Author Archive

Heavy Rain

March 9th, 2010
By: JDsBlackBox

Get that gun out my face, don't you know I'm from Bosyorkatchewan?!?

Heavy Rain is one of the most engaging video games I’ve ever played.  To call it a video game doesn’t really do it justice.  Heavy Rain is about the story, first and foremost.  And the story is compelling.  Unlike so many titles where the story is an afterthought that seems tacked on to the game (Gears of War, anyone?); Heavy Rain feels like a rich, character driven story with a game added to it.

The game is not perfect, don’t get me wrong.  I’ll try and do this without spoilers, so feel safe to read on if you haven’t played it yet.  Heavy Rain is about a series of murders completed by the “Origami Killer”.  Named so because he leaves an origami figure with his victims.  You play as one of four characters, rotating between them as they all travel along separate – yet sometimes intermingling -paths to try and stop the killer.  There’s the good samaritan, the private investigator, the FBI agent, and the father trying to save his son.  Each one with their own vested interest in finding the murderer.  The story is well done, just what you would expect from a good mystery.  It starts off slow, and depressing (make sure you play the first couple hours on a sunny day).  Even with the slow start, the emotions that the main character was going through were palpable.  I was immersed and emotionally affected very early on in the story.  It picks up nicely a few hours in however, gradually building to the eventual set piece finale where the murderer is revealed.

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Buy Darksiders get Red Faction: Guerrilla FREE!

February 12th, 2010
By: JDsBlackBox

For FREEEEEEE?

After a few weeks of patient waiting, THQ announced today that the code included in new retail copies of Darksiders will allow you to get a free ($5 shipping) copy of Red Faction: Guerrilla!  Awesome news, and even more reason to go out and buy Darksiders.  Both are great games.  Check out my review of Darksiders if you’re curious.

Offer ends March 7th, and is only good in the U.S.

Darksiders

February 1st, 2010
By: JDsBlackBox

War. He speaks softly but carries a BIG SCYTHE.

One of the main things I like about Darksiders was how it really surprised me.  Surprised me by how good it was in a below the radar dark horse (pardon the pun) sort of way.  I feel this game stands up well against your triple-A high profile titles like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta.  That being said, this game is not simply a brawler.  It is a true adventure game in the style of the popular Zelda series.  Having read and heard a few reviews of the game while deciding if I should buy it or not, I heard the Zelda comparison often.  But the similarities are obvious and in-your-face – from the grappling hook, to the horse, to the boomerang.  All the other aspects are there as well – puzzle solving, exploration, collecting health boosts (not hearts :p ), and of course the combat.  I’m not a Zelda expert, but I do enjoy the series, most recently having played through Twilight Princess on the Wii.

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Assassins Creed II

December 11th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

Assassins_Creed_2_cover

I wanted to wait until I played the last game in the list of what I considered to be game of the year candidates before I rendered my opinion of Assassin’s Creed II.  My list, by the way, in no particular order – Resident Evil 5, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Batman: Arkham Asylum, COD: MW2, Borderlands, Assassin’s Creed 2, L4D2, and The Saboteur.  Now back to Assassin’s Creed…

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Borderlands DLC Available Next Week

November 21st, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

zombie

Gearbox announced that “The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned” downloadable content for Borderlands will be available November 24th.  It will set you back $10.  More varieties of skags to kill!

I’m definitely getting this, looking forward to seeing gearbox’s take on the zombie craze.

The Next New Hotness – Saboteur

November 10th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

sabo

Like Borderlands, The Saboteur is a game I’ve had on my radar for a long time.  Not the typical WWII shooter, The Saboteur has you play Sean Devlin, who has somehow been wronged by a Nazi general.  As Devlin, you set out sabotaging Nazi occupied Europe by joining the French Resistance in order to get back at those pesky Nazis.  The thing that interests me most about this game is the art style.  When you are in a Nazi occupied area, the art style is a black and white film noir (think Sin City) with the occasional yellow (and red :P ) accents.

From the videos I’ve seen, the gameplay seems to be a cross between Splinter Cell, Assasins Creed, and Call of Duty (or pick any WWII shooter).  There is some stealth to the game, but all of your standard era guns are in there as well, so you’ll have more than piano wire to help you out.  Also of note is Devlin’s ability to climb structures, although I doubt he does the Triple Lindy from the top of buildings like Altair to get down.  Due out December 8th.

Skate 3 is a Comin’

November 6th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

AI2_Pure2_b_resizeEA came out with a new Skate 3 trailer recently, and it looks good.  Similar to the other Skate games, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  Skate 3 introduces co-op skating in a crew with your xbox live buds.  Check out this vid, looks like you will be able to compete with other crews.

Hit me up if you want to be in the GHR Skate crew.  If not, and I see you in game, I WILL SHRED ALL OVER YOUR FACE.  That’s how I roll.

See you in May.  :)

Valve Announces New Mode in Left 4 Dead 2

October 8th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox
1165742-scavenge_02_super

Chainsaw. Rawr.

Valve, developers of such awesomeness as Half Life 2, Portal, Counter Strike and Left 4 Dead – recently announced the newest gameplay mode for the upcoming Left 4 Dead 2.  Scavenge mode pits survivors vs. infected in a race to collect (hence the name, ‘Scavenge’) gas cans and dump them into a generator located in each map.  The more gas the survivors dump, the more points you get.  The infecteds job is – you guessed it – to stop the collection of said gas cans.  Switch sides, rinse and repeat.  Most points wins the round.

The new mode should be shorter than the typical versus mode in the current L4D.  This, and the addition of female boomers, makes L4D2 a must buy for me.  That and the fact that I’ve played every Valve game ever produced.  Check out Giant Bomb for more info.

(Yet Another) Zombie Apocalypse Next Week

September 20th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

zombiesKonami announced that their newest zombie killing game, Zombie Apocalypse will be released next week on PSN and XBLA.  Looks fun based on the screenshots.  4 player online co-op as well.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE

The Fight For Survival Hits Xbox LIVE® Arcade On September 23 and PLAYSTATION®NETWORK on September 24

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced the release date and new screenshots from the highly anticipated downloadable game Zombie Apocalypse. Coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on September 23 and the PlayStation®Network on September 24, Zombie Apocalypse drops players in an epic battle between the dead and the living!

Equipped with ample artillery, players’ dual analog stick shooting skills will be put to the test in the thrilling arcade style shooter. As gamers set forth on their mission to conquer zombies, they can choose from up to 11 diverse weapons including assault rifles, flamethrowers and teddy bears filled with C4 explosives. A chainsaw is also available to players who want an up close and personal encounter with the roaming dead. Savvy players can also take advantage of their surroundings as they utilize environmental hazards to destroy massive hordes of zombies.

Players navigate through seven environments and fight their way through 55 days of zombie attacks without becoming a brainless zombie. Should they succeed, they will be rewarded with seven challenging game modes that will enable them to re-live the apocalypse all over again. As an added bonus, gamers do not have to face the evil masses alone as multiplayer capabilities allow up to four shooters to take on the zombie confrontation locally or co-operatively online.

Zombie Apocalypse will be available on September 23 on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points and September 24 on PlayStation®Network for $9.99.

First ‘Lego Rockband’ Footage Revealed

August 17th, 2009
By: JDsBlackBox

legorockband_gameplay

MTV Multiplayer has footage of gameplay from the upcoming Lego Rock Band.  Personally, I don’t get it.  Seems like something Activision should be pushing.  Take a look and form your own opinion.