Tag: Gaming

E3 2014: Examining The New Fighters Of ‘Persona 4 Arena: Ultimax’

by Josh Jackson

The idea of a long running RPG series turning into a fighting game isn’t all that unheard of nowadays, but it was still surprising to see the Persona titles get the brawler treatment. Still, with a continuation of two beloved RPGs combined with the fighting game mastery from the developers at Arc System Works, the original Persona 4 Arena ended up being one of my favorite fighting games. When a sequel was announced that promised to fill the roster with even more of our favorite party members, I couldn’t wait to get the chance to try them, which is why I played a few rounds at E3 to get the skinny on all the new combatants.

Yukari

20140618-093256-34376900.jpgMy P3 Waifu Is Back!

A fan favorite from Persona 3, Yukari has traded in her school uniform for a power ranger-esque getup, showing off her newfound profession as an actress since her game finished. Using wind attacks to draw opponents towards her spells while firing off her bow and arrow at lightning speed, her specialty is clearly the ability to control the field while keeping her opponents away. Even as someone who’s played fighting games for more than two decades, the quickness of her shots caught me off guard, proving that she’ll be a powerful foe once the game releases.

Junpei

20140618-091146-33106206.jpgIt’s a home run!

The bro of Persona 3. Junpei uses one of the most creative fighting styles I’ve ever seen, integrating his baseball background into his moveset with an “at bat” status that powers him up if he successfully hits opponents with his bat. Hitting moves runners up a base, while missing counts as a strike. Connecting with a super move counts as a home run, earning a run for your hit, plus everyone on base at the time. Missing too many times will eventually result in earning three outs though, which will remove everyone on your bases, so you’ll have to make each hit count. When Junpei scores 10 runs though, he goes into rally mode, significantly increasing his speed and power until he hits three outs. It’s ridiculous to explain and even stranger in action, but it definitely affected the way I approached his fights.

Ken and Koromaru

20140618-091146-33106394.jpgThe two fighter gimmick never gets old.

For those who have played BlazBlue, Ken and Koromaru are essentially like Carl and Ada, except Koromaru doesn’t move around like a sloth covered in honey. For those unfamiliar, this two in one character essentially plays like you’re controlling two people at once, with the buttons usually reserved for Persona attacks being mostly dedicated to Koromaru’s attacks.

The two allies fight in tandem, with Ken using his retractable spear to strike from a distance or pull enemies in while Koromaru hits hard from up close. Unlike most characters who fight in tandem with their Persona, but temporarily lose them if they’re struck a certain amount of times, Koromaru has his own small health bar. When it’s depleted, the pooch is taken out of the fight temporarily, forcing Ken to lose most of his combos and moves in the process. That’s not to say they don’t have a Persona at their disposal for additional attacks, but I found it to come into play far less than it does for the rest of the cast.

Rise

20140618-091146-33106473.jpgWho knew idols could be so deadly?

Rise is one of the most popular idols in the Persona version of Japan, and became a powerful supporting ally for Yu Narukami and the rest of the cast of P4. After somewhat playing a damsel in distress role in the first Arena game, she’s since upgraded her combat abilities to fight side by side with her friends for the first time.

Using her singing, dancing, microphone stand and her Persona, Himiko at her side, Rise ends up being a powerful addition to the cast. Relying mostly on traps and projectiles, she’s still dangerous up close thanks to her decent range, though it’s not suggested since her damage output seemed pretty low. Still, if played right, your opponents should have a hard time approaching her especially since her song abilities can cast a variety of status effects on her foe. All in all, it might take some time to learn the ins and outs of her play style, but she’s sure to become a favorite when mastered.

Sho

20140618-091146-33106568.jpgTeddie… You have nothing to smile about.

The new kid in town, Sho is an original character added to the Ultimax cast, who’s past and motivations are a complete mystery. What doesn’t take long to figure out however, is that he’s a vicious fighter who can do big damage in no time if his opponent is carelss. As the only character with no Persona, this gives him many more attack options for his aggressive rush down style, throwing out mix ups and combos with ease. Thanks to his dual swords, Sho hits hard, fast and is one of the most straightforward characters while still standing out as the only non-Persona user. His alternate shadow form however, introduces a Persona for him to use, making him even more deadly. By the looks of it, Sho has the tools to become a popular fighter real fast.

Shadow Characters

20140618-091146-33106886.jpgShadow Yukiko don’t need no man!

On that subject, almost every character has an alternate form thanks to the return of their shadows. The primary difference between the shadow and standard versions is that the shadows have more HP, do more damage and build up their super meter faster by landing hits, making them much more offense oriented. In exchange, they lose their awakening, burst and other defensive options, making them more ideal for someone who likes to bring pain instead of receive it. But with these lost abilities comes a new one, because the Shadow Rampage ability gives them unlimited meter for a limited amount of time, allowing them to do whatever they damn well please. Some of them, (like Shadow Teddy), even have new moves, like his ability to summon the giant, creepy Shadow Teddy from the main game.

Exciting? I think so. Arc System Works seems to be doing a great job of creating a unique, varied cast that even breathes new life into the characters from the first game. Who are you most excited to play as? Let us know below, and check back for more information on Persona 4 Arena: Ultimax and every game in between.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Project Giant Robot’ and ‘Project Guard’

by Josh Jackson

When it’s announced that Shigeru Miyamoto is working on a new IP, people pay attention. The famed creator of Mario, Zelda and many more of Nintendo’s most popular franchises has a strong track record of releasing fun, innovative products. So when it was revealed that there would be not one, but TWO new IPs credited to his name, you just know we would have to try them out.

Starting with Project Giant Robot, the game puts players in the pilot’s seat of a giant mech. After customizing your colorful robot with a variety of parts that can be made as big or small as you want, it’s time to take it through the four in game missions the demo provided. Plodding through the city towards various threats, taking them out requires use of both your body and the buttons on the game pad.

ProjectGiantRobot

This physics based game’s unique control scheme is where Miyamoto really leaves his trademark on the game. Alternating the trigger buttons moves the mech, while the face buttons shoot your optional gun and the analog sticks swing the robot’s arms. The winner of each round is the one that can knock their opponent over, which can be difficult if your own mech is set up unbalanced.

Combining motion controls with the buttons, players will have to rotate their bodies with their punches, lean back and forth to regain their robot’s balance or risk ending up on the losing end. While the controls were a little much to get used to, once things clicked, the game was a lot of fun to play, and I’m excited to see what the final product might look like once the concept is fully fleshed out.

Project Guard is more of a multiplayer game, placing the player in a type of command center surrounded by gun mounted security cameras. Each camera shows robots that are trying to invade your base, and winning or losing is dependent on whether or not you can destroy a certain amount of robots before too many get into your base.

ProjectGuard

But it’s hard to keep track of 16 cameras all at once, especially when spread across the television. That’s where your friends come in, encouraging others to shout out which cameras are in danger. From there, the player will use the Game Pad’s map to switch to the proper camera and turn the robots into scrap.

Project Guard had its moments where it was really exciting and hectic, while encouraging crowds to back seat game with you. The experience was fun, but it’s hard to imagine this turning into a full fledged game, much like how Giant Robot seemed like it was just scratching the surface on what could be possible with the concept.

With that said, this is my biggest concern with these two demos. Rather than experiencing two individual IPs, I walked away feeling like they’re more likely to be two mini games that will be apart of a larger collection. While I have nothing against a collection of smaller games as long as they’re good, I’m not sure this is what most people had in mind when they were expecting a brand new Miyamoto game.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Keep your eyes on Geekscape.net as we bring you the news on these two titles as well as the rest of what was on the E3 floor.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’

by Josh Jackson

The original Disney Infinity left a big impression on me, so much so that I considered it my game of show at last year’s E3. With the promise of multiple single player campaigns in the form of play sets combined with a nearly limitless level designing tool in the toy box, the possibilities seemed to echo the title. Much of these impressions carried over to the actual release, although my expectations fell short in certain areas, namely the same-ness of many of the characters, how bare bones some of the play sets felt and how the game initially promised to not need sequels while possibly replacing movie tie in games with Infinity content, (which was quickly proven wrong by the 3DS’s Olaf’s Adventure and the very game we’re talking about).

Still, the game had a ton of untapped potential that a sequel could capitalize on, especially because of Disney’s acquisition of giant properties like the Marvel universe. With that in mind, playing 2.0 was a top priority for me this year, both as a fan of the original and someone who was eager to see if Disney Interactive would adapt to the comic book universe or perish in a sea of broken promises and failure to improve. After an in depth playthrough of the game’s two play sets, I’m happy to say I’m leaning towards the former.

InfinityCap

To me, the biggest problem with Disney Infinity was that the campaign style play sets mostly felt like samples of what could be done in the toy box as opposed to fully fleshed out games, (aside from the Pirates set, most of what each was built from was ripped straight from Toy Box). With 2.0, this criticism has been fully addressed, giving us a huge open world city to explore as our favorite characters. The Avengers version of New York is promising to be more than twice as big as The Incredibles, with capsule toys, side quests and story missions still waiting to be found, all put into context by a full story penned by longtime Marvel scribe, Brian Michael Bendis. It’s a huge improvement from the opening and ending cutscene that greeted us at the end of the first game’s stories.

On top of that, the increased level cap of 20 allows us to unlock between 20 and 30 skills per character, which is a huge improvement compared to the original’s puzzling decision for level ups to mean absolutely nothing aside from unlocking new Toy Box parts. Making this even sweeter was how different each character felt. Firing off trick shots with Hawkeye, throwing down with Captain America, web slinging between buildings as Spider-Man or flying through the city at top speed with Iron Man felt distinctive, as opposed to many of the first game’s characters playing or feeling exactly the same. To top it off, the heroes each have a unique super move with varying in levels of awesomeness, (like Iron Man’s missile barrage vs Black Widow’s… invisibility turning? I know who I’m not playing as…)

InfinityHawkeye

Even the original game’s characters are getting skill trees when they’re transferred into the new games, although theirs won’t be as robust as the new characters being brought in. Still, the fact that they’re getting upgraded at all is a great way to reward players who maxed out their figures despite their lackluster move sets. Plus, maybe some characters can be more fleshed out this time, specifically Anna and Elsa. The developers obviously knew very little about since they were developed before Frozen was released, so let’s hope they can be done justice the second time around.

Joining the heroes will be new power discs that were on display for the E3 demo. Aside from the Toy Box backgrounds, perks and weapons that came with the blind pack DLC of the original, Marvel’s version will also include sidekicks who fight at your side for a limited time, and costumes for specific characters. Ever get the feeling that you want to play as Captain America in his First Avenger gear? Or how about black suit Spidey? Ever wanted to fight side by side with The Winter Soldier after he blew us away in the latest Phase 2 film? Now’s your chance, with these discs that feel like a lot more than just fluff. My wallet is going to hurt.

InfinityIronMan

On the mission front, both the side and story missions felt more involved, forcing me to travel through more of the city to accomplish whatever the goal was. Whether it was racing on Nick Fury’s bike to escorting a scientist to key points in the city as symbiotes were viciously attacking us, these missions made the game feel like a full fledged experience. And while some of the bonus quests I played were still ridiculously easy, some of them presented a nice challenge, like the web slinging missions that I couldn’t get better than a bronze in.

If someone would have told me I was playing the new kid friendly Marvel game and not one that’s attached to a world building simulator, I would have completely bought it. But to think that a game where the single player content is more of the side dish to the Toy Box’s entree plays so well surpassed what I expected after playing the first game. I’m not sure if it’s a testament to Infinity’s developers or a knock at the other guys when web slinging feels more fun in this spinoff than it does in a core Spidey title. My only complaints are that there were some massive bugs, causing mission sensitive enemies to teleport across the map, and that traveling with non-flying or swinging characters felt like a chore. Having to drive as Black Widow when Thor can zip from one end of the map to another in minutes leaves an unbalanced feeling.

Both areas are said to still be in development, so let’s hope these get patched up come September.

http://youtu.be/W1P3b4YU8so

E3 2014: ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Goes Ultimate With The Announcement Of The Spider-Man Play Set!

by Josh Jackson

Whoa, Disney Infinity 2.0 hasn’t been announced for more than a month and we already have our second play set on its way!

Scheduled to launch day and date with the Marvel Super Heroes starter pack, (which comes bundled with an Avengers play set already), early buyers will also get the chance to swing through New York with Spider-Man, starring in his own adventure alongside some of his amazing friends.

Centered around a plot by The Green Goblin and Mysterio to harvest Venom’s symbiote, Venom clones are running rampant throughout the city, and it’s up to the web slinger to stop this latest attempt to take control of the city. Thankfully, he’s not the only one who has arrived to stop the threat, with Nova, Iron Fist, Nick Fury and Venom himself joining the fight, complete with their own figures to display when you’re not playing.

The Spider-Man play set will come bundled with the wall crawler and Nova, while the other three will be sold seperately, likely as individual characters and in a set. While details on pricing, bundles and future characters aren’t known yet, I’d be willing to bet that it would cost around $35 like the play sets for the previous games. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goblin and Mysterio bundled with Avengers villain, Loki, at some point. After all, Randy, Syndrome and Davy Jones were all released for the first game, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock.

If you wanted to know more about the upcoming play set, check out the trailer below and tell us if you’re planning on emptying your wallet for the Marvel and Disney mash up. Both Disney Infinity 2.0 and the Spider-Man play set are rumored to release on September 23rd.

http://youtu.be/clajnwqBNr4

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’

by Josh Jackson

As I mentioned during the initial reveal, I was blown away by the idea of Captain Toad getting his own game in the style of his Super Mario 3D World stages. The brief 3D puzzle challenges that starred the adventure seeking mushroom were some of the highlights of an already incredible game, so seeing the Toad get the full release treatment can only mean that we’ll be able to see this 3D puzzle concept get closer to its full potential. So naturally, I just HAD to try it out on the E3 show floor, so when I came across it at Nintendo’s massive booth, was there any doubt that I wouldn’t play it to death?

Featuring a variety of levels with themes such as haunted houses and erupting volcano, I chose to try out the two that seemed different from the mazes that 3D World featured, namely the boss stage and the mine cart stage.

Starting with the boss, this level took the game play from the standard stages and put it in the context of Toad carefully advancing towards the exit while seeking out treasure along the way. Much like 3D World, Toad’s movement is limited to walking and climbing, with the added ability to pluck turnips from the ground for those Super Mario Bros. 2 fans out there. The boss stage in particular had moving ladders, platforms and walls that protected the adventurer from the fireballs the monster was firing at him. Staying safe and picking your spots make this more of a thinking man’s Mario game, which is what made these concepts more enjoyable in the first place. This is in addition to the diamonds that can be found in each stage as bonuses, replacing the green stars that could be sought out before. By the time the end of the stage was complete and Toad claimed the world’s star as his own, it was time to move on to the cart stage.

Captain Toad Screen 1Did I mention the boss level looks absolutely gorgeous?

For those fearing that there would be a lack of variety in Treasure Tracker, the cart stage turned that concern around really quick. After jumping into a mine car full of turnips, the Game Pad’s view changes to first person, where players will aim and shoot at obstacles, coins, and hidden diamonds. Acting as a rail shooting side quest to give us a break from the standard mazes, the smooth aiming made it feel like a natural fit in an already polished feeling title. I can’t wait to see how much more complex and challenging these stages can get once the game releases at the end of the year!

Captain Toad Screen 2Ridin’ Dirty

While I doubt anyone was expecting Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker before E3 hit, I know I’m not the only one who became instantly hyped for this surprise title. After getting some quality time with the Captain, it’ll be even harder to wait until this holiday season to play the full adventure. If the demo had this much variety and creativity compared to its roots, just imagine what the final game will be like. Consider us sold!

Geekscape Games: ‘Battlefield Hardline’ First Impressions.

by Shane O'Hare

E3 is done and the dust is settling. One of the most interesting practices from this year’s convention was the inclusion of same day access to some of the products being introduced. Sony had a couple of indie games and Microsoft offered up an XBLA game, all available about an hour after they were announced. The most impressive of the bunch was the Battlefield: Hardline Beta going live during EA’s Press Conference.

Most likely pushed up after the major leak, the beta signup was quick and I got a response in a day. I downloaded the game and fired it up over the weekend. If you’re not in the know, Battlefield: Hardline takes the series out of the….Battlefield, and puts it in the streets. Instead of Jarheads and Terrorists duking it out we have Cops and Robbers. The one map we have access to is VERY much Downtown LA, and the beta is showcasing two new game modes.

BFH_DowntownLA

Heist Mode is my particular favorite of the two new ones. The criminal team is tasked with blowing open the doors on two armored trucks and then taking the cases inside to an extraction point. This gametype gets really hectic really fast as both teams rush to get to the trucks. If you have a good squad of criminals, this one can be over a lot sooner than you think. Only downside is the armored trucks are in the same spot everytime. Having them change each round would be a major upgrade.

Blood Money is an interesting take on capture the flag, were as instead of a flag on the map, there is a cart of money. The cart is stationary in the middle of the map and contains $5 Million. Players can snag the money in increments of $100k and hold a max of $500k at a time. The goal is to get that money back to your vault, and whichever side has the most WINS!

Firing up the game for the first time, I joined a server and was tossed on the Police side. The first thing that I notice is the leveling system. You still have to level your character up by winnin’ and killin’, but now equipment is bought from awarded currency. Gone are the days of grinding out with a rifle so you can get a new set of optics for it, just so you can kill faster so you can get the next gun. I picked the Assault class and hopped in, got my bearings from the mini map and jumped into a police cruiser. The first thing I noticed in game was the sound quality/detail. The roar of the engine sounded very substantial, and the shots off in the distance echoed around buildings. I finally got to the first truck and that is when I noticed the next upgrade to the game, the destruction.

BFH_PoliceBarricade

I think this time around, DICE and Visceral turned down the realism. In Battlefield 4, explosions and destruction felt fairly realistic, that is not the case in Hardline. When I arrived at the first truck, it felt like a scene out of The Expendables. Explosions, gunfire, environmental destruction. All felt turned up to 10, and then pushed through the ridiculousometer. Rockets blasting into cars. Helicopters having dog fights while weaving around buildings. Countless rounds of machine gun ammo flying through the air. It all felt, bigger and better than previous titles. Running down the street during this first skirmish, I felt like I was in the movie Heat.

The round quickly ended, as I joined late and we held the criminal scum at bay. Sides were changed. Now embracing my sudden life of crime, I grabbed a street bike and a squad mate hopped on the back. We were first to the truck and quickly planted the C4. After the arbitrary countdown, we had to plant another. Eventually blowing open the truck. All the while it felt like we were in a Michael Bay film. My partner grabbed the case and we found ourselves another motorcycle. This time the drop off point was atop a building. We drove close, hopped in the elevator and rode to the top. “Way too fucking easy” I messaged to him, just as the doors opened I realized I spoke to soon. We had climbed into the WRONG building, and were in fact across the street from our drop off point. Running around in desperation while we figured out what we needed to do, a squad mate spawned on us. Our newly materialized ally was soon to be the savior of the criminal underworld. Returning to the Battlefield series was the zip line crossbow. Like some sort of magician, our new friend shot his bow and birthed our escape. A zip line now hung tightly between the two buildings. We grabbed on and quickly flew down, dodging sniper fire from the roof. We landed, dispatched the near sighted snipers, and won the game.

Final Thoughts

Battlefield: Hardline is currently the topic of contention with the gaming community. Some feel that it is severely overpriced, and is essentially just a reskin of Battlefield 4. The fear is that the Battlefield series is going the way of Call of Duty where they churn out a new title every year. Interesting enough, if you look at the Battlefield release dates there has never been more than 2 years between titles. 

Hardline is fun. The new mechanic of buying weapons and loadouts is very refreshing. The new weapons don’t feel as “Tacticool” as the ones from BF4, and I find that to be more fitting for this game. The new vehicles are a nice change of pace from the same stuff we’ve had to dink around in since Battlefield 2. The new game modes are a blast. The map we have access to is a joy to fight in. The sound design is a step in the right direction.

So I obviously enjoyed myself, and that means I think everyone should go out and pre-order it right now, right? Wrong. For right now anyway. Yeah, everything I’ve had to experience (sans glitches) was all and all an enjoyable experience, I really enjoyed not being an army dude fighting other army dudes in the desert. Hardline, as it stands right now, isn’t bringing enough new content to the table. The two new game modes aren’t enough. The maps aren’t enough, as BF4 has another expansion on the way.

DICE and Visceral need to bring some new, unique gametypes come release day. Because at the end of the day, two new gametypes, a handful of maps, new player and vehicle skins, and some amplified explosions does not equal $70. I had a lot of fun with what I played, but I will not be preordering this title unless we get some more stuff to get excited about.

Are you playing the beta? What are your thoughts?

Has Walmart Leaked The ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Roster?

by Josh Jackson

After Disney Infinity 2.0 was announced last month, questions were running rampant as far as what Marvel and Disney characters would make the cut. Well, thanks to Walmart, we might have the answer… only months before it was intended.

Thanks to a recent preorder listing, the figures shown on the monster retailer’s website matches many of the figures that were recently confirmed at E3, bringing some credibility to the listing. From Guardians of the Galaxy to the recently announced Big Hero 6 and a few surprises in between, it looks like we’ll have a ton of new figures to collect throughout the next year and beyond.

If you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading here. For everyone else, below are the list of figures that might make their way onto store shelves for the next Infinity release.

-Stitch

-Donald Duck

-Tinkerbell

-Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6

-Drax

-Rocket Raccoon

-A Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set, including Star Lord and Gamora

This is in addition to Groot, who was already announced, rounding out the Guardians. When including the recently unveiled Merida from Brave and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, (who’s likely in to promote the DVD release of her self titled film when it inevitably hits in a few months), the roster is getting pretty huge, which means a shrinking wallet for us!

While seeing a GotG or Big Hero Six set isn’t surprising in the slightest, seeing characters like Tinker Bell and Donald Duck are welcomed surprises, especially considering Goofy can’t be following too far behind. The game desperately needs more Disney characters, so it’s good to see that they won’t get completely overshadowed by the inclusion of Marvel into the franchise. Yet, there are still some glaring omissions, namely Ferb, who was teased back when Fineas and Agent P were shown for the original, but has yet to be revealed, and Aladdin, who is strangely absent for a game that contains Agrabah guards, the Cave of Wonders, and even Abu in the form of an elephant. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re just scratching the surface of what 2.0 will have to offer.

So what do you think, Geekscapists? Do you like what you see so far? And who else do you want to see make the cut? Check out the latest reveal trailer and let us know what you want to see from the upcoming sequel.

Source: vinylmationkingdom.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBb8JyjSsU

E3 2014: ‘Killer Instinct Season 2’ Brings More Classic Fighters Back Into The Fray!

by Josh Jackson

Last year, a revival of the classic fighter, Killer Instinct, was finally announced for the Xbox One, but the joy the announcement brought was short lived. With a free to play structure and a developer that wasn’t Rare, fans were worried that the third game that they had been waiting more than 10 years for wouldn’t be the title they were hoping for. About seven months have passed since the game initially launched, slowly releasing characters that could be purchased individually if the player chose to add them to the roster, the game has enough support to start a second season.

Revealed during Microsoft’s E3 press conference, Killer Instinct: Season 2 is off to a great start, adding original poster boy TJ Combo into the latest version of the fighter. In addition to promising Cinder as one of the returning fighters, Combo is living up to his namesake in the reveal trailer that can be viewed before. Watching him go to town on Fulgore definitely brings back memories, but will it be enough to keep people interested in the game?

While I’m excited to see more characters from the original be brought back, I’m wondering why staple characters such as these two weren’t in the game sooner. Plus, if the characters are going to cost the same amount as the ones in the past have, the title can end up going from budget title to costing far more than a typical retail game would cost. On top of having to pay for live to play it online and a thin single player component that didn’t last long, and this game is feeling more and more like a hard sell to me. With that said, nostalgia is making me eager to get a chance with these old favorites.

How do you feel seeing an updated TJ Combo getting back into the fighting ring? Are you still playing Killer Instinct? And how do you feel about the free to play structure? Watch TJ in action below and let us know who the next fighter will be!

E3 2014: ‘Dance Central Spotlight’ Returns To Center Stage!

by Josh Jackson

A few months back, the developers at Harmonix had stated that they were putting Rock Band and Dance Central on the back burner to focus on other projects such as the upcoming Fantasia: Music Evolved, (which we previewed at last year’s event), essentially signaling that it could be a long time before we see either game make a return. But while the former is still sitting firmly in retirement after the industry got over saturated with peripheral based music games, I’m thrilled to say that the latter is making its current gen debut, giving us a reason to plug our Kinects back in in the process.

From Harmonix’s press release:

The core Dance Central Spotlight experience comes with everything you need to kick off your dance party – best-in-class gameplay featuring fun and authentic choreography for up to two players, along with 10 hit songs to get you started. Customize your party soundtrack with more than 50 chart-topping hits, with new hit songs1 arriving each week.

Now with eight different dance routines per song to choose from, Dance Central Spotlight is the most accessible, customizable Dance Central yet! With an all-new voice command activated* “Practice That” mode, it’s easier than ever to master your moves. Simply say “DJ, practice that!” during a song to hop right into an improved rehearsal mode and perfect your dance moves alongside a real-time dance mirror of yourself to make sure you’re nailing even the trickiest choreography. Dance Central Spotlight also features an expanded Fitness Mode, with special dance routines authored to focus on Strength and Cardio!

The core 10 song soundtrack will include all-new tracks to the franchise, including:

  • “Wake Me Up” – Avicii
  • “Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz
  • “Show Me” – Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown
  • “Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
  • “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
  • …and more to be announced soon!

This September, step into the Spotlight. Dance Central Spotlight, only on Xbox One.

With the title being a digital release, I definitely expected it to be smaller, but only 10 songs? We’ll need to find out more information on pricing as well as whether or not the 50 + songs I downloaded across the previous versions will somehow carry over to the new game. But even with fewer songs, promising eight routines per song, an improved fitness mode and a more seamless practice mode makes this package seem promising, and I’m thrilled to see the series make its grand return.

Will Spotlight be enough of a reason for you to play with Kinect again? Dance Central has consistently been the best, and well… the only game I’ve played that uses the Kinect as it was promised, so I’m hoping the supposed improvements of the Xbox One model make it even more of a blast to play. Check out the E3 trailer, and let us know if this will be in your download queue come September.

E3 2014: ‘Phantom Dust’ Rises From The Grave With This Surprising Xbox One Reveal!

by Josh Jackson

After the negative reaction to last year’s press conference and a slow start for the company’s latest console, Microsoft had to come out swinging at this year’s E3 press conference, namely with a focus on big game announcements. But amongst the usual suspects like your Halo’s, your Fable’s and your Forza’s, one game was revealed that I doubt anyone could have seriously expected. One from the early days of the Xbox before it was the household name the 360 turned it into. That game is Phantom Dust, and it’s coming back exclusively on the Xbox One.

Promising to bring back this world of magic to the new generation, Phantom Dust was a cult classic from the original Xbox. After enjoying a certain amount of niche success, the title largely floated into obscurity, only being brought up when it came to discussions about the best games that no one has heard of or games with terrible box art. I mean seriously, look at this! I remember seeing piles of these boxes when I worked at Gamestop and thinking how dull and generic it looked.

Phantom Dust Box Art

Still, the game ended up being much better than what was let on, and now the game will hopefully enjoy a much larger audience. But if there was ever a time for an HD remake, I think the original should definitely get the treatment. What better way is there to introduce the game to a group of gamers who has likely never heard of it, let alone play it?

Besides, it’s looking like you’ll want to get caught up, because the teaser for the new Phantom Dust looks like the game just might be a killer app for the new console. But could this mean that other forgotten Xbox properties like Kameo, Mech Assault, and Crimson Skies amongst others might see a comeback?

What games would you like to see revived? And does Phantom Dust seem like it will sway you into Microsoft’s arms? What did you think of the original? Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!

E3 2014: Sony Teases Us With New ‘Uncharted 4’ Footage

by Josh Jackson

While it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, I was a little taken aback when a new Uncharted title was confirmed to be in the works for the PS4 late last year. With the success of The Last Of Us, I fully expected developer Naughty Dog to fully focus their efforts on expanding that universe instead of returning to the world of thieves that was so thoroughly explored across three games starring Nathan Drake. Still, the thought of a new title in the popular series is easy to get excited about, which is why Sony closed their E3 press conference with a glimpse at what we can expect come 2015.

Seemingly taking place years after Drake’s last adventure, the treasure hunter is spotted waking up in the middle of the jungle while a conversation plays in the background between him and his longtime companion, Sully, explaining how they’re going to chase after one last job together. But Nathan is older. He’s been out of the treasure hunting game for years. It’s hinted at that he might not know what he’s dealing with anymore. But this last job will be an easy one… or will it? As Sully says, they’re never easy.

Some heavy themes are being hinted at with this fourth game, now titled A Thief’s End. Will this really be Drake’s final adventure? Or is the title hinting at a different tragedy is in the cards for one of his friends?

The trailer doesn’t give us a whole lot to go by, so let the speculation begin! What are you hoping to see in what can potentially be the last Uncharted game? Sound off below!

E3 2014: The PS4 Will Get A Taste Of The Crazy Mind Of Suda 51 With ‘Let It Die’

by Josh Jackson

Sony had a handful of exclusive games that they aimed to show off at their big E3 press conference, one of which was a new IP from one of the craziest minds in gaming today.

Let It Die is the latest game to come form notorious game designer, Suda 51, and his team over at Grasshopper Studios. Heading to the Playstation 4 in 2015, not much was shown in the short teaser trailer. With that said, there are at least three things we can assume.

One, the way that the names and health bars were next to each character as the camera focused on them makes it safe to assume that this will be some sort of online title.

Two, the game looks creepy as hell, which means we’ll hopefully be able to experience some tense game play when the game finally comes out.

And lastly, considering the logo of the game has the grim reaper on a skateboard, we won’t have to think to hard to understand that this game will likely be way out there. After all, if games like Killer 7, No More Heroes, Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer Is Dead are any indication, we know that this new title will be anything but normal.

Watch the trailer below and let us know if there’s anything we missed. Are you ready to experience what the next Suda game will have to offer? What’s your favorite game that’s come from his insanity/genius? Let us know, and keep an eye on Geekscape for more information on Let It Die as it becomes available.

E3 2014: ‘Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair’ Coming September 5th!

by Josh Jackson

NIS America has released more details on the upcoming release of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Dispair, complete with a brand new trailer for us to sink our claws into. Which of course means that it won’t be much longer before I can safely tread the Internet again without the fear of spoilers.
Picking back up a few years after the original title with a new cast of “ultimate” students, the group is on a field trip to a tropical island. However, this ticket to paradise quickly becomes a refresher course in the art of despair once Monokuma, the sadistic teddy bear from the original, returns to trap them all while isolated from society. The only way to escape? By getting away with murder.
Danganronpa 2 is technically a Vita remake of a Japan only PSP title, though like the first Danganronpa, this will be the first time that we’ll get the chance to play a localized version. Based on the trailer, class trials, investigations and the English voice cast will all return, which isn’t too unexpected. But the question remains… why is former rival, Byakuya Togami, trapped again, and why is he so fat?
The first game was released in February of this year, which was so good that I’d have to say that its dark premise, blend of genres and the way it so easily played with your emotions makes it an early contender for my game of the year. September is a long way away, which is plenty of time for Vita owners to get caught up, lest you risk yourself falling into ultimate despair come September 5th! For now, check out the E3 trailer and let us know if you plan on continuing with the series!

E3 2014: ‘Kingdom Hearts 2.5’ Is Coming… And It Came With Something A Little Extra!

by Josh Jackson

In the days preceding E3, Square Enix made official what the we all already knew. Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix is coming, though we’ ll have to wait until the end of the year to get it.

Coming December 3rd, this collection will feature the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, both of which will be the first time either game has been playable in the States, (unless you’ re one of those crazy importer types). Like the first HD Remix, this go around will feature a cinematic and text based retelling of Kingdom Hearts: ReCoded, which in my opinion will probably be more fun than actually playing it. On top of getting the ReCoded recap, in case the “HD” in the title wasn’t enough of a giveaway, both games will be getting a shiny new coat of high definition paint, justifying that new flat screen purchase you may have made.

I admit that I was very cynical towards 1.5 since I felt like it was holding back content for the sake of a second release. With 2.5 on its way however, I would be lying if I said the thought of replaying Birth By Sleep wasn’t exciting to me, especially since I’ve felt it was the best game in the series since the day I played it. On top of containing Final Mix content for two games rather than one like 1.5, this game feels a little more worth the price tag for returning Keyblade Masters. But does anyone else feel like Square is holding the portable games off for a third collection? And would you be that surprised?

Check out the launch trailer for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix below. Make sure to watch until the end for a cryptic surprise for everyone eagerly awaiting the third game, and keep an eye out for our hands on coverage at E3. Give your opinions on what it all means below, I could use an explanation!

E3 2014: Hold It! ‘Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy’ Is Heading To The Nintendo 3DS!

by Josh Jackson

It’s official; Capcom is bringing the Phoenix Wright trilogy to the West! It was announced that the Turnabout Attorney will return to the 3DS, courtesy of this collection of the first three games in the popular text adventure series. This gives gamers a chance to relive the rookie lawyer’s early triumphs, only now with improved visuals and all in one handy download.

I’ve championed these games since the original was released in 2005 thanks to their immersive stories, tense game play and hysterical writing. Even years later, some of the cases contained in the original three titles stand out as some of the very best, making piecing together mysteries, presenting evidence and pressing witnesses on your path to the truth is still one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever played. The series has had its ups and downs in recent years, (namely Investigations 2 never getting released outside of Japan and the latest adventure, Dual Destinies, only getting a digital release), but this announcement shows that Capcom still has faith in the franchise outside of Japan. Having said that, the game has already been re-released on iOS and the Wii, so it’s hard to want to rush out and buy them again for a potential fourth time. But if you STILL haven’t played these games after all these ports have come and gone, the 3DS version is as good of a reason as any to finally stand at the defense’s bench.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy will hit the 3DS this winter through the Nintendo eShop, but we’ ll let you know what it’s like in motion during E3 2014! As you wait on baited breath for that, check out the game’s reveal trailer and let us know if you’ll be returning to the courtroom!

E3 2014: ‘No Man’s Sky’ Wows At Sony’s E3 Press Conference

by Josh Jackson

If you followed our live blog, (and honesty, why wouldn’t you have?), it’s no surprise that we weren’t particularly wowed by Sony’s E3 conference. While it seems like the widespread reaction to their showing was generally tepid, one game shined as one of the definite standouts of the show. One that promised infinite possibilities in a living, breathing online world, giving us an endless amount of space to explore. That title was No Man’s Sky.
Watching the game’s E3 trailer showed off the incredible concepts that can be conceived by a group of passionate developers like the ones at Hello Games. Much of that passion spilled out through the words that were spoken as the game was unveiled to the world, showing off large, lush planets to explore. With a seemingly infinite space that we’ll be able to fly in and out of with seamless ease, the fact that every player will start with their own planet and can potentially interact with thousands of people as they travel through this growing universe means what we were left with was one of the most ambitious games of the entire show. See, who says you need a multimillion dollar budget, Hollywood voice actors or immature amounts of violence that tries too hard to be edgy to get gamers interested.
The only blemish that No Man’s Sky created on the conference as a whole was like the majority of Sony’s release list, this would only be a temporary PS4 exclusive, potentially coming to other platforms on a later date. Regardless, the scope, ambition and innovation the title is planning to bring is something that has to be seen. Watch Sony’s trailer from E3 and let us know if you’re as impressed as we are, then come back and let us know if you’re hitting the download button when No Man’s Sky releases in the near future.

A DS Classic Gets A Sequel With ‘Kirby’s Rainbow Curse’!

by Josh Jackson

In the early days of the original DS, back when we only had an N64 remake, a glorified tech demo and an admittedly brilliant WarioWare game to play, a new Kirby game with fully integrated touch screen controls become one of the early highlights of the growing handheld. Kirby’s Canvas Curse became known as one of the most creative, challenging and rewarding experiences in the series, but like many of Kirby’s spinoffs, many of us thought we’d never see it again.

Well, think again. Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event revealed a Wii U exclusive sequel! Titled Kirby’s Rainbow Curse, this game is already looking like it’s set to bring back everything that made the original so memorable while building on what was already great. Using the game pad to draw paths for a ball shaped Kirby to navigate, the demo shows new abilities such as a tank transformation, all presented with a claymation visual style. Don’t mess with the pink puffball, man!

Kirby’s Rainbow Curse is scheduled for a 2015 release, making that year seem like an even sweeter one for Wii U owners. Watch the trailer and let us know of your greatest memories Canvas Curse memories!

E3 2014: ‘Yoshi’s Wooly World’ Is Adorably Creative

by Josh Jackson

After months of delays and eventual silence, it seems like that Yoshi Yarn game is finally on its way, and based on the E3 trailer, it will be well worth the wait.

Renamed Yoshi’s Wooly World, this pseudo-sequel to Kirby’s Epic Yarn brings the experience of such titles as Yoshi’s Story to an adorable, colorful and creative land where everything is made of yarn. Featuring both single and multiplayer modes of play, the title seems to offer numerous ways to solve in game puzzles, both by yourself or with a friend.

Watching the environments and characters unravel, knit together and change shape, (like Yoshi’s propeller flutter jump), makes this game look absolutely stunning. In typical Nintendo fashion though, the visuals are about more than aesthetics, so watching how the yarn is integrated into the game play makes me very excited to get the chance to try it out. From unraveling the environment to reveal hidden items, spitting a partner out of Yoshi’s mouth to reach out of the way areas and using eggs to create cloud paths in the style of Yoshi’s Touch n’ Go are just some of the possibilities shown.

Personally though, I’m sad to see Prince Fluff get the boot completely. If you remember, the prince was set to star in the original Epic Yarn, but was relegated to side character status since Nintendo wanted a recognizable face like Kirby to sell the new IP. Now he’s nowhere to be seen, effectively becoming the Asagi of Nintendo. Let’s hope he starts commandeering other games down the road.

The E3 trailer is now live, and can be viewed below. Let us know what you think, and check back throughout the day for hands on impressions of this, and other titles from the show floor.

‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ Turns The Best Part Of ‘Super Mario 3D World’ Into Its Own Game!

by Josh Jackson

I couldn’t have been the only one who played the 3D mazes featuring Captain Toad in Super Mario 3D World and thought, “hey, this would make a really great game on its own!” Apparently, someone at Nintendo agreed, because the company announced Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker exclusively for the Wii U during its E3 Digital Event.

The brave little Toadster got his start in Super Mario Galaxy, but now’s the time for him to take charge in his first staring role. The trailer shows off larger, more in depth and far more dangerous mazes to explore, with the fun lying in how to get to the goal while avoiding all of the hazards.

Anyone who’s played 3D World knows how fun these stages can be, so the thought of a dedicated game makes me feel that those original stages are only scratching the surface of what’s possible with this concept.

Are you ready for adventure with Captain Toad? Watch the E3 trailer below and let us know what you think! Treasure Tracker is set for a retail and digital release

Pac-Man Coming To ‘Smash Bros’, Putting Our Gaming Icons In One Huge Game!

by Josh Jackson

As the first full day of E3 came to a close, Nintendo wanted to prove that they weren’t done yet when it came to big news. Once their latest announcement was made however, it’s safe to say that in this case, it really couldn’t get any bigger than this.

Pac-Man, the 80’s video game icon and a longtime face of the entire industry, has officially been revealed as the latest combatant coming to Super Smash Bros for Wii U/3DS, bringing him, Mario, Mega Man and Sonic together for the first time in history.

Using his Pac Man World design with abilities inspired by that series of platformers, the original Pac-Man arcade games and calling upon help from classic characters from games like Galaga, Xevious, Mappy and Dig Dug, his move set seems way more creative and bizarre than I ever imagined. It’s even more strange than his Mokujin mech in Street Fighter X Tekken.

While this reveal is exciting, the writing has been on the wall for awhile. Namco has been helping Nintendo develop games since at least the Gamecube days, with games like Star Fox Assault, Pac-Man Vs. and the arcade version of Mario Kart. Since then, the company has been heavily involved with the development of the upcoming Smash Bros. in addition to releasing Nintendo exclusive titles like Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition and Tank! Tank! Tank!… but let’s forget about that last one.

Oh, and like Dark Pit in Palutena’s reveal, Mr. Game and Watch is teased at the end. Will he end up making the final cut?

How do you feel about Pac-Man being added to Nintendo’s growing fighter? And who’s side will you pick between these four gaming icons? Check out the trailer to see him in action, and check back with Geekscape for all your E3 needs!

Palutena Shines Her Light On The ‘Smash Bros’ Arena!

by Josh Jackson

As Nintendo’s digital event drew to a close, the company made sure to leave us with one last piece of information in regards to its biggest title of the year, and it was huge for Kid Icarus fans!

Lady Palutena, the goddess of light and guardian of the angelic warrior, Pit, will be joining the fray as one of the latest additions to the Super Smash Bros. cast. Using many of her abilities she displayed as a boss in Kid Icarus Uprising combined with a moveset that shows off the variety of special items that Pit could use in the stellar 3DS title such as the reflect shield, heavenly light, black hole and mega laser, (the last two of which seem to make up her Final Smash), and we have someone with a ton of combat potential. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to mention that she looks incredibly fun!

And what’s up with that Dark Pit tease at the end? If that means he’s going to be his own character, I won’t be opposed to it. Pit is essentially representing the original Kid Icarus, and while Palutena uses many of the items from the 3DS reboot and a few weapons from the title have been shown as items, they don’t even scratch the surface of how many skills Uprising contains. There would be no better way to display those skills than with Dark Pit.

Check out her reveal below, in which Nintendo pulled out all the stops to make it have as big of an impact as possible thanks to a return to the Studio I.G. produced anime shorts that accompanied Uprising when it was initially released. And even though the Uprising only came out in 2012, listening to the banter between Pit, Palutena and Viridi gave me so many nostalgia feels!

Are you excited to add the goddess of light to your growing pool of fighters, including Mii? Keep checking back for more E3 news as it breaks!

Not One, But THREE Different Mii Fighters Join The ‘Smash Bros’ Roster

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Digital Event, what many considered a foregone conclusion was confirmed as Mii’s were officially added to the Smash Bros. roster. What we didn’t expect however, was how much of Mii were were actually going to get.

Representing the many roles Mii’s have taken over the years, your custom avatars will be able to take the roles of either a brawler, swordfighter or gunner, (complete with the Samus outfit from Nintendoland), each with their own unique movesets and abilities.

I’ve never been one of those people who were heavily against Mii’s getting into the game. On the contrary, I’ve felt that not only was it inevitable considering how much they’ve been in every other Nintendo game as of late, but games like Find Mii and Nintendoland have increased their move pool posibilities tenfold. While not all of the games they’ve been in have been shown as inspiration for these three styles, the fact that they display so many abilities are a sign of how prominent they have been, and will likely continue to be.

All this was revealed in one of the most RIDICULOUS trailers I’ve ever seen, which you can watch below. Make sure to check back with more E3 news, including our coverage directly from the show floor.

Can’t Make It To E3? Nintendo And Best Buy Bring It To You Courtesy Of Smash Fest!

by Josh Jackson

Want to try out the latest Smash Bros. title, but can’t get to Los Angeles, won’t be allowed into the convention center or don’t care for being trapped in giant buildings for hours on end? Don’t worry, Nintendo and Best Buy have your back.

Today, June 11th from 4PM-9PM and Saturday, June 14 from Noon-5PM, select stores will have the complete E3 demo on display for the public to play! Promising a variety of sales, promotions and bonuses, a commemorative coin just might be the greatest one yet. The only catch? These only go to the first 70 people at each location that pre-order the game on site, so you better get there early if you want your shot at taking one home.

A complete list of stores can be found at this link. Find your nearest store and join in on the festivities, and make sure to check back with Geekscape while you wait for your turn to play! We’ll be updating the site with our hands on impressions, the latest trailers and breaking news as it breaks!

E3 2014: Watch The Intense New Trailer For ‘Metal Gear Solid V’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Many gamer’s most anticipated E3 moment was the reveal of the new trailer for Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid V.

After seeing said trailer, it’s safe to say that this game is worthy of our anticipation.

The video opens with a vulture picking on a freshly-deceased body, and it quickly delves into something much more sinister. There’s lots of blood, a funeral, and more. I don’t want to ruin things too much, so just take a look below, and let us know what you think!

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain hits PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One someday. I’ve been a huge fan of the series since I was eight years old, so it’s safe to say that I can’t wait for this one.

E3 2014: ‘The Last Of Us: Remastered’ Will Launch On July 29th

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: During last night’s Sony E3 press conference, the company finally revealed when PS4 players will be able to get their hands on The Last of Us.

The game will be available digitally and in-store on July 29th. Sony also revealed a gorgeous new trailer that shows us what the new version will actually look like.

Naughty Dog says that “The trailer is full 1080p and rendered in 60fps, which is what we’re targeting for the game. We’re working on various improvements such as higher resolution character models, improved lighting and shadows, upgraded textures, functionality unique to the PS4 controller and more. You’ll get the complete The Last of Us experience as the PS4 version includes the highest rated DLC exclusive to PlayStation, Left Behind, all difficulty modes (including Grounded Mode the newest, hardest difficulty level) for single player and both our multiplayer map packs, Abandoned Territories and Reclaimed Territories.”

Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know if you plan on picking this one up.

‘Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth’ Is Getting The Collectors Edition Treatment!

by Josh Jackson

This team up between Atlus and Nintendo just keeps getting sweeter.
In addition to a new trailer for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth that debuted just in time for E3, it looks like there will be even more of a reason to pick up the upcoming 3DS dungeon crawler.
Persona Q: The Wild Cards Edition will release side by side with the standard game at the price of $79.99, which for those keeping count, is double the price of a typical 3DS game. So what do you get with the package that can justify the price? How about a Persona themed case with Teddy on the inside, an artbook, a soundtrack and a set of tarrot cards? Do I have your attention yet?

Persona Q Collectors Edition

Persona Q brings together the casts of Persona 3 and Persona 4 in a first person dungeon crawling spinoff, all with a superdeformed art style that’s a big departure for the series. Being able to watch Yukiko, Yukari, Junpei, Yosuke, Chie, Akihiko and the rest of this large cast fight side by side is one of the main experiences I’m looking forward to this year. Now the only problem is, which version do I get? Hmm…
First prints of the standard edition will also include the set of tarrot cards, which are half of a set that mirror the in game cards. The other half will be packaged in the PS3 fighter, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, which might be the sneakiest form of marketing I’ve ever seen. Then again, if you’re getting one, you’re most likely getting the other, so for some, this could be seen as a bonus.
Watch the E3 trailer below and tell us who you plan on using in your party! Persona 4 Q is scheduled for a fall release.

E3 2014: ‘Ratchet and Clank’ To Get The HD Treatment To Coincide With Upcoming Film

by Josh Jackson

Immediately following the trailer for the upcoming Ratchet and Clank movie, Sony briefly announced that a full remake of the original platformer for the PS2 is in the works, likely to launch near the theatrical release of the film.

Bringing the charm, wit and vibrant world of Ratchet and Clank to movie screens was a surprising, yet logical move when it was announced last year. Seemingly acting as a retelling of the first game, (with Ratchet sporting his updated Tools of Destruction looks as opposed to that shirtless…. thing), it looks like fans both old and new will have something fresh to look forward to as Sony brings attempts its first film based on one of their game properties.

After over 10 games that span three platforms, it’s safe to say that the series has become one of Sony’s most beloved. The added news that we’ll get a PS4 iteration of the title with the team at Insomniac back at the helm can only be good news.

My only problem is… Is it necessary? We just got an HD collection of the entire series a little over a year ago on the PS3, so making an HD-er version so soon after might be a tough sell. On the bright side, the game will surely be a complete remake instead of the halfhearted “HD” versions we’ve become so used to, so the more improvements to the original that we can get, the better.

But as a wise man once said, it doesn’t matter what I think! Will you pick up a remake of the PS2 classic? And will you be in line to watch the movie when it comes out next year? Check out the trailer and be heard in the comments!

Seeing ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ In Motion Is A Thing Of Beauty

by Josh Jackson

We’ve watched. We’ve waited. We’ve suffered through delays and had to plod through a lackluster prequel, but at Sony’s E3 conference, we were finally able to watch Batman: Arkham Knight in action. And I have to say, it was well worth the wait.

Featuring both on foot and the long awaited Batmobile segments, watching Batman glide through a full fledged Gotham City looked incredible, finally showing us a glimpse of what this generation of consoles will be able to do.

Combat looks just as brutal and bone crunching as ever, only now with a wider variety of areas to stalk your enemies thanks to the larger city. Once Batman summons the Batmobile, everything changes. The thing plows through the environment like nobody’s business, (because that’s what superheroes do; they destroy the city in the name of protection!) While his enemies are ready with the addition of enemy vehicles, the goddamn Batman is always prepared, transforming his vehicle into a high powered tank.

Closing with a chilling warning from The Scarecrow, I’m thrilled to be going toe to toe against the best villain of the Arkham games in the lead role. Or I hope it’s the lead role at least. We all know what happened to Black Mask, Hugo Strange, Ra’s Al Ghul… but I’m ready to experience Batman in a post Joker world.

Relive the amazing trailer below and keep checking back with Geekscape for breaking E3 news as it becomes available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNvjuzdHnsI

‘InFamous: First Light’ Standalone DLC Brings Back The Best Of ‘Second Son’

by Josh Jackson

Sony revealed InFamous: First Light during their E3 conference, focusing on Fetch, one of the super powered conduits that Delsin encounters during Second Son.

Taking place in the conduit prison of Curdun Cay and the area around it before the events of the game, players will be able to explore a whole new environment detailing Fetch’s past in between her initial arrest and her eventual arrival in Seattle.

Bringing back her trademark neon powers, First Light promises to give Fetch a whole new way to control these powers compared to Delsin’s abilities in the main game. In addition, you’ll be able to get your inner photographer out with the ability to take pictures of the city as you travel.

The best news is that if you traded in your copy of the main game but still want to experience Fetch’s adventure, this DLC will be completely standalone, not requiring the original to be able to play. With that said, Sony and Sucker Punch are sweetening the pot by promising exclusive content for those who own both.

During the show, I was excited to see Fetch get her own content for two reasons. One, her powers were the best ones in the game BY FAR, making me hate having to use anything else through the second half of Delsin’s game. Needless to say, I’m excited to see what twist this content will put on her abilities, (not to mention the amazing visual effects that come with it). And two, Second Son was sorely lacking in backstory, so while it would have been nice to experience it in the main game, I’m still happy to finally delve into the past of at least one of these characters.

Are you still tearing up Seattle on your PS4, or are you ready to experience the horrors of Curdun Cay? First Light will hit the Playstation Store in August.

E3 2014: ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ Looks Like An Amazing Co-Op Experience: Watch The New Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Officially revealed with a teaser trailer back in March, Ubisoft debuted an awesome co-op demo of Assassin’s Creed Unity at today’s Microsoft press conference (which SJ and Jonathan covered here).

Here’s what Ubisoft had to say about the title:

Assassin’s Creed Unity reinvents the franchise, starting with the core gameplay pillars that have defined the series from the beginning: navigation, stealth and combat. Players will carve their way through a stunning, full-scale open-world Paris, thanks to the power of the new Anvil engine, rebuilt from the ground up for new generation consoles. Assassin’s Creed Unity gives players full control parkour mechanics, a reinvented fighting system for a richer combat experience, a new stealth mode, cover system and crowd manipulation techniques. Players can channel their inner Assassin, customizing weapons, equipment, outfits and specialized skills to match their play style.

 

In addition to the sprawling single-player campaign, players can join with up to three friends and take part in story-driven online co-op missions designed specifically for Assassins to play together. Skills and unique gear acquired in the single-player missions will be accessible in co-op and will define a player’s personalized Assassin’s style, whether emphasizing brute force, agility or stealth. Players also will select a unique co-op skill that will help the team survive, evade or fight more effectively to the benefit of the team.

The developer released an official co-op video today, and even though it’s been quite some time since I’ve played an Assassin’s Creed title, I cannot wait to check out this multiplayer. This is exactly what I imagined when the first game released. Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Assassin’s Creed Unity hits PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 28th.