshots with Move then they would split the servers for Move and Dualshock, now I know what your all thinking, why don’t they just remove automatic aim well that would probably then make it unfair for move players so really Steven Ter Heide and all the other developers for Killzone 3 have a hard job on their hands

When Sony announced that there would  be a brand new Premium PSN service at E3 people didn’t really think it would trump Xbox’s Live Gold Service however now PSN + is actually becoming worth it. With the latest announcement that the Killzone 3 Beta would be a PSN+ only beta will PSN+ see some more people signing up to play the Killzone 3 beta and also if there will be a Killzone 3 beta on PSN+ then what other Triple A game betas will come to PSN+ as-well



Check out the Multiplayer Video Here