Here is where we take a look and drool over what games we know we’ll be playing soon. You’ll see the latest trailers, gameplay, and screens from the future of gaming.
Concealed Intent is a Space, Turn-Based Combat game that’s in early access on Steam. It’s already getting bonus points for not being another damned zombie game that’s in early access so bravo for thinking of something original their guys.
I love turn based combat games, there’s something about the charm of them that’s just remarkable. Concealed Intent definitely manages to capture the charm I dearly love and incorporate it well, making it a strong turn based combat game. There’s a few gamemodes to choose from, there’s the actual campaign, skirmish and multiplayer, we’ll go into these in more detail later, but let’s start with the campaign, because that’s what you should have to do by law.
There’s gonna be one or two minor spoilers, as in, the first mission, I’m going to completely spoil for you and that’ll be it. The story for the game is original, I don’t think I’ve ever played a game where I’ve had to shoot my uncle’s ashes into a planet that looks scarily like Mustafar from Star Wars. I thought it was a bit odd that the game starts with you doing this, but I suppose it sets the game in motion for what you need to do. You basically run a sort of trading company that your dear old, probably melted, uncle left you in his will and that’s what the campaign revolves around.
Graphically wise, the game is impressive. I mean, for an early access game and a small company at that it’s pretty impressive that one or two people can actually make something that looks like this. Obviously graphics don’t matter on a game like this, so as long as it’s playable then who cares? I do, I have to, that’s my job, and if I’m not doing my job then the men will come for me now wont they.
I’m not a fan of the skirmish mode in this game unfortunately. It seems like it’s just a survival mode in which I didn’t do much surviving as there seems to be an almost infinite amount of enemies in the skirmish. I suppose if it was named survival mode I wouldn’t have too much of a problem with it but a skirmish match is usually two or more teams of enemies going to battle with one another, this just seems to be you in a small square, battling ships and satellites.
It’s also a shame that I didn’t get a chance to play the multiplayer seeing as though the game is in early access and not many people were actually purchasing/playing the game while I was playing. I’m guessing the multiplayer is either a co-op sort of skirmish mode (which actually sounds pretty fun) or just a 1v1 battle, which could also be fun.
Overall I’m pretty impressed. The fact that this game is in early access and is obviously making improvements is sublime. It’s also not a zombie game, has steam trading cards and I think I crafted the badge so that’s a bonus as well. It’s in a stable enough position to be played now, but it’s pretty obvious more stuff will be added, so until then.
Yes, I know, the world really needs another cartoon-styled tower defense game, but don’t give up on me yet. Onion Force (formerly known as Dirty Rascals) is the first game from independent studio Queen Bee Games and has to be one of the most charming games I’ve played recently. Onion Force does it’s part to stand out from the overabundance of simple tower defense games, and the promise of hand drawn animation and apparently no microtransaction BS instantly made me interested in this game, but did it hold my interest once I got my hands on it? Continue reading →
Many of you, the readers, have very fond memories of twitch shooters like DOOM, Quake, and Unreal Tournament. These were some of the first keyboard and mouse shooters as well as some of the earliest competitive online games. Even today these games hold up very well and are often considered some of the best controlling games ever made to this day. The reboot of DOOM has promised to stay true to this style while also evolving the subgenre to more a more modern experience. Unfortunately, as seen in the closed alpha gameplay, in trying to be a “modern” game, DOOM has abandoned what could have made special in the current gaming climate. Instead, signs are pointing towards it being a gory take on modern shooters that doesn’t do enough to set itself apart.
DOOM is too slow, simple as that. If you’ve ever played DOOM or Quake, you know why they are called twitch shooters (no, not because twelve year olds stream them). These games move FAST. It’s very possible to die, respawn, and die again within the course of a few seconds and that’s not out of the ordinary. The DOOM game currently in development, though, doesn’t feel nearly as quick and seems to have a more “down to earth” movement speed, because realism is what you want from any game about going to space hell and fighting floating ball-shaped demons. Many are claiming what they have seen from this alpha gameplay is “Halo-like” game speed. Now, I’m not going to go so far as to claim that DOOM is trying to appeal to the Halo audience, but I can see the comparison all the same. I would, however, be totally for a DOOM like Halo game with Master Chief chainsawing demons to death on a spaceship.
A reasonable explanation as to why DOOM doesn’t move as fast as it’s predecessors, is the fact that DOOM is coming to consoles. Console controllers do not even compare to the precise aiming that comes from a keyboard/mouse combo on PCs. Personally, I prefer playing most games with a controller unless they are a made-for-PC game. Those of us who grew up with the original DOOM series will likely wish that the newest entry was also a made-for-PC shooter like older id games, at least for multiplayer. It’s OK though, because the multiplayer won’t matter. Or at least I hope it doesn’t.
Everything I have seen and played of DOOM so far makes me much more excited for the single player campaign than for the multiplayer. DOOM has a very unique, very strange atmosphere that is different from any other franchise I’ve ever played. I have no interest in playing a too-slow multiplayer game in the DOOM universe full of canned animations. Put that gameplay in a well thought-out single player game, though, and you’ve got my attention.
Ah, Japan. As a child, Japan was the legendary home of video games to me. Rumors would always float around school of what video games were out in Japan (of course there were those who somehow believed Japan was several console generations ahead of the rest of the world, but I digress). As of late, however, gaming isn’t what it once was in Japan. This isn’t to say that gaming is dead, that is. Gaming is alive and well… just in the form of handheld/mobile gaming. Games like Puzzle and Dragons and Monster Hunter dominate sales in Japan. Almost all games are played on phones or handheld systems. Nintendo and Sony consoles still see decent sales in Japan, but are no where near being as dominate as they were in years past. Continue reading →
Independent developers have brought us gamers some of the most original and exciting games of the last decade. From masterpieces like The Unfinished Swan and Limbo, to the crazy and quirky like Hotline Miami and even Goat Simulator, indie games have been some of the most noteworthy games in history, and phenoms like Minecraft will be remembered as a huge part of many childhoods. So how did such a huge part of the video game industry get started, and where does it go from here? Continue reading →
For some time many of us have been speculating as to where Valve will find itself in the emerging VR market. Originally, Valve and Gabe Newell supported development of the Oculus Rift VR headset, but this likely changed when Oculus was bought by Facebook, one of the most surprising moves in recent memory. Especially considering the Oculus Rift was being made with video games in mind yet Facebook doesn’t exactly have a foothold in the video game market (what are they going to do? Let us play Farmville like we’re really there). Continue reading →
For a few days now many have been speculating, hoping that Blizzard’s new trademark “Overwatch” might amount to something other than another WoW expqnsion. Today at Blizzcon, Blizzard made those hopes come true by announcing that Overwatch is indeed an entirely new IP in the form of an over-the-top, cartoon-styled first person shooter.
Overwatch is currently a 6v6 multiplayer first person shooter. Each character has special abilities and “ultimates” which seem to combine the ideologies of over-the-top fps games such as Team Fortress 2 and MOBAs such as Dota and LoL.
Personally, I hope that this game sees a full, polished retail release, but games like this often end in f2p releases, or digital only low price release (Blizzard has announced they now realize that it isn’t necessary to only make and release huge AAA games). However, it seems likely that Overwatch is using many leftover elements from the recently cancled MMORPG Titan that was in development for about 7 years. Many important members of the Titan development team seem to be working on Overwatch. This hints that Overwatch may possibly be the game that Titan evolved into during its convoluted development.
Right now its hard to say exactly how important this new IP will be to both Blizzard and the competitive gaming community, so I’ll avoid any further speculation for now. The important thing to remember is that Blizzard very rarely releases bad games, and they wouldn’t be leaping into a new IP without confidence it can stand beside its other established franchises.
U.S. History was always a subject I could never really quite get that into. I mean I consider myself to be quite the history buff. I love ancient history and world, but for some reason the Battles of Lexington and Concord or the signing of the Declaration never really resonated with me as much as say the battle of Thermopylae or discovering the Rosetta Stone. Maybe call me un-patriotic or what have you, but I just never really found our nations history to be that riveting or exciting. That is, until now.
In Assassin’s Creed III, the next installment to the critically acclaimed Assassin’s Creed series, the on going war between the Assassins and Templars has been moved from the dense and rich European cities to the vast and open American frontier. Taking place over the course over 30 years, the story is before, during, and after the American Revolution. Unfortunately the sauve yet badass Ezio will not be making the long trip to American shores, however we are introduced to a new character and lead, Ratonhnhaké:ton or better known as Connor. Half Native American and half British, Connor is conflicted on whom to fight for, however it is this conflict that makes the story. This is Connor’s story and how he became a part of the Assassin order and how he becomes a part of the fight in the American Revolution. Along the way Connor will encounter numerous historical figures such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Charles Lee, and others, ensuring that history is still a staple aspect of the series.
In an interview with CVG (computerandvideogames.com) Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot stated that this Assassin’s game “will be the biggest to date,” and from what’s been revealed so far it certainly appears to be that way. Ubisoft Montreal is returning yet again to spearhead this latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed series, so it should be of no surprise then that a lot of the same elements seen from previous Assassin’s Creed games will be returning, however they have been totally revamped and made a new, creating a fresher and new take to the Assassin’s Creed formula.
The combat has been totally redone and a new controller scheme has been created for this upcoming title. In being a new assassin Connor now always fights dual handed. According to creative director Alex Hutchinson, the brand new controller scheme “allows you continual access to tools such as pistols on one button, as well as maintaining access to your core weapon, such as the hidden blade.” This creates a more fluid control when it comes to combat making Connor not only easier to handle, but also making him look extremely graceful and badass when it comes to killing. Since the game takes place during the American Revolution guns have become a bigger threat in this Assassin’s game as opposed to past. According to Hutchinson “firing lines are a key feature of the period and we’ve integrated them into both combat and pre-combat, to give the player different opportunities such as the meat-shield.” Countering is still a huge aspect when it comes to combat. Enemies now attack in unison generating a new and stylish “duel counter” and according to Hutchinson after you counter an enemy “you have a choice of what to do, whether to assassinate, dodge, or throw them.” They call this a “window of opportunity,” which creates a new and refreshing taste when it comes to combat. On top of this the assassinations have also been totally redone. In being a new assassin Connor can now assassinate with any weapon, and can also perform “running assassinations,” giving off this impression that Connor is always on the move.
The biggest and most intriguing change with Assassin’s Creed III however is the environment and animation. The dense gridded cities that always made up the scenery in past Assassin’s games are gone, and has instead been replaced by the vast and open American frontier. This change of surroundings has lead to a totally redone parkour and navigation system that has always been a staple part of the series. Tree navigation is the newest and most significant addition to the overall navigation system. According to Hutchinson tree navigation “allows Connor to deal with forests, cliffs, uneven surfaces as fluidly and smoothly as previous Assassin’s dealt with cities.” The team at Ubisoft Montreal is “trying very hard to keep natural shapes, organic surfaces, to make believable terrain” according to Hutchinson. The environment is no longer gridded with square surfaces, and Connor can now grab onto all sorts of different shapes and objects. “You can go anywhere. Anything you see that has a handhold that’s climbable is climbable, and we really highlight the areas where you can’t go,” says Hutchinson. This new navigation system not only brings a fresh take on how to traverse and travel throughout the environment, but it is also a major leap in gaming animation.
With this new environment it opens the door to a whole new type of gameplay. Seasons such as winter and summer are now implemented in the game, and both have their own unique effects on Connor. For instance during the winter, snow slows Connor down encouraging him to climb and stay off of the ground. This introduction of the frontier has also introduced wildlife to the series. “There are over 200 different species of animal in the game,” says Hutchinson and they all offer unique opportunities or threats to Connor. Although the vast frontier has replaced the populated city, cities or rather colonies will still play an important role in Assassin’s Creed III. Colonies such as New York and Boston will be central areas in the game, and will offer a different take on gameplay as opposed to the wilderness. With two virtually different atmospheres to explore, the environment in Assassin’s Creed III will be a refreshing take to not only the series but also action adventure games in general.
Hutchinson and the team at Ubisoft Montreal truly believe that they “have the most robust third person character in action games today,” and from what’s been seen and revealed so far they just might. If anything can be said, they for sure have the most robust third person character in any Assassin’s Creed game to date, and this title is definitely shaping up to be the best in the series. With super tight animation, a new combat scheme and navigation system, this is one title that for sure needs to be on your radar when it comes out later this fall on October 30th. Be sure to check out the gameplay video and let us know what you think, and stay tuned to updownright for all the latest on this highly anticipated title.
Imagine if top rated shooters like Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 were free to play? It would be pretty unbelievable and I’m sure gamers everywhere would rejoice to the fact that they wouldn’t have to drop $60.00 in order to save the world from terrorists. I’m speaking hypothetically here of course; something like this could never happen, right?
Well, it turns out something like this is going to happen, and it’s called Warface.
In development by Crytek studios, the team behind the various Crysis games as well as the amazing CryEngine gaming engines, Warface is a new first person shooter MMO being developed for the PC. It should be of no surprise then that Warface will feature some stellar next gen graphics. Crytek has already announced that the game will run on the new CryEngine 3, however no need to worry if your system can’t handle this new gaming engine. According to Jack DeVries, an associate editor over at IGN, Crytek has “developed Warface to use as low system reqs as possible. Anyone with at least a 2 Ghz processor and 1 GB of RAM should be able to war all the faces they can handle.”
Warface is a military shooter set in the near future. I know, sounds like every other military themed shooter that has come out within the past few years, however Warface is different. It is a strict multiplayer game that will feature your typical PvP (player vs. player) game modes such as deathmatch and bomb defuse scenarios, however what separates Warface from other shooters is its co-op play, or also known as PvE matches (player vs. environment). According to DeVries, “every day Crytek loads new missions to complete using the game’s random mission generation. All of the co-op missions feature moments where you have to use teamwork. If there’s a huge armored enemy blocking a bridge, chances are there’s a way for you to boost your partner over a ledge somewhere and sneak around behind him while the rest of the squad distracts the enemy.” This new co-op play is a refreshing take on the multiplayer experience, and with new missions being generated everyday the experience will never grow old.
Like Call of Duty, Warface will also feature their own system of perks and rewards. According to IGN’s PC executive editor Charles Onyett, “to enhance your performance, you’ll be able to equip special items like silent shoes that muffle your footsteps, boots that allow you to pass by claymore mines without triggering them, and other items lengthen sprint times.” Furthermore there will also be weapon customization and upgrades, which you can earn by completing the daily missions, and specific class sets such as soldiers and medics.
There is one final difference that separates Warface from other shooters, and if you didn’t catch on to it at the beginning of this article then I’ll reveal it now in clearer terms. Warface will be a completely free-to-play shooter. Yes, you read that correctly, I kid you not. Warface is supported by a free-to-play model and you can already reserve your screen name on the official website.
Already live in China and Russia and receiving critical acclaim, Warface is shaping up to be a very promising online shooter. With amazing next gen graphics and a free to play model in place, Warface looks to be a top contender in the realm of online shooters. I guess we will all know for sure when it is released in the states later this year.
E3 is the time for games industry titans to flex their muscle, for indie developers to make a name for themselves, and for new information on games to be released. In this instance however, an entire game was announced by LucasArts at E3. Meet Star Wars: 1313.
Setting: The game is to be set on the famous planet-city Coruscant. You are to take on the role of bounty hunter tracking down targets in the depth of Coruscant, and uncovering the truth about a corporate criminal conspiracy. The time period of the game is between the two movie trilogies. Regarding the title, 1313 refers to Courscant’s over 5000 levels, 1313 being located in the seedy underworld. Darker themes surprisingly dominate the game rather than the more typically campy or dramatic feel of Star Wars games. It seems to be an entirely new direction for the Star Wars franchise in general.
Based on the lackluster showing of the Force Unleashed games, my first reaction to 1313 was skepticism. After viewing some gameplay trailers however, I am extremely excited for the title to be released.
Gameplay: 1313’s gameplay mechanics are third person shooter Star Wars- meets Uncharted-meets Deus Ex. So far, a cover system and cinematic quality platforming are present in the game. It does not seem like a typical third person shooter at all after watching gameplay footage. The graphics are gorgeous, and cutscenes are rendered from the actual game engine. 1313 is the first internally developed LucasArts game in a while, possibly since the Jedi Knight trilogy.
Bottom Line: Certainly, high expectations are to be had for Star Wars: 1313. The storyline is a new direction, and the gameplay elements are unique as well. Lets hope they do have blasters for us to dodge and vault from in this beautiful Star Wars title. As Anthony Gallegos from IGN puts it, “Star Wars: 1313 has all the potential to be the best video game the franchise has seen in years.”
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