"A memorable title and a certifiable game of the year contender

During July of 2001, Remedy Entertainment introduced the world to a groundbreaking third-person shooter with a sophisticated slow motion gunplay mechanic, mature narrative, and graphic novel stylized presentation. Max Payne ignited the PC gaming culture by breaking the rules of conventional gameplay all while paying homage to the classic action hero movie genre.

Once development on Max Payne 2 concluded, Remedy stepped aside to focus on Alan Wake and handed over full creative control of the franchise to the talented team at Rockstar Games. After countless delays, the end result is a phenomenal shooter with an unrivaled cinematic presentation that maintains consistency from beginning to end. Here are a few more reasons why this game is an absolute must buy.

Back in April, I wrote a detailed hands-on article that dove into my experiences having played the demo at PAX East. Needless to say, after playing through the final product I walked away impressed with all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into crafting this masterpiece.

Right from the start of the opening sequence, you’re able to identify an older Max as he deals with all the trials and tribulations of the modern world. Rockstar deserves accolades for putting a unique spin on the series without sacrificing the core elements of gameplay that made the first game a classic.

At the heart of this dark and gritty storyline lies a deeper character study into Max’s ever evolving state of mind. Still visibility broken from the death of his wife and infant daughter, he continues to remain an outsider and seeks refuge through severe bouts of violence and alcoholism.

After taking on a high profile security job and getting caught up in a dangerous scandal, Max sets out to uncover the truth and recapture the broken parts of his life. This effective use of redemption sets apart all the previous entries in the series because it gives a much more humanistic quality to our hero.

From a presentation standpoint, this game easily surpasses some of the best action movie blockbusters Hollywood has to offer. The only real drawback is that you can’t simply skip over any cutscenes while playing.

The idea of using cinematic sequences to bleed into gameplay is absolutely nothing short of brilliant, and both the screen and typography effects compliment Max’s shifty personality as well. The game’s soundtrack is very reminiscent of Michael Mann’s HEAT and carries just the right amount of precision to fit perfectly within the universe.

"The use of cinematic sequences to bleed into gameplay is absolutely nothing short of brilliant

The campaign clocks in at about 10-12 hours depending on the difficulty setting that you’re comfortable using. There are several unlockables to gain while playing through the story including collectible golden gun types, and level specific grind objectives and clues.

If you don’t feel like replaying the game in its entirety, then you have the option of only playing individual chapters. I would recommend trying out the arcade feature titled New York Minute. This mode gives you 60 seconds to complete a chapter and compete against others for the fastest time finished. The simple and intuitive leaderboard stats are more then enough to persuade competitive gamers to get the most out of this mode.

When it comes to multiplayer, Max Payne 3 offers a stacked set of options that are guaranteed to keep you busy for several hours on end. Gang wars and Payne killer accompany standard modes like single and 16 player team deathmatches. The story structure behind gang wars works by assigning five acts to a matchup and providing commentary to recap the events before and after each act.

Alternatively, Payne killer allows you to play as either Max Payne or Raul Passos after you’ve killed either of the two. The best way to describe it would be to call it a modified version of tag. Overall, the creation of both these modes are impressive feats and set the standard for a highly addictive multiplayer experience.

Max Payne 3 is a top-notch third-person shooter that faithfully revives the Max Payne universe and paves the way for future installments. By focusing on key dynamics like smart storytelling and rich gameplay, Rockstar games has crafted a memorable title and a certifiable game of the year contender. If you’re a fan of action flicks and shooters then do yourself a favor and pick this up ASAP.

Harley Quinn’s Revenge will consist of a 2 hour campaign in which fans will play as both Batman and Robin as they try to stop Harley from completing her master plan.

Batman: Arkham City GOTY Edition will hit stores on May 29th. If you already own the original Arkham City game, you can purchase Harley Quinn’s Revenge through Xbox Live or PSN on the same day for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft points.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier launches on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on May 22nd in North America and May 25th in Europe. The PC version will debut in June.

Are any of you guys planning on picking up this game? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.

“We’re doing things that are completely new to Tomb Raider in this game and the additional development time will allow us to put the finishing touches into the game and polish it to a level that you deserve.”

“Our priority now is to make sure we fully deliver the very highest quality game. In order to do this, we have decided to move the game’s release date by a few months.”

Prior to this late-breaking news, I was invited to a media only play session of the upcoming game during E3 2012. Make sure you come back to our website next month to read my detailed impressions on this game and many others.

OFFICIAL TOMB RAIDER BLOG

In addition to breaking this news, they also revealed a new spinoff game called Sniper Challenge. This standalone title will act as an incentive for fans who preorder Hitman Absolution. Below is a brief statement from the company on the new game:

Hitman: Sniper Challenge takes place on a rooftop level set in Chicago, with Agent 47 planning to assassinate a target from an adjacent building armed with a sniper rifle. The mark arms boss arrives via helicopter at a rooftop party at which he’ll be present for 15 minutes; during this window of opportunity, players must take out both Strong and as many of his security team as possible.

Leaderboards will track the scores of a player’s friends list as well as at a national and worldwide level to introduce a competitive edge, while score multipliers for headshots and completing various challenges will bump on the base score.

The trailer above highlights the spinoff title in all its glory. Will any of you guys be picking up Hitman Absolution this fall? Feel free to let  us know in the comments section below.

I’ll be sure to write up a detailed hands-on impressions piece of this game after I try it out at E3. Until then, feel free to check out the cool boxart for the game below.

Assassin’s Creed III releases on October 30th for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, PC and Mac. Please feel free to take a look at the video above and leave your comments below.

Max Payne 3 releases on May 15th (in North America) and May 18th (in Europe) for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The PC version will hit retail on May 29th (in North America) and June 1st(in Europe).

In case you still aren’t sold on the game, make sure you come back here next week to check out our full review of the title.

Sorcery launches on May 22nd in North America and on May 23rd in Europe. Feel free to check out the video above and leave your comments below.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier launches on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on May 22nd in North America and May 25th in Europe. The PC version will debut in June. Feel free to check out the video above and leave your comments below.

When we announced the release date of BioShock Infinite in March, we felt pretty good about the timing.

 Since then, we’ve come to realize that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Therefore, to give our talented team the time they need, we’ve decided to move the game’s release to February 26, 2013. We wanted to let our loyal (and very patient!) fans know this as soon as possible.

We are also going to hold off on showing BioShock Infinite at the big events of the summer, like E3 and Gamescom. That way, the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box. Preparing for these events takes time away from development, time we’re going to use instead to get the best version of Infinite into your hands in February.

On top of this news, there have been strong rumors swirling for days now that Irrational is working on a version of Bioshock for the Playstation Vita with a September launch date already planned out. If indeed these rumors are true then we will know more about it all soon enough. What do you guys think about the delay overall though? Please feel free to leave your comments below.

FULL STATEMENT FROM KEN LEVINE

Minecraft 360 debuts on XBLA on Wednesday, May 9th for a whopping 1600 Microsoft Points. Feel free to check out the video above and leave your comments below.

Now with the release of the highly anticipated sequel, the developers are aiming to build upon their previous accomplishments. Prototype 2 is a fun, but repetitive title that offers only a few changes to a proven formula. Here are a few more points to help you determine if this game is worth picking up.

"the narrative is average at best and remains secondary to the core gameplay that the title provides

The storyline for Prototype 2 takes place roughly 14 months after the events of the first game. The Blacklight virus epidemic has spread all over NYC, effectively making it a disease-infected warzone. The player takes on the role of Sergeant James Heller, an embattled army veteran who returns home to find that the outbreak has claimed the lives of both his wife and daughter.

Being familiar with the destructive persona of Mercer, he quickly establishes Alex as the prime suspect and aims to take him down. Unfortunately for Heller, his reckless thirst for revenge gets the better of him and he ends up being infected by Mercer after an impromptu confrontation.

The plot further expands when Heller is convinced by Mercer to hunt down several individuals to obtain classified information on the outbreak. He eventually learns more secrets then he bargained for and ultimately ends up in a violent rematch with Mercer. Overall, the narrative is average at best and remains secondary to the core gameplay that the title provides.

While roaming throughout the city, you have the ability to attack and consume virtually everyone from blackwatch officers to regular townspeople. You can freely fly and leap across rooftops and run up building walls.

When it comes to seeking out your prey, it’s recommended that you climb to the tallest building and send out signal waves to determine where your enemy is located. In addition to all this, you can also use your superhuman strength to lift heavy objects like cars and throw them at your adversaries.

Stealing a page out of GTA’s book, there is a smart alert system that monitors the carnage you cause and notifies military personnel whenever you draw too much attention to yourself. Whenever these situations begin to intensify, you can easily run away from the scene and transform into the last person that you consumed.

As you begin to progress through the game, you’ll unlock up to 5 types of mutations that turn your arms into certified killing machines. From here on out, any and every battle that you participate in becomes increasingly easier and you feel a deeper sense of superiority among every being. The campaign clocks in at about 14 hours and has various side missions that you can participate in to level up your skills further. There is no multiplayer option and unfortunately no real incentive to replay the game after completing it.

While Prototype 2 is generally a fun game to play, there are a few annoyances that prevent it from being top notch. For starters, the hunting mechanic in relation to the map system lacks accuracy when finding targets.

To get the absolute most out of this skill requires that you pay complete attention to how signals bounce off the surrounding buildings. The end result will have you searching both high and low for targets, at which point you may actually lose interest in trying to reach your goal.

Another problem with the game lies in the repeating process by which each mission is designed. You’ll receive a lead and after successfully consuming the enemy and revealing their memories the cycle continues over and over again.

What’s equally bothersome is that there aren’t any life-altering decisions or morality choices that you get to make in regards to how you interact with the environment or the people. Instead, this game is strictly about gaining the power of a god and destroying your entire surroundings at your leisure.

In closing, Prototype 2 is a unique open world experience that makes anarchy the centerpiece of gameplay. If you’re looking for a game that’s low on story and high on action, then this game is just for you.

Sorcery launches on May 22nd in North America and on May 23rd in Europe. Feel free to check out the video above and leave your comments below.

Max Payne 3 releases on May 15th (in North America) and May 18th (in Europe) for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The PC version will hit retail on May 29th (in North America) and June 1st(in Europe). Feel free to check out the video and leave your comments below.

In the case of a rising studio like CD Projekt Red, their end goal was to create games that offer the best of both worlds. The Witcher 2 is not only a successful pairing of both concepts, but it’s also a phenomenal title and a certified must have for every diehard RPG fan. Here are a few reasons why this game is worth both your time and your money.

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings could best be described as an epic action RPG title set in a mature fantasy-filled world where issues of political unrest, war, and death take center stage.

The player assumes the role of Geralt of Rivia, a skilled witcher who uses alchemy, magic, and sword fighting to defend himself against both creatures and humans alike. After being framed for the murder of King Foltest, Geralt embarks on a journey to track down the killer and effectively clear his name.

While the story may sound too generic for some, the overall plot contains several key areas throughout where choice matters and ultimately shapes your surroundings. While some of the dialogue options aren’t as detailed or varied as the ones showcased in previous Mass Effect games, the decisions still have a unique feel to them and are therefore more meaningful and believable within the context of the story.

"a certified must have for every diehard RPG fan

In addition to having an engaging narrative, the game has a vast array of memorable characters to interact with. CD Projekt RED does a great job at crafting a world where people’s behaviors and motives coincide perfectly with the harshness of reality.

While Geralt’s personality remains one of a puzzled war-torn warrior, through uncovering the truth to his past you gain a deeper sense of all the dynamics that make him such a pivotal part of the experience. Likewise, players who aren’t familiar with any of the previous Witcher novels will be caught up to speed fairly quickly on current events and may find themselves addictively drawn to the complete game as a whole.

The Enhanced Edition of this game is not only tweaked to perform well on the Xbox 360 console, but it also adds a wealth of new content in the form of additional quests, cutscenes, characters, and environments. While these sentiments are great overall, some areas of the execution appear slightly stronger than others.

Graphically, this version of the game is a masterful recreation of the original but occasionally falls short from texture pop-ins and random gameplay glitches. These problems are specific to the Xbox 360 and appear less bothersome on the PC version. Still, the creative team should be applauded for taking the time to go above and beyond the idea of making a port and instead giving the game a whole new perspective.

When it comes to gameplay and controls, the developers did a phenomenal job on converting over key features. Combat animations are as smooth and responsive as the game’s PC counterpart. A new camera system has been added to aid the player in targeting their enemies with more precision and accuracy then ever before. Also, brief fistfights appear as short mini-games where you rely on button prompts to complete the task at hand.

As you engage in more rigorous battles throughout the game, your character is given the ability to level up and unlock new powers. For the most part, this process is pretty straightforward and provides enough information to get you started. When it comes to creating potions however, you’ll be required to put in some extra time familiarizing yourself with various ingredient lists.

One of the dangers of the game is that you’re able to collect various types of items and monitor your inventory space closely. While there is a set weight limit to the amount of items you can physically carry, it would at least have been convenient if the creators found a better way to emphasize the items most essential to your survival. You always have the option to sell your goods for currency but it’s hard to determine whether or not you needed something until long after it’s gone.

After navigating through a lengthy campaign, players can participate in the Arena mode option. This is similar to Gears Of War’s Horde mode in the sense that you’re battling through waves of enemies within the confines of a crowded arena. In an interesting twist, Geralt can encounter both foes and allies in these battles.

The main objective of this mode is to win gold and gain points with each victory. The point totals can then be posted online so that you can compare and contrast your score with other players. Overall, the mode is fun and offers a small bonus to an already superb game.

The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition is a wickedly good RPG that delivers a compelling story and deeply intuitive combat system. The use of adult themes such as sex and violence further reinforce the theory that this is very much an adult world full of consequences and repercussions. While minor flaws may exist on the Xbox 360 version, never once does this take away from the excitement you’ll get from the core gameplay experience. If you’re a fan of these types of games, do yourself a favor and pick this up ASAP.

Episode 1 will cost you 400 Microsoft points and has a file size of 413.04 MB. It’s worth noting that unlike the other platforms, there is no season pass option on Xbox Live.

Feel free to check out the new Choice Matters trailer above to gain a deeper sense of how all these episodes will branch together.

OFFICIAL GAME WEBSITE

Starting this week, EA Sports decided to add more downloadable content to FIFA 12. UEFA Euro 2012 is an online expansion pack that allows diehard fans to fully immerse themselves in all the excitement and drama of this summer’s tournament.

The pack carries a steep price tag of 1800 Microsoft points ($25.99 on PSN and PC) and a hefty file size of 656.23 MB. Here is a deeper overview of what all is included in this DLC.

After selecting the new UEFA Euro tab on the FIFA 12 main menu screen, you’re brought to a separate mode with new features specific to the event itself.  The main options include Kick-Off, Expedition, UEFA Euro 2012, and Challenges.

Kick-Off serves as the main mode to participate in quick exhibition matches, while UEFA Euro 2012 uses the format of the tournament and allows you to switch out teams and matchups to your hearts content. These same contests can also be played online should you decided to compete with others. The entire add-on includes a total of over 50 European teams and 8 licensed stadiums to play in. Rosters are updated frequently to reflect each team accordingly.

Lastly, the challenges mode allows you to replay key tournament moments and matchups as they happen in real-time. The inclusion of this feature is one that all sports games have embraced and I would love to see this happen in more titles moving forward.

The main attraction of this DLC comes in the robust and lengthy Expedition mode. Modeled exclusively after FIFA Street’s World Tour mode, Expedition allows you to build up a team and compete in several knockout matchups spanning across the globe.

You start by picking your favorite athlete to lead the team and receive randomly generated players throughout the tour. There are a couple customization tools that allow you to create team logos and brand your union. You also have the ability to adjust settings whether it be through difficulty or controls.

On the surface, UEFA Euro stands as a subtle presentation change on top of the same core gameplay mechanics of FIFA 12. Chances are if you were annoyed by some of the game’s flaws in the past, then you’ll notice that virtually nothing has changed.

Another aspect about this DLC that remains questionable is the outrageous price tag that’s attached to it. Unless you’re a hardcore FIFA fan, it’s hard to justify buying this pack when you know that FIFA 13 is only a couple months away from release.

My suggestion to EA Sports moving forward would be to try and give buyers of DLC like this an incentive by perhaps giving them either an in game bonus or a discounted price on FIFA 13. Still, if you enjoy FIFA and absolutely want to check out all this DLC has to offer then you owe it to yourself to pick it up now.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out our PAX Hands on impressions still, feel free to check them out HERE. We may be doing a special giveaway during the week of the game’s release. Stay tuned to our website for more details.

In case you haven’t been following this DLC release, feel free to check out the video above and the details below.

SSX Mt. Eddie and Classic Characters DLC will be released on both Xbox Live and PSN on Tuesday, May 1st.

DLC Content and Pricing Summary:

 The latest details of the DLC packs can be found here:

http://www.ea.com/ssx/blog/ssx-music-dlc-announcement

Mt. Eddie Pack:

Mt. Eddie – an over the top, TRICKY inspired, ultra-long track (9 drops)

Retro music tracks including two from previous SSX games – “Top Bomb”, “Gin and Sin” and “Darkpath”

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Classic Characters Pack:

SSX classic cast featuring 7 characters – Elise, Eddie, Kaori, Mac, Moby, Psymon, Zoe.

Each character comes with an assortment of outfit colourways

7 unique snowboards – one for each of the characters in the pack

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Mt. Eddie & Classic Characters Pack:

Everything in the Mt. Eddie Pack

Everything in the SSX Classic Characters Pack

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Pricing:

SSX Mt. Eddie & Classic Characters Bundle Pack – $7.99

SSX Classic Characters Pack – $5.99

SSX Mt. Eddie Pack – $5.99

If you haven’t checked out our hands-on preview of the game click HERE.

Spec Ops: The Line releases on June 26th (in North America) and June 29th (in Europe) for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

From Friday, April 20 at 12:01 p.m. PDT (noon), until Monday, April 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT you’ll be able to log in, team up with friends, and play each of the five heroic classes to level 13 as you fight to save the world from the impending demonic invasion.

The only requirement to playing the open beta is to have a valid Battle.net account which you can access from HERE 

Below you’ll find two character class videos featuring the monks and barbarians.

Diablo III launches on both the PC and Mac on May 15, 2012.

For more information on the beta click HERE