www.GameInformer.com

Real Soldier Dogs And I Am Legend Inspired Call Of Duty: Ghosts

Tim Turi — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:35:00 GMT

Activision and Infinity Ward recently gave us a look at the next-gen capabilities of Call of Duty: Ghosts. We also got some tidbits about new gameplay that will involve canine soldier units. We spoke more about these furred companions in an interview with Infinity Ward executive producer, Mark Rubin. We touched on film and real-life inspiration for the new dog companion in Ghosts.

“One of our production guys got in contact with a Navy Seal from San Diego who was retired and had a retired service dog,” says Rubin. “We invited him to the studio, and they came by the studio and he told us some of the most amazing stories. I still have a hard time believing some of the things that those guys would do together. Not just the action they’ve been in, but the equipment and technology they use. Those stories and that time we spent with them, we came away from that meeting saying “We have to have this dog in the game.” Some of the stuff he would say is how the dog is a teammate. He’d take a bullet for that dog. I was floored by that statement. You could see that emotional attachment he had with this dog and how integral that dog was with the team he was on.”

On the top of emotional attachments, I brought up the film I Am Legend as an example of audiences forming a closer bond with a dog character than they do with most human characters. Rubin responded to this example with recognition.

“One of things in the office, we’ve always done this where movies have always been our biggest inspiration.” Says Rubin. “Never other games. We have some TVs in office and we put up movie clips from different scenes and stuff that impact us. I Am Legend was up there quite often.”

Rubins says the game inspired by other famous film dogs, but decided not to share more examples.

(Above) Warner Bros. Pictures' I Am Legend, starring Will Smith and an awesome dog in a post-apocalyptic world

Infinity Ward isn’t implementing a dog into the story just to tug at your heart strings. The developer is enthusiastic about the military tech that soldiers use to interact with these dogs. Could these hint at potential new gameplay features for Ghosts?

“[The retired Navy Seal] was talking about some of the tech and the tech was amazing,” says Rubin. “You saw in some of those pictures he’s wearing body armor, he’s like a jugger-dog. That’s real. That’s real equipment that he brought into the studio and we got capture. It has a parascope on the back with a camera on it. Basically he’s got a TV screen on his arm and can see whatever the dog sees through that parascope, basically. The dog can be maneuvering around and he can see it on his screen. The dog is also wearing an earpiece. So this dog has a little clip-on earpiece and the Seal can give the dog directions. If they need to be really quiet he’s also got these vibrating devices on his neck. So if the Seal pushes the button on the right, the device on the right shakes and the dog knows he needs to go to the right. Push the left one, and he’ll go over to the left. It’s like video-gaming a dog.”

Rubin left me with an story about the retired Navy Seal and his dog companion’ fateful standoff against a group of enemy forces.

“The Seal told us about this thing that happened with the dog,” says Rubin. “They were trapped in a house. His Seal team and the dog were trapped in the house. I can’t say where. He wouldn’t tell us where. They were trapped in this house and surrounded by somebody, he wouldn’t tell us who. They were getting fired on, rockets were hitting the walls. They were really holding on. I think they were there for like 18 hours just holding them off. The roof was caved in on them and they were taking explosive cuts and bruises from shrapnel. He was saying that in this difficult time he would just look over at the dog and it kind of had that “I’m here, I’m happy, we’re good”, and it sort of reinforced the team as a whole. It really boosted morale.”

The Call of Duty series has always done a great job of implementing memorable, impactful moments into the battlefield. These moments are usually emphasized with cut audio and dramatic slow-motion action, and we can see this new four-legged friend adding to that cinematic feel. We’re also excited by the possibility of remote controlling a dog. Call of Duty: Ghosts is heading to Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Activision Shows Off Next-gen Graphics

Tim Turi — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Update: Call of Duty: Ghosts's DLC will be a timed exclusive for the recently revealed Xbox One.

Activision has found incredible success with the Call of Duty series while having to make arguably few changes to the core formula. For the next-gen entries on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Infinity Ward is rebuilding the engine from the ground up. During a pre-E3 event last week in Santa Monica, California, the developer walked us through the new engine’s graphical advancements. We also learned some tidbits regarding the story and were walked through an underwater gameplay sequence.

Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin took the stage to explain the basic plot. America has been crippled and is fighting against superior forces. The remaining branches of the armed forces have united, forming an underdog force called Ghosts that the player is part of. The story is being penned by Stephen Gaghan, creator of Traffic.

Speaking of underdogs, a canine companion joins the player throughout the game. This war pup sniffs out bombs, attacks enemies, and more. Infinity Ward hopes players attach to this dog emotionally. The team even extensively mo-capped actual soldier dogs and researched the stories of these furry veterans.

Along with an engine overhaul, Infinity Ward is also revamping multiplayer. While the developer isn’t going into many specifics, it did highlight dynamic maps. An example shown was a truck’s load of huge metal pipes being loosed on enemies. Rubin also mentioned earthquakes, floods, and other player-driven traps affect the flow of the map.

Infinity Ward spent a lot of time comparing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 side-by-side to Call of Duty: Ghosts. As to be expected with next-gen hardware, the new game looks much better. Character models are much more detailed, fewer polygons are visible upon further inspection, and lighting looks amazing. Infinity Ward offered a walkthrough of a jungle environment to demonstrate the new engine’s capabilities. Sun rays peak through the foliage above, a creek babbles quietly, ambient insects and birds fly along, and rocks in the riverbeds show impressive detail. Displacement mapping allows these riverbed rocks to go from flat textures to detailed geometric shapes based on your proximity. Another new technique called sub-d turns jagged polygonal curves into perfect circles, such as the curve of a pilot’s helmet visor or the iron sights on your weapon. These enhancements may sound minor by themselves, but together they make a convincing demonstration of the benefits of next-gen.

Finally, we watched an underwater gameplay sequence. Two Ghost soldiers swim along vivid coral reefs, teeming with colorful plant life and fish going about their business. The duo encounters another set of enemy soldiers. They take out the threat with timed shots from their waterproof rifles. Eventually a loud pinging noise sounds overhead. A huge submarine passes above, which feels reminiscent of the Star Destroyer’s introduction at the beginning of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The player takes down the huge vessel with a remote-controlled torpedo from within the ruins of a sunken lighthouse. The concussive blast knocks him unconscious. When he comes to, his oxygen tube has been severed and his buddy works to free him from pinning rubble. The protagonist is freed, his air supply is fixed, and they begin their swim to safety as huge chunks of the destroyed ship rain down. The demo ends as their escape is interrupted by a descending group of enemy divers.

Activision’s demonstration of next-generation technology makes a compelling case for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. The story behind the Call of Duty games have been hit and miss in the past, but the addition of a proven filmmaker may help Ghosts. We were impressed by what we saw of the new engine, and look forward to learning more about the changes to multiplayer leading up the game’s launch on current and next-gen systems.

Splinter Cell Blacklist Trailer Shows Off Cooperative Play

Matt Miller — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:40:00 GMT

Sam Fisher won’t be alone in his upcoming adventure. The new trailer for Blacklist shows off the cooperative mission structure for the game, which includes four different mission types across fourteen maps. The trailer also touts the availability of both two-player online and split-screen play.

The new cooperative game modes star Sam Fisher working alongside fellow operative Isaac Briggs, and the progress made in the cooperative missions will feed into each player’s larger game progress. Using the Strategic Mission Interface, Blacklist aims to pull the single player and multiplayer Splinter Call game modes together into a cohesive whole, uniting your progress in any of the game modes under a single profile. By completing cooperative missions, players gain access to new weapons and gadgets that might not otherwise be available.

Splinter Cell Blacklist is hitting PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC on August 20 in North America.

Check out the trailer and new screens below, and share your thoughts on the new cooperative mode in the comments below. For more on Blacklist, check out our recent look at the competitive Spies Vs. Mercs game mode that is returning in Blacklist.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The Return Of Owner's Mode

Matthew Kato — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Ten years ago, in Madden NFL 04 (with Michael Vick on the cover!), the series introduced an Owner's option to its Franchise mode. This let you adjust ticket prices, relocate your team if necessary, and get into other down-and-dirty aspects of your franchise. Unfortunately, the mode has not appeared in the current-gen versions of the series – until now. Madden NFL 25 re-introduces the owner concept and integrates it into last year's Connected Careers format.

Being an owner is now part of the player and coach backstories in the newly named Connected Franchises mode (and is therefore tied to online play, milestones, a Legacy score, and all the other aspects of the mode). Although you won't spend XP on yourself as an owner, you'll play the games like normal and you can spend XP on your players and the coach as if you were a hands-on Jerry Jones or Al Davis type (XP can also be applied automatically like last year). Owners will spend money on hiring a coach, scouts, and a trainer. Coaches' levels have been stretched out to 40, and both your coach and scouts will have an impact on how much XP you earn and make different skill packages easier to buy. Trainers will naturally prevent injuries and reduce down time.

Owners make money via their stadiums, the product on the field, and fans' expectations and happiness surrounding both the team and its facility.

Stadium Management

Your stadium and its various aspects (bathrooms, seating, locker rooms, parking, etc.) are graded, and these degrade over time. Thus, upgrading individual parts, building a new stadium, or relocation will have to occur.
Set prices for concessions, merchandise, and tickets for different areas of the stadium
If you drop into negative cash, you will be forced to sell the team
You can relocate to one of 17 currently realistic markets such as L.A., Mexico City, Brooklyn, Toronto, and London (complete with city-specific commentary). Each will foot the relocation bill to varying amounts. You can keep the team name or select from one of three that the fans have already picked.
Pick from eight designs when building a stadium of different prices/quality that impacts your monthly mortgage payment.

Away from the dollars and cents part of being an owner, managing expectations is key. The game contains a fan happiness system that takes into account the team, the staff, the stadium, merchandise, and overall expectations. This system feeds into your revenue. Thus, there won't be a hard line where you fail if you don't make the playoffs if you're trying to rebound from a 4-12 season. You can do your part in managing or hyping expectations through media statements that feed into the game's front page media section. Talking about your QB, for example, won't affect that person's performance, but it could eventually make a difference to your bottom line if your statements turn out to be true of false.

Owner's mode isn't the only new thing going for this year's franchise mode. Also included are a handful of changes designed to restore some of the functionality of previous games.

Importing NCAA Draft Classes
Offline Fantasy Draft (last year the online fantasy draft was patched into the game)
32-Team Control. Perhaps one of the most contentious omissions from Madden 13 ("I think we really took away some people's rituals," said Mike Young, Madden's creative director, of the move.), in Madden NFL 25 you can now control all the NFL teams offline on a single console. With this, you can also edit all the teams the way you want. Connected Franchises allows a mix of players and coaches within that same franchise world.

Elsewhere in the game, a variety of aspects have been tweaked, including the XP and overall progression of players in Connected Franchise, your Legacy score, the Milestones, and the logic for trades and free agents. The latter is particularly good to hear given that last year's game assigned specific schemes that players played in. While it was cool to know that a particular player was better suited to zone coverage, for instance, it didn't always seem to jive with how free agency shook out.

Overall, the mode's UI will be reworked in order to avoid the confusion and randomness of last year's interface, which threw everything together somewhat haphazardly. Now you'll actually go to the Transaction Log to see if you've signed a player in free agency, and the front page news center will acknowledge which stage of the offseason your in. As far as particular weeks in the offseason, developer EA Tiburon hasn't added anything new, such as specifically calling out college pro days or the scouting combine.

Check out the gameplay details on Madden 25, including its new movement system, in our previous preview.

Also be sure to see more Owner's mode details in the screenshot gallery below.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Madden NFL 25 hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on August 27.

Devolver Digital Brings Lo Wang Back In Reboot

Mike Futter — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:25:00 GMT

As the shooter genre trends toward realism, there has been a growing demand for old-school titles like Serious Sam and the upcoming Rise of the Triad reboot. Devolver Digital (known for Hotline Miami and the aforementioned Serious Sam series), is updating another classic game for a contemporary audience.

Shadow Warrior was a 3D Realms game from the late 90s that put an emphasis on melee combat and humor. It was also known for its offensive characterization of Asian culture. One of the first things that Devolver Digital's Nigel Lowrie told us is that the inappropriate material isn't going to be included.

"We're keeping the humor and sharp wit," Lowrie said. "But we've removed the more negative things that have no place in our game."

From a visual perspective, developer Flying Wild Hog is hard at work to create a colorful backdrop with pink cherry blossoms, babbling brooks, and snow-covered mountains. The idea is to create a stark contrast to the post-apocalyptic, urban shooters to which we've grown accustomed.

One of the big draws of Shadow Warrior is Lo Wang's use of the katana. The blade is more important than melee weapons typically are in first-person shooters. The way players hold the sword will determine the type of swing. Location based damage will cause limbs to fly and heads to roll.

Combos, executed with a series of button presses followed by an attack, are important to keeping Lo Wang on his feet. The one that was described to us is a 360 degree attack that, when surrounded, allows Lo Wang to remove the heads from a number of foes all at once.

Right now, players should expect a narratively-rich single-player experience. The team at Flying Wild Hog is focused on the solo experience right now, and weren't ready to talk definitively about whether multiplayer will be included. Shadow Warrior is coming later this year to PC and next-generation consoles in 2014.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Unfolding The Tactile World Of Media Molecule's Vita Platformer

Tim Turi — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Media Molecule excels at delivering titles with a unique, hand-crafted aesthetic and entertaining platforming. The developer’s upcoming Vita title, Tearaway, combines a papercraft world, 3D exploration, and a charming touch-enabled twist. Players interact with the game by tapping the front and back of the system. I ran and tapped my way through a playable section of the game during a pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, California last week.

Tearaway plays like your average platformer at its core. An open, colorful space is filled with obstacles to overcome and enemies to confront. The innovation comes with how players’ fingers impact the game world. In certain areas Iota, the protagonist, needs help dispatching a group of foes or reaching new heights. I loved baiting a pack of enemies over a special patch of ground which can be broken by my fingers using the back touchpanel. Tearaway asks you questions about your skin color and gender before starting, so the fingers poking through into the game world looking convincing. I caught myself tinkering with this mechanic more than the game necessitated – it’s pretty magical. The sensation of poking your fingers into the game and flicking enemies into oblivion is convincing. Other areas required me to tap the bottom screen like a drum to bounce Iota on special trampolines. Some of these sections require careful timing of touchpanel tapping and analog stick-based character movement.

Less obvious touch-enabled puzzles are scattered across the world. In one area I had to touch the screen to interact with a record – something I didn’t understand until a Media Molecule developer pointed it out to me. I played an early version of the game, and Media Molecule says that it’s still fine-tuning how to cue players to use the touchscreen. One I figured it out, I enjoyed spinning the record – which controlled a series of platforms – like I was a gigantic DJ.

Near the end of the demo I gained the ability to jump, which added a new level to platforming and environmental puzzles. So far I like the pace that Tearaway sets. The touch-mechanics combines with regular character movement have the potential to be confusing and challenging, but Media Molecule is taking special care to gradually show players the ropes. Given the game’s colorful papercraft visuals and charming folk soundtrack, I wasn’t opposed to taking my time to experiment and learn. Tearaway hits the Vita October 22.

Latest Dev Diary Shows Joel's Resourceful Side

Jeff Cork — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:41:00 GMT

Items are limited in The Last of Us' post-apocalyptic world, and it's up to the player to make the best of those remaining resources. As a new developer diary shows, there's more to it than merely rummaging through drawers to find ammunition.

Joel is resourceful, and one of the ways that attribute manifests itself in the game is through its crafting system. Players can combine items to create new items. It's not a groundshaking innovation, but the video below shows that there's more to it than what we've seen in other titles. Several combinations can be used to create either offensive or defensive concoctions. For instance, the ingredients used to make a medkit also happen to be the same ones that Joel can combine to make a molotov. It's up to players to determine which items are likely to be most beneficial.

See how it works in the clip below.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Naughty Dog has released several other videos in its dev diary series as well, which follow. For a look at how the team created the game's run-down wasteland, click the video below.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And for an in-depth look at the game's infected enemies, watch this one.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

For more information on the Last of Us, including exclusive interviews and video features with the development team, be sure to check out our Last of Us hub by clicking on the banner below.

Batman Meets Deathstroke, Deadshot, And Black Mask In First Trailer

Mike Futter — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:01:00 GMT

If there's one thing that we learned from our month of Batman: Arkham Origins coverage, is that our readership is extremely excited to return to Gotham City. If you've been keeping up with our previews, you know that the story's villian, Black Mask, has tasked a number of assassins to bring down The Dark Knight.

In this first trailer, we see Batman square off in a lengthy battle with Deathstroke. We also get a feel for how Black Mask is motivating his paid hitmen. Let's just say the rivalries aren't friendly.

The trailer also confirms Deathstroke as a playable character. It's not clear yet if he's structured like Catwoman's Arkham City missions, a set of challenge missions, or something completely different. And be sure to look for the clever nod to Green Arrow (could this be a hint?).

Batman: Arkham Origins is coming to PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U on October 25. You can catch up with the stories and videos from our full month of coverage, and read a new preview that just went live today.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The Joker Appears In Hands-on Preview

Tim Turi — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Warner Bros. hosted a pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, California last week where I got the opportunity to play the game. I beat up some new thugs with martial arts skills, diffused a plot laid by Anarky, and stormed a hotel hijacked by The Joker.

This prequel focuses on Bruce Wayne’s formative years as Batman, but he’s in the same fighting shape as the other two Arkham titles. Countering attacks and managing a crowd of bad guys is just as satisfying as ever. Developer Warner Bros. Games Montreal has done a great job maintaining the pitch-perfect combat controls. New enemies with fighting skills comparable to the Caped Crusader mix up standard fights. I like the gonzo, kung-fu film feel of these counter-heavy battles. These nimble bad guys should keep players on their toes.

The bad guys aren’t the only ones who have to worry about new threats – Batman is packing a new remote claw toy that lets him tether items in the environment together. This projectile-based weapons makes linking two guards together from a distance easy. You can string guards up to gargoyles or even tether one to an explosive barrel, creating a surprise they won’t see coming. The new gadget is fun and easy to use, and should open up stealth options.

Big changes are being made to crime scene investigations as well. A helicopter crashes to the ground in one section, and Batman must examine the scene and deduce what happened. Players can playback the disaster, pause, and pinpoint something interesting. In this case Batman scrubs backwards and discovers the tail propeller was blasted by a gunman. He traces the trajectory of the bullet to SWAT member on a building high above. At first glance this officer may seem like the trigger man, but the Master Detective discovers that the SWAT member was killed by another rifleman, and the same round ricocheted off a nearby wall before hitting the helicopter. Bingo. Batman decides there is only one villain that could pull off that shot: Deadshot.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Black Mask is the main trouble maker in Arkham Origins, but other threats are loose on the streets of Gotham City besides he and Deathstroke. At one point in the demo I was grappling and gliding among the snowy rooftops when a giant image was projected onto a nearby building. A message began to play, recorded by Anarchy. This hooded figure is hell-bent on doing away with corporations and governments. He’s planted bombs in the city that Batman must diffuse. I activate my x-ray detective vision to follow a series of wires to the explosives and manually disable them. Warner Bros. says Anarchy and other villains pop up throughout the game for these optional side missions.

Unlike Anarchy, not all evil doers in Gotham can be ignored. Batman makes his way to a ritzy hotel that has been seized under Black Mask’s orders. The fancy lobby is tricked out to the nines with red and green Christmas decorations. I use the remote claw to string up the patrolling bad guys and clear a path to the elevator. On my way up I run into two familiar faces: Bane and Joker. Like Batman, these villains are still proving their “super” status. Bane is ‘roid-raging harder than usual, and the Joker demonstrates his fondness for remote-detonated bombs. He dances among a series of festively decorated explosives plungers, triggering one that blows up an unoccupied construction site in the distance. He threatens Batman that the next explosion won’t be so benign.

Warner Bros. Games Montreal is putting a lot of effort into creating a compelling new chapter in the Arkham series, both on the narrative and gameplay fronts. I like the tweaks and story and combat, but so far Arkham Origins looks par for the course as far as sequels go. But I don’t foresee anyone complaining about another fun Batman game.

For more on Batman: Arkham Origins visit our hub filled with exclusives

New Super Luigi U Box Art And Screens

Kyle Hilliard — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:22:46 GMT

New Super Luigi U will begin its life as DLC for New Super Mario Bros. U, but it will be getting a retail release shortly after. Here are a handful of new screens for the game, as well as its box art.

The DLC version of the game will be available on June 20 and it will be available for $19.99. The retail version of the game will release on August 25 and with will cost a little extra at $29.99.

For the unaware, New Super Luigi U removes Mario as a playable character, shrinks the timer for the levels, and alters every level in some way to work with Luigi's playstyle. This DLC also lets players play as Nabbit, who you will know if you've played New Super Mario Bros. U.

Indonesian and Moroccan Cultures Coming To Civilzation V in Brave New World Expansion

Matt Helgeson — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:00 GMT

The Brave New World expansion pack for Civilization V will release on July 9. Today, 2K Games and Firaxis revealed two of the ancient cultures that will be added to the game in the pack.

Here's the information on the two cultures direct from the press release. If you want to know more about Brave New World, check out our previous coverage.

"Indonesia, led by the 14^th Century Prime Minister of the Majapahit Empire of Indonesia, Gajah Mada, are granted unique bonuses for establishing a seafaring empire, as their first three cities formed on new continents are granted two unique luxury resources via their Spice Islanders ability. Their unique replacement for the swordsman is the Kris Swordsman, which gains a random upgrade after the first round of combat. Finally, their unique building, the Candi replaces the Garden, and awards a faith bonus.

"Morocco, and their leader Ahmad al-Mansur, are well equipped to take advantage of the new trading route mechanics in the expansion, as they gain powerful bonuses to gold and culture for every external trade route via their Gateway to Africa ability. Their unique Berber Cavalry unit replaces standard cavalry and gains combat bonuses in home territory and on desert tiles. Also taking advantage of desert terrain is their unique improvement, the Kasbah, which improves desert tiles with added defense, food, production and gold."

Latest Screens Show An Array Of Criminality

Jeff Cork — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:54:31 GMT

Rockstar has given us all a little Friday treat with the release of four new Grand Theft Auto V screens. Franklin and Trevor are up to no good, which doesn't come as much of a surprise.

There are plenty of little details to soak in, from the way the member of the SWAT team has positioned himself on the Sheriff's SUV to how sunlight filters through the murky waters off the Los Santos shores. Franklin appears in two of the screens, getting ready to escape the police on a dirtbike in one shot and breaking into a muscle car in another. We join loose cannon Trevor in the middle of a highway chase. Perhaps that canary-yellow car wasn't the best choice for keeping a low profile. We can't tell who's in the wetsuit, but it does look as though there's some wreckage to explore in the bottom-left corner of the shot.

Grand Theft Auto V adds a gameplay twist in that the story is told through the perspectives of three characters. Each brings his own skillset to missions, which is handy in some of the large-scale heists. Players can swap between each character on the fly, depending on the situation. We've broken down how it works in our in-depth preview, so be sure to check it out.

Look for Grand Theft Auto V on Sept. 17 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Blasting Helghast On The Vita Feels Good

Tim Turi — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Back in 2006 Guerilla Games released a top-down, isometric shooter on the PSP called Killzone: Liberation. The game received middling reviews, but proved the series had potential on handheld platforms. Now Guerilla Cambridge is developing Killzone: Mercenary for the PlayStation Vita, a full-fledged FPS that feels more like a true Killzone experience. During a pre-E3 event this week in Santa Monica, California, I got my hands on the game’s single- and multiplayer modes.

Mercenary follows a gun-for-hire that pledges no allegiance to the valorous ISA or insidious Helghast. Players fight along both sides throughout the game’s campaign. The mission I took part in had me battling Helghast forces on an outpost nestled in a huge canyon. The scenario begins with the player creeping through a cave towards an opening. A Helghast soldier holds a good guy at gunpoint, who pleads for his life. I choose to unload a couple precise shots to the red-eyed soldier’s head. He drops. I continue to explore the narrow, suspended walkways while either stealth killing or blasting enemies.

Gunplay is faithful to the Killzone series. The Vita hardware does a good job conveying the series’ sense of weight. Aiming with the thumbsticks feels precise, but lining up shots takes an extra second or two at the default settings. The visuals are also among the best I’ve seen in my time with the Vita. The lighting, detailed character models, and expansive canyon setting are impressive for a portable device. Swiping the touchscreen to melee foes took a couple trials to master, but eventually the controls felt natural.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

After getting a feel for how the game plays, I chose to test my mettle in multiplayer. Players can compete online in Warzone– a series standby featuring team-based matches with rotating objectives. One moment you have to sprint to an airdropped package, and the next you have to kill anything that moves. I experienced no latency when playing multiplayer, and the maps had plenty spots to take cover when things get heated. I found the Vita’s small screen limiting during some of Mercenary’s more frantic moments. I regularly tripped up on a waist-high barrier or accidently walked off a ledge.

Killzone: Mercenary is shaping up to be one of the more faithful portable iterations I’ve seen of an FPS franchise. Guerilla Cambridge appears to have had to make very few concessions given the hardware’s limitations, but it’s yet to be seen whether the final product, releasing September 17, nails the series’ large-scale campaign battles.

Check out a developer diary for Killzone: Mercenary here.

Naughty Dog Turns Our World Upside Down

Tim Turi — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:01:00 GMT

Yesterday, during a pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, California, I played through a newly revealed section of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. The survival-based game is a road trip story starring two survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. Joel and Ellie are looking for a man named Bill – a loner out in Lincoln, Pennsylvania that owes Joel a favor. During my hands-on time with the game I got a feel for combat against the infected, nasty traps set by survivors, and improvised navigation past environmental obstacles.

Joel and Ellie find themselves in the woods on their way to the small town of Lincoln. Ellie is taken aback by the beauty of the woods, admiring the serene wildlife. Joel is less concerned with sight-seeing, and seems determined to find Bill before the sun sets. Their progress is halted by a high, barbed-wire fence blocking them from entering town. I climb atop a small building to get a better view. I spot the roof of another nearby building, but my attempt to leap the gap falls short. Upon further investigation I find a long, narrow board – just about the length between the two roofs. I pick up the board, carry it over to the small building, lean it up against the side, climb up the building, and pull the board up. I’m then able to lay the board between across the roofs for Joel and Ellie to cross.

Lincoln is Bill’s stomping grounds, and his mark is apparent. I hear an odd clicking as an infected comes sprinting around a corner, followed by a loud explosion. One of Bill’s tripwire traps blows the thing’s legs clean off. Further exploration of Lincoln reveals a number of rigged devices, some of which must be safely detonated by tossing a brick or bottle into them. You can set up your own homemade traps and lure the wandering infected into them as well.

One of my favorite moments in the demo involves sneaking past a handful of the fungal-infected humanoids. These creatures are in a sort of sleep-state when I come across them. I choose to leave them alone and crouch-walk safely past them. If I had been braver, I could have snuck up to them quietly, dispatched them with a melee weapon, and looted their corpses. These enemies’ senses are based on noise, so stealth is key.

My closest encounter with the crazed monsters involves one of Bill’s more successful traps. Joel is snagged by a snare after opening a door. A refrigerator acts as a counterweight, pulling him into the air by his foot. Both Joel and the camera are tipped upside down as Ellie struggles to cut the line. Infected encroach on the pair, and I have to gun them down from the disorienting angle. The reliable controls allow me to dispatch most of them easily, but one heavily infected mushroom head gets too close and instantly chomps down on me. I have better luck my second attempt. Ellie cuts me down and the duo finally cross paths with Bill.

Joel’s gas-masked contact blasts a few infected and beckons them to follow. A frantic chase through alleyways and building interiors ensues. Bullets and health supplies are limited, so standing my ground isn’t an option. Throughout the demo I had plenty of opportunities to craft melee weapons, like a pipe with scissors taped to it or Molotov cocktail. I also found a few medkits. It’s not enough to endure a full-on infected assault, however.

In addition to item crafting, players can find tools, supplements, and other resources that can permanently upgrade Joel and his equipment. Supplements can steady his aim or increase his health. Tool kits and constituent parts can be used to create extra weapon holsters or improve the damage of weapons. I didn’t have an opportunity to dive deep into these systems, but Naughty Dog says players can carry their upgrades and gear over into a new game-plus.

Bill, Joel, and Ellie eventually reach safety. Without skipping a beat, Bill handcuffs Ellie to a pipe and holds Joel at gunpoint. He begins roughly checking the two for the signs of a sprouting infection. While Joel tries to calm him down, Ellie pulls the pipe loose and whacks Bill. After a brief scuffle the three cool down. Joel calls in his favor with Bill. They need a car, and Bill agrees to help them get one running. My hands-on time with the new demo ends here.

My path through Lincoln was just one route among a variety of options. Depending on your playstyle you could aggressively clear out the infected or sneak past them all. Upgrading Joel and his equipment is also influenced by your tastes. Do you want to invest resources into melee combat or firearms? Naughty Dog has packed The Last of Us with tons of options while delivering an engaging yet bleak story of survival.

Watch the entire 2012 PAX Prime gameplay demo here.

Blizzard Details Diablo III's PlayStation 4 Controls In New Video

Matt Helgeson — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:02:02 GMT

In a new video, three of the leads on Blizzard's PlayStation 4 port of Diablo III go into detail on how they've adapted the game for the PlayStation 4 - including their plans to make use of the controller's touch pad.

In the video, production director John Hight, lead designer Joshua Mosqueira, and senior designer Jason Bender talk about how they are adapting the PC blockbuster for console - and how they intend fit the classic Diablo scheme to the new Dual Shock. One of their more interesting ideas involves using the controller's touch pad for some menu and inventory options.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Via: Destructoid

Motorcycle Mayhem Detailed In Latest Trailer

Mike Futter — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:02:31 GMT

The only thing better than riding a motorcycle is doing it while fending off a rival gang of bikers, or at least that's what Deep Silver and Black Forest Games would have us believe. In the latest trailer for Ride to Hell: Route 666, we get a look at some of the features that make the game unique.

In Ride to Hell: Route 666, you'll command your own MC, manage upgrades, and decide who will come out on the road with you. From there, it's a matter of wreaking havoc against typically challenging odds.

Ride to Hell: Route 666 is coming this summer to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Soft Hands

Matthew Kato — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:13:38 GMT

Not every NHL player can dangle the puck with silky smooth moves, but at least NHL 14 developer EA Canada is making it a little easier for players of the game to pull off their best dekes. A new trailer for the game explains its new one-touch deke system as well as improved defense.

Series producer Sean Ramjagsingh walks through how the one-touch dekes work as opposed to their more complicated execution in previous games, and also shows how defenders' vision and horizontal movement will put them in a better position.

For more on the game, be sure to check out a similar video on its improved physics system, as well as a general overview of the features announced.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

NHL 14 comes out for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on September 10.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Developer Diary Introduces The Localization Team

Kyle Hilliard — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

The unsung heroes of Animal Crossing development, the folks who translate the absurd amount of text featured in the Animal Crossing games, finally get their moment in the spotlight.

The developer diary interviews the team that have been working on bringing the games to North America since the beginning. Work on New Leaf began as early as 2010, and they talk about how they are the ones who need to come up with the names for every item in the game. If you've played Animal Crossing, you will know that that is a whole lot of object naming.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is coming to 3DS on June 9, and you can head here to see the latest trailer for the game.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Learn More About Overstrike 9 And Its Mission

Mike Futter — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:28:17 GMT

If you have been wondering why Insomniac Games' latest is called Fuse, the launch trailer has your answer. You'll also get a look at some of the weapons and the types of damage they'll inflict on your masked foes.

Fuse arrives on May 28, 2013, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The demo is available now on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Batman: Arkham Origins Teaser Trailer Pits Batman Against Deathstroke

Kyle Hilliard — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:52:00 GMT

The first teaser trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins showcases clips from a full trailer that will be premiering a little bit later this month. We get to see Batman take on the villain he recently shared the spotlight with on the cover of our Arkham Origins issue, Deathstroke.

The full trailer will premiere on May 20, and Batman: Arkham Origins is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U on October 25.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Be sure to click the banner below to see all of our exclusive coverage for Batman: Arkham Origins.

English Language Shin Megami Tensei IV Trailer Is All About Samurais

Kyle Hilliard — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:37:00 GMT

The latest trailer for the upcoming 3DS exclusive Shin Megami Tensei IV is in English, and gives you a good taste of what the voice acting will sound like.

The trailer also offers a hefty dose of gameplay, and reveals that the lead character is really excited about becoming a Samurai. Here's a direct quote from the trailer:

"Those who pass the rite and become Samurai must live in Mikado Castle. I will become a samurai. I'm definitely going to be a samurai."

Shin Megami Tensei IV is coming to the Nintendo 3DS on July 16 in North America. For more on the game you can check out the official website, which launched recently.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

[Via: Siliconera]

Dissecting Delsin: A Profile On Sucker Punch’s New Protagonist

Ben Reeves — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

After the events of Infamous 2, the series needs a new hero. Learn all about Second Son’s protagonist.

Earlier, we explained the events that took place between Infamous 2 and Infamous Second Son, but since Infamous 2 left the series without a main protagonist, developer Sucker Punch had to go back to the drawing board and create a new hero for the third entry in the series.

The studio came up with Delsin Rowe, a 24 year-old Native American male who is struggling to find his place in the world as he deals with his newfound superpowers. At the beginning of the game, Delsin doesn’t even know he has superpowers, but after saving a man from a wreck, Delsin discovers that he has absorbed the man’s smoke-based Conduit powers.

But who is Delsin, and what makes him tick? Before you spend an entire game with him, here are six meaty facts that will help you understand Second Son’s protagonist better.

Delsin’s power is the best power – During Second Son’s announcement trailer, Delsin was seen using all kinds of smoke powers, leading many to assume that his powers would be smoke- or fire-based. However, Delsin’s power is actually the ability to absorb other Conduits' powers. Sucker Punch wouldn’t elaborate any further on what other kinds of powers Delsin might absorb throughout his journey, but it stands to reason that Delsin will acquire a whole suite of new powers, which could range anywhere from ice-based blasts to electric attacks. Delsin’s power is like wishing for more wishes; it’s almost cheating.
He is full of reckless abandon – During development the team asked themselves, “What if Johnny Knoxville had powers? What would he do with it?” Delsin is not a skilled urban climber; his motions aren’t the fluid movements of a trained gymnast. This doesn't mean that Delsin won't be climbing all over the environment – he will – but he wasn't trained in that area. Delsin takes everything one step at a time. “He is completely getting off on his powers,” says animation director Billy Harper. “He says, ‘I don’t know how to jump off this cliff and I don’t know what will happen when I get there, but I’m just going to do it and see what happens when I get there.’”
He’s a street artist – Sucker Punch looked at street artists like Banksy for inspiration while creating Delsin. The studio loves that deftly drawn yet cheeky form of free expression that says something about society all while working in the middle of the night when no one is looking. That is the kind of guy Delsin aspires to be. Could this also mean that Delsin will spend part of the game tagging the walls of Seattle? Sucker Punch wouldn’t say, but it would make sense.
He wears a hat – Delsin’s beanie was based off a real hat worn by animation director Billy Harper. “We wanted Delsin to be a more artistically inspired type of guy,” says Harper. “We were all sitting around in a room and talking and realized that four out of six of us were wearing these hats.”
He is the representation of freedom – If the DUP represents security, and ultimately oppression, then Delsin represents freedom. A lot of people do things because they’re scared; Delsin is the opposite. He’s the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to make decisions or do what he wants. Delsin is unwilling to tow the party line, and always willing to speak his mind even if that means sticking his foot in his mouth.
You will influence him – “This is an Infamous game; you will make choices all along the way,” says game director Nate Fox. “That plays out in how people react to you and how the story ultimately concludes.” Sucker Punch didn’t go into any further detail about what those choices might be, or if Second Son’s choice system would reflect the morality systems from previous Infamous games, but the studio did assure us that the choices players make will give them a sense of ownership over who Delsin is.

Be sure to check out our cover hub for more details on Infamous Second Son.

New Trailer Shows Off Defensive Improvements

Mike Futter — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:28:58 GMT

Last year's introduction of Madden NFL's Infinity engine brought some much-needed improvements to the field. This year, the defensive side of the ball is getting a tune up to take advantage of the tech.

The new hit stick provides defensive players with more power, and added chance to cause a fumble if the ballcarrier is executing a special move. Players will also have access to something called Heat-Seeker Tackling, which acts as an assist without removing player control. Finally, player recovery from missed tackles and tweaks to dive tackles will come packed into Madden NFL 25.

You can see these new features in action in the trailer below. We've also recently previewed the game in advance of its August 27, 2013, release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The Ultimate College Football Team

Matthew Kato — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

EA Sports' Ultimate Team mode is finally coming to NCAA, and thankfully your deck won't be filled with QB #6 and HB #23, but with real-life football players.

In the Ultimate Team mode, you get a starter pack of player cards with which you play real games with in order to earn coins to buy more packs. By buying packs and competing in auctions to win specific player cards, you build up your roster with better and better players to compete against others online.

The NCAA franchise as a whole is unable to feature real college players (hence the anonymous player numbers that are used), but NCAA 14's Ultimate Team mode has found a way around this and features real-life football players. Using its existing NFLPA license, developer EA Tiburon is creating Ultimate Team cards for all active NFL players on their college teams – that's over 1,400 players at the game's launch. It's like the worlds biggest college all-star alumni game featuring everybody from current NFL players like Russell Wilson to former college greats not currently in the pros such as Andre Ware. There is also a multitude of guys in between – those whom you may recognize because they were your school's campus heroes even though they haven't made it big in the NFL.

Following the mode's card-collecting philosophy, there will be multiple versions of some players if they've transferred schools in their college career, played multiple positions, or different cards for a player's junior and senior seasons. Like the Ultimate Team mode in other games, NCAA 14 will also encourage collecting as many cards as you can with bonuses for getting all the cards in a particular collection set, such as all the Heisman Trophy winners, for example. EA says that it hopes to ultimately have over 2,500 player cards in the mode.

You can play games by either taking on solo, offline challenges (perhaps based on events such as a top game in the current season, a bowl game last year, etc.) as well as online via Head-to-Head Seasons. This mode, started by the FIFA soccer franchise, creates 10-game seasons and eight tiered divisions of play. You start out at the bottom division and work you way up via promotion while trying to avoid getting knocked down a division through relegation. NCAA 14 adds a four-round playoff structure that requires you to win at least five games in order to qualify (eight victories gets you a first round bye).

Unlike some of the other Ultimate Team modes in EA Sports titles, NCAA 14's version does not feature chemistry between players, coaches, mobile/browser support, or consumable cards related to stat increases. There will, however, be customary "contract" extensions that let you continue to use a card and unspecified player items (no mention of whether these are earned or will cost money) that can be used to help out your team. The coin cost for different levels of card packs and any info on EA Tickets (which can be bought with real money and put towards card packs) has not been revealed yet.

NCAA 14's version of Ultimate Team doesn't feature all the bells and whistles the mode has enjoyed in other EA Sports titles, but college football fans should find no problem getting excited about this addictive mode.

For more on NCAA 14, check out this preview on the game's gameplay and this one on its presentation.

Note: The original version of this preview mentioned 2,500+ players in the mode. EA Sports has since clarified that the mode will have over 1,400 players at launch, and that 2,500+ is the goal going forward. The text has been modified to reflect this distinction.

Maxwell Joins The DC Universe In Scribblenauts Unmasked

Tim Turi — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This week at a pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, 5th Cell and Warner Bros. announced the previously rumored, super-powered entry in the Scribblenauts series. Each entry in the series has allowed players to conjure up anything they can imagine, from zombie krakens to angry whales, to solve cute puzzles. Maxwell’s magic ability to summon up whatever he wants puts certain super heroes to shame. But Maxwell isn’t interested in shaming comic-book heroes with his prowess, he wants to help them, and in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, he will. The ambitious new game features more than 2,000 characters and objects from the DC Universe.

Maxwell loves Batman, but his sister Lily thinks Superman is the superior crime fighter. The siblings decide to use their magic abilities to settle the bet, but end up immersed in a time of chaos in the DC universe. Scribblenauts Unmasked tasks the duo with helping the denizens of Gotham City, Metropolis, the Green Lanterns’ Planetary Citadel, and more. 5th Cell has developed a flexible puzzle system that takes certain basic situations, like someone trapped in a flaming vehicle, and will swap out the location and folks involved to add variety. In one instance, at the Green Lantern Corps’ base, there was a cop trapped in a flaming ice cream truck that needed rescuing.

Speaking of variety, Scribblenauts Unmasked has it in spades. As mentioned earlier, the game boasts more than 2,000 DC characters and objects. 5th Cell showed off a screen filled with dozens of iconic characters, each rendered in the developer’s adorable, cartoony style. The game includes your favorites like Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Batman. It also contains many obscure characters, including 32 other versions of Batman. The 5th Cell team member at the controls had fun with the mass gathering of DC denizens by tossing a zombified character in the mix, resulting in a real-time Marvel Zombies’-like outbreak. He also conjured up the villain War, whose mere presence caused the throngs of characters to begin battling. 5th Cell says if a there’s a DC character who was only featured in one panel of one comic and never shown again, they’re in the game. There are 130 different Green Lanterns, including Mogo – a planet that wields a power ring.

Scribblenauts Unmasked also includes a character editor and comprehensive DC database. The editor allows you to combine the looks and abilities of your favorite heroes and villains into one villain. 5th Cell’s Super Cool Man had a mohawk, stylish shades, Aqua Man’s arms, Superman’s torso, the Flash’s mask, and a variety of super powers. If you need to do some research to figure out what kind of character you want to create, or if you’re just interested in learning more about the DC universe, the Batcomputer is your friend. This Wikipedia-style resource contains detailed information on every character and object in the game.

The premise for the Scribblenauts franchise is a seemingly limitless one, but I found myself growing bored with the games’ puzzles and environments. For example, Scribblenauts Unlimited’s first level takes place on a farm. Not that there’s anything wrong with farms, but the prospect of helping Maxwell perform heroic feats on the streets of Gotham City is far more enticing. 5th Cell says the game will be hands-on during E3 in a few weeks, so look forward to more impressions then.

(Please visit the site to view this media)