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Fifth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series for Microsoft Windows, Ps3 and Xbox 360. Due October 30th 2012 with a Wii U release to be announced.
Introduces the character Raton a k ton, Ray ho no ka ton....
Elderly: Nice Job Alf, how much did that giveaway cost us? Alf The Helper: erm.. cost? ..let's see there was the virtual paint... the virtual electricity...
(Alf takes out a calculator...) Alf The Helper: Am nothing mr. Elderly.. absolutely nothing Elderly: Good good, let's keep it that way.... Alf The Helper: Mr. Elderly may I... this may a bad time... but about my wages.... Elderly: Don't be silly man, it's not all about money... you disapoint me... Alf The Helper: But I haven't been paid in over two months!! Elderly: Precisely!... no need to break a tradition!! you have a job don't you!? Alf The Helper: Yes but... but... sighhhhh! :(
Concept art by Jonathan Bach, for the Halo 4 E3 live-action trailer. Unfortunately not all of this vision was rendered for the final trailer. Low res images here don't do the scenes justice, head to the artist's blog for higher resolution images and more.
Halo 4 is the eighth installment in the Halo franchise, due for release on November 6th 2012
Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 Movie based on the DC Comics character Batman. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. The film, the final of a trilogy, introduces the characters of Selina Kyle and Bane, portrayed by Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy. A novelization, written by award-winning author Greg Cox and published by Titan Books, will be released alongside the film on July 24, 2012.
Manufactured: 1982 for the Atari 2600 Publisher: Only release from Men-A-Vision
Air Raid is considered to be the rarest game ever released for the Atari 2600. The cartridge is a blue "T" handle design complete with an image of flying saucers attacking a futuristic city.
The Plot
You are given the task of defending Mahattan by shooting down a selection of nefarious flying saucers and airplanes intent on bombing your city to rubble. or to quote the game instructions....
"The quiet pre-dawn sky is suddenly filled with enemy bombers. Can you save Manhattan from the your loan command post? You watch as the sky scrapers around you are reduced by each hit unitl, after 12 hits, nothing but rubble remains. You fire fast and furiously to protect the falling city. Can you withstand the dealdy on slaught? (game type not mine) With 8 variations of play this debut thrill packed action game by Men-A_Vision, will bring many hours of exciting challengin play."
Rarity
Rumour has it only twelve copies of the game exist.
On April 10, 2010 the only complete game (cartridge and box) known to still exist, sold for $31,600US
On October 22, 2011. An ebay auction offered an incomplete version of the game (cart only), which eventually ended with a successful bid of $3,575US.
I wanta play it:
Well you can't.... oops you can.. pick yourself up an Atari 2600 emulator on Google search, then head over to atariage.com and search on the page for the "Download Rom" icon and erm... download the itsy bitsy rom.
If you want to own a copy someday, keep an eye on a certain Gnome, and bookmark he's excellent retro-treasures website.
Off to the bargain bins again and this time out we're looking for a Wii original "No More Heroes" which first hit the shelves way back in January 2008. It's popularity spawned a sequel in 2010, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle and a port to the Xbox 360 and Ps3 titled "No More Heroes' Paradise".
Designed by none other than Suda51 aka Goichi Suda, you play as Travis Touchdown, a card carrying otaku, who lives in the fictional town of Santa Destroy, California. After an unexpected turn of events, and the purchase of a light saber on ebay, you find yourself on the bottom rung of an Assassins' organization. You must prove yourself worthy and defeat 10 other bloodthirsty killers, all with deep stories of their own, to make your way to the top of the assassin's league.
The game features a free roaming world with Travis moving around on foot or on his trusty scooter, the "Schpeltiger". Originally planned as an ultraviolent title to rival Manhunt 2, the copious amounts of blood were later replaced with black pixels and coins spurting from fallen enemies, resulting in final ratings of Pegi 16+ and ESRB M.
The reviews at the time were resoundingly positive, with Metacrtic awarding it a score of 83% from 64 critc reviews.
Quote of the Bunch:
"SUDA-51 has delivered a game that can match its absurd premise with equally stimulating gameplay, making for one of the most unique and satisfying action games in recent memory" Gamespot.
Reviews Summary A true joy of creation that is too rarely seen in gaming. The overall weird factor of the game are the main reason to check it out F...ing awesome. Some mystic element about it that makes it worth playing. Top-tier mature gaming and pitch-perfect swordplay. A funky, fun third-person hack and slash marred by some boring open world side-missions. A unique title with some genius moments. Open world sections do more harm than good A love letter to videogames that never grows old, tired, or dull There are few games as good as this on any platform.
Ahoy!!! me hearties!! Tis I elderly beneath this rather fetchin pirate suit...itchy.. but fetchin :) For what I hears ya say is I dressed in such apparel... arrr!!! tis a good question... Well shiver me timbers, this like this...(cough...splutter..)
....I can't keep this up.... so here's the gen on Risen 2 Dark Waters. Erm...the popcorn will be here shortly once Alf finishes his costume preparations....
Risen 2: Dark Waters is a Caribean pirate themed single player action rpg.
Released for Microsoft Windows April 2012, and due on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 3rd August 2012.
The monsters from the deep you encountered in the first title have pushed humanity to the brink of existence. Rumours suggest the pirates of the Southern Islands know a way to stop this terror. Now a member of the Inquisition, you are sent out to end the chaos.
You play the nameless hero from the first game, starting with a basic stat sheet and an automatic levelling system you must earn and spend experience points to develop your skills. Risen 2 steers away from the "faction" element of it's predecessor to attempt a more focussed storyline and it's now got guns instead of the old crossbows.
Unfortunately the Windows version got a mixed reception with Metacritic awarding a 69% from 51 critic reviews.
Alf: Popcorns ready :) Elderly: Alf!!! what are you wearing!!? Alf: What! this?.. it's my pirate outfit!! Elderly: ...an off the shoulder.. pirate outfit!? Alf: Gulp!!!... 8( oops!...erm.. ye old bar wench costume mixup.... my bad! :( Elderly: ..... Alf: Scuse me...I'll just .....change.. :(
A Hugo Award winning graphic novel created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. The twelve issue series was originally published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and subsequently reprinted in this collected form.
Watchmen chronicles the fall from grace of a group of super heroes plagued by all too human failings. Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.
Arguably one of the most influential graphic novels of all time and a perennial bestseller, Watchmen is considered a gateway title, leading readers to other graphic novels such as V For Vendetta, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and The Sandman.
Rainbow Moon PSN exclusive due 4th July $14.99 in North America, €12.99 in Europe, £9.99 in the UK and $19.95 in Australia. Developed by SideQuest Studios and eastasiasoft, of Soldner X and Soldner X-2 fame. An open world RPG with shades of Bastion in its isometric art style. The game's story and turn-based battling will last some 40 hours.
Inversion For Windows, Xbox 360 and Ps3 on release in Us due Eu 13th July A cover-based third-person shooter, featuring destructible environments and gravity manipulation.
Wreckateer
Exclusive for Xbox live Arcade due July 25th cost 800 Points Physics based destruction in a fantasy medieval world, uses Kinect to put you in control of a massive castle-wrecking ballista.
Hybrid
Exclusive for Xbox live Arcade due 8th August cost 1200 Points
A multiplayer online third-person shooter set in a post apocalyptic world, first Xbox 360 title from developer 5th Cell the studio behind the Scribblenauts. Drawn to Life and Lock's Quest series.
Spec Ops: The Line is a third-person shooter developed by Yager Development and published by 2K Games. Released for Windows, Ps3 and Xbox 360 on June 26th 2012.
What it says on the Tin:
A provocative third-person modern military shooter that challenges your morality by planting you right in the middle of horrific situations where choices affecting human life must be made. Single player squad commands include enemy targeting and healing squad members. A multiplayer mode enriches the single player campaign with six game types across 7 maps, community leaderboards and challenges.
The Plot
You play as Captain Martin Walker sent into Dubai with an elite Delta Force team to hunt for a decorated officer named Colonel Konrad. And yes I hear you whisper Apocalypse now but according to lead writer Walt Williams the storyline was inspired by Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness.
So is it more blood and guts than the average sitting room can endure or a medium for a cautionary tale on the horrors of war? With 15 critic reviews in so far, Metacritic have awarded the game a passable 78% with praise lavished on the narrative, themes, and provocative take on violence in video games. Reviewers agreed on a competent Ai, but a run of the mill multiplayer, and mixed reaction to the game's visuals.
Quote of the Bunch: "A brutal, cruel, and impactful trip in the frail psyche of a soldier, that unfortunately falls short in the gameplay department due to lack of real innovation" SpazioGames (Italian)
Reviews Summary: A brave step forward for developers who want to help us get more from games than just gunplay Imaginative take on combat is left parched by a gruelling campaign A story as strong and daring as those of Bioshock, Shadow of the Colossus and Dead Space 2. Game mechanics are noticeably dated and bereft of innovation Great ideas mired beneath the weight of a generic shooter Gameplay mechanics that rival much more established franchises. A more adult attempt to reach player's feelings. Lacks a strong multiplayer experience, without which it can't be a must buy. A game with guns that doesn't want you to be the hero, it wants you to feel terrible about trying to be one.
