DMC: Devil May Cry Reviews Summary

A gothic hack and slash developed by Ninja Theory for Ps3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft windows.  Set in an alternative reality to the Devil May Cry series.

Plot:
Born of a demon father and an angel mother, You play  Dante (sporting a black haired alternative reality hairdo) as he makes his way through the demon infested Limbo, aided by enigmatic guide Kat. An astonishing 5 levels of difficulty, upgradable weapons and powers, new air combos and two new combat modifiers (Angel mode and Devil mode) add to the button mashing goodliness.

What it says on the tin:
Join Dante in this stylish action experience; chain together multiple combos with flair and send the demonic spawn back to hell – reveal the truth behind the lies

Reception:
Reviewers had little to gripe about, but a number drew attention to the shortness (10 hours give or take secret areas), minor glitches, poor storyline, and some tut tutting on less refined combat mechanics and game style from series purists.  Still the game earned a rather handsome 86% from 53 critic reviews on Metacritic.

Quote of the Bunch:
The combat system is deep, satisfying, and just welcoming enough to let you in, before losing the smile, slapping your face and making you pay attention. Official Xbox Magazine UK

Reviews Summary:
Fast, robust action, marvelous visual style, and a tremendous sense of attitude
This is not a classic Devil May Cry game
A phenomenal action game in its own right, a blistering start to 2013
Offers deep and flexible combat but in a more accessible and approachable form
Manages to make Dante look like the epitome of cool with every move
A robust, deep and brilliantly executed action game
DMC is played for the action, and the stylish, beautiful action alone.
It's the art direction and technical problems that let the package down.
DMC is intense, but a bit slow for the seasoned player.

Official Game Website
DMC Devil May Cry Wallpaper on Beautry Re-rendered Blog
DMC Devil May Cry Facebook Covers

Alf The Helper: all these "Cry" games... I think it's a conspiracy..
Elderly: Oh sweet... conspiracy!? how do you mean?
Alf The Helper: It's a little odd, Devil May Cry, Far Cry 3, and February's Crysis 3.. it's a pattern!
Elderly: Crysis 3? are you... No your right, they went to great lengths to ensure you'd spot the pattern and get a chance to talk about it right here on this blog..
Alf The Helper: They did!? wow!! they did all that just for me?
Elderly: Sure did...
Alf The Helper: Wow!! I mean that's incredible...
Elderly: Yep your right again.. absolutely incredible..
Alf The Helper: Wow!!

Hitman HD Trilogy

As silently as agent 47 this one snuck up on me and if this IGN Trailer is to believed it also appears to  have snuck up on the Square Enix'a Press squad as well.

Set for release on 29th January US and 1st February EU, for Ps3 and Xbox 360.
Featuring 40 missions across 3 classic Hitman games, High Definition Trilogy includes:

2002's Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
2004's Hitman 3: Contracts
2006's Hitman: Blood Money

plus Exclusive Art Book, featuring never before seen re-interpretations of classic Hitman moments by top artists.

Free Game Magazine for Download

 

 

Fancy a Free gaming magazine, in state of the art PDF format, full of the same quality content you'd expect to find in your newsagent, then look no further than Gamerzines.com

Each magazine comes enhanced with multimedia, animations and video, meaning they’re far more interactive than print equivalents.

With magazines covering Xbox 360, Ps3, PC and MMO gaming, you'll look hard and long to find better quality content.  Give them your email address and they'll even notify when their next release is ready.

Currently Available for us Console lovers are..

360Zine Issue 73
Along with current release reviews the magazine has previews for Crysis 3, BioShock Infinite and Tomb Raider.

P3Zine Issue 70
Reviews for Hitman Absolution, Far Cry 3 and LEGO Lord of the Rings plus Previews for Grand Theft Auto V, Tomb Raider and Star Trek.

or if you prefer, which would make this post pretty redundant, you can also read the content online....

Ahem!!......Right.. well that's 20 minutes I'll never get back again.

See all "Game Magazine" posts

DMC: Devil May Cry Facebook Cover

 

 

 

 

right click open inages in new window/tab for fullsize 851x315

 

Ahhhh... the alternate reality goodliness of the new Devil May Cry offering developed by Ninja Theory.  One of the most frustratingly difficult game series to complete, but so worth the effort.  In honor of the game I have no chance of ever finishing and it's predecessors, Alf has rustled up some Facebook covers featuring Dante and Kat, Dante's teen witchy graffiti loving guide.

See also DMC: Fanmade Wallpaper on Beauty Re-rendered blog

Official Website

Game Wallpaper and Websites Edition 9

Heavy Rain Madison Paige Ps3 2010 1600x900

 

Clive Barker's Jericho Ps3, Xbox 360 2007 1600x900

 

Jade Empire Xbox 2005 1600x900

 

Yakuza Ps2 2005 1024x768

 

Another questionable expedition across the vast interweb to discover some game wallpaper gems of yore and  how gentle the hands of time have been on the original websites.

Heavy Rain - Madison Paige
Ah Yes Madison Paige, and the way she might look at you if you wangled the controller.. sorry.... Heavy Rain is an interactive button manipulating action adventure psychological thriller in the film noir style, released exclusively for the Ps3 in 2010.  For those still reading, "Beyond Two Souls" is the next offering from developers Quantic Dream, due this year.

Official Website still up but not working on either Safari or IE browsers

Clive Barker's Jericho
A supernatural horror, first person shooter, released October 2007 for Ps3 and Xbox 360.  With the premise of the story from the horror master Clive Barker.  Managed to get itself banned in Germany, partly because of it's Nazi S&M tinged demonic slaughter.

Orignial Website gone, but there is Clive Barker's website with info on the the game

Jade Empire
Action RPG released for ye old Xbox April 2005. A sequel?  BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk stated in September 2011 that (Read Intellectual Property for IP) "It's an IP, it's a setting that we're really passionate about, and we still are. Both Greg and I were big believers in the IP... We're just looking for the right way to deploy it.

Website gone but a reference to the title can be found on Bioware's Legacy games Page

Yakuza
Yakuza an action adventure released for Playstation 2 in Japan (Titled Like a Dragon) December 2005 and North America September 2005

Success!!! The original website is Still up!!! along with it's Japanese counterpart.

See all "Wallpaper and Websites" posts

Xbox 360 "Vault" Console Stand Mod

Elderly: okay Alf on my signal.. this has got to be done in one take.. remember now enthusiasm..

Hi, this is Alf The Helper here with another extraordinary console thingy available for purchase.. whilst stocks last of the... Vault.

The Vault is a three dimensional lightweight casing for your cherished Xbox 360 in specially chosen Spring colours featuring Gundam White, Vampire Red, Urban Blue and the much sought after Nuclear Green. 

Each Vault provides that much needed increased airflow, beloved of professional gamers throughout the galaxy.  The Vault delivers better console stability and solves the perennial problem of where exactly do I leave my xbox 360 controller when I'm finished playing.  Yes finally your controller has a home.

Elderly: okay well done.. now we just need to wrap it up.. something short and snappy
Alf The Helper: I dunno I don't like selling stuff plus i't a stand.....why are they calling it a vault...
Elderly: I dunno.. I'd call it a housing... okay ready.. now with emotion...

As the manufacturers care as much about your beloved Xbox 360 as you do, they've made what can only be described as a humanitarian gesture by dropping their price by a whopping 40% making it theeeee most affordable Xbox 360 ..erm.. modification available...

You know..... your console needs this.

Elderly: Excellent right that's a wrap...
Alf The Helper: I hate myself.. can I go back to making wallpaper now!?
Elderly: Yes yes of course...

Remember Me Game Trailer and Gameplay Video

 

 

Remember Me is a cyber punk action themed release developed by Dontnod Entertainment, published by Capcom and due May 2013 for xbox 360, Ps3 and Windows. 

You play Nilin, a Welsh Actress, with the..

Alf The Helper: ahhh boss you'ved skipped a line...

..yes yes.. sorry, you play as Nilin a memory hunter with the ability to tap into people's minds and steal or rearrange their memories.  Nilin is voiced by Welsh Actress Kezia Burrows

Elderly: ..what?  that's it! what else do we know about it?
Alf The Helper: ah not much else, I'll check wikipedia...

Sorry bout this... erm....minor technical glitch....Nilin's former employer, Memoreyes, has erased her memories and you.. she.. must discover why and how to restore them....erm..features exploration, platforming, and melee combat...

erm....

So in the absense of any real info, we present the significant trailers...

Alf The Helper: Why has she got a fried egg on the back of her neck!?
Elderly: ..dunno.. shssh this is the best bit...
Alf The Helper: She dosen't sound Welsh..
Elderly: She trained at RADA
Alf The Helper: ohh right....

Okami HD Review Summary Ps3

 

Okami HD is an action adventure released via Playstation Network in October 2012.  Essentially the ummph version (supporting Playstation's Move) of the critically acclaimed (IGN's Game of the Year 2006) but poorly selling Ps2 game developed by the now defunct Clover Studio  and published by Capcom.

The game draws on Japanese myths to tell the story of how the land was saved from darkness by the Sun Goddess, taking the physical form of a white wolf. The environment is an animated watercolor and ink styled, cel-shaded delight for the eyes and the gameplay a mix of action, platform, and puzzle gaming genres.

For a re-release, the HD version scored an extraordinary 90% from 39 critic reviews on Metacritic. 

Quote of the Bunch:
Okami HD is a great example of what games can accomplish outside the realm of guns and gore, and I love it for that.  Machinima

Reviews Summary.
An experience that should not be missed, ahead of its time with its initial release.
A timeless classic, full of charm, subtle ingenuity, and beauty, remade in stunning HD.
Sad to see that after six years it is still one of the best examples of its genre.
The true vision of the creators has seemingly been realized, in glorious 1080p high definition.
Just as good of a game today as it was six years ago.
An essential part of any collection, especially in this flawless, gorgeous reissue.
Shows some signs of aging, it remains an awe-inspiring experience like no other.
Even more potent today than it was in 2006, Okami is Zelda's one and only match

Official Website

Alf The Helper: So your telling me that the original developers created a timeless classic, a jewel in the crown of video games, ... and yet because of poor sales of this veritable masterpiece, they went out of business?
Elderly: Essentially .... Yes
Alf The Helper: But that... that... that just makes me sad.... :(
Elderly: And so it should...
Alf The Helper: Well...in the words of Carly Rae Jepsen.. A change is going to come..
Elderly: .....that would be Sam Cooke...
Alf The Helper: Where?
Elderly: .. no Alf... the lyrics.... that would be Sam Cooke... A change is goin to come...
Alf The Helper: Not Carly.. !? ...I was so sure, you could have called me Maybel...
Elderly: no that's ....Call me maybe .. sigh.... Alf take a lie down.... please

Fanmade Assassin's Creed 3 Music Video Imagine Dragons

 

From the noteworthy video editing talents of manllamaking, featuring the track "Radioactive" from the US Rock band Imagine Dragons and the epic battlefield assassination brought to life by those obscenely talented Ubisoft wizards.

Official Game Website

See all "Fan Video" posts

Far Cry 3 Wallpaper

1600x900

 

1600x1000

 

1600x900

 

 

Hi! this is Alf the Helper here... :)

Mr.Elderly is indisposed at present and I can confirm, still without a copy of this console gem.  To cheer him up I put together this selection of Far Cry 3 Wallpaper as found on the wubternet.

Get well soon mr.Elderly

(Mr. Elderly has asked me to relay that rumours of his current state being directly related to the build up of bile having tried unsucessfully to obtain a copy of Far Cry 3 in his local retail stores........
.....is without basis.)

See all "Game Wallpaper" posts

Far Cry 3 Twitter Icons

Twitter regulation icon sized 250x250

Yes still without a copy, and don't even mention the Ps3 exclusive DLC...  containing two new story chapters with four to five missions each and four character skins.

So in an effort to ease my fast depleting patience, these latest twitter icons from Alf The Helper.

ZombiU Review Summary and Trailer

 

 

A launch title for the Wii U, ZombiU is survival horror first person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. 

Plot:
A great plague has descended upon London, infecting the human race with a deadly disease. How long will you survive in the labyrinth of London streets and underground as the infected close in around you? As you Assume the roles of various survivors during the game, the horrifying remains of humanity shuffle through the streets, waiting to prey on your living flesh ...

8(

Gameplay:
A very steep learing curve, one bite sees you joining the undead, however in a neat twist you simply take on the role of another survivor, allowing you to return to kill your former self and collect your lost inventory.  During normal play the gamepad is used to manage inventory and display a map of the area. The touchscreen is used for barricading doors, hacking combination locks etc. Holding the pad screen parallel to your tv allows you to scan the immediate area, very nifty for those sniper shots... though you are left defenceless in this mode, which is where a spare eye on the tv comes in handy.

Reception:
Polar opposites from the  reviewers, a love or hate title, but with universal recommendations for survival horror fans.  Despite this the game scores a very favourable 77% on Metacritic

What the developers said
"ZombiU will send shivers of fear and excitement up and down your spine in equal measure: it's the perfect showcase for what the Wii U is all about."

Quote of the Bunch:
It is unforgiving and brutal, but in the best of ways that challenges players to carefully consider each step. Digital Spy

Reviews Summary
It's a fantastically tense horror experience
A weak link in the Wii U's launch lineup
High difficulty and asymmetrical gameplay ideas deliver an intense experience
Slow and methodical, designed to build tension rather than pump adrenaline
Fundamentally difficult, repetitive and boring.
Not so impressive graphics, lack of online multiplayer
The perfect Wii U launch game for adult gamers
Good ideas are sadly spoiled by poor action and an average technical execution
Fans disenchanted with Capcom's Resident Evil series will find much to love in ZombiU

Official Website

Stunning Mass Effect Character Fan Art

Jack by ruthiee

Kasumi by TheBoyofCheese

Liara T-Soni by Tiara-Owl

Miranda by Patryk "Garrett" Olejniczak.

Tali and Legion by BoyGTO

Miranda by Spiritus

These stunning images inspired by the epic that is Biowares' Mass Effect series, realised with some extraodinary talent by the artists mentioned above.  Patrick Garrett has featured here before. The artist's portfolio (all deviantArt members) and higher resolution images on the links beneath the artwork.

See all "Fanart" posts

Fan Made Farcry 3 Facebook Cover

all sized 851x315

 

With the holidays in full swing and the incredible demand for this Ubisoft gem leaving local stores without stock, even Santa had difficulties getting me a gift wrapped copy.  With a red Porche also on the missing pressi list I'm begining to think that perhaps Santa prioritises his younger clients at Christmas. A most unfortunate development I'm sure you'll agree.

All this leaves me, for the one and only time in my gaming history, regretting that I hadn't pre-ordered.

In an effort to ease my disapointment and with the Forum Avatar business in sharp decline I've instructed Alf the Helper to knock up some Facebook banners for your approval.

And in case you've just escaped captivity from a desert island somewhere, Farcry 3 is an open world FPS with RPG elements set on a cluster of islands at the intersection of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  You play as Jason Brody on vacation until things take a turn for the worse and you find yourself fighting for survival, saving your kidnapped friends and escaping the islands and their ...erm interesting inhabitants.

or so I'm told... I wouldn't know... would I Santa?

Offical Website

Alf The Helper: Yeah and Santa forgot the phone number I asked for as well....
Elderly: Wait...you asked Santa for a phone number?
Alf The Helper: Yeah.. why what's wrong with that?
Elderly: ..but a phone number, why would you... !!....Scarlett Johansson's number?
Alf The Helper: Yep! I was am.. going to phone and wish her a happy new year and stuff..
Elderly:  The wall full of photos, the shrine, the t-shirt...the teddy bear you nicknamed Scarlett? Your becoming obsessed you know that?
Alf The Helper: But I'm .. If she just met me... ?.. you think?
Elderly: ...Alf, a Shrine!?
Alf The Helper: Sniff... I can take it down..

(Alf leaves to dismantle the shrine and Elderly rips up Santas' card with the ultra secret phone number...)

Captain America Console Mod

Given that applying a plastic decal and changing my xbox 360 faceplate is the complete extent of my console modding experience I'm constanly amazed at the lengths that a rare breed of gamers go to, to create their dream console.

Take design student Zachariah Perry Cruse, who integrated a blue LED for the power button, mounted a raised shield on one side and embellished the opposite with the classic Avengers "A" and wings.

Simple and elegant.

More images on his Official Blog page

Alf The Helper: How'd he do that then?
Elderly: I don't know, but I do know he does commissions
Alf The Helper: Do you think he'd do a Scarlett Johansson mod?
Elderly: A Black Widow mod.. sure I reckon he....
Alf The Helper: No!...... a Scarlett Johansson.... actress mod...
Elderly: She still hasn't replied to your tweets has she?
Alf The Helper: ..well not exactly no.. but these things take time...
Elderly:  Indeed, an eternity.....
Alf The Helper: :(

Game Graphics Farcry 3 Nicolas Collings

10 minutes plus, with it's own chapter selection list.

Thanks to the skinning abilities of a certain Mr.Bickle on Gaming Ales, I may have found my last game purchase of 2012.  So having watched the 10 minute trailer, an unhealthy number of times, I  dug a little deeper and found the outlandishly talented Mr. Nicolas Collings Lead/Supervisor Character Modeler and Texture Painter with Blur Studio.

Not alone select character models for Farcry 3, but Mr. Collings has also contributed to the Game Cinematics on.....

Injustice Gods Among Us (Capcom) - 2012
The guardians of the middle earth (Monolith) - 2012
PlanetSide 2 ( Sony Online Entertainment) - 2012
Dishonored (Bethesda) -2012
Resident Evil Raccoon City (Capcom) - 2011
Overstrike (Insomniac Games) - 2011
Lost Planet 3 (Capcom) - 2011

Official Website
On CGhub

Far Cry 3 Official Website

2012 Video Game Posters, Halo 4, Mass Effect 3

Featuring key artwork from some of 2012's blockbusters, and the perfect present for my blog helper Alf, who tells me he wrote to Santa looking for "Uncharted 3".... cruel but practical given our austere times.

Mass Effect 3 Game Poster

Halo 4 Game Poster

Assassin's Creed 3 Game Poster

  

Uncharted 3 Game Poster