This seems to be one of the most active years in downloadable arcade titles. I swear, they just keep lining up and coming out. Here are some more games for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on the brink of release to checkout! (Continued from our ongoing list of the Best Upcoming Games of 2011 series.)
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Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition - XBLA, PSN
Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: August 24
EVO 2011 has me all amped up to FIGHT! Fighting games have always held such a big chunk of my video game sentiment. I remember the amount of triumph as I launched my first "HADOKEN!" with Ken in SFII. This was back in the day where almost every game coming out was a fighting game and the market was saturated with both good and bad titles. As people lined up left and right to plunk their hard-earned tokens, fighting to be the next champion, the Street Fighter series always seemed to hold dominance in the genre. Street Fighter is an iconic part of my childhood for sure, which is why I am very excited to see this port of Street Fighter III: Third Strike hit XBLA and PSN. To be honest, I really didn't play III, but have heard great things. This entry will feature online play, chock full of challenges and a new tournament mode for up to 8 people. Lag / delay has always been a huge problem with fighting online. Hopefully everything will remain smooth and free from chugging. Graphics are getting some enhancement due to the HD foray and from what I have seen, it's looking silky. When SFII HD Remix hit, I was blown away, so I am excited to see SFIII with some polish. Looking forward to sinking my teeth into the core dynamics of this very well received fighter from the fighting game staple that is Capcom.
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X-Men Destiny - Xbox 360, PS3
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Silicon Knights
Release: September 27
As great as X-Men:First Class was, I am happy to say that this is no movie tie-in game. Usually, those games never transfer over to anyting but absolute rubbish. Luckily, our friends over at Silicon Knights (Too Human, Eternal Darkness) are creating what appears to be fun Action RPG experience in the X-Men universe. You start by choosing between three mutant characters, each brand new to the universe and written for this game. This is where you are given a clean slate to start with. Finding X-Genes (the fuel behind fantastic powers), you will be able to customize your power set, enabling new abilities and actions. The cool thing is, once you meet classic X-Men characters, you gain access to there X-Genes, which you can then utilize. Pretty freaking rad! This is an RPG, so expect to see some interesting conversation trees with choices a la Mass Effect style, or at least we've been told. The story should be pretty solid, with Mike Carrey (ongoing X-Men:Legacy writer) manning the guns. From what I have read, there are some concerns with gameplay and graphics, being slightly sluggish and bland, respectively. Regardless, it's on my radar and hopefully they'll have enough time to add polish and shine.
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NeverDead - Xbox 360, PS3
Genre: Third Person Action / Shooter
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Rebellion
Release: Q3 2011
You're wife was murdered. You were left for dead by Astaroth, a head honcho Demon King who cares nothing of you but that you are out of the way. But alas, in your death you are granted immortality. You play as Bryce Boltzmann and you are never dead. This third person action game looks to offer some pretty interesting mechanics. Since you are immortal, you can't die. Well, kind of. If you are reduced to just your head, you are susceptible to being killed by certain enemies. Otherwise, you have plenty ways to dispatch carnage at your disposal to prevent this from happening. However, you have with you Arcadia, a woman of the organization NADA to watch your back and make sure you are sticking to your mission, offering help where she can. The thing is, you have to protect her from death. It's unclear if she is with you for the entire game, but I am a bit leery of a full story escort mission if that's the case. On the flip-side, you do have some nifty abilities being immortal. You can rip your arm off and use it as a detonation device. Can't get to a certain area? Well why don't you just rip your head off and toss it up to the desired location, teleporting the rest of your body to it? It also looks to bring dual welding guns and a sword for melee, bolstering your arsenal. Co-op and versus look to offer unique challenges for those wanting to take it online. I am curious to see the strategy behind the online modes. With the mechanics of the game, it may be unique enough to turn some heads.
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Crimson Alliance - Xbox 360
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Certain Affinity
Developer: Certain Affinity
Release: Q3 2011
Just when I thought there weren't enough Action RPG's, we get slapped with one after the next. Certain Affinity is a fairly new developer that brought map packs via Halo and CoD. They are branching out and adding to the Summer of Arcade on Xbox 360 with Crimson Alliance. Choosing between three separate classes (Merc, Wizard and Assassin), players will be able to team up online with their buddies in this dungeon crawler. Just like most RPG's, you'll be able to level, spec and equip your toon to become a powerful force. Comes complete with 4 player online co-op. (Dungeon Siege III, if an arcade game can get it right, why can't you?) Graphics aren't too complex, but display a fun, fantastical style similar to WoW or Torchlight. Being the final game in the Summer of Arcade lineup, if you're planning to purchase the previous games, you'll get Crimson Alliance for free! Check it out!
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Orcs Must Die! - XBLA, PSN PC
Genre: Third Person Action Strategy Shooter / Tower Defense
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Robot Entertainment
Release: Q3 2011
Ha! This game could only mean one thing: killing orcs and lots of them. You play as a WarMage with both benefits of magic, melee, range and traps at your disposal. Using your sword-staff, you can combo into knocking the snot out of orcs while quickly switching to your force back magic. This helplessly launches the suckers into the spikes you laid earlier set to spring on any sorry sap meandering about. Don't forget to pick'em off with your crossbow. Headshot! Just by watching some footage, you'll see how flawlessly fun it is to chain combos to your kill multiplier by getting creative with your arsenal. Hordes of orcs will make their way through your defenses, so you had better strategically plan exactly where to best fool your foes. The aforementioned pop-up spikes, spring floor catapults and archers are just some of your disposable preventions available. I am very excited about this game. It just looks downright awesome. The blending of third person action and strategic planning looks so well done. Give it a look and see for yourself!
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By the way, here's what I'm currently playing through:
Bastion - XBLA
Dungeon Siege III - Xbox 360
L.A. Noire - Xbox 360
Trine - Xbox 360
Mortal Kombat - Xbox 360
Gears 2 - Xbox 360
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 1 HERE!
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 2 HERE!
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 3 HERE!
Be sure to "like" us on our facebook page to keep up with us, and other projects, articles, and videos we are working on!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Best Upcoming Games of 2011 (Xbox 360, XBLA, PS3, PC) - Part 3
We are almost to the ridiculous holiday gaming season. As for now, we have some fun distractions to keep us at bay until the craziness of amazing releases roll around. Check out some more of the "Best Upcoming Games of 2011" below that I think are worth your time and money. Don't worry PS3, we have some exclusives for you just around the bend. (Continued from our ongoing list of the Best Upcoming Games of 2011 series.)
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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet - XBLA, PC
Genre: Shooter / Metroidvania
Publisher: Fuelcell Games
Developer: Fuelcell Games
Release Date: August 3
The Summer of Arcade via XBLA kicked off with Bastion this week and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be sweeping your Xbox 360 and PC shortly. And what is this game exactly about you might ask? It's a side scrolling shooter that pits you in a flying saucer, hovering and adventuring through planets with beautifully silhouetted martian landscapes and even more "martian" inhabitants. You have an assorted variety of weapons at your disposal, huge bosses to defeat, puzzles to solve and plenty to explore a la Metroidvania-esque design. Did I mention the color and animations look exquisite and the music is grandiose? This upcoming game is MARVELOUSLY DELICIOUS LOOKING!
Publisher: Fuelcell Games
Developer: Fuelcell Games
Release Date: August 3
The Summer of Arcade via XBLA kicked off with Bastion this week and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be sweeping your Xbox 360 and PC shortly. And what is this game exactly about you might ask? It's a side scrolling shooter that pits you in a flying saucer, hovering and adventuring through planets with beautifully silhouetted martian landscapes and even more "martian" inhabitants. You have an assorted variety of weapons at your disposal, huge bosses to defeat, puzzles to solve and plenty to explore a la Metroidvania-esque design. Did I mention the color and animations look exquisite and the music is grandiose? This upcoming game is MARVELOUSLY DELICIOUS LOOKING!
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Torchlight 2 - PC, Mac
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Runic Games
Developer: Runic Games
Release: Rumored July 2011 for PC / TBD for Mac
I loved Torchlight. It itches that fix of obsessive compulsive loot hoarding while keeping things fresh with randomized dungeons and detailed talent trees to customize all whilst looking bright and beautiful. Just a super fun game. I only really had one problem: the lack of multiplayer. This time around, Runic has added drop-in-and-out multiplayer, allowing for you to take or search for a buddy, join in for some hackin' and slashin' and continue on your merry way with what ever loot and experience you picked up. Wow, that sounds amazing, doesn't it Dungeon Siege III? With four new classes, plenty of new skills and loot, updated weather and world effects, this is a must have for me. The Mac version street date (or should I say Steam date) is currently being determined. There is also talk of a port to Xbox 360 and maybe even a mobile version. That would be cool.
Publisher: Runic Games
Developer: Runic Games
Release: Rumored July 2011 for PC / TBD for Mac
I loved Torchlight. It itches that fix of obsessive compulsive loot hoarding while keeping things fresh with randomized dungeons and detailed talent trees to customize all whilst looking bright and beautiful. Just a super fun game. I only really had one problem: the lack of multiplayer. This time around, Runic has added drop-in-and-out multiplayer, allowing for you to take or search for a buddy, join in for some hackin' and slashin' and continue on your merry way with what ever loot and experience you picked up. Wow, that sounds amazing, doesn't it Dungeon Siege III? With four new classes, plenty of new skills and loot, updated weather and world effects, this is a must have for me. The Mac version street date (or should I say Steam date) is currently being determined. There is also talk of a port to Xbox 360 and maybe even a mobile version. That would be cool.
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BloodRayne: Betrayal - XBLA, PSN
Genre: Side-scrolling Action Adventure
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Way Forward Technologies
Release: August 31
Vampires, blood, blades and one kick-ass vixen named Rayne. Having played both BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 and loving them, I have to admit, I was pretty stoked to hear about a new game from this franchise! Our favorite red-headed dhampir returns with her twin arm blades, deadlier than ever, yet with a slightly different approach. Still staying in the action category, Majesco has decided to change up the scene by making this entry a 2-D, hand-drawn, side-scrolling adventure action game. And when I say hand-drawn, I mean painstakingly. An approximate 4,000 frames are given to Rayne alone, crisply and beautifully rendering on your HD TV in all her glory. The game has a very anime / manga artistic direction. It looks kind of like the newer Castlevanias as far as the level layouts. Combat looks super fluid and over-the-top as Rayne gracefully arches her body into a sweet dismount after decapitating a foe. She has use of a gun too, which you can pull out at whim to blast a freshly stabbed baddie. I am interested to see what the implementation of customizing combos and skills will do to the gameplay. Hopefully the depth is there for expanse and re playability. I am not too concerned, because there is a big emphasis on points based off of skill, so we should be seeing some fun ways to dispose of our enemies in the midst of presenting a challenge. In the meantime, we are promised mega boss battles and a solid story, so coupled with the aforementioned features, it's going to be a bloody good time. After following this series with much attachment, a day one purchase only makes sense for me.
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Way Forward Technologies
Release: August 31
Vampires, blood, blades and one kick-ass vixen named Rayne. Having played both BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 and loving them, I have to admit, I was pretty stoked to hear about a new game from this franchise! Our favorite red-headed dhampir returns with her twin arm blades, deadlier than ever, yet with a slightly different approach. Still staying in the action category, Majesco has decided to change up the scene by making this entry a 2-D, hand-drawn, side-scrolling adventure action game. And when I say hand-drawn, I mean painstakingly. An approximate 4,000 frames are given to Rayne alone, crisply and beautifully rendering on your HD TV in all her glory. The game has a very anime / manga artistic direction. It looks kind of like the newer Castlevanias as far as the level layouts. Combat looks super fluid and over-the-top as Rayne gracefully arches her body into a sweet dismount after decapitating a foe. She has use of a gun too, which you can pull out at whim to blast a freshly stabbed baddie. I am interested to see what the implementation of customizing combos and skills will do to the gameplay. Hopefully the depth is there for expanse and re playability. I am not too concerned, because there is a big emphasis on points based off of skill, so we should be seeing some fun ways to dispose of our enemies in the midst of presenting a challenge. In the meantime, we are promised mega boss battles and a solid story, so coupled with the aforementioned features, it's going to be a bloody good time. After following this series with much attachment, a day one purchase only makes sense for me.
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Toy Soldiers: Cold War - XBLA
Genre: Shooter / Tower Defense
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Signal Studios
Release: August 17
Remember playing with your G.I.Joe's? Remember demolishing those cheap, plastic army men when dropping an imaginary fly-by napalm bomb from your stealth bomber? Remember making explosions with your mouth? I still do all of these things. Or at least, I'd like to. Last year's Toy Soldiers hit with great success and fulfilled our childhood toy wars to a great degree. It only gets better. There are some pretty nifty tweaks getting thrown into the mix and now the game takes place years ahead of the last, opening up some fresh new armies and their units. Blast enough of the opposing force and you could be rewarded with a Commando. This is where the camera shifts to third-person and gives you a bazooka in one hand and an assault rifle in the other to wreak utter havoc upon those who stand in your way. There's just nothing like watching those little plastic saps twist as they fall to the ground. Don't you strategy fans worry either, this is still a tower defense game, so managing your units and upgrading your defenses is supremely necessary. Also, there's a rewind feature to back up and counter mistakes made. Oh and need someone to play with? This game is loaded with online capabilities, co-op and split screen. It's going to be explosive, so check it!
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Signal Studios
Release: August 17
Remember playing with your G.I.Joe's? Remember demolishing those cheap, plastic army men when dropping an imaginary fly-by napalm bomb from your stealth bomber? Remember making explosions with your mouth? I still do all of these things. Or at least, I'd like to. Last year's Toy Soldiers hit with great success and fulfilled our childhood toy wars to a great degree. It only gets better. There are some pretty nifty tweaks getting thrown into the mix and now the game takes place years ahead of the last, opening up some fresh new armies and their units. Blast enough of the opposing force and you could be rewarded with a Commando. This is where the camera shifts to third-person and gives you a bazooka in one hand and an assault rifle in the other to wreak utter havoc upon those who stand in your way. There's just nothing like watching those little plastic saps twist as they fall to the ground. Don't you strategy fans worry either, this is still a tower defense game, so managing your units and upgrading your defenses is supremely necessary. Also, there's a rewind feature to back up and counter mistakes made. Oh and need someone to play with? This game is loaded with online capabilities, co-op and split screen. It's going to be explosive, so check it!
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The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Warner Brothers Interactive
Developer: Snowblind Studios
Release: August 24
The Lord of the Rings. What an awesome universe. However, when it comes to games, they have been pretty meh. At least in my opinion. I was a bit skeptical when first hearing of War in the North. You see, with such a large property such as LOTR, there seems to be certain limits that always seem to hamper the quality of the experience for me. A big limit is the art style. While being amazing as a whole, looking at War in the North, I felt a bit uninspired. It didn't really jump out at me. Much criticism took me further and I began to think about how limited your race choices are and then your skill tree choices, etc. All because you are confined within an already defined universe. Let me guess, you can only be an elf, dwarf and human? Bah. But then I watched the demo. My mind has changed. First, the graphics are brilliant. Everything is so detailed. Character models look surprisingly lovely. I love that this game is rated Mature too. Loads of blood and dismemberment of orcs? Check. Finishing moves? Check. This is Lord of the Rings, right? In watching the E3 demo, Snowblind promises tons of loot and reiterates that it is loot based. I love that idea. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that they come up with a plethora of armor and weapons. Even though the races are kinda ho-hum, the co-operative gameplay is definitely emphasized through the utilization of their diversified strengths for each problematic circumstance. And when the going gets too tough, call in Beleram, one of the Great Eagles to turn the tables. Notice I said co-op, because it completely supports online co-op. Now, it is limited to 3 players because of the amount of playable races. Nonetheless, it's in third person, so that is awesome! Full control of the camera instead of a fixed isometric mess? I'll take that any day! (Ahem, Dungeon Siege III.) Give the videos a look and I think you'll see why I changed my mind. Looking forward to this!
Publisher: Warner Brothers Interactive
Developer: Snowblind Studios
Release: August 24
The Lord of the Rings. What an awesome universe. However, when it comes to games, they have been pretty meh. At least in my opinion. I was a bit skeptical when first hearing of War in the North. You see, with such a large property such as LOTR, there seems to be certain limits that always seem to hamper the quality of the experience for me. A big limit is the art style. While being amazing as a whole, looking at War in the North, I felt a bit uninspired. It didn't really jump out at me. Much criticism took me further and I began to think about how limited your race choices are and then your skill tree choices, etc. All because you are confined within an already defined universe. Let me guess, you can only be an elf, dwarf and human? Bah. But then I watched the demo. My mind has changed. First, the graphics are brilliant. Everything is so detailed. Character models look surprisingly lovely. I love that this game is rated Mature too. Loads of blood and dismemberment of orcs? Check. Finishing moves? Check. This is Lord of the Rings, right? In watching the E3 demo, Snowblind promises tons of loot and reiterates that it is loot based. I love that idea. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that they come up with a plethora of armor and weapons. Even though the races are kinda ho-hum, the co-operative gameplay is definitely emphasized through the utilization of their diversified strengths for each problematic circumstance. And when the going gets too tough, call in Beleram, one of the Great Eagles to turn the tables. Notice I said co-op, because it completely supports online co-op. Now, it is limited to 3 players because of the amount of playable races. Nonetheless, it's in third person, so that is awesome! Full control of the camera instead of a fixed isometric mess? I'll take that any day! (Ahem, Dungeon Siege III.) Give the videos a look and I think you'll see why I changed my mind. Looking forward to this!
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By the way, here's what I'm currently playing through:
- Bastion - XBLA
- Dungeon Siege III - Xbox 360
- L.A. Noire - Xbox 360
- Trine - Xbox 360
- Mortal Kombat - Xbox 360
- Gears 2 - Xbox 360
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
CRUNCHPOP - EPISODE 3 - TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON SPECIAL
Here is the latest in movie reviews (?) where we had a few special guests grace us with their own take on Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
What did you think about the latest in the Transformers franchise?
Since we were not able to make it to the episode this week, we will be releasing our personal review soon, and give the amount of Werewolf Unicorns we believe the movie deserved.
If you haven't seen Transformers: Dark of the Moon, be sure to read our post about what you need to know before you see it in the theater.
--->GREEN LANTERN REVIEW
--->X-MEN: FIRST CLASS REVIEW
What did you think about the latest in the Transformers franchise?
Since we were not able to make it to the episode this week, we will be releasing our personal review soon, and give the amount of Werewolf Unicorns we believe the movie deserved.
If you haven't seen Transformers: Dark of the Moon, be sure to read our post about what you need to know before you see it in the theater.
--->GREEN LANTERN REVIEW
--->X-MEN: FIRST CLASS REVIEW
Thursday, June 30, 2011
PRE-TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON PREPARATIONS
While preparing to watch the latest in the Transformers franchise, I (Chris) have been re-watching the first and second Transformers movies and have realized how little time is being spent on the actual story line. The amount of actual meaningful dialogue - to explosion ratio is laughable in retrospect.
That being said, I am actually expecting the same when I walk into the Alamo Draft House tomorrow evening. But, of all things to hate, I'm not going to hold that against the movie at all. This is the entertainment I am paying for. I want to see 5 billion colors overloading my optical nerve and all of my other senses. I want to see more robot fodder than the grains of sand I have seen in my life. I want to see unreal scenes of action, survivability and limits of the human body. This is why I pay (too much) money to see this genre of movies in the theater.
When debating which format I was going to see "Dark of the Moon"(DLP or 3D), I did a bit of research (combing the bowels of the internet) on this very subject and found this very interesting letter from Paramount Pictures/Michael Bay, addressed to the projectionist of each theater showing the movie.
This has encouraged me to give 3D another chance, since we have already dogged the 3D movies in our X-Men: First Class Review . I am very interested to see improvements in the 3D movie realm as I find the concept fascinating, but the execution so far to be pretty annoying after the initial "wow factor" wears off (10 minutes in).
I do know that Michael Bay has been highly influenced by another director that has avidly pushed the 3D experience in movies, James Cameron (Avatar). Here is a very interesting conversation about the use of 3D in movie from pre-poduction, on into post-production. (technical film nerd info alert)
I loved to hear Michael Bay explain how he really wanted to fine tune the 3D experience in a way that was natural for the scene, using both film and digital shots to create the best end result.
So I look forward to another Michael Bay movie that will wow me with visuals and leave me hanging in the lore department.
I'm really keeping my hopes low for "Dark of the Moon" so that I might be surprised in the end... - Chris
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That being said, I am actually expecting the same when I walk into the Alamo Draft House tomorrow evening. But, of all things to hate, I'm not going to hold that against the movie at all. This is the entertainment I am paying for. I want to see 5 billion colors overloading my optical nerve and all of my other senses. I want to see more robot fodder than the grains of sand I have seen in my life. I want to see unreal scenes of action, survivability and limits of the human body. This is why I pay (too much) money to see this genre of movies in the theater.
When debating which format I was going to see "Dark of the Moon"(DLP or 3D), I did a bit of research (combing the bowels of the internet) on this very subject and found this very interesting letter from Paramount Pictures/Michael Bay, addressed to the projectionist of each theater showing the movie.
This has encouraged me to give 3D another chance, since we have already dogged the 3D movies in our X-Men: First Class Review . I am very interested to see improvements in the 3D movie realm as I find the concept fascinating, but the execution so far to be pretty annoying after the initial "wow factor" wears off (10 minutes in).
I do know that Michael Bay has been highly influenced by another director that has avidly pushed the 3D experience in movies, James Cameron (Avatar). Here is a very interesting conversation about the use of 3D in movie from pre-poduction, on into post-production. (technical film nerd info alert)
Michael Bay & James Cameron Talk 3D (Extended) from Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.
I loved to hear Michael Bay explain how he really wanted to fine tune the 3D experience in a way that was natural for the scene, using both film and digital shots to create the best end result.
So I look forward to another Michael Bay movie that will wow me with visuals and leave me hanging in the lore department.
I'm really keeping my hopes low for "Dark of the Moon" so that I might be surprised in the end... - Chris
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
CRUNCHPOP - Episode 2 - Green Lantern Movie Review
In this episode, Crunchpop travels to Oa, to see just how DC's Green Lantern stacks up to this summer's current blockbusters. Check out the final verdict!
Do you guys agree?
_________
----> X-men: First Class Review
Also check out our ongoing overview of some great games coming out in the not so distant future.
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 1 HERE!
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 2 HERE!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Best Upcoming Games of 2011 (Xbox 360, XBLA, PS3, PC) - Part 2
Continuing the slew and onslaught of the "Upcoming Games of 2011", here's part two. There are some dandy games on the horizon and funny thing is, below are mostly downloadable multi-platform titles! Are we seeing a trend in the gaming industry? That aside, I CANNOT WAIT!
From Dust - XBLA, PSN, PC
Genre: Simulation (God game)
Developer: Ubisoft
Release: July 27
This game looks so impressive. You have to check out the trailer to really get what I mean. It's a God simulation where you have different tools to build a world "from dust." Use lava to bubble where you move the cursor, watching it cool to form land. Use dirt to provoke vegetation and watch as water takes over, making it's own tributaries and rivers. Awesome? Yes. Dynamic? You bet. I am not sure how the rest of the gameplay will be besides creating, but you seem to have influence over the people that populate your world. Reminds me of Peter Molyneux's Black & White. This looks really interesting and can't wait to see it unfold. Another stellar arcade download coming to us!
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From Dust - XBLA, PSN, PC
Genre: Simulation (God game)
Developer: Ubisoft
Release: July 27
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Dead Island - 360, PS3, PC
Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Techland (Poland)
Release: September 6
So when I first saw this trailer, I had to hold back tears. I don't think a game trailer has ever done that. I mean, I've cried almost from being so pissed off at a game, but this is different. It's gotta be the little girl. Talk about a shizznitty vacation. Anyway, the game looks to offer some intriguing features to first-person melee and include some role-playing elements with open mission structure. Plus, it's 4-player co-op. That's always welcomed. Make sure you take a look at the trailer and note the beautiful particle and blood effects running rampant throughout. It's zombies with dismemberment, decapitations and the like. Not for the squeamish. The game has my interest and I am curious to see it shape up or ship out.
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Gears of War 3 - 360
Genre: Third-Person ShooterPublisher: Microsoft
Developer: Epic Games
Release: September 20
Until recently, I have had a late arrival to the Gears franchise. I picked up the combo pack a couple of months ago, beat Gears 1 but still haven’t gotten around to playing through Gears 2. I did get into the Gears 3 Multiplayer Beta via Bulletstorm and thoroughly enjoyed myself. As the story goes, this is the final countdown to the fate of Marcus and his team. Having not played Gears 2 yet, I’m not too sure where the status of the struggle lies, but I am pretty excited to see the bond the team has during this campaign. From the footage I have seen, their dynamic looks more fleshed out (which I am sure to get filled in when playing Gears 2). However, this time around, the team looks well seasoned and the story will be tying up loose ends which I am already looking forward to. New guns, the mech suit, gameplay tweaks, enhanced graphics, Horde Mode 2.0 and the most robust multiplayer experience looks to ensure a ride of epic proportions in Gears 3.
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Trine 2 - XBLA, PSN, PC
Genre: Action / Platform / PuzzlePublisher: Atlus
Developer: Frostbyte
Release: Q3 2011(September 30 rumored)
Whoaseph. Holy cacao! Remember how I mentioned that I was a sucker for every kind of fantastical art? This game has been in my sights ever since I saw the first trailer. Trine 2 looks absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it could be the most beautiful Xbox Live Arcade game I have ever set eyes on. This trailer forced me to buy Trine 1 through Steam. (Which by the way, is available for Mac for all of you Apple users like myself.) I figured I should get acquainted to know what to look for in Trine 2. From what I have played thus far, I love! Trine 2 looks to expand on the gameplay elements from it's predecessor, returning with the same thief / wizard / warrior characters and garnishing their puzzle- solving dynamics with new abilities. Challenges look to be more creative this time around. If it's anything like the first and being improved upon, I am going to be one happy camper.
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Fireburst - XBLA, PSN, PC
Genre: Racing Action
Publisher: Zoo Games
Developer: ExDream
Release: Summer 2011
Genre: Racing Action
Publisher: Zoo Games
Developer: ExDream
Release: Summer 2011
Did anybody play Vigilante 8 or Twisted Metal? How about Blur? I really loved Blur. What a kick ass game. This looks to fall into that vein of destructive vehicular combat, all whilst screaming down a track, trying to keep from blowing up. The arcade racer features an oddball cast each with specific cars and abilities. Cars are divided into four different classes including buggys, trucks, offroaders and muscle cars. Each of these cars offer a distinct Fireboost ability like Fireblast, which you can use to annihilate opponents. Firewheels is another nifty trade that gives your screeching tires flame tracks that damage anyone tailing your blazing path. Graphically, the game looks pretty amazing, especially considering it's a downloadable game. Tracks look dynamic, cars look detailed and the particle / fire effects look radical. Another hot contender in this array upcoming games.
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Dangit. How the crap to keep up with so many titles? Guess I can't complain. Would rather have too many good games to play than not enough! I'm currently working on part 3 of "Best Upcoming Games of 2011" which starts the beginning of the giant franchises. Let me know if there are any games you want reviewed, previewed or discussed!
Even bigger games coming, so stay tuned and thanks for reading! ~ Joshua
- Dungeon Siege III - Xbox 360
- L.A. Noire - Xbox 360
- Trine- Mac
- Mortal Kombat - Xbox 360
- Gears 2 - Xbox 360
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 1 HERE!
----> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 3 HERE!
----> GREEN LANTERN MOVIE REVIEW
----> WHO OK'd THIS? - FUNNY VINTAGE COMICS
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
WHO OK'd THIS? Episode 1
This week we are going to check out some frames from Action Comics #311 and we hope you will laugh with us!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Best Upcoming Games of 2011 - (Xbox 360, XBLA PS3, PC) Part 1
It’s absurd the amount of amazing games at the forefront of our fingertips. Just when I thought last year was an awesome year for gaming, looks like this one may just top it. Wait until Fall, it's brutal. Check out the first batch of the "Best Upcoming Games of 2011" below:
Dungeon Siege 3 360, PS3, PC
Shadows of the Damned 360, PS3
_________
Bastion XBLA, PC
Max Payne 3 360, PS3, PC
---> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 3 HERE
Warning: Shadows of the Damned and Deus Ex trailers not intended for youngsters.
_________Dungeon Siege 3 360, PS3, PC
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Obsidian
Release: June 21 (Out Today)
For good graciousness, Blizzard, pull the trigger on Diablo 3 already so I don’t have to find a dungeon crawler that will never add up to it! While we wait for infinity to come, I recently played the demo of Dungeon Siege 3 on xbox 360, to satisfy my loot, kill, repeat urges. This game is out today and I am planning on hitting the books with it. I have been hankering to slay endless hordes of all-things-evil to get some new piece of stat molested armor. What is it about leveling up that is so addicting?! Anyways, when I took the demo online for a spin with a buddy, I must say, I had fun. The art does seem a tad generic and selecting enemies was spotty, but overall I am pretty excited to see if this can deliver a fix until Diablo 3. I do at least think the characters are nifty and the graphics, pretty for the genre. I liked the dash of Mass Effect-esque dialogue options, the inventory system was...manageable and the talent trees look fun to tool around with. Whether or not the end product will be polished enough is the question. Let’s see what you can do Obsidian. Gulp. <--(For those who know Obsidian.)
For good graciousness, Blizzard, pull the trigger on Diablo 3 already so I don’t have to find a dungeon crawler that will never add up to it! While we wait for infinity to come, I recently played the demo of Dungeon Siege 3 on xbox 360, to satisfy my loot, kill, repeat urges. This game is out today and I am planning on hitting the books with it. I have been hankering to slay endless hordes of all-things-evil to get some new piece of stat molested armor. What is it about leveling up that is so addicting?! Anyways, when I took the demo online for a spin with a buddy, I must say, I had fun. The art does seem a tad generic and selecting enemies was spotty, but overall I am pretty excited to see if this can deliver a fix until Diablo 3. I do at least think the characters are nifty and the graphics, pretty for the genre. I liked the dash of Mass Effect-esque dialogue options, the inventory system was...manageable and the talent trees look fun to tool around with. Whether or not the end product will be polished enough is the question. Let’s see what you can do Obsidian. Gulp. <--(For those who know Obsidian.)
_________
Shadows of the Damned 360, PS3
Genre: Third-Person Action
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Release: June 21 (Out Today)
It’s Shake’n’Bake, and I helped?! Talk about random, over-the-top crazy gaming. When I first saw Shadows of the Damned, I said sneeringly under a crimson sun: “TARANTINO & RODRIGUEZ”. Yes, this has you going to Hell to save your girlfriend, but this time you aren’t Dante. Instead, you are who semi-appears to be John Stamos, or the likes of him, looking to unleash unholy havoc to get your woman back. But you can’t go to the gates of Hell unsuited and outwitted. First, you need a torch. Make that a torch with a flaming skull who speaks to you in an English accent, morphing into new weapons at your whim, all whilst making crass jokes. Sound ridiculous enough? Add buckets of bizarre creatures, funky encounters and gobs of gore. Bingo. Suda 51 (No More Heroes) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil) team up to bring you this mesh of mayhem. Really not my cup of tea. It's a bit too bonkers and crude for me, but this level of zanyness will definitely appeal to the hardcore.
It’s Shake’n’Bake, and I helped?! Talk about random, over-the-top crazy gaming. When I first saw Shadows of the Damned, I said sneeringly under a crimson sun: “TARANTINO & RODRIGUEZ”. Yes, this has you going to Hell to save your girlfriend, but this time you aren’t Dante. Instead, you are who semi-appears to be John Stamos, or the likes of him, looking to unleash unholy havoc to get your woman back. But you can’t go to the gates of Hell unsuited and outwitted. First, you need a torch. Make that a torch with a flaming skull who speaks to you in an English accent, morphing into new weapons at your whim, all whilst making crass jokes. Sound ridiculous enough? Add buckets of bizarre creatures, funky encounters and gobs of gore. Bingo. Suda 51 (No More Heroes) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil) team up to bring you this mesh of mayhem. Really not my cup of tea. It's a bit too bonkers and crude for me, but this level of zanyness will definitely appeal to the hardcore.
_________
Bastion XBLA, PC
Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Supergiant Games
Release: July 20
I am a complete sucker for fantasy art and this game has done nothing but make me drool. I am captivated by it’s purdyness. Bastion is an Action RPG that brings some cool ideas to the table. One of those being a narrator that carries you through, voicing what is being penned as you play. Take a look at the trailer and see what I am talking about. I am digging these quality XBLA games!
I am a complete sucker for fantasy art and this game has done nothing but make me drool. I am captivated by it’s purdyness. Bastion is an Action RPG that brings some cool ideas to the table. One of those being a narrator that carries you through, voicing what is being penned as you play. Take a look at the trailer and see what I am talking about. I am digging these quality XBLA games!
_________
Max Payne 3 360, PS3, PC
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Vancouver
Release: August 1
Max Payne 3 has had delays along with the silent treatment from Rockstar. Originally, it was suppose to see the light of day the winter of 2009, then pushed back again. It's now 2011, but don’t lose faith. Pictures have been surfacing and it’s looking pretty promising. At least promising that it still exists. Maybe they had to scrap parts so they could use the same tech that's in L.A. Noire, who knows? If that is the case, I’d be super excited! Max Payne has always had a noir flair to it. Judging by the pictures, it looks to be very gritty and dark. Here's hoping to it being good. Definitely back on the radar!
Max Payne 3 has had delays along with the silent treatment from Rockstar. Originally, it was suppose to see the light of day the winter of 2009, then pushed back again. It's now 2011, but don’t lose faith. Pictures have been surfacing and it’s looking pretty promising. At least promising that it still exists. Maybe they had to scrap parts so they could use the same tech that's in L.A. Noire, who knows? If that is the case, I’d be super excited! Max Payne has always had a noir flair to it. Judging by the pictures, it looks to be very gritty and dark. Here's hoping to it being good. Definitely back on the radar!
_________
Deus Ex: Human Revolution 360, PS3, PC
Deus Ex: Human Revolution 360, PS3, PC
Genre: First Person Shooter/RPG
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Release: August 23
The first Deus Ex: Brilliant. Highly acclaimed for it’s open-ended form (for it's time especially) and engaging story, Deus Ex: Human Revolution looks to adopt conceptually and outdo it’s predecessor. From what E3 footage I have seen recently, I am getting more amped for it’s release. It’s actually a prequel, putting you in the shoes of Adam Jensen, a security official for Sariff Industries. The world is torn between trans-human augmentation and after a tiff, your injuries give you no other choice but to incorporate them so you can live. The story looks very engaging and the gameplay seems spectacular. Players really get a ton of customization not only in abilities, powers and the like, but also in approaching how you play. Stealth it up, snapping necks like no one knows you’re there, or say “Screw that, chew on these guns blazing!” Plus, how can you not like the melange stylings of The Matrix-meets-Blade Runner-meets-Terminator-meets-Bicentennial Man? (Just kidding on that last one.)
The first Deus Ex: Brilliant. Highly acclaimed for it’s open-ended form (for it's time especially) and engaging story, Deus Ex: Human Revolution looks to adopt conceptually and outdo it’s predecessor. From what E3 footage I have seen recently, I am getting more amped for it’s release. It’s actually a prequel, putting you in the shoes of Adam Jensen, a security official for Sariff Industries. The world is torn between trans-human augmentation and after a tiff, your injuries give you no other choice but to incorporate them so you can live. The story looks very engaging and the gameplay seems spectacular. Players really get a ton of customization not only in abilities, powers and the like, but also in approaching how you play. Stealth it up, snapping necks like no one knows you’re there, or say “Screw that, chew on these guns blazing!” Plus, how can you not like the melange stylings of The Matrix-meets-Blade Runner-meets-Terminator-meets-Bicentennial Man? (Just kidding on that last one.)
_________
There are so many rad games coming out, that I am going to divide this "Best Upcoming Games of 2011" list up into multiple parts. Let me know if there are any games you want reviewed, previewed or discussed and be looking for the next parts to this madness soon! ~ Joshua---> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 2 HERE
---> BEST UPCOMING GAMES OF 2011 PART 3 HERE
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Summer Movie Round-Up
Movies that are on our radar... or not.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
X-Men: First Class
June 3, 2011
Josh and I have already done a pretty in-depth review about the latest iteration of the X-Men chronicles. You can watch that (Video Spoiler Alert) HERE! Please Subscribe to our Youtube Channel (Click the Subscribe button on the right side of the page!)
Super 8
June 10, 2011
You may love it, you may hate it. But if this movie is like anything else good ol' J.J. Abrams has done recently, you'll probably be disappointed somehow. (i.e. Lost)
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Green Lantern
June 17, 2011
I greatly anticipate this movie to do one of two things. Either the movie will inspire me to really get neck deep in Green Lantern lore, or it will solidify my disinterest and wow me with green-splosions.
Any Green Lantern lovers out there who would like to explain the excitement behind a guy with a ring?
____
Don't Care
#whathappenedtojimcarrey (OOPS) Next...
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
July 15, 2011
We simply can't wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II !! The movie will most definitely escalate into the intense showdown between Harry and Voldemort, wreaking havoc and destruction to Hogwarts in their wake.
Captain America: The First Avenger
July 22, 2011
I am personally excited about Captain America: The First Avenger because of the time period with which the movie is based in. It really worked in X-Men: First Class, and from what I have seen from the artistic direction and cinematography in the trailer, it will take me 3+ views before my brain pays any attention to the story and not the "pur-di-ness."
__________________________________
Also another not so mainstream movie…
Bellflower
Summer 2011
This movie is particularly interesting to see how awesome Director, Writer, and Actor, Evan Glodell is at doing what he does….(everything) --- It has flame-balls and rad vintage cars, do you really need to know anything else?
___
ANY MOVIES WE MISSED? Let us know in the comments!
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| Blip: The Video Games Magazine June, 1983 |
Lets just hope that they don't try to make more additions to the video game graveyard out of these titles.
To quote my favorite source (comic longbox) for all things "current" --- My issue of Marvel's failed magazine, Blip: The Video Games Magazine June, 1983 issue goes into prophetic-realism-mode when they said:
"What did E.T. and TRON prove? Maybe that the only thing a movie tie-in has going for it is its title. That might account for some sales. But in the end, the game will sell---or not sell--- on its own merits."
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
WEREWOLF UNICORNS!
We have devised a rating system of sorts that is simple yet profound. Instead of rating things on a scale of stars... (how the heck did stars gain such rating clout?) we decided that we would base our ratings on something that has meaning, something that both brings fear and excites.
Werewolf Unicorns are probably the rarest mix of beauty, strength, unbridled fantasy, rage, tenderness, matted hair, and misty nature scenes. Therefore, we find the Werewolf Unicorn to be a finer icon with which we hope to usurp the dull and overused 5 pointed star.
For any of our future reviews, posts, and videos we will use this beautiful beastly rating system. In fact I am going to rate this post right now.
______________________________
4 WEREWOLF UNICORNS
(Not even our own amazing post warranted a full 5 WEREWOLF UNICORNS! rating.)
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| The ever elusive 5 WEREWOLF UNICORNS! |
Werewolf Unicorns are probably the rarest mix of beauty, strength, unbridled fantasy, rage, tenderness, matted hair, and misty nature scenes. Therefore, we find the Werewolf Unicorn to be a finer icon with which we hope to usurp the dull and overused 5 pointed star.
For any of our future reviews, posts, and videos we will use this beautiful beastly rating system. In fact I am going to rate this post right now.
______________________________
4 WEREWOLF UNICORNS
(Not even our own amazing post warranted a full 5 WEREWOLF UNICORNS! rating.)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Free Comics to the Rescue!
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| Image courtesy of marvel.wikia.com/ |
Have you ever wanted to read a comic book but didn't want to shell out money to do so? Perfect! --- We found a great place to peruse some vintage comics for free, via Marvel's Digital Comics reader.
FREE COMIC MONDAYS via Marvel Digital Comics
(Click on the comic hyperlink which will send you to the reader. Just click the "Read it Online" and the reader will open in a new fullscreen browser window.)
This weeks free reading list:
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #125
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #126
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #127
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #128
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #129
This reader is actually an awesome way to read comics digitally since it pans around on the page to individual comic frames within the page to make the reading experience (especially in full screen) a much more pleasant one.
If you haven't ever been a comic fan, now's a great time to see for yourself what it's all about. We will look forward to more free comics coming our way from Marvel every Monday!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
X-Men: First Class - In-depth Movie Review (Spoiler Alert!)
Hey, we are Crunchpop... Two guys who like to talk about nerd stuff with other nerdological people.
We hope to create a forum for discussion on things that range from cereal to comics, and wine to root beer. We are shooting for having weekly episodes, so please subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.
In this episode we are primarily talking about X-Men: First Class where we go into some detail about the plot, so don't say you weren't warned about apossible "spoiler alert!!!"!!!!!!!!!
If you have a different take on the movie, let us know in the comments!
We hope to create a forum for discussion on things that range from cereal to comics, and wine to root beer. We are shooting for having weekly episodes, so please subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.
In this episode we are primarily talking about X-Men: First Class where we go into some detail about the plot, so don't say you weren't warned about a
If you have a different take on the movie, let us know in the comments!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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