If you aren’t sold on Borderlands 2 yet then watch the trailer below.

Developer: Naughty Dog

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Platform: PlayStation 3

Release Date: TBA, Late 2012

Coming off the smash success that was Uncharted 3, Naughty Dog has nothing left to prove as a developer. Creating three of the most celebrated and respected franchises in PlayStation history, let alone gaming in general with Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and Uncharted on the PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 , respectively. In this upcoming game, The Last of Us, the player will be thrust into a post-apocalyptic society after a deadly disease decimates the world. The virus (which infects the host and causes them to burst with a parasite) jumped from insects to humans, and is causing mass unrest and has led to quarantines everywhere. The game looks to employ a third-person camera and will involve lots of gritty and realistic melee, as well as gun-based combat.

However, rather than being a run-and-gun focused cover-based shooter like Uncharted, the developers hope this game instills a lot more realism. For example, if you point a loaded gun at an unarmed enemy, they will flip out and hide. Enemies will call out to each other, they will adapt, and they will react to the environment. Another big difference between this and Uncharted: a single bullet can kill. Instead of unloading entire clips into a single enemy, expect to cherish each and every bullet you can scavenge. The developers have a lot of hype to live up to, given their pedigree, and consider me excited. The biggest concern for me though, is whether or not they can make the AI for your companion (Ellie) actually competent. This will probably be the make-or-break factor, and I hope they don’t overlook this. Check out the two videos below for the trailer, and Game Informer’s exclusive behind the scenes video! Finally, let us know what you think in the comments below!

Official Website

There’s not long to wait before this game finally hits the shelves, if you haven’t already then be sure to pick up the demo.

Mass Effect 3 releases on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 6 in the US, March 8 in Australia and March 9 in Europe.

If you own a PS3 and have an internet connection then you own it to yourself to download Super Stardust HD. Released exclusively on the PSN in 2007, Super Stardust HD was a phenomenal twin stick shooter which featured stunning visuals, great audio effects and timeless gameplay that still holds up five years later.

Now that Sony are ready to release the Playstation Vita, which boasts a pair of gorgeous analog sticks, it’s only natural that a new Stardust game would be available in time for the systems launch.

Like most great games, Super Stardust Delta is incredibly simple to learn but difficult to master. From an aerial view you pilot a ship around the surface of small spherical planets, ridding it of falling asteroids and destructive enemies. If you’ve already played the PS3 version or other twin stick shooters such as Geometry Wars you’ll know what to expect but newcomers will have a blast trying to stay alive on these derelict yet deadly planets.

Each planet is divided is up in to five increasingly difficult phases, the last of which contains a boss who will undoubtedly put your skills to the test. Thankfully you have two different weapons (fire and ice), bombs and the ability to boost, all of which makes your job a fair bit easier. Additionally you can collect power ups and additional points which litter the environment.

Graphically Super Stardust Delta looks extraordinary! The sheer amount of explosions, colour pops and enemies that are on-screen at any given time is impressive and the Vita manages to process all of the action without any hiccups. The game’s upbeat, futuristic soundtrack is also sublime especially with the Blast Pack DLC installed (more on that later).

If you opt to play the game’s new Delta mode you’ll be given two new devastating abilities which, in my opinion, makes this Vita release the definitive Stardust game. Tapping the screen deploys a barrage of homing missiles which ruthlessly attacks everything on-screen while tapping the rear touch opens up a black hole which sucks all nearby enemies in to oblivion. Conquering each planet grants you access to a set of mini-games which utilize the Vita’s unique abilities and are great to play in short bursts.

There’s no story in Stardust Delta, your main goal is to rack up the highest score possible before daring your friends to challenge your leaderboard position. Therefore having other Delta players on your PSN friendlist is essential if you wish to receive the full Stardust experience. It’s also worth noting that Super Stardust Delta can be purchased either as a standalone game or as part of an “Interstellar Bundle” which also contains the Blast Pack DLC. I’d strongly advise players to go for the Interstellar bundle which is slightly more expensive but contains four new game modes and three additional soundtrack options.

Regardless of which version you opt for, Super Stardust Delta is a phenomenal shooter which absolutely all Vita owner should download. This is one of those games that you’ll still be playing several years from now and possibly right up until the end of the Vita’s life cycle. If you can only afford one Vita game at launch, make it this one!

Ever since 2004, the critically acclaimed Far Cry series has achieved modest success by creating memorable first-person shooter experiences within unique open world environments. Pulling off such a feat allowed them to gain several fans while also earning the respect of their rivals. With the release of Far Cry 3, Ubisoft Montreal intends to elevate the franchise to new heights in terms of gameplay enhancements in both combat and upgrades. The setting takes place throughout several remote tropical islands, giving the player the task of escaping each area by defending against enemies.

Far Cry 3 will hit retail stores on September 7th in the US, and September 9th in Europe.

Media

Official Website

The fifth installment in the popular Hitman series is expected to wrap up development soon and excite fans with a retail release shortly thereafter. While details still remain scarce on the title, IO Interactive did get around to releasing a gameplay video titled ” Run for your life”. This video below provides a detailed director commentary walkthrough that gives gamers an idea of what to expect. In addition to boasting stunning visuals and improved AI, Hitman: Absolution is also expected to introduce a new villan to the series. If you’re a fan of stealth games like Splinter Cell, do yourself a favor and keep this game on your radar.

Media

Official Website

Escape Plan is a perfect example of the games that the Vita needs if it wishes to compete with the iPhone. Sure it costs $15 and not a buck but Fun Bits’ greyscaled puzzler is fantastic in short bursts and just might replace the likes of Tiny Wings as your go-to train game.

In Escape Plan it’s your job to guide a duo ink-filled creatures (Lil’ and Laarg) through a series of hazardous rooms and ultimately help them escape the clutches of their evil capturer. The game is controlled entirely with the Vita’s touch screen, rear touch panel and sixaxis sensors with the analog sticks merely being used to control the camera.

The most striking thing about Escape Plan is the game’s gorgeous black & white visuals and silent film aesthetics. Fun Bits have created a visual masterpiece and the classical score in conjunction with theatrical sound effects truly compliment the visuals.

As mentioned earlier, the game primarily uses touch and motion controls. You can direct Lil’ or Laarg by swiping the screen, command them to interact with objects by tapping on them, push and pull objects using the rear touch panel/touch screen respectively and much, much more. The game then rewards you with up to three stars at the end of each level based on your completion speed and the amount of gestures you’ve used (the less the better).

Some levels only involve a single character while others have you trying to rescue both simultaneously. As well as being shaped differently, both Lil’ and Laarg have their own unique abilities. Lil’ can drink from coffee machines for a speed boost or siphon gas from pipes for some sixaxis floating. Meanwhile large can crash and butt stomp through boarded up doors and patched up holes in the ground.

Figuring out how to escape each room and realizing solutions for some of the game’s more difficult puzzles will fill you with a great sense of accomplishment. Escape Plan can get very tricky at times and conquering all 78 levels will take roughly half a dozen hours. Trying to earn three stars in each level or some of the more difficult trophies will lengthen your play time significantly but that’s mainly due to the game’s less than stellar controls.

Sometimes getting the characters or interactive objects to perform how you’d like them to is more difficult than the puzzles puzzles themselves. Having to swipe the duo two or three times before they respond is deeply frustrating especially since the game penalizes you for every gesture you make. I also found it difficult to use the Vita’s rear touch panel with the level of precision that the game requires simply because its hard to tell where your fingers are in relation to the screen. Settling for one or two stars when you know in your heart that you could have done better if the controls were tighter is very discouraging and eventually made me stop caring about stars altogether.

With  improved controls Escape Plan could have been a “must own” Vita title. The quirky characters who proudly display their death toll on their chests animate beautifully and the entire game is oozing with charm and originality. Had this been a full retail release I would have told you to wait for a price drop but as a $15 downloadable title all Vita owners should consider adding this game to their PSN cart.

We all know that the most important part of a Call of Duty game is the multiplayer, so depending on how the Vita counterpart for Call of Duty handles the multiplayer will determine whether it’s a game changer for real.

Hit us up and let us know how you feel about a handheld Call of Duty, does it have the potential to make Vita a success?

Thus developers keep the convention of providing as much control of events in the video game as possible. Although developers may add some diversity to the mechanics of the video game, the formula between each video game of a specific genre is rarely changed. In first-person shooters, weapons are typically used to attack enemies obstructing your path to the goal. In role-playing games as the name implies, you play a role in a setting where you must become stronger to face an impending evil. In real-time strategy, your decisions and planning determine victory within a scenario. These typical mechanics are familiar to gamers and are what to be expected when games of specific genres are released.

Dear Esther however, may have perhaps challenged what constitutes a video game altogether. Many will even question if it is a video game at all. It relinquishes all that is known about the traditions of gaming and instead provides a completely new concept where it’s more about what is being expressed to the gamer through narration and visuals rather than how the player is able to interact within the confines of the gamespace.

There is no running, no shooting, no levelling up and barely any interaction with the gamespace. However there still is a heavy level of interaction as long as you disembarrass yourself of what you consider to be a true video game. Dear Esther is indeed a computer game, but not in the traditional sense. There is very little to do in the game, yet the interaction comes from what Dear Esther conveys to you. It wants you to move slowly; to observe; to listen; to ponder and to feel everything that Dear Esther is showing to you. It’s a story; it’s a reclusive journey and it’s a deep, emotional communicative experience.

Dear Esther is set on an desolate island, where you have been shipwrecked and must explore the island by walking across the hills and venturing through the caves. As you take your first steps, the voice of the protagonist is heard who also takes up the role of the narrator. He quotes from excerpts from a letter addressed to a person named Esther, telling stories of past memories filled with mystery and tragedy. You are more of an observer to the protagonist rather than his controller. You are guiding him, as well as yourself though a set path of absolution where it’s rather unclear what he wants to do. His movement is very slow, which resembles a trance-like state as if the protagonist as well as the player knows what path must be taken and is unable to deviate from the course. The path winds uphill, across the boundary of the island, across the beach, and through the caves. There are details along the way which tells of the island’s obscure past.

Certain landmarks and extracts from the narrator tell of tales of what occurred on the island before it became a desolate land, yet very little is known overall of the island’s current state. It’s a very lonely journey through a sombre yet tranquil and beautiful environment and the whole experience feels like a surreal dream which is slowly pushing you to awaken once you reach the ultimate goal.

As progression is slow whilst venturing through the island, you are able to take time and enjoy the island’s scenic beauty. The island’s surface is ripe with long grass and flowers swaying in the soft wind. Its huge cliffs glow in the sun and shimmer in the moonlight and the English Atlantic beats softly against the sandy beaches. The caves portray true, luminescent splendour with surreal, bioluminescent rock formations sprawling beautiful colours across the cavern walls. The rocks themselves are bizarrely shapen yet hold perfect form and decorate the cave splendidly with their bioluminescence as well as their shape.

Crystal clear water flows gently through the caves only to have their flow hasted as stunning waterfalls. There is strange effigy amongst the cavern walls which can also be found on the island’s cliffside, although it is rather unclear what it’s saying. Everything visually in Dear Esther is a marvel to behold and the slow pacing allows you to appreciate the serenity and artistry of the island even more. The sound of Dear Esthar is simply masterful with a haunting yet serene soundtrack guiding you through this mysterious and lonesome journey. The rustling of plants, the soft sound of the wind, the narrator, the running waters of the caves and the gentle push of the waves against the shores coupled work harmoniously with the glorious visuals to convey a powerful message to the player who is taking on this journey together with the protagonist.

Dear Esther is not a long game at all, as it takes between 1-2 hours to finish. However as the end is utterly final, that is all the time the game needs convey such a powerful and emotive tale through the heartbreaking letter fragments addressed to Esther and the solitary beauty of the island. So much has already been said within a short time scale and its longevity will result from you questioning the emotional ending as the protagonist has been lead to his ultimate fate.

Dear Esther is perhaps the most moving; most mesmerising and most thought-provoking interactive experience that anyone will ever play. It’s an absolute masterpiece of storytelling and poetic expression through a medium rarely explored for this kind of undertaking. It also successfully challenges all the conventions that are found within the gaming spectrum. Dear Esther also shows that video game developers are able to take entirely new directions with their titles and experiment with methods outside customary boundaries. Dear Esther will show you what can be achieved when convenional mechanics are put aside to convey a unique, dejected, graceful, tragic and beautifully presented experience that will no doubt have a long-lasting effect on your views on what you believe constitutes a true video game, as well as present you with an truly unique way of telling you a heartbreakingly wonderful story.

Flash forward four years and we now have SoulCalibur V which on paper seems impossible to screw up. Simply take SC IV’s great fighting mechanics, throw in a unique mode or two, spruce up the visual and call it a day. Instead, what were given is another SoulCalibur IV but with a terrible story mode, enhanced super moves and Ezio from Assassin Creed.

If you’re unfamiliar with the series, SoulCalibur V is a weapon-based, 3D fighter that features an ensemble cast of warriors, swordsmen and scantily clad females. The core fighting mechanics have remained the same for the past 15 years. Players can perform horizontal slashes, vertical strikes, kicks, throws or string together basic yet effective combos. Mastering the art of blocking and side-stepping is essential if you wish to take on higher difficulty levels or climb the ranks online but for general play SC V is extremely accessible, even for casual gamers.

The biggest change made to the combat system is the inclusion of Critical Edge super moves. These function exactly like Ultra moves found in the Street Fighter series, allowing you to deliver a destructive blow/combo once you’ve filled up your Critical Gauge. It’s not an original idea but these moves do a lot to enhance gameplay and add an extra layer of excitement to each bout.

The true meat and potatoes of SoulCalbur V is its story mode which was outsourced to CyberConnect2, the developer behind Asura’s Wrath. The SoulCalibur series has a rich mythology and a great cast of characters but you wouldn’t know any of that based on this lacklustre mode. The story follows new characters Patroklos and Pyrrha, who are the teenage children of series veteran Sophitia. I could elaborate further about the “Malfested” and Patroklos’ quest to save his sister’s soul but you’d probably stop reading before I even finish. Needless to say, the story is incredibly boring and probably won’t hold your attention long enough for you to see it through. I managed to breeze my way through 90% of the story while half asleep before hitting a brick wall as the difficultly inexplicably ramped up.

On a more positive note, the character creator has been expanded immensely, allowing you to create your own fighters or make minor changes to existing ones. The robust creation tools which lets you tweak the most minuet details and the wealth of available assets opens the door to some truly elaborate (and/or copyright infringing) designs. Unfortunately your created beings will have to adopt a move set from another fighter in the game, so even though they may look unique they certainly won’t feel it.

"The robust online offering will keep hardcore players happy!

As far as characters go, SoulCalibur V retains a majority of the usual suspects and throws eight new fighters in to the mix. New characters include the previously mentioned “Patroklos” and “Pyrrha”, Warewolf guy “Z.W.E.I.” and his friend “Viola”, “Elysium” who is the living incarnation of the Soul Calibur sword, Xianghua’s daughter “Chai Leixia”, Kilik clone “Xiba”, “Ezio” from Assassins Creed II and my personal favourite “Natsu” who is a younger, hotter Taki.

The Soulcalibur games have always done a great job including miscellaneous modes which act as a divergence from the main game. Unfortunately SC V is extremely lacking in this department and the story mode is a poor substitute. Arcade Mode, Quick Battle, Training, VS and Legendary Souls Mode are your only other options, the latter of which is a super hard mode that constantly reminds me how much I suck! Thankfully the robust online offering will keep hardcore players happy and the in-game social hub is a neat idea that will hopefully gain traction.

While it’s not exactly the return to form that we were hoping for, SoulCalibur V is still a fantastic fighting game that both fans and newcomers will enjoy. Most players will probably abandon the single player modes after a day or two but playing with a friend or challenging other players online will almost always result in fun. I’m not sure what Project Soul has spent the last 4 years doing because this feels like a game that could have been released in 2009. I just hope when they inevitably release SoulCalibur VI we’ll see the return of Mission Mode (or a modern equivalent) and CyberConnect2 won’t be involved.

On paper it sounds like a generic Hollywood action thriller script, but Rockstar never seems to disappoint no matter how simple the plot my be.

Let us know what you think.

Thisis50

Also look out for more DLC in the future which will include a scantily clad costume for Serah, and a Mass Effect space suit for Noel (Just kidding about the latter). Screenshots of the Sazh DLC are below.

Now let’s just hope the damn thing sells!

Level 1

-2 example news articles

-Explain why you think you’re a good fit

Level 2

-Pre interview questions

-Phone/Skype interview

Level 3

-Start your journey!

Email cdaniel@thekoalition.com to begin. Good Luck!

The whole early access thing is tied to you redeeming your Battlefield 3 online pass or buying Battlefield 3 from Origin on PC. If you bought the game used and never bothered to get an online pass, you will have to wait until Friday to experience Bioware’s first attempt at making a multi-player game mode set in the Mass Effect universe. Anyway enough of this jibba jabba. Hit the play button and enjoy the video.

p.s Switch to 1080p for the best possible picture quality.

Reality Fighters is a fighting game that does a great job showing off the Vita’s augmented reality features. The game allows you to transform your surrounding area in to a fighting arena simply by pointing the Vita’s camera at it. Seeing digital characters duke it out atop your kitchen table or across your living room floor is sure to put a smile on your face especially if you’ve yet to play games like Photo Dojo for the Nintendo DSi. The game also features a few ready-made arenas based on real world locations so you can continue to play on the bus or other dimly lit/inconvenient places. You can also create arenas by taking a photo of a surface in front of you and pivoting the Vita left and right to scan in the rest of the environment.

Another draw of Reality Fighters and the thing that will keep you most entertained is the quirky Character Creator. Simply snap a photo of yourself or a friend (or your laptop screen after Google Imaging your favourite celebrity) and the game will map their face on to a body which you can then customize to perfection. The customization options are pretty generous allowing you to tweak everything from your fighter’s physical appearance to their fighting style and choice of weaponry (if any).

I was really impressed by the range of fighting styles that are on offer and I enjoyed putting each one through its paces.  There’s a strong mixture of both serious (Boxer, Kung Fu, Wrestling etc.) and fantastical (Wizard, Cowboy, Super Hero) styles to choose from meaning you’re sure to find something that suits your character. Unfortunately the clothing options are far less impressive unless you’re purposely trying to create the most awkwardly dressed individuals ever to appear in a videogame. Having a Cow Suit complete with udders is cool but simple things such as a regular T-Shirt or a low-cut hairstyle would have been appreciated. You can also record brief intro and victory taunts for your character using the Vita’s built in microphone which is a nice touch.

Now here’s the catch… almost everything in the Character Creator needs to be unlocked using stars earned from fighting. This wouldn’t be much of a problem if the fighting mechanic were great but the game falls short in this department. In Reality Fighters, button mashers will reign supreme while those of us who grew up playing fighting games will struggle to find some semblance of depth or strategy which the game simply doesn’t require. The inclusion of Street Fighter style Super Moves is great and many of them are hilariously over the top but if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for you should probably just pick up Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 instead.

In terms of modes Reality Fighters offers everything you’d expect. Modes include Story, Training, Survival, Time Attack, Quick Fight and both online or offline Multiplayer. The Story mode (and I use the term “story” loosely) would be completely forgettable if it weren’t for the fact that your trainer is none other than Mr. Miyagi! The Karate Kid star will appear as a floating head before and after each challenge to either berate your skills or to offer up some stern words of wisdom.

Despite having the greatest trainer of all time in my corner I still found the story mode to be way too difficult and quickly gave up on it. It’s a shame because Mr. Miyagi is fantastic and the story mode is a great way to earn stars and unlock other goodies such as characters and arenas.

"After your initial hour you’ll begin to realize that the game lacks depth

Without the Character Creator and augmented arenas, Reality Fighters would be one of the most basic fighting games I’ve ever played. It may seem fun at first but after your initial hour you’ll begin to realize that the game lacks the depth and fluidity that makes recent fighters such as Mortal Kombat feel like works of interactive art.

With Reality Fighters, the developers at Novarama clearly had a different agenda and in many ways that’s ok! I had a tremendous amount of fun transforming our wimpy Koaltion editors in to a team of warriors and seeing them beat the hell out of each other.  The ability to share your creations and download others would have kept me coming back for longer than a weekend but unfortunately no such feature is available.

If you like creating characters and you generally button mash your way through fighting games you’ll probably find that there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had with Reality Fighters. The rest of us will just have to accept that this game wasn’t made for us.

This is all for promotional purposes, but as usual Kennedy puts a lot of thought and dedication behind his work.. so a huge shoutout goes to him. See the playlist and download link below.

Playlist:

01 – It’s Time! (Intro) (Mr. Kennedy Mix)
02 – Bad Meets Evil – Living Proof [Cheick Kongo]
03 – Jay-Z (ft. Kanye West & Rihanna) – Run This Town [Jose Aldo]
04 – Method Man & Redman – Da Rockwilder [Antonio Rogerio Nogeuria]
05 – 2Pac (ft. Dr. Dre) – California Love [Urijah Faber]
06 – Kanye West (ft. Rihanna & Kid Cudi) – All of the Lights [Phil Davis]
07 – Eminem – Cinderella Man [Tito Ortiz]
08 – The Notorious B.I.G – Kick in the Door [Frankie Edgar]
09 – Mobb Deep – Survival of the Fittest [Rashad Evans]
10 – DMX – No Sunshine [Anderson Silva]
11 – Kanye West (ft. Young Jeezy) – Amazing [Frank Mir]
12 – 50 Cent – God Gave Me Style [Jon Jones]
13 – Youssoupha (ft. Mam’s & Arsenik) – Me Compare Pas [Georges St-Pierre]
14 – 2Pac (ft. The Outlawz) – I’m A Souljah (DJ Scholar Remix) [Nate Diaz]
15 – Project Pat – I Ain’t Goin’ Back To Jail [Quinton Jackson]
16 – Diddy (ft. Jimmy Page) – Come With Me [Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuria]

The schedule below shows information on which days you can enjoy all of the above. If you’re interested in updates then be sure to join the official Facebook event page.

-Friday 17th February-
12:00PM – 6:00PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public
7:300PM – 10:30PM: PlayStation Access Vita Rooms Exclusive Party *INVITE ONLY*

-Saturday 18th February-
10AM – 8PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public
4PM – 4:30PM: Live performance from Wiley
7PM – 10:00PM: PlayStation Access Vita Rooms Exclusive Party *INVITE ONLY – Replaces Birmingham venue Access party*

-Sunday 19th February-
11AM – 6PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public
3PM – 6PM: FIFA Interactive World Cup Live Qualifier
6:30PM – 10:00PM: FIFA Interactive World Cup UK Final

-Monday 20th February-
12PM – 6PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public

-Tuesday 21st February-
12PM – 6PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public

-Wednesday 22nd February- !PLAYSTATION VITA RELEASE DAY!
12PM – 8PM: PlayStation Vita Rooms open to the public
6:30PM – 7PM: Live performance from Tinchy Stryder

- Map -
- Confirmed games available to play -

If you manage to go, be sure to let us know.

Playd’s own ElectroJade gives gamers a easy way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Hey Playd fans and the like! Learn how to make your own gamer cookies – Zelda style! It’s quick, easy, and perfect for your Valentine! Here’s the detailed recipe below:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/3 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, mix the flour and baking soda together. Place this aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the butter and the sugar until it’s mixed well. Add the egg and the vanilla extract too. Separate this mixture into two bowls to add in the separate food coloring (Yellow food-coloring for the Triforces, and Pink food-coloring for the Hearts).

Once coloured, add a ½ cup of the flour mixture to each bowl. Beat until you have perfect dough.

Wrap the pieces of dough in plastic or wax wrap, and keep them in the freezer for fifteen minutes. Once out of the freezer, they should be firm to roll out.

At this time, it’s smart to preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Make sure you place the rack in the center of the oven as well.

Lightly flour your surface, and roll out the pieces of dough you’ve created. It’s better to roll our your dough to ½ cm for your cookies. The dough shouldn’t be too thick, or else your triforces might puff up and look like balloons. Balloons, people!

To cut out the cookies shapes, you can use a spatula and a spoon. For the triforces, cut out a triangle with your spatula. Use the spatula to cut three triangles within the cookie you’ve just cut out. You should have your three triangles to make a triforce. Piece them together on a greased baking sheet. For the hearts, use a spoon to create cookie curves and points.

You can even add some sparkling sugar on your cookies for an added bonus.

Once you’ve cut your cookies and placed them on your greased baking sheet, bake your cookies for seven to eight minutes.

Take them out, and place them on a plate to cool off. Once cool, enjoy the deliciousness and savor each bite!

You can add more to your treats by placing them in a jar (any jar, really), or siding them with a glass of lon lon milk. It’s hilarious, cute and gamer-friendly!

Wishing you guys an awesome Valentine’s Day! Cheers!

Initially when I played Final Fantasy XIII, I like many Final Fantasy enthusiasts was upset about the extreme lack of gameplay elements. The producers of the game were adamant on taking the fans gripes on board, and thus Final Fantasy XIII-2 was announced. The whole idea was that Square were aiming to resolve many of the complaints received from Final Fantasy XIII while at the same time expanding on the epic storyline.

The game starts off with you controlling Final Fantasy XIII’s standout character Lightning as she’s fighting off the evil forces that threaten Valhalla, a world she is now trapped in that is unbound by time. She meets a stranger from another time by the name of Noel Kreiss and passes him the task of traveling through time to find her little sister Serah. Noel and Serah must then time travel together solving paradoxes in an attempt to rescue Lightning.

If you haven’t viewed any footage and ignored previous spoilers, then like me the first twenty minutes of the game may take you by shock as Square show off some of the new QTE (Quick Time Event) elements they implemented into the game. Unfortunately these potentially epic QTE cinematics are crippled by some off-putting framerate drops, and it’s pretty much a consistent problem throughout the game whenever a QTE cinematic occurs.

Once you get past the action heavy introduction you take control of Serah as Noel appears in her world, eager to persuade her of her sisters request being truth. Serah who was rescued by Lightning in the previous game is now longing for her sister, and has even been haunted by dreams of Lightning fighting in Valhalla. She soon decides to trust Noel and after a very fun hour long introduction to some of the games concepts, you’re soon jumping head on into the main focus of the storyline.

One of the many complaints on the previous game was the slow moving first half of the game in which nothing happens besides you running from start to finish through the various levels. Final Fantasy XIII-2 improves on this by presenting you with a ton of optional materials to explore early on. One thing I liked is that you now receive side quests from actual people instead of the random devices from FFXIII.

Maps are broader in size, allowing for more intricate exploration of the environments. Hidden items are scattered all over, requiring you to cover every inch of a location so no item will go amiss. You’ll recognize a few of the environments from the previous game, though you’ll likely be covering parts of them that you didn’t before. When going back and forth in time, you’ll also notice that some areas will look different than before, which is a nice touch to compliment the story.

"Playing through XIII-2 made me realize how much Square Enix were actually spot on when it came to XIII’s presentation

The story however begins to feel very mediocre after a few hours in. One of FFXIII’s strengths was that the storyline was actually decent, and that alone forced you to endure everything else that was lacking with the experience. It’s seems that Final Fantasy XIII-2 is the complete opposite as the plot has been deeply sacrificed to flesh out the gameplay elements. Not only does the story feel like a reject time travel plot that was binned ten years ago, but some of the dialog in the game is absolutely cringe worthy. Playing through XIII-2 made me realize how much Square Enix were actually spot on when it came to XIII’s presentation. Even the soundtrack on this game isn’t as epic as the previous, though it’s pretty decent.

One of the delightful additions to the game is The Moogle, which is a cute and mysterious creature that acts as Serah’s guardian. The Moogle (A.K.A Mog) will follow you throughout the game and can be used to your advantage. If there is an item out of reach, pressing L1 (LB) can be used to aim Mog with assistance from the right analog and pressing the R1 (RB) button will launch him, allowing him to recover the item.

The most interesting thing about The Moogle is how he can give you an edge in battle. In the previous game you could visibly see the various beasts plaguing an area, at which point you could chose to run from them or confront them head on. In XIII-2 however, the random encounter system makes a return. As you explore a monster infested area they will pop up at random. When this happens a Mog clock appears at the bottom of the screen showing three different colors as it counts down. Depending on which color the clock hand is pointing to when you engage the enemy determines whether you receive any bonuses heading into the battle itself. If you engage when the Mog clock is pointing green you receive a haste boost; if the clock is yellow it will result in a regular battle. If the clock is red then you will receive a penalty. If you would prefer to flee the enemy then you must successfully run out of its range which is represented by a circle on the ground.

The battle system itself is essentially the same as its predecessor, but there are some welcomed improvements that make it more interesting. This time around Noel and Serah are the only two human characters you have at your disposal, but fear not as you now have the ability to capture monsters and use them to fight for you (Pokemon anyone?).

Each monster has their own role, but you can assign three monsters for use in your different paradigms. For example in your first paradigm you may have a Monster that offers medical support, then once your characters are healed up you could switch to a paradigm with a monster that focuses on attacking the enemy. Mix and matching is essential here for getting the best results suited to the enemies in your current environment. Monsters can also be leveled up using special monster materials, you can even go as far as naming and decorating your monsters. Each monster also has a special ability which is known as a Feral Link. Once their gauge fills up in battle you can unleash this special ability which is enhanced using QTE commands.

"Another improvement to the battle system that I was pleased with, is the ability to change leader during battle.

Another improvement to the battle system that I was pleased with, is the ability to change leader during battle. This game allows you to modify the behaviors for each paradigm; however you may find sometimes that the non-leading character isn’t utilizing abilities like they could be. Being able to switch to the other character is useful in this scenario as you can then input whichever abilities you wish the character to use.

Also in the previous game you would be presented with a gameover screen if the leader died, regardless of whether your teammates survived or not. This time around if your leader dies, leadership automatically switches to the second character.

The Crystarium makes a return, and this time around leveling up your roles is more streamlined. Whenever you reach the point of expanding a characters Crystarium path you can also unlock a bonus. Some of the bonuses on offer are increasing the ATB gauge, adding more space for accessories or further enhancing one of the characters roles.

Though it’s unoriginal and sometimes daunting, you are given much freedom with the time-travel concept via what’s known as the Historia Crux. It’s essentially just a menu which allows you to chose a location and timeframe to explore. My gripe is that occasionally it’s confusing and doesn’t offer much advice in terms of where you should go to continue the story. I find that it can sometimes ruin the flow of the game. On the plus side, it’s great if you need to go back and forth between locations to level up your characters, finish side-quests or look for previously missed items.

If you do get stuck then try and remember where you may have run into a locked gate. Gates appear throughout the various locations and allow you to advance to new areas so long as you have the right artefact’s to unlock it. Artefact’s are found through exploration or completing side-quests.

While I appreciate that Square Enix finally decided to look at what some of the other games out there were doing and then applying it to their game; they should not have attempted it unless it added something more to the experience. As I mentioned before QTE is now in Final Fantasy; some are not fans of QTE, but I welcome it in any game as long as it works well. In Final Fantasy XIII-2 the QTE are little to no challenge, and when used in a cinematic fashion the framerate suffers.

Also their attempts at adding interactive dialog choices are borderline horrible. Not only do they name the dialog system “Live Trigger” – but the dialog choices they give you very rarely encourage a worthy response from the other characters. Overall the system just feels like it was thrown in for the hell of it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll execute it correctly in future games, as it’s something that could bring new levels of depth to the franchise.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a decent game that improves upon the lacking areas in FFXIII. It’s just a shame that the presentation and overall emotional attachment doesn’t hold a candle to the previous game. You’ll come across some fairly difficult enemies in this game, but overall the moments just don’t live up to the epic boss battles in FFXIII.

On the other hand XIII-2 encourages you to explore and soak up everything you can from the different levels. Around halfway through the game you’ll unlock a casino that allows you to play mini-games such as Chocobo racing in which you can race the Chocobo you have captured or just bet on other Chocobo. These are some of the things that were missing from XIII that just add to the immersion.

In the end Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a game that just about satisfies based on its expanded gameplay elements. However if you were looking for a true successor to Final Fantasy XIII then this game hardly accomplishes such; its random shift in plot has little if anything to do with the events in XIII. Sure you’ll find references to the events in XIII, but the overall plot can be summarized with “Hi Serah, let’s find Lightening by traveling through time and solving paradoxes along the way.”

I am still thankful that Square Enix took the time to address some of the concerns from the previous game; but the biggest thing that Final Fantasy XIII-2 accomplishes is showing that there really were some fantastic things in FFXIII that we overlooked due to our initial complaints.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare will be published by Microsoft Studios and will be available for Xbox Live Arcade’s House Party on February 22, 2012 for 1200 Microsoft Points. . Please keep an eye out for updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/alanwake - Twitter @Remedygames and website at www.alanwake.com.

Now with the release of The Darkness II from developers Digital Extremes, the player looks to take on the role of Jackie Estacado for a second time as he begrudgingly calls upon the power of The Darkness once again to slaughter anyone that stands in his way. He must contend with his enemies, The Darkness itself and the painful memories of the love of his life, Jenny. The game is set two years after the events of the first game. Jackie is now head of the Franchetti family and enjoys a life of unlimited wealth and glamorous women. However when a group of armed assailants attack him and his men during dinner at a restaurant, Jackie has no choice but to call upon the power of The Darkness to give him the strength he needs to exact a swift and brutal reprisal on whoever is behind the attempt on his life.

The Darkness II is much more slow-paced than its predecessor, giving more focus to the context of all the events taking place and the development of characters rather than continuous action pieces. The characters feel complex, each with their own reasons for standing besides Jackie throughout these difficult times. For instance, Jackie’s right-hand man and best friend Vinnie stands besides him ready to carry out his orders no matter what happens and Aunt Sarah attempts to convince Jackie to let go of his memories of Jenny. The voice acting is top-notch and the dialogue is very well written adding further immersion to the game’s story and further strengthens the player’s attachment to the characters. Jackie has been though real trauma and loss and despite his past as a cold-hearted killer, its rather easy to feel sympathetic towards him due to his unfortunate situation with The Darkness and losing Jenny, as well as the forces at work who use him for their own gain.

The setting is very creative and stylish in its own dark, sinister and visceral way. The visuals are presented using a cel-shading technique to stay true to its comic book roots presenting the player with lively, elegant visuals while keeping the gritty, ominous and sombre feel of the setting the game is based in. As well as the colourful comic-book appearance, the setting includes dingy and creepy environments such as dark alleyways, an upsettingly lonely cemetery, decrepit clubhouses and an empty, run-down amusement park. Its a perfect blend of graceful and hideous visuals which present the player with a visually unique and varied game setting. Sound is also a strong factor with powerful gunblasts ringing throughout the environments, a fittingly exciting musical score and of course, the sound of flesh and bones being torn to pieces as The Darkness rips apart enemies limb from limb.

There’s an immense sense of empowerment as The Darkness is called fourth. You feel practically unstoppable as you use firearms and The Darkness all in unison, becoming an indestructible abomination striking fear into your enemies. The guns come aplenty to blast your way through the enemies failing miserably trying to stop you. Sub-machine guns, rifles, handguns and shotguns galore are ripe for the taking to turn your foes into Swiss cheese. Two different weapons can be wielded at a time providing double the firepower and double the fun. The Darkness is used to either whip your enemies until they are sliced in half, or for grabbing them to perform a satisfyingly gory finishing move. Guns and The Darkness can all be used at once to inflict massive damage against foes. The Darkness can also be used to grab objects to throw at your enemies. Grab a car door and hurl it at someone to dissect them or grab a pole to impale then against the wall.

As you kill enemies you gain dark essence which can be used to purchase upgrades for your powers, giving you abilities such as regenerative health while performing an execution, channelling The Darkness through your weapons or releasing a swarm of flies which stun and distract your opponents. Purchasing upgrades allows you to use more varied methods of overpowering your enemies and finding much more visceral methods of destroying the opposition. Once the main campaign is completed, you can return to the campaign with all the upgrades you earned in your first playthrough to obtain the other upgrades, turning you into a frightening, monstrous killing-machine.

As well as an engaging single player campaign, The Darkness II offers co-op multiplayer known as Vendetta mode to share your ultra violent adventure with up to three other players. Players control a character powered by The Darkness, each with their own upgradeable abilities who carry out missions which run parallel with the campaign’s story. There is less focus on story and more on action which offers an enjoyable amount of content to be shared with friends.

There are unfortunately many flaws with the game even if it offers much to the player. The enemy AI is rather predictable and clumsy which can lead to many fights being slated in your favour. Enemies don’t fight effectively enough and the result is usually the player coming out unscathed. Other technical problems include enemies falling through the floor, frame-rate issues, broken ragdoll physics, repeated use of NPC models and sounds occurring late when an action such as an execution has already taken place. The biggest flaw is that the single player campaign is very short, taking around 5 hours to complete. With a story as well written as this, its unfortunate that the player is only able to experience it within a 5 hour timespan. A much longer single player campaign could have been implemented which doesn’t just offer more action packed gameplay, but also a more enriched narrative experience which further delves into the drama and tragedy of Jackie’s upside-down life.

Nevertheless it’s very easy to overlook the flaws as The Darkness II offers a great deal to potential players looking for a visceral, powerful and emotional ride. With an intriguing, emotional story; brilliant character development; exciting combat and a grim yet stylish setting, The Darkness II is sure to provide gamers something unique from other first person shooters. Including the opportunity to be granted the powers of hell at their fingertips.