Tag: E3

E3 2015: ‘Star Fox Zero’ Soars Through Familiar Territory In Our Hands-On Test Flight!

by Josh Jackson

We’ve asked, we’ve waited and now it’s almost here. After eight years without a new journey into the Lylat System, Star Fox Zero will get us reacquainted with Fox and his band of mercenaries. Stepping onto Nintendo’s show floor at E3 this year showed that this title was their main focus, with multiple demo kiosks, model Arwings hanging from above, and a cockpit set up for eager gamers to experience the demo in. As the title that I was most eager to check out, we made sure to jump in and catch up with the crew.

Consisting of two stages, Corneria and Area 3, each one provided a very different take on what piloting the Arwing would require. First, Corneria feels very familiar to the Star Fox 64 version of the stage, complete with sets of three to five enemies conveniently bundled up to fit in your charge shot’s blast range, bridges, arches and mountains to fly through on your way to the city itself, and giant red robots twirling girders in your way. Once in the city, the team switches from the on rails shooter style to All Range Mode, which allows us to dogfight in a 3D space. New enemies take advantage of new features, namely the walker mode for the Arwing, which allows it to battle and access hidden areas on the ground. Adapting to this change, some enemies can only be destroyed when damaged from above, so properly managing these two forms is a must if you expect to survive.

As expected from the series, the stage closes out with a giant boss fight, where Fox must damage certain weak points that are identified by the returning Peppy Hare. And when we say big, we really mean it, since this ship was large enough to run on with the land form, allowing us to attack from different perspectives. A new, third play style exclusive to this section fixes the camera in a more cinematic perspective on the TV, requiring you to focus on the Gamepad exclusive Cockpit Mode. Fixed in a first person perspective, these portions aim to put you in the fight, with each explosion, bogie and hit being as in your face as possible.

Moving on to Area 3, this stage looked to mirror the large scale All Range battles that some of Star Fox 64‘s best moments took place in. Here is where your maneuvering skills become key, and when the biggest changes in the control scheme comes into play. With no C-Buttons to press, most of those moves have been mapped to the right stick. Tilting up and down still boost and brake respectively, while flicking the sticks up and down or vice versa uses the summersault and U-turn moves, for when you need to outrun enemies on your tail. The lean and barrel roll functions have been moved from the shoulder buttons to the right stick as well, so holding the direction will lead to faster turns, while a double tap will deflect enemy fire. The biggest change however, comes with the Game Pad’s gyro functionality, where rotating the control will move your ship’s reticle. This ability to fine tune your aim is a welcomed one, since aiming no longer requires moving your whole ship. A controversial move to be sure, some might have problems with their aim getting thrown off. To me however, it worked like a dream, only improving the experience when trying to take out Star Wolf’s self-proclaimed ace pilot, Pigma.

IMG_3542.JPG

Not quite sequel and not quite prequel, Star Fox Zero feels like the reboot the series has desperately needed. By reuniting the old team and taking us to familiar locales, it was easy to see that the series is back in top form. There were a few small issues, namely getting used to the new control mapping, some camera rotation issues, and perspective problems on land, but nothing to take away with how amazing Star Fox is on such a larger scale. But with so many answers comes a few questions, namely, whether or not Krystal will make an appearance. All in due time, I suppose.

What say you, gamer? What do you hope to see from Star Fox Zero when it arrives this holiday season?

 

E3 2015: ‘Battleborn’ Revolutionizes The First Person Shooter Like Only Gearbox Can

by Josh Jackson

When Borderlands took the gaming world by storm, the developers at Gearbox showed that blending the tried and true FPS genre with the progression and growth of an RPG was a winning formula. Rather than be satisfied with the mega franchise that it’s become, the team is hoping to push the envelope even further with their latest title, Battleborn. As big fans of their previous work, we made sure to get some hands on time with it on the show floor and see if they could recreate the magic.

One of the first things that we noticed with Battleborn is how much character variety the title will offer. Promising up to about 50 characters to choose from with five player co-op, each character is so wildly different from each other that it’s likely to ensure that no two playthroughs will be the same. Sure, if you want to take the more traditional road, there are characters that specialize in automatic weapons, heavy artillery or sniper rifles. If you’re like me and want something with a little more class, maybe the rapier wielding Phoebe is more your style, who joins characters such as a dwarf in specializing in up close melee strikes. If swinging blades in a shooter sounds strange to you, that has nothing on the ninja mushroom that uses its head as a healing spore when he’s not throwing his deadly blades, or the four armed magic user who can speed in and out of the battlefield and away from danger.

If you were able to follow along with all of that, it’s clear that Battleborn is insane. To think that these are just a sample of the characters that will be available when the game launches at the end of the year makes it hard to imagine what else will be waiting for us. Either way, it’s fortunate that there are so many options, because as you and up to four other friends fight to extend the life of  the last star in the universe, you’re going to want to have multiple ways to achieve such a task. Just because the galaxy is about to come to an end doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it, right?

The brief time we spend in the campaign mode felt instantly familiar for anyone who played Borderlands. Each character has their own skill trees, that can be expanded on as each character levels up. Every team member gets equal EXP when anyone defeats an enemy, so even terrible team members will get stronger and hopefully improve… Right? As we fought through hordes of enemies in between abusing special abilities and hacking away at the huge foes, it became clear that the bright, cartoony art style hid a deceptively challenging game, with large areas that get full quick. If Borderlands felt like an RPG, then Battleborn feels like a hack and slash in the same vein as games past, with a more stage focused setup as opposed to the big, open world from before. It feels similar enough to know you’ll love it while being different enough to stand out on its own. What more can you ask for in a new IP?

Battleborn is one of my biggest surprises coming out of E3 so far. What are your thoughts on what could be the next big co-op shooter? Let us know in the comments, and take a guess as to who your character is going to be!

E3 2015: ‘Amnesia: Memories’ Brings Love To The Multiverse!

by Josh Jackson

If you’ve listened to the Geekscape Games podcast, (the number one gaming podcast on the Geekscape Network,) over the last few weeks, you know that the Vita has no shortage of games that involve a combination of dating, waifu bait, and/or uncomfortably rubbing the characters while strangers judge you on public transit. Amnesia: Memories from Idea Factory, is an Otome title, (which literally translates to “girl game”,) that has all of these features, but reverses the roles. As a woman who has lost her memories due to mysterious circumstances, she must piece together her past by building relationships with the five men who were closest to her, but with an interesting twist that will surely help Amnesia stand out amongst the sea of visual novels and Japanese inspired games on the Vita.

Guided by Orion, a strange spirit that helps you on your quest, each scenario starts with selecting which boy you want to pursue. Treated as a type of separate dimension or universe from the other choices, the world is flipped around depending on what you choose. For example, if you decide to chase after one boy in their scenario, one of the other characters might become a co worker as opposed to someone you date.

Amnesia E3 Screen 2

As the story unfolds, you’re tasked with balancing out three different meters that measure your relationships. By keeping affection and trust at a stable level, it will almost ensure that your hidden past will come to light through your interactions. However, if your responses to the text veer too far out of character, your husbando will grow suspicious, which can lead to them figuring out that you lost your memories. While most logical people would use that as an opportunity to fill the person in right then and there, this apparently throws off your guy to the point where he’ll stop helping you, leading to a bad ending. Why this happens will vary from scenario to scenario, but if I was her, I would want to get amnesia too if it meant forgetting my poor choice in men.

All joking aside, the concept of bringing a multiverse into the dating sim genre is one that’s new to me. Then again, my experience in the genre is limited to what came to the West, and while I can woo a pigeon for days, men are something I have yet to conquer. Regardless, the concept of piecing together your past and learning alongside this character by combining the experiences of each scenario is one that I find very intriguing, especially when you consider that Amnesia promises more than 20 endings. I hope you grow attached, because at an estimated 3 hours per scenario, there will be lots of game to uncover here.

Amnesia E3 Screen 1

If all that text starts to wear you out, Amnesia also has a set of touch screen mini games to play with your beaus, the two of which featured were air hockey and rock paper scissors. Air hockey accurately recreates the real date experience, where either the boy lets the girl win, or he’s too drunk to have anything that resembles coordination. The CPU constantly scored on themselves when reacting to a well placed shot, but their defense is usually on point before you manage to get the puck passed them. Rock Paper Scissors on the other hand, manages to be slightly less straightforward in its approach by adding an attack and defend mechanic. If you win or lose the initial throw down, the first person to tap either attack or defend depending on the result gets rewarded. If successful, the attacker gets their point while the defender blocks their score and lives to fight another day. It’s an adorable distraction, but if you want to get down to business, you can just go into the viewer and rub each guy’s shirtless body while he tells you about it! This feature wasn’t available to try, but I was promised that it would be more romantic and less lewd than something you’d find in other titles of this nature. Not sure if the businessmen on the train will notice the difference though.

All in all, I’m always excited for when a developer can bring some new concepts to genres that remain relatively stagnant, so the multiverse mechanic of Amnesia leaves me wanting more. How did the girl lose her memories? Where does Orion come from? Why do the guys refuse to help her if they learn of her memory loss? There are so many questions and not enough answers, which is why I can’t wait to see how it unfolds when August rolls around. Who knows? Maybe this year’s top waifu won’t be a woman at all!

E3 2015: ‘Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water’ Scares Its Way Onto The Wii U This Fall!

by Josh Jackson

Why this wasn’t featured in the Nintendo Digital Event, I’ll never understand, but not only is Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water heading to the West as previously reported, but it turns out its release isn’t too far off!

Announced for the fall, Maiden Of Black Water is the first time the Fatal Frame series has had a Western release in nearly 10 years. Using the Game Pad and its gyroscopic controls as a camera for your in game character, you must photograph ghosts before they can drain the life out of you, all while trying to solve the mystery of the titular maiden. Chances are she might be one of those dark water pirates we’ve heard so much about, but then again, maybe not.

Watching the E3 trailer brings up a few questions. One, why does something that looks so awesome almost not make it here? Two, can we get the unreleased Wii games if this does well? And three, where the hell is Pokemon Snap!?

Oh well, we’ll take what we can get. Check out the spooky trailer below and tell us how excited you are over the return of Fatal Frame!

Geekscape 370: The E3 2015 Preview Episode!

by Jonathan

E3 2015 is upon us! To help us sift through all of the biggest announcements, we’re joined by Geekscape Games co-host Joshua Jackson and videogames insider Steve Selnick to talk about the latest news! The Last Guardian has returned! Final Fantasy 7 finally has a proper HD remake! Bethesda makes all of the Fallout fans happy! The Oculus Rift will only work on the XBox with a PC? And what is the Hollow Lens? Shenmue 3 raises a whole crapton of money on Kickstarter and a new South Park game is announced! ALSO! Is ‘Jurassic World’ as good as the original, we say goodbye to Christopher Lee and The Punisher has been cast! Enjoy!

Subscribe to Geekscape on Soundcloud!

Subscribe to the Geekscape podcast on iTunes!

Subscribe to Geekscape TV on YouTube!

E3 2015: Anno 2205 Blasts Off!

by jake108

If you’re new to this series, think Sim City, but in space. Anno 2205 is the sixth installment of the franchise and will allow players to venture to the moon. From the official release:

In Anno 2205 players will join mankind’s next step into the future, with the promise of building a better tomorrow by expanding into space. Players must develop rich metropolises on Earth that are capable of launching missions to the moon as they race to establish production colonies on the lunar surface. By mining the Moon’s resources to send back down to Earth, Anno 2205 players will receive the benefits of technological advancements and the tools to help expand their cities and transform them into thriving metropolises.

The new Anno 2205 Engine paves the way for players to build cities on islands five times the size of those in previous Anno games. It also allows for a high level of graphical detail in the game, so players can immerse themselves in futuristic cities that come to life with flying cars, more than a million thriving citizens, churning factories, and grinding mines. Gameplay uses a revolutionary session mode that lets players control several sessions on Earth and on the Moon simultaneously, and connects multiple regions via different sessions.

“We’re proud to take players beyond the realms of planet earth with the biggest Anno game ever,” said Benedikt Grindel, studio manager at Blue Byte. “The development team has been working hard to ensure we are integrating fresh and innovative new content, whilst remaining faithful to the roots of the Anno franchise.”

Fans should know that you will be able to build cities up to five times larger than any previous installment of the Anno series. Gamers will also be able utilize a new session mode that will let you control several sessions on Earth, as well as the Mon simultaneously.

Anno2205_Screen_Skyline_E3_150615_4pmPST_1434360469

 

Fans can pre-order the game now for access to a closed beta that will arrive closer to launch. Anno 2205 is set to release November 3, 2015.

E3 2015: ‘Horizon: Zero Dawn’ Brings A Gorgeous New IP To The PS4

by Josh Jackson

During their E3 press conference, Guerrilla Games, (of Killzone fame,) took the stage to reveal their first project since debuting Playstation’s flagship FPS.

Horizon: Zero Dawn places players in a lush, colorful field, (the complete opposite of Killzone,) where its protagonist, (who shares a resemblance with Heavenly Sword‘s Nariko,) uses a variety of traps to take down towering, mecha inspired monsters that look like they were ripped straight out of an episode of Beast Wars. After doing her best Snow Speeder impression and tethering it down with wires, the impressive demo ends with a long range shot with her high tech rifle, which strikes the exposed weakpoint, delivering massive damage. And it was all in engine, too!

In a sea of remake and sequel hype, it was great to see something that looks as ambitious as Horizon. Whether or not this new IP will live up to the platform it was given to debut on is unknown, but we’ll be sure to report back from the E3 show floor and keep you all informed.

Geekscape’s E3 2015 Liveblog: Nintendo

by GeekscapeStaff

It’s finally Tuesday, which mean’s that it’s Nintendo’s turn to take the digital stage, and announce their myriad of games, Amiibos, and experiences for the upcoming year.

Will we hear about their first mobile game? How many new Amiibo will we see? Will the NX be revealed (probably not), tune in at 9am PST to find out!

E3 2015: ‘The Last Guardian’ Finally Re-Revealed, And It’s Beautiful!

by Derek Kraneveldt

It looks like not wishing for The Last Guardian this year may have worked!

Sony began its action-packed E3 press conference by re-revealing the game that we’ve been waiting for for over half a decade. We saw over six minuted of The Last Guardian footage, which almost made up for the years and years where we didn’t see any.

It’s now (obviously) a PS4 title, and it’s apparently releasing in 2016.

Oh, did I mention that it’s freaking beautiful. Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think.

E3 2015: Trackmania Turbo!

by jake108

Trackmania Turbo is exactly as it sounds: an 0ver-the-top fun racing game that finds the balance between cartoony physics and die-hard racing fans. It’s no secret that gamers who don’t own a Nintendo console have been missing out on fun racing games. Trackmania Turbo looks to satisfy our needs.

TMT_SCREEN_STADIUM3_E3_150615_4PM_PT_1434358760

Trackmania offers you the ultimate arcade racing universe where everything is about reaching the perfect racing time. Test your skills in over 200 tracks, experience immediate fun by challenging your friends at home (offline splitscreen) or online.The competition lasts forever: design and share your own tracks with other players in the Trackbuilder!

Trackmania Turbo will feature four different locations and four different gameplay modes. This most interesting of these modes is called Double-Driver. It’s a mode in which two people take control of one car on either one or two controllers. Should be a breeze for you Jaeger pilots out there.

Trackmania Turbo is set to release on Xbox One, PS4, and PC December 1, 2015!

E3 2015: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate!

by jake108

We all knew it was coming. The next installment of the Assassin’s Creed saga is here and Ubisoft has showed it off through two videos. First, a cinematic story trailer:

London, 1868. The Industrial Revolution unleashes an incredible age of invention, transforming the lives of millions with technology once thought impossible. Opportunities created during this period have people rushing to London to engage in this new world, a world no longer controlled by kings, emperors, politicians, or religion, but by a new common denominator: money. Not everyone is able to enjoy the benefits of this boom, however. Introducing Jacob Frye, who with the help of his twin sister Evie, will change the fate of millions in Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate. Rise to rally and lead the underworld to break the corrupt stranglehold on London in a visceral adventure filled with action, intrigue, and brutal combat.

New location, new toys, and new people. If the cinematic trailer piqued your interest, check out a gameplay walkthrough narrated by Lydia Andrew, Audio Director on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate!

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is set to release Fall 2015!

E3 2015: The Division Gameplay Trailers!

by jake108

Tom Clancy’s The Division, a Ubisoft title, has two trailers making the rounds today. The first, a story-driven trailer, reminds gamers just what this game is about. Set in an environment where society has fallen, The Division features a rag tag group of soldiers who are fighting to preserve what is left of society as we know it.

Check out the first trailer below:

The second trailer shows off the game’s multiplayer. The Division utilizes teamwork and a variety of toys in order to complete your objectives. Check it out for yourself:

The Division is set to release March 8th, 2016. 

E3 2015: South Park: The Fractured but Whole!

by jake108

Even though at one point they said they wouldn’t, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are at it again with another South Park video game title. This time borrowing from some of the super hero fandom our culture is experiencing, Parker and Stone are excited to announce South Park: The Fractured but Whole.

SPTFBW_Screen_MysterionAtSchool_E3_150615_4pmPT_1434390667

Check out the trailer below:

Players will once again assume the role of the New Kid, and join South Park favorites Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman in a new hilarious and outrageous adventure. This time, players will delve into the crime-ridden underbelly of South Park with Coon and Friends. This dedicated group of crime fighters was formed by Eric Cartman whose superhero alter-ego, The Coon, is half man, half raccoon. As the New Kid, players will join Mysterion, Toolshed, Human Kite, Mosquito, Mint Berry Crunch and a host of others to battle the forces of evil while Coon strives to make his team the most beloved superheroes in history.

South Park: The Fractured but Whole is set to release in 2016. 

Geekscape’s E3 2015 Liveblog: Ubisoft

by GeekscapeStaff

Ubisoft’s 2014 press conference is live at 3:00pm, and we’re here at E3 to tell you everything the company has coming.

We’ll be seeing more from their (sadly delayed) shooter, The Division, a buttload of Assassin’s Creed, and probably something about a new Watch Dogs, but what else could Ubi talk about? Will they finally released some Beyond Good and Evil 2 details? Is another Rayman coming down the pipeline? Whatever happened to the Rabbids?

Read on, find out, and be sure to let us know what you think!

E3 2015: Gears of War 4 Gameplay Preview!

by jake108

As expected, Microsoft announced the next title in the Gears of War franchise.

Screen Shot 2015-06-15 at 2.34.05 PM

Two things stuck out immediately: First, we are treated to two new characters previously unseen in previous games. Second, the title of the game is Gears 4, meaning that this iteration will probably be taking place after the events of Gears of War 3. This is a welcomed assumption as I’m sure only a few of you would like to revisit something akin to Gears of War: Judgement.

Check out the gameplay preview below:

Gears 4 is set to release Holiday 2016. 

E3 2015: Star Wars Battlefront Gameplay Trailer!

by jake108

It’s finally here. A full-length gameplay trailer was released today showcasing a “Walker Assault” on Hoth. The gameplay is in the Pre-Alpha stage. Regardless, the visuals and mechanics look stunning. Without further ado, here’s the vid:

Star Wars Battlefront is set to release November 17, 2015.

E3 2015: Mass Effect Andromeda

by jake108

The next installment into the Mass Effect franchise is here. Mass Effect: Andromeda looks to be everything we know and love about the Mass Effect franchise. Check out the official trailer below:

Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait to see who’s under the armor, but this trailer will do for now.

From Aaryn Flynn, Studio General Manager, BioWare Canad and Yanick Roy, Studio Director, BioWare Montreal:

When we wrapped up the original Mass Effect trilogy with Mass Effect 3: Citadel in early 2013, planning and design on Mass Effect: Andromeda was already well underway. We knew we wanted to start with a foundation composed of the best parts of any Mass Effect game: exciting new worlds to discover, great characters, and intense action. At the same time, we clearly wanted to expand the definition of what you should expect from a Mass Effect game.

While we aren’t ready to go into too many details just yet, as you saw in the trailer and can tell by the name, this game is very much a new adventure, taking place far away from and long after the events of the original trilogy. You will play a human, male or female, though that’s actually not the character you saw in the trailer (more on that later). You’ll be exploring an all-new galaxy, Andromeda, and piloting the new and improved Mako you saw. And through it all, you will have a new team of adventurers to work with, learn from, fight alongside of, and fall in love with.

You can read the full release here.

MEA suits

 

Mass Effect: Andromeda is set to release holiday 2016. 

E3 2015: Life is Strange E3 Trailer!

by jake108

Something that wasn’t showcased this morning was Square Enix’s new episodic title Life is Strange. The game features a female protagonist on a journey though time. From the official site,

Life Is Strange is a five part episodic game that sets out to revolutionise story based choice and consequence games by allowing the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.

If you’re still unsure about how the game is handled, look no further:

Life is Strange currently has three episodes out now with episodes four and five on their way. The game is available on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and Steam.

E3 2015: Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Announced!

by jake108

Surely, this announcement made a huge splash this morning at Microsoft’s keynote, so we’ll get straight to the point. First, you must know that to be able to use the backwards compatiblity, you must be an Xbox Live Preview member.

Below is a list of Xbox 360 games ready to be played starting today:

Banjo Kazooie: N n B

Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Tooie

BattleBlock Theater

Defense Grid

Geometry Wars Evolved

Hexic HD

Jetpac Refuelled

Kameo

Mass Effect

Perfect Dark

Perfect Dark Zero

Small Arms

Super Meat Boy

Toy Soldiers

Toy Soldiers: Cold War

Viva Piñata

Viva Piñata: TIP

With the promise that 100 would be playable soon with 300 available before the end of the year, the list is sure to grow. Here’s the word from Microsoft:

The Xbox One Backward Compatibility Beta is available starting June 15 for Xbox preview members. The program will launch broadly in fall 2015.

 

The digital titles that you own and are part of the Back Compat game catalog will automatically show up in the “Ready to Install” section on your Xbox One. For disc-based games that are a part of the Back Compat game catalog, simply insert the disc and the console will begin downloading the game to your hard drive. After the game has finished downloading, you will still need to keep the game disc in the drive to play.

So there you have it! Which title are you looking forward to revisiting?

E3 2015: Halo 5 Gameplay Showcase!

by jake108

Microsoft started their E3 with a bang by bringing out Spartan Locke and company in a gameplay reveal trailer. The trailer, among other things, sets the stage for shape of things to come regarding Halo’s campaign. Spartan Locke and his team of Spartan IV’s, Sergeant Buck from Halo ODST included, are on a mission to bring the Master Chief and his friends back to the UNSC. It should be noted that Master Chief and his squad have deserted the UN.SC and are seen as traitors by many.

Halo 5 E3 2

Campaign missions will feature drop-in/drop-out co-op gameplay for both Master Chief and Spartan Locke’s campaign missions, which is a sure upgrade from Halo: Reach. The gameplay trailer opens up with the Battle of Sunaion, which was a battle between what seemed to be Master Chief and his squad and the Storm Covenant from Halo 4. As the fight progresses, Locke and his team encounter new “soldier” class prometheans. Halo 5‘s new squad commands are also on display as Locke and his team sweep the city.

Halo 5 E3 3

You can watch the full gameplay trailer below:

Second, 343i was proud to show off their new multiplayer mode, Warzone. This mode promises to feature player vs. player combat with the inclusion of AI enemies. The maps, as stated, are also promised to be four times larger than any previous Halo map to date.

Halo 5 E3 Warzone

Halo 5 E3 Warzone 3

You can check out Warzone below!

Halo 5‘s reveal is just beginning. Stay tuned for more Halo and E3 news as it comes!

Halo 5 Guardians is set to release October 27, 2015.

E3 2015: Dark Souls III Set for 2016

by jake108

Fans of the Dark Souls series should be happy to see that Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team over at FROMSOFTWARE have been hard at work on Dark Souls III. Check out the trailer below!

Dark Souls III is the next chapter in the series and promises a variety of locations, sword and sorcery combat, comprehensive RPG gameplay, and “fearsome” beasts occupying a twisted world.

“The DARK SOULS series has built a revered reputation placing it in the highest echelon of revered video game properties of all time. We are very excited to see Hidetaka Miyazaki and his talented team at FROMSOFTWARE working on DARK SOULS III.”

– Chris Gilbert, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc

Dark Souls III is set to release early 2016.

E3 2015: Gears of War Ultimate Edition!

by jake108

It’s here, folks! Let’s be real here, we all knew it was coming. 60 fps, 1080p, Gears of War Ultimate Edition promises to play just like we remember. To be clear, this is not a remaster of the past three games. Ultimate Edition features only the first Gears of War title.

But don’t let that stop you. Codes for the games beta are being rolled out to Xbox Live members. It is a public beta that will run throughout the week so we can all get in on the action. And if you’re having trouble downloading the beta to your console, do not fear, I am too.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition releases August 25th, 2015.

E3 2015: Reggie Fils-Amie Gets Destroyed; Humiliated At The Nintendo World Championships During A ‘Smash Bros’ Showdown!

by Josh Jackson

The challenge was issued last year when Nintendo of America COO, Reggie Fils-Amie, famously told pro Jigglypuff player, Hungrybox, that he would “kick his ass,” at Smash Bros. After so much time has passed, it gave the Reginator enough time to practice to a point where he could hold his own against someone so prominent in the Smash community.

Okay, maybe not so much.

After saying that he would give H-Box a job if he wins, last year’s champion arrogantly stated that he is an engineer and didn’t want his job. From there, it was clear that Reggie’s body wasn’t ready for what was about to happen. After diving off the stage within the first few seconds as the recently released Ryu, (a character that’s more complicated to use compared to the rest of the cast,) what took place on stage could only be described as a massacre, showing that just because you run a company that promotes games doesn’t mean you’re good at them.

Reggie Smash Image 1

In the end, it was all in good fun, and it was great seeing a COO put himself in a position like that. Sure, he bit off more than he could chew, but it was a great moment for an eventful night. Too bad he didn’t showcase Ryu too well, which I’m guessing was the intention of choosing him.

What were your Nintendo World Championship highlights? Sound off below!

E3 2015: ‘Blastball’ At The Nintendo World Championships!

by Josh Jackson

The Nintendo World Championships promised to test the skills of gamers from across the country at games that spanned generations. But what happens when they are forced to play a game that no one’s played before?

Blastball filled this role, with teams of three going at it in a futuristic sport that combines the style and first person shooting mechanics reminiscent of Metroid Prime Hunters within the confines of soccer. Players can shoot opponents, shoot the ball into opponents, and shoot the ball into the goal. Each score made causes that team’s goal to shrink, making it harder to tally subsequent points. Throw in power ups, an increasingly dangerous ball as time goes on, and an opposing team who looks to undercut you with every shot, the game felt like it had a ton of potential to be a great 3DS multiplayer title.

As it was mentioned during the show, it seems like mixing guns with soccer is the only way to get Americans to care! No details have been mentioned about a release, price or features for Blastball, but we’ll keep an eye out on the show floor as E3 week continues!

E3 2015: ‘Earthbound Beginnings’ Brings The Original ‘Mother’ Title To The Wii U!

by Josh Jackson

Fans have begged for it for years, and Nintendo has heard us. After what felt like forever, it seems like the company has finally acknowledged our pleas for a Western release of Mother 3. That’s right! Following their recent trend of surprise releases, a trip to the eShop shows that we’ll finally be able to play the game we’ve been waiting for! It’s…

Mother 1!?

That’s right, the EarthBound game that no one asked for is now available on the Wii U eShop! Following Ninten, a boy with psychic powers, he’s tasked with traveling the world in search for the hidden melodies that will help fight off an alien threat. Originally released for the NES exclusively in Japan, the newly dubbed EarthBound Beginnings gives us the chance to experience the game that started the cult favorite for the first time!

I said it before, but it’s worth saying again. Between this announcement and the Smash DLC shown off earlier in the day, if this is Nintendo’s pre-E3 showing, what could they possibly have in store for the actual show? Could Mother 3 actually make an appearance!?

Let the speculation continue! Tell us what you hope to see, and if you plan on giving this title a chance, crushing difficulty and all! Until then, keep checking back with us for all your E3 news!

E3 2015: Roy and Ryu Available Now As Surprise ‘Smash Bros’ Announcement Kicks Off E3 Week!

by Josh Jackson

Turns out the leaks were real!

During the special Smash Bros Nintendo Direct presentation, in addition to the reveal of a new set of amiibo, and the confirmation of yesterday’s leaks with Ryu and Roy’s character reveals, the news that stole the show was that the new DLC was available immediately after the presentation closed!

Including the rumored Mii Fighter costumes, the Kirby stage from Smash 64, Roy, Ryu and the previously announced Lucas, the entire package will set you back just under $30 for both versions. If you don’t want everything the set has to offer, the bundle costs the same as if you bought each item individually. Standard characters costs $4 for one version and $5 for both Wii U and 3DS access. Ryu comes with a $7 and $8 price tag, which includes his Street Fighter II inspired stage, three versions of both his and Ken’s themes, and the character himself, who rewards players with extra damage for actually inputting his attacks with the same commands as his native game. When you top these off with the $2/$3 Kirby stage and the costumes, (including Tekken, Mega Man, Animal Crossing and Virtua Fighter inspired gear,) at under $1/$2, there’s plenty of content to bring players back into the arena.

Of course, the eShop was having trouble keeping up with the traffic, but keep trying! Let us know what you think of the new characters, and share your Nintendo ID’s so we can get some games going!

Geekscape’s E3 2015 Liveblog: Sony

by Derek Kraneveldt

Sony’s 2015 press conference is live at 6:00pm, and we’re here at E3 to tell you everything the company has coming.

Sony’s been decidedly quiet about any announcements or games that they’ll be showcasing this year, so we can only hope it’s something BIG. By big, of course, we mean The Last Guardian, but, well, that’s probably not going to happen. What else could pop up? Definitely Morpheus, maybe that PS+ version of DriveClub we’ve been waiting for? Another (better) try at Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale (maybe with some actual stars), or that it’s-been-rumoured-forever-but-will-probably-never-happen Crash Bandicoot reboot? We can dream.

At least we know we’ll probably get a handful of HD remakes (though the rumoured FFVII remake, we’d be okay with)!

Read on, find out, and be sure to let us know what you think!

[RUMOR] Former Smash Bro, Roy, And Ryu From ‘Street Fighter’ Are The Next DLC Characters For ‘Super Smash Bros’!

by Josh Jackson

Aww, you were just a day away from keeping it a surprise, Nintendo.

If two allegedly leaked YouTube videos are to be believed, then it looks like Fire Emblem‘s Roy is making his grand return alongside Ryu, the face of the Street Fighter series. The two reels show what appears to be their arcade mode ending sequences, showing off small glimpses of what they have in store for their opponents once their release date comes.

From what we can tell, Roy still has similarities to Marth, the character his move set was cloned from in Melee. Still, a closer look at his animations, (namely his Up-B attack,) seem to have some slight differences compared to his past attacks. Is there a chance that Roy will be more of his own character, especially when Lucina already fills the role of a Math clone?

Ryu on the other hand, looks like he’s bringing something completely new to the Smash Bros arena. Coming equipped with his focus attacks, hadoukens, shoryukens and hurricane kicks, (feel free to spell out the Japanese name, because I’m not doing it,) most telling is the legendary fighter’s apparent ability to perform legitimate combos, something which isn’t normally possible outside of high level play. Will this change the way players approach the game? I can’t wait to find out!

Alongside these leaks, further rumors suggest new trophies for the Inkling and Ryu’s best friend, Ken, a new Dreamland 64 stage, Ryu’s iconic Street Fighter II Dojo stage, and Mii Fighter costumes, including Zero from Mega Man X, Mega Man .EXE, Akira and Jacky from Virtua Fighter, Animal Crossing‘s Isabelle and Heihachi from Tekken. At this point, we’re almost guaranteed to get the official word from Nintendo during E3 week, but it seems like the cat’s out of the bag.

While not terribly surprising for those who knew that sound files for Roy and Ryu were part of the Mewtwo update, it’s still surreal to see the biggest fighting game icon make an appearance in Nintendo’s all star brawler as the first, true original character as part of Smash’s DLC line up. Roy is a little more expected, since I felt his inclusion was an inevitability once DLC was announced, but I’m hoping more unique characters see their returns soon, (especially Wolf, Snake and Ice Climbers, although the last two probably aren’t possible.) Speaking of Snake, if copyright is an issue, can we at least slap his move set on the Mach Rider guy or something?

What’s your reaction to the news, and who would you like to see next?

A New ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Direct Set Just Ahead Of E3!

by Josh Jackson

June 14th is turning out to be an eventful day! Between the Nintendo World Championships, the release of Lucas, a new stage, and character costumes for Super Smash Bros., and our very own Geekscape picnic, it’s not as if we needed more plans for that day! But when it comes to new Smash news, I’m sure we’ll find a way to spare 20 minutes.

Starting at 7:40 AM Pacific, Nintendo will broadcast a new Nintendo Direct, hosted by Masahiro Sakurai himself. The only thing being promised at this point is new content, so while I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high out of fear that the previously announced DLC will be all that is discussed, I can’t help but feel that something big is coming, especially just outside of E3. And if new characters are announced separately from the main E3 Direct, how amazing will Nintendo’s presentation be on the 16th if Smash of all things got bumped?

Will we see Roy return? Or will the rumored Ryu be confirmed? Will Chibi Robo get in in light of its newly announced game!? Let the speculation begin! Tell us who you want to see, then come back and compare your predictions after the Direct wraps up!

Geekscape Roundtable: What We’re Looking Forward To At E3 2015!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Another year has passed, and another E3 fast approaches. What an interesting and frustrating year it’s been. Sure, we saw some phenomenal titles released over the last 12 months (The Witcher 3 has already become one of my favourite games of all time), but we also saw some titles that looked so promising release without much content (Destiny), more delays than we can count (Zelda, Batman, everything else), and nearly two years into their life-cycles, both the PS4 and Xbox One are plagued with remastered versions of last-gen titles instead of all new experiences.

But E3 is where everything (hopefully) changes. We’ll see a myriad of new announcements, promising titles from indie devs and AAA studios alike, a ton of VR, and hopefully some things that we haven’t even imagined to this point. With one of our most anticipated titles being announced the week before the expo, it’s going to take some big reveals to top Bethesda showing off Fallout 4.

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a roundtable piece here at Geekscape, and with most of our writers being gamers as well, what better way to bring the roundtable back than by asking everyone what they’re most looking forward to at E3 (or what they predict we’ll see).

Check back with Geekscape for E3 news as it happens, and be sure to listen to the Geekscape Games podcast, where Shane, Juan, Josh, and Derek chat video games and more each and every week.

Jonathan London

For the first time in years, I’m not attending E3. Repeatedly, while Xbox and Sony beat each other up in a race to announce the next exclusive or HD next-gen remake of a last-gen game, the excitement on the floor has centered on the indie marketplace games coming to Steam, PSN, Xbox Live and Nintendo’s eShop. It’s where I find the most exciting and risk driven titles each year. Or maybe just the most hilarious like last year’s Bro Force and Cloudberry Kingdom from two years ago. As I get busier, the number of giant Triple-A titles I can consume each year shrinks and I find myself able to play more titles like Guacamelee or Pokémon Shuffle for 15 minutes at a time than anything else. Not to say I’m not looking forward to Arkham Knight, but the urgency is no longer there.

That is, unless we’re talking about Zelda for the Wii U. If the rumors are true, this E3 will be all about Star Fox for Nintendo, and for sure I’m looking forward to it. But as one of my top 3 franchises in all of gaming, and after that long gameplay trailer we saw a few months ago, I couldn’t be more excited for Zelda’s arrival to the world of HD (I’m not counting Windwaker HD!). Zelda Skyrim, as many of us are calling it, shows all the promise of the best Zelda game yet and hopefully we don’t end up with another fetch-quest based game like Skyward Sword. Still, I’m getting my hopes up. As much as I’d love some more news on Zelda Wii U, I’ll be patient and realistic. The game has been delayed in order to implement more ideas and will probably barely get a mention from our friend Reggie. I’ll let Starfox tie me over this year and look forward for a big return to Hyrule in 2016. I just hope it’s not buried by the coming of the NX, or whatever Nintendo’s next mystery console ends up being.

Megan Haley

I’m really excited to see all the new HD remastered versions of games that I played last year. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited for Knack: Remastered! Hopefully they would remake it into a something that resembles entertainment this time around.

Seriously though, I’m excited to see what Vicarious Visions is doing with the latest Skylanders game. I always felt that the series had more potential as a game than what Activision has ran with so far. The original Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure for 3DS was amazing gameplay-wise, and I’m hoping that with VV back at the helm that they can bring back some of the same stellar gameplay from the first DS incarnation.

I’m also looking forward to what new tech they’ll show for VR hardware. I’ve had a few hands-on with Oculus Rift before and the future of VR technology is super exciting.

Eric Francisco

I’m absolutely conflicted about E3 this year. On one hand, I’m jaded. The current console generation in its entirety hasn’t captivated me enough to want to stay plugged in. Believe it or not, I’m still playing on my Xbox 360 taking care of unfinished business — achievements I could still go after and games I hadn’t completed.

Neither the Xbox One or the PS4 have too many incentives to pick one or the other. The only reason I have an Xbox One is because I took advantage of a retail promotion. If it weren’t for that I wouldn’t have one at all.

On the other hand, this might be the year the generation finally matters to me. Arkham Knight is out in just a few short weeks, Halo 5 is on the horizon, and Final Fantasy XV is somewhere around the corner.

I could bother to mention more games that might make me glad I’ve joined the current gen, but there is only one, and ONLY one game that will make or break E3 for me: Mass Effect 4. I want to know as much about that game as possible, and if they happen to announce a 2016 release date I may immediately suffer a heart attack.

Jake Lopez

A Summer hallmark among my circle, E3 continually provides cheers, empty promises, and, if we’re being honest, sadness. If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about E3 2015 is the lack of major leaks before the show kicks off. Anyone who’s really in tune with leaks will be able to find them through a few minutes of google searches, but I believe presenters have a few tricks left up their sleeves. Hopefully we can actually be surprised this year.

One thing that worries me is the potential for remastered collections of past video games. Up until now, gamers were treated to upgraded versions of GTA: V, Halo, Last of Us, and Tomb Raider. It won’t stop there. In fact, I’m sure we can expect a couple of remasters on both the Microsoft and Sony platforms. I’m all for remasters, but lets just hope they’re not the center of attention in this year’s keynotes.

Now, for some wild predictions:

  • Nintendo announces a new console
  • An announcement from Activision/Bungie for a new Destiny title
  • Microsoft announces a few cross-platform titles that will group console gamers with PC gamers
  • Rockstar announces a new Red Dead title

RedDead2

Juan Carlos Marquez

It should come as no surprise that Nintendo’s E3 presentation is the one I’m looking most forward to.

With the announcement of Zelda Wii U being pushed back to 2016, I’m curious what Nintendo plans to release this holiday season–especially when they are going up against Halo 5 and Star Wars: Battlefront. Star Fox Wii U is still on track to be out this year, but I don’t know if Nintendo would place the weight of their holiday sales hopes on the shoulders of Fox McCloud and company. Unless Star Fox Wii U ends up blowing us all away at E3 with incredible game mechanics and multiplayer modes which made StarFox 64 a commercial success, Nintendo needs to show off a new Metroid or Super Mario Galaxy game. Devil’s Thirds, Mario Maker, and DLC for Smash Bros. and Splatoon will undoubtedly get Nintendo fans hyped up for the remainder of 2015, but what will attract those who have yet to purchase a Wii U?

Of course, this wouldn’t be E3 without some Smash Bros. talk, so let’s get right to it. With Mewtwo making his long-overdue return and Lucas arriving June 14, I’m willing to be Sakurai makes an announcement concerning the addition of at least two more DLC characters. Will it actually be Ryu and Roy as rumored back in April, or will it be two new fighters from the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot? (Shovel Knight, please). Hopefully we also get an update on the online tournament mode. That feature alone would keep the online community satiated for years.

And while we won’t get to purchase a new Zelda game this year, I’m sure we will get an update on what Aonuma and his team have developed thus far with the extra time alloted. Another teaser trailer wouldn’t be too much to ask, right?

My mind is just flooding with possibilities and wild hopes, and I know Nintendo will have a slew of titles that will keep many Nintendo fans like myself happy, but one thing is for sure—I won’t be hoping for any news of The Last Guardian. I’m done waiting in that pumpkin patch.

https://youtu.be/7jZKDfh1xhs

Shane O’Hare

E3 2015. I am so incredibly torn on this years conference. Last year my favorite developer, Ubisoft, really lost my faith. The entire AC: Unity debacle (and their dubious decisions with Tetris) made me question their sanity.

That being said, like a domestic abuse victim, I couldn’t be more hype for their press conference. Rainbow Six Siege, The Division, the new Assassins Creed and any new original IPs they come out with (thought I honestly think this year won’t be the year of anything brand new from the Frenchies) will get me going.

I pray that there will be more Battlefront info, maybe a playable demo or beta invites?

I have a feeling that this year may be the year Sony announces a new handheld to compete with the New 3DS, at the least they’re going to announce and even SLIMMER Vita!

I expect the DOOM reboot to have some serious in game content at the Bethesda conference.

My biggest wish would be some new, first party games from Valve. A huge expansion to Global Offensive? More info on Source 2? Half Life 3? Half Life 2 HD Remake?

Derek Kraneveldt

Whatever happens at this year’s expo, I’m already a happy camper: one of the games that I’ve been waiting for for years was announced last week (instead of stealing the freaking show). Fallout 3 is one of my favourite games ever, and I didn’t love New Vegas, which means I’m more than ready to see Bethesda Softworks at the helm of this one. Seriously, it looks so good.

Really, the stuff that I want to see announced, well, never gets announced. So maybe this year, if I don’t think about The Last Guardian or Half Life 3, they’ll actually happen? A watched pot never boils, right? Right.

Some of the games I’m most looking forward to seeing this year are new iterations of games I played when I was younger. I put countless hours into Need for Speed Underground and Need For Speed Underground 2, and EA’s newly announced title (so far) looks like a spiritual successor. Awesome. Plus, Tony Hawk is coming back, and if it’s even a little better than the last seven or eight Tony Hawk titles, it should be pretty alright.

Had things gone a little differently, I’d probably go off about how freaking excited I am to see more from Konami and Silent Hills. The clever announcement of that game coming from Hideo Kojima, Guillermo Del Toro, and Norman Reedus, may have been the most excited I’ve ever been for a game. Silent Hill is my favourite game series, and it’s a series that fell from greatness, became absolute trash, and apparently can’t get back up. Damn. On the horror front, I hope that The Deep End Games is on the floor with Perception, because that game looks insane, as does Frictional Games’ Amnesia follow-up, SOMA.

One last thought. Please, Nintendo, hold back on the Amiibo announcements. You’re already making me broke, and I’m living in constant fear that I’ll miss a pre-order because your company has no freaking idea how to keep stores even semi-adequately stocked.

There’s just a week until showtime, so be sure to let us know what you’re hoping to see at this year’s E3!