Wii Bargain Bin: No More Heroes Review Summary

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.

The only surving...
Official Game site (Japanese)

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Risen 2: Dark Waters, Trailer, Wallpaper and Popcorn

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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.

Official Website
Youtube channel, includes some "mood" trailers and "making of" clips

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..  :(

Just Lyrics: Adele Someone Like You

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"We were born and raised in a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days"

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Cosplay Trixie from Cyphers MMO by Miyuko コスプレ

Cosplayer: Miyuko
On Facebook

Photography: Spycats
On Facebook

Character: Trixie from Korean action MMO "Cyphers", Cosplay as it should be.

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Watchmen Graphic Novel

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.

416 pages available in paperback and hardcover.

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Snippets and Screenshots July 2012

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.

Official Game Website
IGN Review

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.

Official Game Website
Digital Trends Review

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.

Official Game Website

Spec Ops: The Line Reviews Summary

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.

Official Website
Screenshots on IGN

Preview Deadlight for Xbox Live Arcade

Deadlight is a sidescrolling, survival horror, cinematic platformer, due August 1st for Xbox Live Arcade developed by Tequila Works and published by Microsoft Studios.

Set in 80's America, you play as Randall Wayne, a common garden scientist, who happens to find himself in an apparent virus outbreak.  Set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop the game begins 145 days after Patient Zero, and as you can see from the trailer owes a big nod, kiss, hug and wink to The Walking Dead, the Road and a drop of Epyx's Impossible mission for C64 and recent XBLA hit I Am Alive by Ubisoft. 

Seriously prime ingredients and perhaps just enough to reawaken my interest in 2D scrollers.........

Tequila CEO and creative director Raul Rubio says "Deadlight is not an objective story. It is told through the eyes, thoughts and diary entries of Randall Wayne."

.....with a decent storyline.

Free Gaming Magazines Thirteen 1

Thirteen 1 or T1 is a free monthly online gaming magazine.  Founded in March 2008 by three gaming enthusiasts, the idea behind the magazine and their website was to provide independent news and reviews written by gamers for gamers.  And they've done that in quite some style, and with some serious dedication.  They've even gone and launched a new Daily Magazine! see I told you, enthusiastic and maybe a little mad.

The 51st issue of T1 is available now, featuring SMITE, Age of Wulin, Pockie Pirates, Two Special E3 Features, Dr Who, Advice on Breaking into the game Industry and much more!

Grab your free copy now at Thirteen1.com

No, it's not a pop up site, no you don't have to register, no I don't get commission, yes it's SFW and it's also got a really nifty read in your browser thingy.... now if they did an app....

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