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For those of you who haven’t purchased the beast of a comic book game Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady has put the icing on the cake with the addition of 3D. Before your Imageimagination runs wild after watching Avatar, (which uses stereophonic 3D) don’t get hypes up.

The GOTY (Game of the Year) edition of Arkham Asylum utilizes the old school red and green 3D glasses, which depicts an illusion of depth in the game. You’ll find that there are two 3D glasses in the games cover, giving the chance for one person to play in 3D and the other to watch.

Unfortunately none of the cutscenes are in 3D but the real time gameplay is. When you first don the glasses be prepared for a world of wooziness, as your eyes take time to adjust to the glasses. At a first glimpse you’ll notice that the only 3D effect in sight is on Batman, who has an outlined focus around him.

Other time’s the 3D effect is really showcased when you’re sitting on top of a gargoyle. If you look down you get an illusion of depth and the floor ends up looking like a long fall.

It wouldn’t be a GOTY edition without added features; all of the DLC challenge maps are included in the game. These maps range from the alley way in Gotham City to the Scarecrow’s maps. Read More  »

Thanks to 2K Games, Game Hub was given the opportunity to play the Mafia II demo a week early. Representing Game Hub I went down to their office in Windsor, to Play Mafia II for the first time.

After 8 years in the making Mafia II is finally in reach of fans, just shy a few weeks from release. Powered by 2K Czech’s own Illusion Engine, Mafia II is concentrating on good old story telling.

It would seem as though this is an area that current generation of games is out of touch of. High definition presentation and powerful technology, powering video games is mainly the talk these days.

You’ll find that 2K Czech hasn’t followed suit of the inclusion of multiplayer and has chosen voice actors for their talent rather than their stardom. Mafia II wants players to experience an authentic time in America, where average jobs paid little and joining the Mafia was the route to stacks of cash. It’s not always a win win situation though, as joining the Mafia has its own implications. 

Mafia II is the story of Vito Scaletta, an Italian American who’s returned from the war and discovers his family is in debt. Vito has no choice but to support his family the best he can, but he knows that a normal paid job won’t help him. So he gets involved with the wrong crowd alongside his friend Joe Barbaro, scaling the ranks of the underworld to become a name to remember. Read More  »

Prepare yourself for the biggest sandbox environment you’ll ever experience, in thefictional Panau Island (south Asia orientated) of Just Cause 2. Avalanche Studios returns for a sequel, this time introducing some new tech. Avalanche 2.0 is the name of the new game engine, used to develop Just Cause 2. 

Rico Rodriguez returns as the protagonist deployed in Panau, to ultimately track down dictator Pandak Panay and annihilate his army. Never mind the story though, its cheesy B movie stuff. Don’t even get me started on the voice acting and dialogues.

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The real star of the show is Panau itself and Rico’s arsenal. He’s got a badass grapple hook attached to his arm, which allows you to zip anywhere from roughly 100 meters. Also attached to Rico at all times is a reusable parachute.

The grappling hook can be use to join anything together in your view. Whether that being cars to buildings or enemies to aeroplanes is entirely up to you.

You’ve got access to a black market supplier who can deliver you anything from aeroplanes, jets, boats, weapons and transport to a destination of your desire.  

Then you’ve got Panau itself, which is over 1,000 square kilometers of playground. It took me half an hour to get from one side of the map, to another by aeroplane and even longer by boat. Read More  »

Beenox (latest dev to take on Spider-Man licence) have finally broken the mould of recycled Spider-Man games in sandbox New York. This new title presents us with a promising game that involves 4 different Spider-Man universes.

The gaming environment is now more confined and level based, with enough space for Spider-Man to flow. Before you read on watch this exciting opening trailer, of Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions.

The plot is quite simple Amazing Spider-Man accidently, shatters the tablet of order and chaos during a scuffle with Mysterio. Now shattered into pieces the universe is in danger, any villain with the tablet is a threat.

Spider-Man must now obtain every single piece from 4 different dimensions, with the help of other Spider-Men. The dimensions that are featured in the game are the amazing universe, noire universe, 2099 universe and the ultimate universe.

Each universe has a distinctive art style and gameplay mechanics. The amazing universe has Spider-Man wearing the famous red and blue suit. The combats main emphasis is web based attacks e.g. a huge hammer formed from Spider-Mans web. The amazing universe takes place in a jungle which is kraven’s lair. Read More  »

Mortal Kombat Returns to its Roots

Fans will finally have the much deserved next gen installment of Mortal Kombat.  Let’s just say let bygones be bygones and forget Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe even existed. Veterans of the series will be very familiar with the cast of characters, as they are selected from Mortal Kombat 1-3.

Mortal Kombat also returns to the 2D plane but don’t worry the characters are still 3D models. Most importantly though the mature presentation returns with a big fat 18 rating on the box art.

Expect those gore splattering fatalities to make a triumphant return like never before. NetherRealm Studios claims that this will be the most, bloody and mature game in the series to date.

Attention to detail is one of the key factors in this installment, with organs and body wounds showcased throughout an entire fight. One of the new features in the game is a super meter, which builds up as you inflict and absorb damage.

With the super meter you can execute X ray attacks that halve an opponent’s health bar. It can also be utilized to charge up special attacks for extra damage.

4 player tag team matches make an appearance, as well as multiplayer and a co-op arcade mode. Other modes are yet to be announced and revealed through the year. Read More  »

After listening to the fans reactions, it seems as though Sucker Punch has realized players don’t like change. It has been revealed that Cole will be redesigned, to look more like the bike messenger we knew in the first game.

Whether or not the voice actor of the first game will return is yet to be seen. Developing a video game isn’t an easy task; it would be a waste of money and time, to see the recording sessions of the new Cole go to waste.

I’m sure players wouldn’t mind having a choice, as to which Cole they want to play as. The beauty of still being in development is both an exciting and decisive phase.

Whatever the outcome I trust Sucker Punch to make the right decision, they’ve already shown that they listen to the fans. This is a great quality you don’t find in many developers. inFAMOUS 2 is slated to release exclusively on PS3 in 2011.

 

While the first chapter of Life in the West merely touched on some of the dangers of frontier life in the world of Red Dead Redemption, Life in the West: Part II contains more depth and detail on the atmosphere of revolutionary turmoil and social unrest that was prevalent during the time period, with gangs overrunning decrepit towns and roadside bandits a constant threat.

This entry in the Gameplay Series also reveals brand new and unique gameplay mechanics, including the finer points of dueling and the ways that the deeds you perform and the outfits you wear impact the way the people of the world respond to you.

The west was an unforgiving place, full of turmoil and horrific violence. In Part II of Life in the West, we are shown what happens when you disobey the law. John Marston can be seen stealing a stage coach wearing a bandanna across his face.

The notoriety system in Red Dead Redemption uses the word ‘wanted' which is filled in red. As opposed to ‘stars’ being gained in the Grand Theft Auto series. If you missed Life in the West part I you can watch it here.

 

Rockstar have always had an eccentric cast of characters in their video games. In Red Dead Redemption you can expect this to follow suit. In this latest trailer Rockstar reveals a selection of western nut-jobs you can expect to meet, come 21st May 2010.  

Characters in the trailer include Nigel West Dickens, a travelling medicine man who is constantly harassed by angry mobs. Then there’s Irish, who always lets the drink get the better of him and talks his way out of trouble.

Seth Briars can be seen in the trailer digging up graves, he is described as an insane man who doesn’t bath and is obsessed with wealth. Professor Harold MacDougal is a professor from Yale who can’t handle the pressures of the West.

So there you have it, a little taste of what missions you’ll be up against in May 2010. If you haven’t done so already be sure to check out these pre order bonuses of Red Dead Redemption right here.

 

Mafia II is the story of Vito Scaletta, a World War II veteran.  He’s a beaten down Italian American who gets involved with the wrong crowd alongside his friend Joe Barbaro. Scaling ranks of the underworld to become a name to remember.

Powered by 2K Czech’s next-generation engine built specifically for Mafia II, players will experience the true evolution of the Mob game that defined a genre. Gunfights, hand-to-hand combat and vehicular exploration feature new depth and dimension that allow players to experience the world of Mafia II in a way that will keep them coming back for more.

Through strong, authentic characterization and compelling narrative, the mature storyline will make you understand the pull and impossible escape of life in the Mob

In this latest trailer 2K Czech reminds us that Mafia II is still alive and well in development. Let’s just hope that Mafia II will see the light of day on August 27th 2010(UK), the last thing we need is another delay.

It seems that Remedy, responsible for the Max Payne series and now the upcoming and very exciting Alan Wake, are full to the brim with confidence in their upcoming romp in the surprisingly sinister place that is Bright Falls in which you are going to play as the panic stricken author, Alan. So much so, it seems, that they already have prepared a DLC, boldly assuming that the game will leave players wanting more time in their tweed jackets within this so called ‘physiological action thriller’. I personally struggle to anticipate wanting anything else once the credits roll on Alan Wake myself to be honest, and so I feel confident that Remedy’s presumptions will turn out to be accurate and DLC will be on everyone’s lips soon after Wake’s release. It is for this reason that I am more than happy to welcome this very early news of DLC with open arms and a controller within one hand. Read More  »

Let’s face it; none of us have ever really had the desire to play as a tweed jacket wearing, flash light wielding (seriously, he fights with a flashlight) author who can’t even defeat the formidable foe that is writer’s block when we pick up our controllers. And yet, you’d be hard pressed to find any Xbox 360 owner who has not at the very least been slightly curious and intrigued by the idea of the upcoming game which puts you in control of that very man, Alan Wake. Now, after a difficult and constantly extended production, the undeniably stunning looking and intense game has emerged out of the gloomy mist of production and is now fast approaching the light of it’s almost certainly secure release date, May 21. In fact, words out that the game is finished and after 6 long years, fans can most likely feel confident that a well polished game will soon be in their hands, or else there'll no doubt be trouble... Read More  »

In the latest gameplay series we learn of the hardships and struggles of life in the early 20th century on the frontier. The video tours you through life in the rapidly expanding town of Blackwater in the North, to the forts across the frontier of New Austin, to the towns of a Mexico rocked by revolution in the border territories of Nuevo Paraiso.

Activities in the game shown in this trailer are herding cattle, collecting bounties, gambling, drinking, protecting ranches and hunting. After killing animals in the game you can sell the skin for other useful goods. The animals in Red Dead Redemption’s gaming environment are quite vast from various horses, cattle, buffalos, deer’s and my personal favourite bears to name a few.

The physics showcased in the game especially the muscles of the horses is absolutely magnificent. The realism in this game is second to none; Rockstar has spent a lot of development time and money into creating an epic experience for players. I can honestly say hands down that anyone in possession of this game come 21th May will be a proud owner of the finest Wild West sandbox adventure.

Watch and discover the people, places and activities that populate the vast and beautiful world of Red Dead Redemption.

In this trailer Rockstar Explores the Women of Red Dead Redemption of different classes and beliefs. You’ve got women willing to fight wars and make history and then you’ve got those who consider themselves to be saints. John Marston meets many women in his travels in a time where men made history and women did too.

It’s interesting to see Rockstar’s perception of women in the Wild West. Many would have jumped to the conclusion of all women being courtezans in that era. Rockstar has definitely done its research and shown us that there was more to the women of the Wild West than meets the eye.

With the law it’s never simple in Red Dead Redemption, you either abide by them or live to suffer the consequences. Striking a balance between greedy yet crooked lawmen and those enforcing the law for a good cause is a desperate struggle. The law has never been on the side of Rockstar’s leading video game characters and John Marston is the newest addition embracing its wrath. Unfortunately Red Dead Redemption won’t be hitting shelves for April 30th 2010. Instead it will be released on 18th May 2010 in NTSC territories and 21st May 2010 in PAL territories. As with any delay it can only mean a better experience and polished game in the hand of players when it’s released. So don’t fret if you think your pre-orders are in jeopardy.

White Knight Chronicles finally comes to the western shores after a just over a year of waiting and while it isn’t Level-5’s best game to date, nor an essential Role-Playing Game that PS3 owners must own, it’s still a very good game from the company known for their epic RPG's.

White Knight Chronicles Box Art Read More  »