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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 imagination 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  »

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.

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  »

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  »

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.

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.

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  »

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.

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