Josh Jackson | Geekscape

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’

by Josh JacksonJune 16, 2013

When Call of Duty: Ghosts was previewed at the Xbox One conference, the aftermath felt like meme central. But between fish AI, “Collar Duty” jokes and lots of love for dogs, there was actually a game in there somewhere. Aside from the usual military shooter game play, the conference promised a weakened America, a new cast of characters and a much more desperate setting. These were all of the qualities I was keeping an eye out for when I stepped into Activision’s Ghosts presentation, and I was happy to walk out with a few surprises.

Ghosts will be the story of two brothers who are recruited by an elite squad of soldiers that tackle missions to protect a crippled United States. Traveling all around the world to locations such as Venezuela, The Caribbean and the deep, dark recesses of San Diego, each location was heavy on action. One mission had the Ghosts repelling down a building while picking off security forces on the way down. Another had them swimming underwater and blowing up a submarine with a torpedo launcher. All of this is made so much better by an obviously improved AI, so let’s hope the days of your team mates standing around looking into the distance while you get pumped full of led are long gone.

But who cares about the human partners! This game is all about Riley, the service dog that stole the show at the game’s reveal. What seemed like a simple squad member turns out to be so much more. In a dog focused stage, the main characters were able to give voice commands to their pet for various tactical functions. What’s even better is the game showed players taking direct control of Riley as he maps out paths, checks to make sure corners are safe with his back mounted camera and can even stealth take down enemy soldiers. Once the coast is clear, control comes back to the boring old humans to shoot stuff up. BUT… Riley was also seen being sent into rooms to ambush enemies and trigger breaches. On these sections alone, I’m more than excited to bury terrorists with an actual dog.

This is all framed with an overhauled graphics engine, including displacement mapping which makes terrain look even more realistic. New weapons include an underwater machine gun that’s based on real military tech, and more new guns are sure to follow. Multiplayer wasn’t shown in this demo, but as long as Call of Duty is in the title, you can expect plenty of multikills, upgrades and airstrikes when you take the fight online.

All in all, Ghosts seems like overhauling the story, the settings and adding a dog of all things might be the next step in the evolution of the series. I know that nothing I write will help or hinder this game’s ability to sell tens of millions of copies, but I’m more excited for Ghosts than I’ve been for a COD game in a long, long time.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is coming to the PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC in November.

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Skylanders: Swap Force’

by Josh JacksonJune 16, 2013

When Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure was first released nearly two years ago, it became a mega hit with both gamers and children alike. It wasn’t uncommon for games to get toy lines to tie in with the latest releases, but making the toys essential to playing the game was the key to a new cash cow. A year later, Skylanders: Giants added new characters, including the huge Skylanders that the game was named for. But from a game play perspective, it took the safe route, with game play and level design that felt like a copy/paste from the original. I was expecting much of the same when I got to check out Swap Force, the upcoming third Skylanders sequel that promises to add characters with swappable parts. But once I was able to see the game in action, there are a lot of big changes coming to Skylands, which left me pleasantly surprised!

In Skylanders: Swap Force, portal masters are called upon to summon Spyro and friends once again to prevent the evil master, Kaos, from corrupting a volcano with magical powers. This time around, Vicarious Visions, developers of the 3DS versions of Skylanders, have been given lead development duties in the console department. As you would guess from the title, the main feature of Swap Force is the ability to swap parts between the newest set of characters, changing their attacks and elemental properties in the process. The new guys include Night Shift, an undead boxer, Free Ranger, a storm powered chicken and Stink Bomb, a ninja skunk. Swapping their top and bottom halves create new versions of these newcomers to play with, like Free Bomb or Night Ranger. Each half stores data separately, so the upgrades made to each half will be carried over if you mix and match parts with your friends. In addition, swapping is necessary to open new elemental doors that require two elements to open. If you don’t want to buy the new swappable characters, fear not! Playing two players and using one of each element will open the doors just as well.

What you DO need the new characters for however, are the recently added Swap Force Zones. Each bottom half is associated with a type of movement, ranging from climbing, teleport and rocket zones for example. Opening these doors triggers mini games that are unique to each type, which rewards players with bonuses for completing them. Speaking of rewards, in addition to the hidden treasures and hats from the previous games, new map pieces can be discovered, unlocking bonus areas in the process. It was confirmed that these maps will replace the level based figurines, so gone are the days where you would have to spend close to $30 on sets in order to play a half hour stage.

These are just one of the many positives that Swap Force promises to bring. Running on an all new engine, the game is a huge upgrade visually. The addition of jumping means more platforming elements rather than the previous games that were essentially dungeon crawlers, while combat seems to have more depth with the ability to mix and match attacks. I was largely impressed, but my only concern is how the 3DS version will be affected. With a new developer taking over the handheld version, (which I felt was the superior version of the previous games,) what changes if any would be made for portable Portal Masters? Unfortunately, the 3DS version wasn’t included in my demo, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

All of the previous figures, including the giants, are backwards compatible in addition to 16 Swap Force and 16 new standard Skylanders. Old favorites like Stealth Elf will be getting new redesigns, but aside from the Swap Force zones, the entire game can be played with your old favorites if you’re low on cash. With all the new figures coming our way, it looks like we’ll need lots of it!

Skylanders: Swap Force is scheduled for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4 and Xbox One this fall.

E3 2013: Hands-On: ‘Dark Souls 2’

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, two names that are synonymous with mind crushingly difficult game play. As seen with the popularity of these titles, gamers can’t get enough of the punishment that From Software cooks up every time one of the games in this series is released. Not surprisingly, a follow up in the form of Dark Souls 2 is coming, and I got the chance to take to the dark corridors and dungeons to find out what new tricks the game has in store.

Dark Souls 2 runs on a new game engine, which is immediately apparent from the vast improvement in graphics. While the game is being made to be more accessible with features such as 1-4 player multiplayer, one of the goals of the game is to keep the difficulty and sense of achievement intact. New to this game is the ability to customize your character, carry up to three weapons or shields at a time and using the shoulder buttons for independent left and right arm attacks. Enemy AI is said to be improved, and players will now be able to warp between bonfires, eliminating needless backtracking.

Players will have multiple classes to choose from, and while the full amount wasn’t confirmed, a minimum of 12 was promised. The demo gave me the choice between four of these classes, which were the Dual Swordsman, Sorcerer, Warrior and Temple Knight. Being a fan of all things dual handed, I snatched up a Dual Swordsman and began exploring. Any fears of the game being easier were quickly erased when the standard enemies drained tons of health with one attack. With two swords however, it was easy to inflict quick damage with both weapons, and while this class lacked in defense, it made up for in speed.

Traveling deep into the castle, the demo concluded on one of the notorious boss fights the series is known for. This Mirror Knight was a towering suit of reflective armor, using a giant mirror as a shield. I was handily defeating him until about half way through, where he started using his mirror to create reflections of warriors who had died there before me. So suddenly, I found myself going against a boss AND copies of player characters at the same time. Needless to say, I didn’t last long, but just like the previous games, I was addicted to the idea of getting better, anxiously awaiting March 2014 so I can get my second chance.

With Dark Souls 2, Namco Bandai and From Software are keeping what works while expanding the options players have to tackle the challenges presented. With promised multiplayer, a plethora of new classes and tons of deadly enemies, new and old fans might want to check this out if they want a game that makes you work for your victories.

Look for Dark Souls 2 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC early next year.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Knack’

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Sony did everything they could to wow the crowd at E3 this year, and it was largely successful. With that said, aside from the games we already knew about during the PS4 reveal, there were few exclusives shown for the new console. Amongst these titles was a creative looking action/platformer in the form of Knack, a collaboration between Sony Japan and game designer Mark Cerny. Why should you care? Because when the guys behind Shadow of the Colossus and Ratchet and Clank team up, only good things can happen.

Knack stars a mysterious creature who is composed of numerous relics. Tasked with helping the humans fight off the threat of an invading goblin army, Knack will be able to manipulate numerous objects and elements to help him fight off his enemies. The demo I played featured a large, colorful city that was being pillaged by the goblins. Destroying buildings, armor and any part of the environment would automatically absorb the pieces into Knack’s body, making him larger as the stage went on. At one point, the rep who was demoing the game pointed out that my character’s body was made up of thousands of individual pieces, all rendered individually. Even more impressive was that the game never slowed down or moved without a hitch. It just goes to show that while the game looks gorgeous, there’s more to graphical power than just looking pretty. It’s safe to say that something like this wouldn’t be possible on current gen hardware.

As Knack became bigger, his reach and power increased, but that didn’t mean the game got easier. Enemies were surprisingly punishing, assuring that this launch title is looking to give gamers a pretty decent challenge. Other demos next to me showed off interior environments, including manipulating wind to defeat crowds of enemies. The two types of elements I saw in action looked significantly distinct from each other, and I’d only imagine it can only get better with the final total being more than double this amount. Combined with the platforming focus that my demo lacked, it looks like Knack will offer tons of variety for early PS4 adopters.

By the time I walked away from my short time with Knack, I felt myself wanting more. The amount of charm and creativity with the graphics engine helped leave a lasting impression on me, and I can’t wait to see how far the final game takes these ideas. Look out for Knack when it launches with the PS4 in November of this year.

E3 2013: Hands-On with ‘Crimson Dragon’

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Leading up to Microsoft’s highly anticipated press conference, they promised that it would be all about the games. In that sense, they delivered, since plenty of new and old titles alike were announced for the upcoming Xbox console. But while everyone was losing their minds over Killer Instinct and Halo 5, most of my excitement was focused on Crimson Dragon, a spiritual successor to the Sega classic, Panzer Dragoon. Once at the Xbox booth, I made sure to jump on board and see if it could live up to my high expectations.

Not since Panzer Dragoon Orta in 2003 has a game of this type been released. Best described as a rail shooter on the back of a dragon instead of in a plane, the demo took me through the heart of a volcano, chasing a pale white dragon and blasting whatever I could along the way. The final game will have six dragons, each with their own set of abilities, but for now, I had one dragon with one set of moves. The homing lasers locked on to multiple targets that were highlighted by the right stick’s cursor, while an electric blast drained the health of whatever unfortunate soul my cursor was attached to. Dodging with the shoulder buttons initiated a quick barrel roll, which was welcomed since my dragon was too slow to reliably dodge otherwise.

When it came to the two featured boss fights, each one was timed. Doing a certain amount of damage or actually defeating the boss was rewarded with extra food that would be used to upgrade the dragons. Sadly, the time limit in the demo was so short that it was nearly impossible to actually defeat them. I asked to see if these time limits were going to mandatory, and while they will be, the time limits will be about double what they were in the demo once the full game is finally released.

From what I’ve played, Crimson Dragon is looking promising. The punishing difficulty of the previous games seems to have been toned down, but whether or not the demo was just set to be more forgiving has yet to be seen. The cursors and dragon move too slow for my tastes, but considering that this game was designed with Kinect in mind, moving with my hands might be a lot more intuitive. However, I am happy to report that the new Xbox One controller feels comfortable to use.

But aside from these minor complaints, the frantic rail shooting from Panzer Dragoon is alive and well. Keep this one on your list of games to watch as the Xbox One launch draws closer.

E3 2013: Two Retro Pac-Man Titles are on Their Way!

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Namco Bandai wasn’t short on Pac Man news at this year’s E3 convention. In addition to the TV show, toy line and video game that were announced, two retro titles are also coming for old people like me. Pac Man Championship Edition DX + and Pac Man Museum look to bring us back to the glory days of the ghost munching icon in both new and familiar ways.

As most of you could probably figure out from the title, Championship Edition DX + is an expanded version of the wildly popular HD Pac Man game that hit the PSN and Xbox Live arcade a few years back. For those unfamiliar, CE put players in timed Pac Man boards where giant waves of ghosts could be eaten in rapid succession for huge point bonuses. Eating half of the board would unlock a fruit, which would respawn dots after being eaten. In DX, bombs can be used to knock away enemies when you’re cornered, which is easy to do when the game goes into slow motion when in danger. DLC maps include classic Namco skins, including Dig Dug and Rally X, changing Pac Man and the ghosts into characters from those games. Coming this summer to Windows 8, Steam, Xbox 360 and PS3, leaderboard chasers will know which game to add to their queue once its released.

In Pac-Man Museum, many of the classic games spanning decades of history will be collected into one package. Announced so far are Championship Edition, Classic and Battle Royal, the latter of which was only released in arcades. This game looked the most exciting of all, since it features 4 different Pac Men who had to eat ghosts as well as each other. Each power pellet makes Pac Man grow in size, allowing him to eat anyone and anything else that’s smaller than him. Coming to the PS3, 360, Wii U and 3DS, it looks like our retro fix will be covered in this Pac Man collection.

Between these two titles, that’s a ton of Pac we’ll get to play. Between these games and the TV show, it looks like we’ll all be getting real familiar with the character once again. Look out for both these games in the coming months.

E3 2013: Pac Man is Getting a Huge Revival, Complete With a New TV Show!

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Pac Man has been a gaming icon since before gaming icons were a thing. If you were to sing the beeps and boops of the opening song to a random person on the street, chances are they’ll recognize it before they flag the police for harassment. Over the last few years though, the closest he’s received to recognition are a few remakes of his classic arcade game and as a pick up line in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Namco’s looking to change that, because Pac Man is back in the spotlight, starting with a slew of new media.

Starting this Monday on June 17th, Pac Man will hit the airwaves courtesy of Disney XD. Airing Monday thru Friday with repeats on Saturday, (that’s six days a week people!) Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a 3D animated cartoon where the eater of worlds himself will have to save his city from an evil army of ghost spirits. Introducing new friends and familiar foes along the way, Namco is banking on the idea that kids will eat this stuff up, complete with a toy and merchandise line.

But of course, Pac Man wouldn’t be anything without video games, so a tie in title is on its way. This 3D platformer was made closely with the people behind the animated series to keep both pieces of media in line with each other. Coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U an 3DS this fall, the game promises about 8 hours of story mode game play with 1-4 player multiplayer modes to round out the experience. In the playable demo that was on display, Pac-Man could attack by eating ghosts, eat special pelletts that transform him into new forms, (like the Iguana form that lets him swing and eat with his retractable tounge,) and force ghosts to turn blue and run away with a retro sounding scream. He ran really slow, and his eating attack had pathetic range, so I’m hoping some extra development time can iron out these issues. However, as a platforming fan, the game is looking like a solid title for its intended demographic.

While the 3DS version wasn’t on display, it was said to be a 2D sidescroller that uses the same art style as the TV show and console games. While the console version is said to have a medium level of difficulty, the 3DS is intended to be the system of choice for younger gamers with Pac Man. Because of this, it’s said to be the easier version of the two, so all ages can find the title that’s appropriate for them.

It’s clear to see that Namco wants Pac-Man back in a huge way. With Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures, it seems like they’re all in; planning to give the icon the reception he deserves. With three games, (including Pac Man Championship Edition DX and Pac Man Museum,) a TV show and a toy line, a whole new generation will have the chance to fall in love with the yellow disc all over again.

E3 2013: Hands On ‘Killer Instinct’

by Josh JacksonJune 15, 2013

Killer Instinct is one of those games that fans have been asking for for years, but after being disappointed time after time, it was easy to consider a sequel nothing but a pipe dream. Thankfully for us fighting game fans, nostalgia nuts or those dying for Rare to return to their roots, an Xbox One follow up was finally revealed, AND was fully playable on the E3 show floor! Except that the game isn’t being developed by Rare at all, but by Double Helix games, (makers of Silent Hill: Homecoming and Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters.) The new developer has a lot to live up to after being handed such a beloved franchise, so I made sure to nab the closest arcade stick and throw down or a couple of rounds.

As expected, the mechanics of the game have been upgraded. The basics of this 2D fighting game are still intact, complete with insane combos, special moves and of course, Combo Breakers. Added to these standard features are a ton of new bars that have different functions. Taking damage and executing Combo Breakers fills the Instinct Bar. Somewhat like an X Factor mode from Marvel vs Capcom 3, triggering this cancels out of animations, resets the combo knockback, increases speed and health recovery and is accompanied by n awesome yellow glow. Unlike X Factor, this can be triggered multiple times in a fight assuming the bar fills fast enough.

Secondly, the shadow meter is a new bar that’s specifically for powered up special attacks. As KI‘s version of the EX attack, blocking successful blows fills this blue bar. Once its at least half full, executing a special attack with two buttons instead of one triggers a stronger version of the attack. These moves are great ways to add extra pressure to an opponent, snatch up a little extra damage or to extend combos.

Speaking of combos, the structure in how they’re executed was changed as well. Light attacks “unlock” links to medium attacks, which then can link to heavy. I wasn’t a fan of these at all since I was pulling off decent sized combos while just tapping buttons down the line, timing and precision be damned. Just to see if it worked, I tried mashing nothing but the light punch button as Sabrewulf… and I pulled off an impressive looking 20 hit combo that took half a bar of health. Combo Breakers are essential in this case, since pressing the two light, medium or strong attack buttons simultaneously will end your opponent’s combo if they attacked with the same type of button you pressed. If you mess up though, you’re locked out of attempting another one for three seconds. Rounding these out are the infamous Ultra Combo, which in the past was a short, somewhat complex combo that would trigger a huge, multi hit spectacle if the opponent was low on health. Except now, triggering it is one command that varies between characters. It would be nice to have to work for it, but it seems like many of the features are getting dumbed down.

So after playing Killer Instinct, I’m a little worried in the direction it’s taking. Many of the mechanics we’ve grown to love have been dumbed down and the positive additions like the Shadow Meter don’t outweigh the bad, (like potentially unlimited X-Factor with Instinct Mode.) As a long time fighting game player, there’s no reason I should be able to pull off huge combos with one button and no timing. The mid match Fatalities were missing, and there’s no word if they will be in the final version as of yet. Add in the free to play aspect where only Jago will be playable and everyone else has to be bought separately puts me off too.

Keep in mind though, that this was all from the early stages of the game. There’s still plenty of time for Double Helix to refine and balance out this long anticipated fighter when it releases exclusively on the Xbox One in the near future. I’m still holding out hope that the game will turn out great. After all, we’ve waited too long for it not to be.

E3 2013: Geekscape Games Previews ‘Murdered: Soul Suspect’

by Josh JacksonJune 14, 2013

Amongst a sea of sequels and remakes, it’s always refreshing to see something new at E3. It helps when the concept is as compelling as trying to solve your own murder. Square Enix revealed Murdered: Soul Suspect where players will do just that. After seeing the game in action, this investigation title might be one of the show’s biggest surprises.

Taking place in Salem, Massachusetts, a town that’s known for its connection to the supernatural, the main character awakens from being murdered by a hooded man. As an investigator who obviously has a poor reputation with the police based on their conversations, his ghostly powers give him plenty of unique ways to gather evidence. These powers come with their own challenges however, because physical objects can’t be grabbed. This is where being dead comes in handy, because aside from blue tinted doors that are blocked by a power called, “the dusk,” any other walls or doors can be passed through, gaining access to places the police can’t reach. But what about when you need information from the physical world? Well, what kind of ghost would you be if you couldn’t possess people? By taking up residence in a person’s body, you’ll be able to look at evidence through their eyes, read their thoughts and even influence the memories of witnesses with the information gathered from others. What if a character isn’t around to possess? In that case, their memories can be relived at certain spots assuming they were recently near that spot. Once enough memories are collected, they have to be pieced together in chronological order to make progress in the investigation.

As seen in the demo on display though, just because you’re a ghost doesn’t mean you can’t be killed. Demons are roaming throughout the city and thrive on eating other ghosts. You see, demons are ghosts who have lingered too long in the living world, and the belief that eating other ghosts will restore their humanity means that your fresh meat on their menu. Whether or not this is the case wasn’t mentioned, but I’d be surprised if the threat of becoming a demon doesn’t come into play over the course of the game. Regardless, don’t think you’re helpless going against them, because sneaking behind them, possessing them first and tearing them apart from the inside is a very effective way of getting monsters off your back.

Aside from fighting for your afterlife and solving your own murder, side missions such as helping other ghosts find their body will pop up. How helping them aids you in your investigation wasn’t said, but another helpful character was an unnamed teenaged girl who at some point will help you by leaving graffiti tagged hints. This is welcomed news, because without spoiling anything, it looks like we’ll need all the help we can get when this game lands in our hands.

Murdered: Soul Suspect is looking like one of the more unique games in the pipeline from Square Enix. How this mystery will play out is anyone’s guess, but I’m definitely ready to find out. Bringing supernatural mechanics to an adventure game seems like a great combination, so I’m hoping Murdered can keep its momentum going when it releases early next year.

Murdered: Soul Suspect will possess the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2014.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut’

by Josh JacksonJune 14, 2013

Since Square-Enix took over many of Eidos’ properties, few have had as much critical success as Deus Ex: Human Revolution when it was released in 2011. This revival of the influential series brought non liner action back to a first person genre that’s used to being about shooting first and asking questions later. Adding the expertly woven story and the customizable abilities, and you had a game that pleased many of the gamers who played it. When a director’s cut was announced, I knew this wouldn’t be a game to miss, so I hacked into Square Enix’s system to see what this Wii U offering brought to the table.

As you would expect from a director’s cut, the game itself is relatively unchanged. As Adam Jensen, an officer who has been enhanced with numerous augmentations, he is tasked with taking down a terrorist organization by any means necessary. Players will still be able to use stealth, guns or a mix of both to accomplish their mission while aided by upgradable augmentations to make Adam unique. With so many options, it’s very likely that one person’s character will be completely different from another’s.

New to the director’s cut are a slew of abilities and features. Playing with the Wii U tablet made the menus much easier to access, so being forced to flip through pages of options has been simplified to a simple tap of the screen. Adam can now throw back grenades, scan the area by lifting the Wii U game pad and pointing it at the screen, (making it easier to find items and enemies,) and tackle new stealth and hacking challenges. The extra missions from the DLC have been seamlessly implemented into the story, making the overall experience longer. These are accompanied by new achievements and eight hours of developer commentary that are scattered throughout the game. Even veterans of Human Revolution will be caught off guard by the reworked maps and boss fights, hoping to keep even the most seasoned players on their toes. And if you suck at the game? Well you’re covered too, because a digital version of the strategy guide is built into the game! The best news? You’ll be able to go back with all of your upgrades with the added New Game Plus, letting players blast through for alternate endings like a super powered boss!

During E3, it was announced that Human Revlolution Director’s Cut will also be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3, so there’s no excuse not to give this game a try, especially if you missed it the first time. I was pleasantly surprised by the original release, and I can’t wait to see how well these new features play out in the full game!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut is scheduled to be released later this year.

E3 2013: Hands-On ‘Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII’

by Josh JacksonJune 14, 2013

Square Enix had no shortage of Final Fantasy news on the show floor at E3. Between the rebirth of the MMO, A Realm Reborn: Final Fantasy XIV and the official announcement of Final Fantasy XV, fans of the franchise had plenty to sink their teeth into. With that said, this doesn’t mean the next game in the series didn’t hog a share of the spotlight for itself. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was on the floor and fully playable, so I made sure I got to delve deep into the Goddess’ final adventure.

The demo threw Lightning into a very different version of her world; one that is on the verge of destruction. As the E3 trailer showed, she’s at odds with her former teammate, Snow, and was forced to fight through waves of enemies in order to keep up with him. With tactical assistance from everyone’s favorite whiny brat turned Otakon wannabe, Hope, the trailing of Snow had commenced!

Lightning Returns touts a real time battle system that is more action based, but this was the first time I was able to put it to the test. Familiar aspects return, including a renamed version of the paradigm shift/job systems and the Active Time Battle mechanic, but with a new twist. Since Lightning is riding solo in this adventure, her skill set has expanded substantially. Split amongst three battle types, (with different costumes to match,) Lightning can switch between them on the fly. Having three attack options and a guard button, players can manually make her move towards and away from the enemy while timing defending, magic and physical moves. Each move spends a certain amount of the ATB bar, and once it’s empty, you’ll have to wait for it to recharge. However, instead of other games in the series where you were forced to twiddle your thumbs while waiting for the bar to fill, each class has its own ATB bar. So all it takes is a simple press of the shoulder button to switch to another style while the drained one charges in the background. That’s pretty sweet if you ask me.

One of the most strategic aspects of the XIII series was the staggering system, where timing attacks and exploiting weaknesses caused enemies to be temporarily disabled in various ways. I’m happy to say that staggering is back, but it works differently this time around. While elemental weaknesses still play a part, it’s not enough to just level enemies with constant attacks. The best way to stagger now is to attack during an enemy’s attack animation, so while you risk taking damage, you’ll be rewarded with a window of opportunity to inflict a huge amount of uninterrupted damage if you’ve managed your ATB bar properly. And trust me, to efficiently beat the boss at the close of the demo, you were going to have to take advantage of any exploit you could.

I’ll admit, I’ve been a big critic of the XIII franchise. After being greatly disappointed by the original and its sequel, which took plenty of steps in the right direction, but still fell short in the game play department in my opinion, Lightning Returns is well on its way to change my mind. Controlling only one character eliminates the party member AI issues and the updates to the battle system fit in perfectly with the real time combat. The only big issues that have yet to be resolved are with the story and characters, but we won’t really know much about either until the game releases early next year. I can also do without the completely out of character “sexy” posing the stoic and serious Lightning does after winning a battle in her magic costume, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Look for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox 360 and PS3 on February 11th.

E3 2013: ‘Pokemon X and Y’ Details Pour In!

by Josh JacksonJune 12, 2013

As one of Nintendo’s biggest releases this year, Pokemon X and Y were sure to receive a ton of coverage. However, I don’t think anyone’s body is ready for how much info actually came out. From new types, to new Pokemon and new ways to battle, I’ve made it my personal responsibility to round up all the news and put it in one place, just for all you Geekscape trainers out there. We have a lot to dig into, so here we go!

In addition to the new starters, (grass user Chespin, fire user Fennekin and water user Froakie,) and previously revealed characters who were making their official U.S. debut, (like the pissed off panda, Pancham, and Helioptile… which I have no clue how to describe,) all new reveals include Skrelp, a water and poison type that CAN’T be worse than Quilfish, Clauncer, another water type, Talonflame, (who’s typing you’ll never guess,) a Venomoth lookalike called Vivillon and Noivern, a giant bat.

The new Fairy type will finally even out the game’s typing at 18 unique elements. Fairy is strong against Dragon types, and in addition to the new Eevee evolution, Sylveon, old Pokemon like Marill, Jigglypuff and Gardevoir will be retroactively added to the type. If Clefairy and Clefable aren’t changed since they’ve been known as the “Fairy” Pokemon from the beginning, I might have an aneurism.

A new Fairy type attack called Moonblast was introduced by Sylveon. More reason Clefairy should be switched. It’s supposed to have come from the moon for Arceus’ sake! Fairy Wind was also used by Gardevoir, and did a ton of damage to Hydreigon, which means it was really weak, or Fairy is also strong against Dark.

Pokemon-Amie is a new feature that blends in Nintendogs type features with the Pokemon series. Giving trainers the ability to feed, pet and play with their teammates, this deepens the bond between monster and trainer, which will affect battles in unsaid ways. If it ends up being anything more than adding to the happiness stat, (which powers up certain attacks and fosters evolution in certain breeds,) I’ll be surprised. Using the 3DS cameras for interaction is also a brilliant move, since it adds way more personalization to the game.

For the first time, the games will let you choose between one of seven languages to match the worldwide release, which include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese or Korean.

A new linking system called the PSS, (or Player Search System,) will allow players to search for other trainers both locally and online! This includes battling and trading. The goal of X and Y is to refine the core aspects of the series, which are collecting, battling and trading.

Two new battle types will be introduced. First are Horde Battles, which are 5 on 1 battles that take place in the wild. Simulating Pokemon moving in packs, this both adds an interesting dynamic to wild encounters and will make it much easier to level grind if they’re frequent enough.

The second battle type are Air Battles are special fights where only flying and “certain other” Pokemon can be used. The trailer shows Haunter being switched in, so does “certain other” mean Pokemon with the Levitate ability?

And finally… Pokemon X and Y will launch simultaneously worldwide on October 12!

So there you have it. Game Freak really blew the lid off of this one, but there’s still so much more to come. How will Fairy types be integrated? Will Pokemon-Amie play a huge role? How many new Pokemon will be added? All these questions and more will be answered on October 12, but until then, we have two new trailers to hold us over. Check them out and make sure to comment if you’re excited!

E3 2013: The Newest ‘Smash Bros’ Combatant is… the ‘Wii Fit’ Trainer!?

by Josh JacksonJune 12, 2013

Yesterday’s Smash Bros reveal trailer had the internet exploding with excitement with the reveals of Mega Man and Villager. If you were online at all yesterday, it was impossible to escape the news. But what if I were to tell you that there was one more character that Nintendo neglected to introduce? A character from one of the highest selling franchises in the company’s history? One that is at the peak of human conditioning, which is needed to go toe to toe with Nintendo’s best?

Then what if I were to tell you it’s the Wii Fit Trainer?

Yes, the personal trainer who would sleepily walk players through weight training and yoga poses is heading to the fight, appropriately using exercise inspired moves to attack. From arm-leg extensions to push-ups… hoola hoops to downward dogs. My anticipation for the character went from “WTF” to “OMG” within the short, minute long reveal. I just wish her Final Smash used the Balance Board in some way, but at least he’s apparently in the background of a Wii Fit themed stage!

If nothing else, her reveal trailer is one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen. Watching Kirby, Link and Mario trying to do a tree pose had me rolling! Check her out below and let us know if you think she’s an appropriate addition to the anticipated cast!

Examining the ‘Super Smash Bros’ Trailer

by Josh JacksonJune 12, 2013

After years of anticipation, Super Smash Bros was finally revealed for 3DS and Wii U. Between the Animal Crossing villager and Mega Man joining the cast, if you are a Smash fan and weren’t jumping out of your seat at these reveals, then you have no soul!

BUT!… with all of the excitement floating around at these monster reveals, it was easy to miss some of the more subtle hints at the changes coming to the popular fighter. After hitting repeat more times than Selena Gomez, there are tons of smaller reveals hidden throughout the three minutes worth of video. Let’s take a look back and see what we can spot!

Once the 3DS version comes on screen, notice how all of the levels are based off of portable games, (Ocarina of Time 3D, Spirit Tracks, Mario 3D Land and Nintendogs for example,) whereas the Wii U version only had console stages. Does this mean each version will have separate stages, or was this just to signify that one was portable and one was a home console release?

Speaking of Spirit Tracks, Toon Link is seen in his conductor outfit at the front of the train. For some fighting games, characters in the background signify that they won’t be playable. Does that mean Toon Link is out? Or a console exclusive character if the train stage is indeed 3DS exclusive? Or will he just disappear from the background if he’s being used?

Pit from Kid Icarus made his Smash debut in Brawl, but since then, he’s received a new game with so a weapon loadout so huge it would make Borderlands jealous. Problem is, none of those weapons were represented aside from the bow. Thankfully, that’s changing, because at 1:17, Pit can clearly be seen using the Upperdash Arm, which obviously wasn’t in the last entry. As a huge fan of Uprising, this was one of my biggest requests, and I’m glad to see Pit getting an upgrade.

Pit’s power of flight also looks changed, with a diagonal jump instead of a continuous flying ability that starts straight up. If this is the case, it looks like our favorite angel might have tons of new tricks. The big question is: will this move set be from the ground up or will it integrate his old moves? And if he is brand new, what happens to his old move set? I’d hate to see it disappear, but I can’t realistically see another slot being taken up by say… Dark Pit just so the old moves can come back, though I wouldn’t be opposed to it.

Samus seems to have a suit of armor closely resembling her Other M suit. Her Final Smash also seems to let her aim a small amount compared to the last game where it just went straightforward. Huh… I wonder if she’s going to have to ask for permission before she can use it?

Donkey Kong’s spinning punch that he’s had since the first game looked tilted. Has the classic move been tweaked?

Bowser was seen doing a few new normal attacks, including a low drop kick. Seems like he’s getting a move makeover as well, which is fine since he was exactly the same in the last two games.

Many of the fights are taking place in what appears to be a Skyward Sword stage. Combining this with the Spirit Tracks and Gerudo Valley stages, and that’s at least three new Zelda stages between the two versions. What can I say? The series is popular!

Another stage is what looks like a boxing ring. Is this simply the new Battlefield and Final Destination stage that abandons stage gimmicks for a flat battleground meant for straight up battles? Or is this hinting at the inclusion of another franchise down the line? Here’s hoping for Little Mac!

The Animal Crossing Villager’s move set makes him seem oblivious that he’s even fighting. He’s seen using his Balloon Fighter hat to fly, dropping bowling balls, cutting down trees, digging holes and even grabbing projectiles and putting them in his pocket. He’s already looking like one of the more interesting characters move wise. I can’t wait to try him out!

Mega Man’s reveal had a few peculiarities of its own. First, his multiple boss moves were featured, but will they all be special moves like we’re used to? Most likely, they’re integrated both into his normal and special attacks, but it’s still worth mentioning.

Mega’s reveal was ushered in with the phrase, “Mega Man joins the battle!” The previous games used the phrases, “joins the Melee” and “joins the Brawl.” Since I doubt the games will be simply titled Smash Bros Wii U and Smash Bros 3DS, what are the chances that the final title will be Smash Bros Battle? Since Villager had a different phrase, I’m almost positive this won’t be the case, but it would be a good way to sneak it in if this were to become the name.

When Mega Man dies, rather than the usual flash that accompanies a fall, his trademark explosion triggers instead. This matches his obvious NES style movement, including his idle pose, his jump and his appearance while taking damage.

Rush is seen using his Rush Coil ability. I’m guessing this is Mega Man’s Up-B attack that helps him spring back up, (much like Sonic.) Will Rush be integrated into any of his other moves?

Right at the end, the trailer teases Mega Man going up against the Yellow Devil boss. While this confirms at least one third party boss, does this mean the return of a single player mode like Subspace in Brawl? Is this simply an event challenge for the Blue Bomber? Or am I over-examining it and Yellow Devil is a stage hazard?

So after meticulously watching the video over and over again, this is the best that I’ve got. Are any of my observations off? Did you find any of your own that I missed? And how awesome is it that Pit has near limitless potential with an Uprising themed move set!? All these questions just make the wait going into 2014 that much harder! You know the drill. Watch the trailer and let us know below!

E3 2013: ‘Nintendo Direct’ Live Blog

by Josh JacksonJune 11, 2013

After yesterday’s insane reveals, announcements and a hell of a lot of momentum going Sony’s way, Nintendo is going to have to come out strong to impress gamers. Between a sluggish Wii U launch that has many a gamer dismissing the system as a true next gen experience, the Big N just HAS to have some surprises up their sleeves to wow the naysayers.

Follow our live blog below as Nintendo rolls out their line up for the year and beyond. Are you guys excited for Smash Bros? A new Mario? Or something unannounced? Let us know as this Nintendo Direct gets underway!

Microsoft Finally Comes Clean on DRM, Used Games and Kinect Policies! Renting and Borrowing WILL NOT Be Allowed at Launch!

by Josh JacksonJune 6, 2013

Since the Xbox One reveal, saying that Microsoft has been confusing in regards to their various policies would be the understatement of the year. Between VP Phil Harrison “confirming” used game fees and Major Nelson denying it, (kind of,) to always online requirements and Kinect needing to be plugged in at all times, the entire situation has been a PR nightmare.

With E3 only a few days away, Microsoft has FINALLY confirmed many of the rumors that have been swirling like a firestorm all across the internet. Courtesy of IGN, our questions are finally answered.

And they’re not pretty…

On the always online rumor…

“Xbox One is designed to run in a low-powered, connected state. This means your system, games and apps are always current and ready to play—no more waiting for updates. While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection.”

“With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.”

“…because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you’re not playing.”

Oh, well as long as I can still watch TV, enjoy Blu-Ray and DVD movies, I guess that fixes everything!

On buying used, trading, renting and borrowing:

“In our role as a game publisher, Microsoft Studios will enable you to give your games to friends or trade in your Xbox One games at participating retailers.Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends.”

“We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.”

“…your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console–regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.”

“Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.”

“…loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.”

So some of this is in line with what Sony told Kotaku, which is that Microsoft won’t be the ones placing restrictions on game trade ins, but the publishers will have the option to if they so desire. Notice how they consistently point out that “participating” retailers will offer trade in services. What it means to be a “participating” retailer isn’t clear, but there were rumors that there might be a fee associated with stores allowing trade ins. The above clarifies that Microsoft won’t charge publishers or retailers for doing so, but since it’s up to the publisher as to whether or not it would be allowed in the first place, it’s unknown whether or not there would be a fee from the retailer to the publisher. If so, that hurts small stores much worse than giants like Gamestop.

But the worst part is the confirmation of our fears. While there won’t be a “used games fee” like Harrison had alluded to, the fact that you can only GIVE games rather than lend, and that once it’s given, it can’t be given again… it’s nothing other than consumer suicide as far as I’m concerned. What does that do to people like me who review games, but can’t go out and buy everything I’m slightly interested in even if I wanted to? Or new IP’s that people would be reluctant to drop full price on without being able to try it first? The option to rent or borrow won’t even be available at launch! But hey, they’re exploring the possibility!

On mandatory installs and digital downloads:

“…you’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release. Discs will continue to be a great way to install your games quickly.”

“After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend’s house, you can play your games.”

This is the only good news so far. While I wasn’t a fan of mandatory installs on the PS3, at least it will be accessible from the Cloud so you don’t have to haul your library to a friend’s house if you want to play… assuming you sign in on their profile first.

On Kinect always on and potential spying:

“…at Microsoft, we prioritize your privacy. We understand that your personal data and privacy are important. Xbox One and Kinect will provide tools to put you in control of your data.”

“…you are in control of what Kinect can see and hear. By design, you will determine how responsive and personalized your Xbox One is to you and your family during setup. The system will navigate you through key privacy options, like automatic or manual sign in, privacy settings, and clear notifications about how data is used. When Xbox One is on and you’re simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded.”

“If you don’t want the Kinect sensor on while playing games or enjoying your entertainment, you can pause Kinect. To turn off your Xbox One, just say ‘Xbox Off.’ When the system is off, it’s only listening for the single voice command — ‘Xbox On,‘ and you can even turn that feature off too. Some apps and games may require Kinect functionality to operate, so you’ll need to turn it back on for these experiences.”

“You can play games or enjoy applications that use data, such as videos, photos, facial expressions, heart rate and more, but this data will not leave your Xbox One without your explicit permission.”

So it seems that Kinect WILL NOT be sending videos of you walking around naked straight into Bill Gates’ office. That’s a relief.

In closing:

“…as we move into this new generation of games and entertainment, from time to time, Microsoft may change its policies, terms, products and services to reflect modifications and improvements to our services, feedback from customers and our business partners or changes in our business priorities and business models or for other reasons. We may also cease to offer certain services or products for similar reasons.”

“In the months ahead, we will continue to listen to your feedback as we meet with our partners in the ecosystem to bring additional detail about our policies,” Microsoft concluded. “We are excited about this new generation of games and entertainment and look forward to sharing more news with our fans.”

So there you have it. To wrap up the important points, the Xbox One WILL need to connect online every 24 hours on your console, or every one hour on a friend’s console if you’re using your library. Used game sales and trades will be up to the publisher, so while Microsoft Studios as a publisher WILL NOT place restrictions on trade ins, Ubisoft or Activision can choose to do so for example. Games can only be given to friends that are on your Xbox Live friends list for at least 30 days, and each game can only be given ONCE. Renting and buying WILL NOT be available at launch at all. Games can be downloaded or installed from the disc, but can be played on a friend’s console without the disc from the cloud storage if the owner signs in. And finally… Kinect will not transmit your blood type to Obama.

Outside of the Cloud storage feature, Kinect not playing Big Brother, and having up to 10 family members having access to the original console’s game library to play with friends as they please, I can’t find much to be happy about. Oh well, that’s one less console to buy.

But what I think isn’t important. You’ve gotten enough of my rambling, so what do you all think? Let us know below!

Source: IGN.com

E3 2013: Konami Lays Out its Plans During Their Pre-E3 Show

by Josh JacksonJune 6, 2013

Moments ago, Konami outlined their plans for E3 next week with a few bombshells along the way. Below are the bullet points of the announcements that the company made during their third annual pre-show.

Konami’s mobile strategy includes a group of new games and apps. These include Domo Jump, MLB Live Challenge, Slot Revolution and Casino League: Texas Hold ‘Em.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is moving forward with a series of new features that look to make the game as realistic as possible. Using new physics powered by the Fox Engine, PES looks to bring the sport to life with independent player and ball control, realistic strategies and behaviors, a morale system that affects player performance and true to life animations.

MGSV: The Phantom Pain will take place in 1984, and will have a narrative that focuses on race and revenge. Kiefer Sutherland is being brought in to be the new voice of Snake, which includes extensive facial motion capture for main characters and enemies alike, One of the main goals of the game is to mirror live action films, using facial expressions and tone of voice to convey emotions.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was the meat of this presentation. The game will pick up after the first Lords of Shadow epilogue. Dracula will have three new abilities, including the cursed claws, blood whip and void sword, promising an extra level of strategy. The game is ditching the level based structure of its predecessor for a large world to explore. LoS2 is coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this Winter.

Check out the conference below and let us know what you’re excited about! Keep your eyes peeled for more details on the above announcements throughout the day.

Geekscape Games Hands On: ‘Project X Zone’

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

Cross over games are all the rage right now, but Project X Zone is particularly in demand. Releasing early in the 3DS’s lifespan in Japan, fans in the west begged for the title until it was finally confirmed last year. Earlier today, a demo emerged on the eShop in anticipation for its June 25th release, and I jumped on the chance to bring the worlds of Sega, Namco and Capcom together.

Acting as a spiritual successor to the Japan only Namco X Capcom, Project X Zone is a grid based strategy RPG with units consisting of characters from series such as Street Fighter, Dot.Hack and Sakura Wars, each with their own sets of moves. Unlike most games in the genre that will have you simply walk up to enemies and select text to attack, X Zone takes a more action oriented approach. Choosing between a list of moves, maximum damage is achieved through linking attacks, juggling enemies and utilizing support to keep them in the air. Each unit is either a pair of characters, (like Ryu and Ken,) or a group of three, with the odd one out acting as additional support, (including my favorite so far, Space Channel 5‘s Ulala.)

Field position plays a vital role, since allies within a unit’s attack radius can be called in for additional support. Attacks that connect simultaneously between different units and support creates a “cross” effect on the enemy, where the foe is frozen in place, making landing combos easier. Doing so also builds energy called XP, that can be stored to unleash devastating super moves or used for actions such as healing, counter attacking and defending.

It’s not enough to simply bash away however, because much like a fighting game, enemy position is important when it comes to landing combos. I accidentally crossed enemies in the air where they were too high for my main characters to make contact with on my first run for example, and trust me, that really sucks. Other than wanting to actually be able to hit your enemies, continuously juggling awards more damage, items and experience, so you’ll want to plan your attacks accordingly if you want to make the most out of them.

I’ll be honest, I suck at strategy games; but blending action, fighting and RPG elements into the genre might finally be a winning combination. I left the demo very impressed, and I can’t wait for more when June 25th comes around. With the final version featuring characters from Tekken, Soul Calibur, Virtua Fighter, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Mega Man, there’s sure to be a character for even the pickiest of gamers. Get to your local game store and pre order fast, because this game screams niche. If the demo is any indication, you really don’t want to miss out.

‘Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate’ Goes Free to Play… and One Gamer is Disappointed!

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

A few months back, Team Ninja teased Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate as well as the reveal of Ninja Gaiden DS heroine Momiji’s first fighting game appearance. With E3 approaching, the developer detailed its plans for the upcoming ultimate edition of last year’s fighter, and surprisingly, it’s going free to play.

The base version will have four characters, Kasumi, Ayane, Ryu Hayabusa and Hayate. If ninjas aren’t your thing, the entire roster, plus Momiji will be available at $4 a piece. Yes, that includes the Virtua Fighter guest characters. Story mode will cost an additional $15, but versus and online modes will be included in the free model. However, online won’t be compatible against players using the standard game or the Vita version, so get ready to re-download if you want to follow the community to the new game.

Kasumi and Momiji fight for kunoichi superiority.

Now to put on my tin foil hat for a second, this is what I was afraid of, both with the trend of DLC and the state of Team Ninja after former head Tomonobu Itagaki left. Fighting game fans have joked for years since Capcom popularized the trend of locking finished characters that games would eventually start charging you for individual characters. Not to be outdone, Team Ninja is creating an updated year old game that will cost more than the original at release if you want a full roster. It won’t be compatible with older versions even though the differences shown so far are minimal, and in my opinion, Team Ninja is losing credibility fast.

Itagaki used to have very public spats with Tecmo over the decisions his team made when the publisher wanted him to change his vision, so it’s no wonder that after he left, the developer has had some big disappointments, (Ninja Gaiden 3 comes to mind.) That trend is continuing with this new pay model, and even though my main character is one of the four free ones, it’s hard to support a game that will have had three versions in less than a year, the last of which is desperately trying to cash grab. Dead or Alive has been my favorite 3D fighter ever since I first played it on the Dreamcast, and I’ve never thought twice about supporting the series. For me however, this is too much to take.

Tomonobu Itagaki… Oh, how you’re missed.

But I’ll leave it to you, Geekscape readers. Am I making too big of a deal out of this? At least it’s free and you won’t have to pay for characters you’ll never use. But then again, new copies of vanilla DOA5 are pretty cheap now, and they actually have a full roster. Either way, let us know what your take is below!

Source: Joystiq.com

‘Mighty Switch Force 2’ Trades In Blaster for Fire Hose!

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

The original Mighty Switch Force from the 2D platforming masters at WayForward was one of the early examples of why the 3DS eShop was worth being excited for. The game’s popularity would drive it to receive free DLC in the form of new stages and a Wii U port, but now it’s clear the game is too hot for its own good.

Which is why Mighty Switch Force 2 has Officer Wagon playing firefighter in the newest trailer. Bringing back the 2D pluzzle/platforming that made the original a hit and blending it with new water mechanics in place of the straightforward blasting of old, this game has the potential to build on an already great game. Of course, the popular switching mechanics are back, bringing blocks to the foreground and background to solve puzzles. I’m glad to see the game sticking with what works. After all, it’s not the first sequel in the “Mighty” franchise for nothing.

Is trading in the police badge for a firefighter uniform the right way to go? Check out the newest trailer and decide for yourself.

It’s Official! ‘Halo: Spartan Assault’ is Coming… to Mobile!

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

Amongst a sea of rumored E3 titles from Microsoft, one of the more curious names seen was Halo: Spartan Assault. With Halo 5 on the way, what could this other game be? A revival of the much acclaimed strategy game Halo Wars perhaps? Well, we got our answer ahead of E3, and it turns out it’s not an Xbox game at all.

Coming to Windows 8 tablets and the Windows Phone 8, Spartan Assault is a top down shooter for touch pads. The trailer shows off an absolutely gorgeous setting with all the vehicles, enemies and fancy explosions gamers have come to expect from Halo by now. How it will tie in to the overall lore of the universe hasn’t been said, but don’t be surprised if the game ties in to the upcoming Halo TV series, and of course, Halo 5 when it’s released.

I was personally hoping for a revival of the strategy spinoff, but hey, I’ll take this instead! Halo fans, keep your eyes peeled in July! Watch the trailer and tell us if you’re planning on taking out hoards of Covenant on your phone.

[Updated] The Original ‘Fable’ is Returning in HD

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

With the large wave of HD remakes hitting the market, it was only a matter of time before Fable came back around.

Today, Lionhead Studios unveiled a teaser trailer for Fable HD, with a brief image of Jack of Blades, the antagonist of the game. While Fable: The Lost Chapters has been a downloadable Xbox Original for some time, this will be the first full fledged re-release of the action RPG and is slated for the Xbox 360.

Will it be a full remake? Or a simple HD remaster? Who else can’t wait to accomplish feats with achievements attached to them? Check out the trailer as we wait for E3 to answer our burning questions.

Source: Popcults.com

UPDATE: Thanks to IGN, we’ve learned that the official title of the game will be Fable Anniversary, and will be an HD remaster with the addition of achievements and all of the Lost Chapters content. Sounds pretty run of the mill so far, but we’ll be sure to report any new information as it becomes available.

Disney and Harmonix Present ‘Fantasia: Music Evolved” for the Xbox One

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

After Harmonix ended their multi year stream of Rock Band and Dance Central DLC, rhythm game fans like myself have anxiously awaited what was coming next from the developer. That answer came this morning, when the authority of music games announced a partnership with Disney to bring us Fantasia: Music Evolved.

Promising to bring us songs from contemporary artists such as Bruno Mars, Fun. and Kimbra, as well as classical music that’s sure to recreate the feeling of the Fantasia cartoon, the title is slated to release for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One exclusively for Kinect.

Harmonix has had quite a bit of speculation swirling around, including a rumored action game, but Fantasia literally came out of nowhere to me. At first glance, it looks similar in concept to Wii Music, but while that series is known for its simplicity, (and turned the game to a glorified noise maker in the process,) I’ll be anxiously awaiting more details since I have complete faith in the team’s ability to make compelling rhythm titles. More information is sure to surface at E3 next week.

Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments!

‘Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Edition’ Brings Back Original Dub

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

Funimation is going to run out of ways to re-release Dragon Ball Z eventually, right? I mean first there were the individual DVDs, then there were the box sets… Multiple remasters, HD collections and abridged versions that shaved the series down to a mere 98 episodes, there’s apparently one more way to repackage the anime classic. As it turns out, the latest release will recapture many of our first experiences with Goku and friends.

The Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Edition box set brings together 53 episodes and three movies from the original Ocean Group voice actors that were commissioned to dub the series in the early days before DBZ became a phenomenon. Bringing us classic lines like the infamous “Over 9000!” scene, the short time that the Vancouver group acted out the series has left a big impression on anime fans, many of which can be found scouring YouTube pages saying how much they miss it.

Well, miss it no more. The Rock the Dragon Edition will release on August 20th for $99.98 and includes a ton of goodies. Check out the press release below!

The original broadcast version of DBZ!

The last survivors of a cruel, warrior race, the Saiyans have carved a path of destruction across the galaxy, and now they have set their sights on Earth! They will stop at nothing until they have the wish-granting powers of the seven magic Dragon Balls for their very own.

With the fate of his family, friends, and the entire human race hanging in the balance, Goku, the Earths greatest hero, must rise to meet the approaching threat. As he prepares for the fight of his life, Goku embarks on an epic journey that will take him to other worlds, pit him against new and old enemies alike, and force him to confront the dark secrets of his own past. At the end of this path, the most powerful opponent he has ever faced awaits: the evil Saiyan Prince Vegeta!

This collector’s edition features the original Canadian voice cast and opening theme song, “Rock the Dragon”!

Contains episodes 1-53 plus movies 1-3 (Dead Zone, The World’s Strongest, and Tree of Might) and a hardbound, full-color 48-page book which showcases the characters, history, and tropes that helped elevate Dragon Ball Z to the pop culture phenomenon it is today.

What does the scouter say about your hype levels? I haven’t bought a DBZ DVD in over a decade, but with all the content and extras included in this box, that might have to change come August.

Source: kanzenshuu.com

‘Tales of Symphonia Chronicles’ Brings Two RPG Classics to the PS3

by Josh JacksonJune 4, 2013

The long running Tales series has been a big hit with RPG gamers worldwide, but none in the franchise has had as much of a lasting impact as Tales of Symphonia. The Gamecube original and its Wii exclusive sequel, Dawn of the New World, will soon be getting an HD facelift in the form of Tales of Symphonia Chronicles.

Exclusive to the PS3, the collection will include new cover art, costumes for main characters Lloyd and Genis straight from Tales of the Abyss, a remixed soundtrack and other additional content that should be elaborated on in the near future.

Seeing the Symphonia series return is exciting news, but it’s weird that the Wii U isn’t getting a port considering that both games are Nintendo exclusive aside from a Japan only release of the first game on PS2. Either way, more gamers having access to two great RPGs can only be a good thing.

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is set to release in Japan on October 10th with a North American release in early 2014.

Source: Polygon.com

Xbox One’s E3 Lineup Possibly Leaks!

by Josh JacksonJune 3, 2013

Since the Xbox One was announced, there has been plenty of speculation as to what the promised 15 exclusive games would be, including our own two cents on the subject. If anyone is taking bets out there, anyone who was counting on not one, but TWO Halo games is going to be that much richer if this new image is to be believed.

From the image, we can see the previously announced Forza 5 and Quantum Break, on top of a new Banjo-Kazooie title called Grunty Land, Dead Rising 3, (which started as a 360 exclusive before getting ported to the Wii,) the return of Lionhead Studios with Fable IV and two Halo games, Halo 5 and what looks like Spartan Assault.

Keep in mind that nothing is confirmed, and for all we know, this image could be nothing more than nerd bait. But for the sake of argument, I’m pretty happy to see at least one of my choices for a returning IP in Banjo coming back. More Fable is always a good thing, and Halo fans will have a lot to look forward to with two games AND a TV show.

What do you think? Think this is worth getting excited over? Or is it too early to tell? Sound off below and let the speculation begin!

Source: Gamingbolt.com

Check Out the Newest Beasts in the New ‘Monster Hunter 4’ Trailer!

by Josh JacksonMay 31, 2013

In a year packed with big 3DS releases, one of my most anticipated titles is Monster Hunter 4, the next main entry in the niche series, (in the States at least.) How do you make a game about hunting giant monsters even better the fourth time around? According to Capcom’s new trailer, it looks like their answer is more monsters, more weapons and more options!

From the trailer that accompanied new Ace Attorney footage during a Japan only Nintendo Direct, it’s easy to see that mobility has been upgraded, which will give gamers more attack options. We’ll need them too, because some of the monsters shown look like absolute beasts. New weapons look to help make things a little more even, and now that the ability to launch Feylines at enemies seems added since Tri, it just might be the most adorable way you’ve slain a giant Street Shark.

There are still questions that need answering though, like how will traveling through multiple villages instead of just having one home base affect the game? Will jumping and climbing be the equivalent to Tri’s swimming? And why oh why can’t we get those awesome Monster Hunter themed 3DS XL’s?

More details are sure to surface during E3. Until then, watch the trailer below and tell us what you’ll want to hunt first!

New ‘Ace Attorney 5’ Trailer Calls New Prosecutor, Klavier and Pearl to the Stand!

by Josh JacksonMay 31, 2013

Details on the upcoming Ace Attorney 5: Dual Destinies have been slow to find their way to our eyes and ears, but it looks like Capcom is ready to blow the lid off of this thing.

A Japan only Nintendo Direct focusing on Capcom’s court room drama, (with a side of giant monsters to hunt,) revealed some exciting details regarding the long awaited fifth entry in the Phoenix Wright saga. Highlighting the return of series favorites like Miles Edgeworth and Trucy Wright, (with blink and you’ll miss them shots of former medium in training, Pearl Fey and Apollo’s rock and roll rival, Klavier Gavin,) round out a new cast that seems more than capable of living up to the quirky reputation of these games.

Joined by new assistant Athena Cykes, Apollo and Wright will need her ability to psychoanalyze witnesses if they want to beat new prosecutor, Jin Yugami, a living contradiction who is both a prosecutor AND a prisoner serving time for murder.

Dual Destines was recently confirmed for a digital Western release, so we won’t have to wait much longer. Bringing together the two attorneys as co-protagonists instead of axing Apollo completely is welcomed news, and I must say I can’t wait to play it. New cases, new 3D crime scenes and… dissension within the Wright Anything Agency!? My hype levels are through the roof! Not to mention Phoenix puts on a jacket like a boss!

Check out the newest trailer and share the hype with me! And when you’re done, stop on over and read our feature about why Apollo rocks my socks.

Geekscape Games Presents: Ten Returning IPs the Xbox One Needs

by Josh JacksonMay 29, 2013

Since last week’s Xbox One reveal, the internet has been on fire with speculation, rumors and an endless stream of unanswered questions. Many have tried to make sense of it all, including us here at Geekscape, but one of the solid facts that came out of the conference was that 15 exclusive games, including seven returning IPs, would release within the console’s first year on shelves.

If you’re like me, you’ve been starving for Xbox exclusives. While I think it’s still the console of choice for multiplatform and online gaming, save for the occasional Halo, Gears, Forza or Dance Central release, Microsoft has been pretty thin in the exclusives department.

The Xbox One is going to want to launch strong, and contrary to popular belief, the green machine had plenty of great exclusives during the Xbox and early 360 days. Even without Halo, Gears and Forza, the company has plenty of titles in the vault to draw from. With seven slots for returning franchises, let’s look at 10 games that can help the next Xbox be “The One” for gamers.

10: Dance Central

Starting off with this game probably lost me a ton of readers. Still with me? Good.

While many gamers who identify themselves as hardcore have mostly shunned anything that has to do with motion controls, Dance Central is the definitive motion gaming experience available and shouldn’t be missed. Right out of the gate, the game tracked movements in ways that new games struggle to achieve years later. Each sequel only got better, culminating with Usher bringing in his choreography to create some incredible routines in the latest entry. Imagine the possibilities with heart beat tracking and expanded joint detection? And throw in the fact that every Xbox One will be bundled with Kinect? The potential sales would be sure to grow given that everyone will have the device. It makes too much sense.

9: Viva Pinata

What started out as being Microsoft’s “Pokemon killer,” it turned out Viva Pinata was anything but. It didn’t help that the game was nothing like the series that it was trying to compete with, but what Rare created instead was an enjoyable farm simulator that sucked hours upon hours out of gamers. The game had tons of charm, addicting mechanics and even a TV show to suck in the kids, but disappeared suddenly after a quick sequel.

Not only did it deserve more of a chance, but it would be the perfect game to display Xbox’s family friendly side. After all, every game can’t be a futuristic shooter. Speaking of, that brings me to…

8:Perfect Dark

There was a time where it felt like Joanna Dark was the most in demand woman in gaming. Building off of the success of Goldeneye, Rare produced an FPS masterpiece at the time for the Nintendo 64, leaving its announced prequel anxiously anticipated.

But almost a decade of patience brought us Perfect Dark Zero, a game that removed most of what made the original so innovative. Instead it left us with a cookie cutter title that was soon overshadowed by big guns like Halo and Gears of War.

The Xbox One would be the perfect chance to redeem the series. Bring back the cheesiness. Bring back the quirkiness. But most of all, please bring back limb damage and hostage taking! Zero felt like such a step back, but I’m sure I’m not the only gamer who would welcome the proper Joanna Dark back with open arms.

7:Alan Wake

Alan Wake was one of the most hyped exclusives for the 360 when it was released. From the talented crew at Remedy, (who developed Max Payne 1 and 2,) this surreal horror game took a page out of Stephen King’s book, (no pun intended, I swear!) Gamers took control of Alan, an author who is trapped in a town where his suspense novels were seemingly coming to life.

Using a unique combat mechanic that felt like a survival horror shooter had a love child with Luigi’s Mansion, Wake was praised for its game play as much as it was for its top notch story. The ending and its DLC practically confirmed a sequel, but it never came aside from a somewhat unrelated Xbox Live Arcade release. While Remedy is hard at work on the new IP, Quantum Break, wishful thinking keeps me hoping for a new Alan Wake game to come to the console. I’m going to wish as hard as I can.

6:Kameo

Much like Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo was also in limbo for far too long. Starting development as an N64 game before being moved to the Gamecube launch, she wouldn’t make her debut for years. Not until the Xbox 360 launched did Kameo finally see the light of day, and while it was completely overshadowed by more anticipated titles like Perfect Dark and Call of Duty 2, it was still more than worthy of gamers’ attention.

Putting players in control of the titular elf, she gained the ability to take the forms of various creatures. Each one gave Kameo different abilities that helped her traverse her world and combat trolls outside of internet message boards. While it was a great first effort, the game had points where it didn’t live up to its full potential. An Xbox One revival can change that and expand on this limitless idea of shape shifting, bringing this mostly untapped series to a new generation.

5:Shadow Complex

Xbox Live Arcade was a popular service when it launched. Bringing arcade classics into our homes with the occasional indy game at a cheap price was a strong perk that gamers ate up. This was all we ever wanted, reserving the big, AAA titles for our retail purchases.

That was, until Shadow Complex came along.

Epic Games blew the lid off of what we expected from a downloadable console game. This Metroid style sidescrolling shooter had a strong story, top of the line game play and graphics that rivaled the 360’s top releases. Setting the stage for digital releases, it’s now expected for titles of this caliber to hit the PSN, eShop and Live Arcade. Why a sequel hasn’t been released is anyone’s guess, but what better way to introduce the new Xbox One and its downloadable service than to tout what I feel is the most influential downloadable game of this generation?

4:Banjo-Kazooie

Another lost Rare franchise, gamers begged for an Xbox version of Banjo-Kazooie, one of the most popular platformers on the N64. After teasing us with a Game Boy Advance release of all things, 2008 finally saw the return of the bear and bird.

It just wasn’t in the way we expected.

But change isn’t always bad, and in the case of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, I feel it benefited from it. Less of a platform game and more of a create your own solution puzzle/racing hybrid, Nuts and Bolts let players build their own cars, boats, planes and anything in between to conquer different challenges.

A truly unique and well executed idea with plenty of self referential humor helped put it over the top. The game is still met with hostility since it strays so far from its roots, but if a new game were to expand on the already great ideas of the first Nuts and Bolts, I’d say that’s one way for the Xbox to build towards a better future.

3:Mech Assault

When the Xbox Live service launched back in 2002, Microsoft came out with guns blazing. They knew they had to offer something gamers couldn’t say no to when it came to selling them on a paid subscription service, and their answer was Mech Assault.

A console spinoff to the popular PC series Mech Warrior, this game put players in the cockpit of a variety of robots, each with different weapons, strengths and weaknesses. While the single player mode was there to essentially provide pilot training, the main draw of the game was its multiplayer, and to this day I feel it’s one of the best examples of online gaming done right on consoles.

Oddly enough, the last time it was seen was not on the Xbox, but as a DS title that flew under the radar. I think it’s time for the king to come home. Mech Assault sold gamers on live over ten years ago, I don’t see why it can’t sell them on the “One” now.

2:Crimson Skies

Now if Mech Assault was the game that successfully launched Live into the public eye, Crimson Skies launched it into the stratosphere. An arcade style dogfighting simulator, players took control of World War II style planes in an alternate timeline where steampunk-like technology was intertwined with the weapons of the 1940’s.

Unlike Mech Assault however, Crimson Skies had a strong single player campaign, with an entertaining story, a variety of challenges and a colorful cast. Taking its fast paced action to the internet was still its main draw though, and it was easy to sink hours into shooting down people from all over the world, the simplicity and fun of it all was my favorite reason to own an Xbox.

Since then, the franchise hasn’t even been mentioned outside of an Xbox Original release on the 360. No sequel must mean Microsoft doesn’t want my money! That can change though, because Xbox One will be a lot more attractive if it will take me to the skies again. I’m just waiting for it to sweep me away all over again.

1:Killer Instinct

It’s ironic that the number one game on my list is the only one to never appear on an Xbox console. Acting as Nintendo’s answer to Mortal Kombat back in the day, Killer Instinct and its sequel took violent, over the top fighting and added the depth of a traditional fighter. Last seen in 1996, generations of N64, Gamecube, Xbox and 360 owners have begged and begged Rare to bring back the popular brawler. Rare listened, and we got…

Grabbed by the Ghoulies!

But seriously, Rare has heard our cries. We did get a Sabrewulf spinoff after all, and they don’t hide their love of trolling fans. These are the same guys who hid comments about the game in Banjo-Kazooie, going as far as hiding mock box art for the non-existent game inside of an in game briefcase.

Trololol!

But there can only be one reason… One good reason that Rare has waited for so long. They want it to have the biggest impact as possible when it’s finally released. What better way than to launch with a brand new console? I can imagine the roof blowing off of E3 as a 17 year old franchise is revived with new graphics, updated presentation and the same fighting that we’ve been anxiously awaiting for years. I can’t think of any better time to launch it than now.

Are there any games I missed? Are you really looking for Sudeki 2 or Otogi 3? Or did I give too much credit to certain games that don’t deserve it? Sound off below and let us know!

Nintendo Brings E3 to 110 Best Buy Stores!

by Josh JacksonMay 29, 2013

At the close of the last Nintendo Direct, the big N announced a partnership with Best Buy, bringing their E3 demos to select stores.

Fast forward to today… We now have the list of participating stores for all to see. Below are the 110 stores throughout the country that will offer Nintendo’s E3 line up. Meaning you don’t have to fly to Los Angeles, work in the industry or win some contest to play.

Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville

Arkansas: Fort Smith, North Little Rock

Arizona: Phoenix

California: Culver City, Elk Grove, Emeryville, San Jose, Tracy, Visalia

Colorado: Denver

Connecticut: Manchester

Delaware: Wilmington

Florida: Brandon, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Kissimmee, Miami, Pensacola

Georgia: Augusta, Duluth, Savannah, Smyrna

Iowa: Cedar Rapids, West Des Moines

Illinois: Bloomington, Schaumburg

Indiana: Greenwood

Kansas: Overland Park, Wichita

Kentucky: Florence, Lexington, Louisville

Louisiana: Harvey

Massachusetts: Cambridge, Dedham, Worcester

Maryland: Frederick, Glen Burnie, Wheaton

Michigan: Ann Arbor, Flint, Grand Rapids, Rochester Hills

Minnesota: Eden Prairie

Missouri: St. Louis

North Carolina: Cary, Fayetteville, Pineville, Winston-Salem

New Jersey: Iselin, West Paterson, Woodbury

New York: Albany, Amherst, Long Island City, Syracuse, Valley Stream, West Nyack

Ohio: Fairborn, North Olmsted, Reynoldsburg, Toledo

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

Oregon: Portland

Pennsylvania: Erie, King of Prussia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Whitehall

South Carolina: Greenville, North Charleston

Tennessee: Brentwood, Knoxville, Memphis

Texas: Arlington, Austin, Houston, McAllen, The Woodlands, Tyler

Utah: Sandy

Virginia: Charlottesville, Glen Allen, Virginia Beach

Vermont: Williston

Washington: Lynnwood

Wisconsin: Greenfield

Is your city on the list? Or are you going to have to drive for miles to try the upcoming games that Nintendo announces? You’ll need to act fast, because the demos will only be available on June 12th from 4PM to 8PM and June 15th from 1PM to 5PM. The official game list will be revealed on June 11th.

Source: Shacknews.com and Bestbuy.com