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New Games

Heavy Rain Is Out

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And it’s pouring like cats and dogs out there! Ever since they announced the development of this video game, I have been looking forward to actually trying it out. Heavy Rain has created a lot of noise. At first glance, the plot does not seem to be much different from any other movie or show that you can see today. The central character is a serial killer that is caught up in the drama of his life. The brilliance of Heavy Rain is in how the creators blurred the lines between movies and video games. And with the power backing up gaming consoles today, I can just imagine how awesome the gaming experience will be!

SFGate describes the game in words that I just cannot shake off:

The PlayStation 3 title, which goes on sale Tuesday, invites players to step inside a beautifully crafted interactive movie, playing four characters as they grapple with moral and emotional choices that spill out from the story.

There are no points, gunbattles or traditional challenges found in video games. Instead there is a propulsive story with clear consequences to every action, including death for any of the main characters.

For some reason, I think of a modern and hi-tech version of Choose Your Own Adventure. The game is obviously very much focused on the story, making it quite intelligent, in my mind. I like to think of it as you creating your own movie but using the video game format. Now that I can get my hands on it, I just might be holing myself in for the weekend.

Avatar The Game

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PS3-Avatar-video-game-coverEveryone has heard of Avatar, and from what I have been reading and hearing, the movie has been nothing but a huge hit. Of course, I have heard one or two people say that they were disappointed, but that is to be expected. I shall be watching it tomorrow night and will judge for myself.

Did you know, though, that the movie has a game version already? And before you get all uppity, you should also know that the game has been years in the making. Unlike many other video games based on a movie, Ubisoft actually took its time in developing the game. In fact, meetings about the game started way back in 2007.

Just like the movie, the game can be played in 3D. I am not sure that everyone will take advantage of that feature just yet, but the thought that it is available is enough to catch one’s attention. Ben Fritz recently published a write up about the game in the LA Times and he says:

Ubisoft got the gig with its plan to create a new story, set two years before the movie, that starts players in the shoes of a character similar to the movie’s protagonist Jake Sully, a young marine played by actor Sam Worthington.

Not that far into the game, however, players are presented with a choice: to continue as a human fighting to take control of the planet Pandora, or become a member of the native Na’vi tribe and fight back.

Each choice takes players off in entirely different directions, essentially creating two games in one.

Now THAT is an added value. I can already imagine its replay value. Who wants to play?

Band Hero: A Review

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Band-Hero_PS3_BOX-tempboxart_160w
What do you get if you combine Rock Band and Guitar Hero? It’s simple: Band Hero. This is one of the latest titles in the plethora of video games about music, and guess who is behind it? No other than the makers of the hit video game franchise, Guitar Hero.

The first thought that came to mind when I heard of Band Hero is that why would they feel the need to create another game when Guitar Hero is still making it big? I think one of the things that gives the new game an edge is the line up of artists and songs featured. How does Adam Levine, No Doubt, Lilly Allen, and The All-American Rejects sound? I am pretty sure that the younger crowd will have more fun playing to these songs than a lot of the music featured in the Guitar Hero series.

Just like the other games, Band Hero allows multiple players to contribute their talents as different members of the band. There are a lot modes which players can choose from. I think one very interesting mode is Let’s Get this Party Started! In this mode, any player can join in at any point of the song. Players can tweak their settings in mid-song as well, making it easy for everyone to do their own things without having to worry about messing the whole production up. This is excellent for groups of people who do not have the same level of skill – and I am just thinking of my family right now!

The game is available for the XBox360 and PlayStation3, among other platforms.

Turok in Focus

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Turok
Gamers who are into sci-fi have been looking forward to the release of Turok – and why not? This game promises to present the best of both worlds. If you have not bought your copy yet, here is the dish – according to various sources all over the Web – to help you decide whether or not you should go ahead and shell out some dough for this game.

Turok has versions for both the Xbox360 and the PS3, so if you have either of these two gaming consoles, the option of purchasing Turok for your system is open. However, what I have been reading up on Turok does not seem to be so good. Ever reliable Gamespot gave it a rating of 7 over 10 – that does not bode good news at all.

They do highlight some good points such as battling with dinosaurs (fun, fun, fun!), a great voice cast, and getting to kill a T-rex with a knife (yeah, we all have had that fantasy). However, the bad points are a bit weighty:

• Set-piece battles go on for far too long
• Few checkpoint saves add to frustration
• Human opponents aren’t dinosaurs.

It seems that Gamespot is not the only one who is showing disappointment in the game. Take Tom Orry’s review in Videogamer, for example. He gave the game a sad 5 out of 10. He even called Turok an “aging franchise”!

I am sorry to say that Turok may not be the game that you want to buy next. Then again, you may want to find out for yourself – and why not, if you have the extra cash to spare?

Super Smash Bros Brawl

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super smash bros brawl
Wii enthusiasts, here is something for you. The hit series Super Smash Bros Brawl is coming to the Wii! It is one of the world’s most popular franchises due to the simple fact that characters from the whole Nintendo world are incorporated into the game. Imagine playing Sonic and Pikachu against each other. Or maybe Zelda and Mario.

Yahoo gives us all the reasons anyone would want this game for himself:

1. Actually, there are over 40 reasons you want it
Link. Zelda. Snake. Mario. Samus. Sonic. Pikachu. Bowser. Kirby. Peach. Wario. Smash Bros. Brawl features a huge list of characters from classic Nintendo games — and for the first time, favorites from non-Nintendo hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and Metal Gear join the party. Each comes with special attacks, props, sound effects and signature moves. Snake has even brought along his all-important cardboard box: no Special Forces agent leaves home without it.

2. Smash yourself
Smash Bros. games usually opt for multiplayer madness over single-player content. Not so with Brawl, which includes a solo Adventure Mode called “Subspace Emissary.” Written by a designer culled from the Final Fantasy games, it’s the perfect way to hone your skills before humiliating your friends, and if you get too lonely, you can even team up with a friend to take on the evil Subspace Army cooperatively.

3. Play with the world
That’s not to say that Brawl doesn’t have plenty of multiplayer content. In fact, it has more than any other Super Smash Bros. game to date. Not only can you enjoy four-player matches on one console you can also use the Wii’s wireless networking to take on players from your Wii friends list or the world at large. You can even capture replay footage of your victories and mail it to your rivals in the ultimate of trash-talking hijinks.

Oh, there’s more – just visit Yahoo’s feature on this and read to your heart’s content. After that, order your own copy.