They say that sex sells – and I’m sure this has its merits. Any gaming connoisseur will know to generally avoid a game that plasters a scantily clad heroine across its cover – I’m sure most of us have made that mistake at least once. But the truth in many of these cases is simply that the game is low-budget, and aimed at a male teenage market that will snap it up because their brain immediately takes notice of the hot girl on the case – before playing it and realising that the game was clearly put together by people who didn’t really care about quality – just something that would sell.

Lollipop Chainsaw could easily appear to be one such game – after all, it’s about a chainsaw wielding cheerleader, and the case definitely looks like one I’d feel awkward taking to the checkout of my local game store, and sounds very clichéd at that. So, why do I have faith in a game revolving around a blonde girl in a short skirt fighting zombies with a chainsaw?

Well, the reason is because this game is being directed by the one person who I would trust to pull off such a concept – Goichi Suda (aka Suda51), along with his team from Grasshopper Manufacture – creators of No More Heroes. Famous for his quirky style, the difference with Suda is that he understands that the game’s concept is ridiculous – he thrives on it. Acting as more of a parody, Lollipop Chainsaw is doubtful to take itself seriously, and be full of humour. The game is also being published by Warner Bros, who seem to be finding a good place in the gaming market of late – with the successes of the recent Batman games, as well as Mortal Kombat 9, F.E.A.R. 2 and 3, and Lord of the Rings: War in the North, which was better than I expected.

When an evil goth sorcerer named Swan unleashes a zombie outbreak in Juliet’s former high school, her family and her boyfriend accompany her to fight the undead. When her boyfriend, Nick, gets bitten – she does what any sane person would do, and decapitates his head, taking it with her (still alive!) to stop him from becoming a zombie. She then carries him around with her as she proceeds to maim and destroy the rest of the undead hoard.

The game itself looks to be a stylish hack n’ slash game, reminiscent of No More Heroes, but developed for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 – something I’m very glad to hear, as I’m hoping more depth will go into the control scheme, rather than worrying about motion control in the way that NMH did. Juliet looks to be an acrobatic fighter with an array of chainsaw moves, and so far it’s looking like it could be shaping into something fun.

Aside from that, it’s also been said that the game will include rock n’ roll zombie lords – such as Zed – a punk-rock themed boss. With Suda commenting that some of the gameplay may involve elements of sound, I’m wondering if some of these battles could involve some kind of rhythm based elements, which I’d personally love to see – maybe something in the vein of Scott Pilgrim’s battles against the musically inclined evil exes in the movie adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – a film produced by Edgar Wright, who was also responsible for zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead. I’m probably clutching at straws here, but that’s just what popped into my mind – Scott Pilgrim meets Shaun of the Dead. I’d love for Lollipop Chainsaw to feel like that.

The newest trailer has also showcased some moves that Juliet can pull off with her lover’s head – such as placing his head on a decapitated body for him to temporarily be able to control it, giving her a boost to jump over an obstacle, and kicking Nick’s head into an enemy as a projectile. With a pop up menu of these abilities, I do hope that you can unlock a good selection over the course of the game. On top of that, you can apparently upgrade Juliet’s chainsaw by completing certain tasks, which is always a nice extra.

I’m not going to go on and tell you how incredibly deep Lollipop Chainsaw is going to be, because it’s likely not going to be the next Bayonetta or anything – but, unlike the teenage-male-abusing title it might look like, I’ve got a feeling that Suda’s going to pull off a game that is quirky, enjoyable, and funny. I’ll definitely be buying a copy as soon as I can.

Lollipop Chainsaw is currently set for release sometime this year – but I wouldn’t expect it till late 2012. For now, sit back and enjoy the Valentine’s Day trailer below!

- Leon

With Resident Evil: Revelations out in a week, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City due for release in March, and rumours of Resident Evil 6 scattered over the web, I must say I wasn’t actually expecting an announcement AND trailer this suddenly. But it’s here – the official reveal of Resident Evil 6. And judging by the trailer, I’m excited.

Zombies, glorious zombies. While the Resident Evil series has moved away from them at late (in favour of the less dead-looking and agile Majinis), it seems that Capcom are finally bringing Resident Evil’s iconic zombies back to the core, numbered series – not totally unsurprising, what with prequels Raccoon City and Revelations also focusing on our skin challenged friends. Of course, people cry – how can zombies be threatening in today’s games considering how slow they are? Well, it seems the location of Tall Oaks has been majorly compromised – with 70,000 infected. It’s all about numbers with zombies, assuming you have the amount of ammo we saw in Resident Evil 5.

That’s not to say that zombies will be the only enemy in the game – with powerful BOWs (Bio-Organic Weapons) also popping up around the world, and it seems that the Majini threat is also still present, giving us the gun-toting parasitic threat as well as the zombie outbreak. While I wasn’t a huge fan of Majinis as a replacement for zombies, I can happily see the two co-existing nicely.

So who are the lucky ones to deal with this new threat? Well, it seems many of the fans will finally be getting their prayers answered – Chris Redfield and Leon S Kennedy are co-starring for the first time in the series, with co-op modes also confirmed to be making a return (although no real details have been given at this point). While it’s clear that the game will not be returning to Resident Evil’s survival horror roots, it seems that Capcom are trying to pull out all the stops in giving fans what they want while evolving the gameplay in a way that feels natural – the bioterrorism threat becoming ever closer to a zombie apocalypse. With a game-style executive producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi calls “dramatic horror,” it sounds as though we’ll be seeing a mixture of action and horror – so hopefully that means that although the game will still be action-based, we’ll be seeing a few more scares than in RE5, which was sorely lacking for a Resident Evil title.

The plot itself of course revolves around more attacks from bioterrorists, though who is pulling the strings is anyone’s guess. Ten years have passed since Raccoon City, and the President has decided to go public with the truth of the events. However, Leon is forced to make a tough decision when the President, who is also his personal friend, becomes infected. Elsewhere in China, another attack has taken place with Chris on the scene – and it seems that the world’s population has to unite under the common threat of bioterrorism, though filled with fear that nothing will now be able to stop what has been put into motion. That said, it’s a little strange as Resident Evil 6 seems to be set before Resident Evil 5 – set ten years after the Raccoon City Outbreak in 1998, while the events in Kijuju took place in 2009. Considering the scale of things happening in RE6, it seems very odd that everything’s been cleared up within a year. That, and I was fairly sure that Chris had never encountered a Majini before Resident Evil 5, though that might have just been my own assumption. Hopefully more light will be shed on this closer to the game’s release.

There are, of course, new characters joining the fray as well. An unnamed mercenary who fights bare-fisted is featured prominently in the trailer, his female companion stating “the world needs you”. He responds “no, no, not me. Just me blood. Well the world can have it, long as someone ponies up the dough.” Perhaps his blood contains an antidote for the zombie virus, at least that’s my guess. Sounds like he’s going to play a key role in the plot, but doesn’t appear to be taking a particular side – he’s featured fighting against BOWs, yet doesn’t seem in a hurry to relinquish his blood for whatever greater good it holds. There is also a woman who claims to be at fault for the outbreak, and Chris seems to have a vendetta against a certain woman – though it’s not clear if this is the same lady. Could she be a villain, or just a pawn?

Gameplay wise, Resident Evil seems to play similarly to Resident Evil 5, although with some changes. Firstly, it’s clear that Chris and Leon have a few special moves up their sleeves, such as shooting whilst leaping backward, and rolling manoeuvres. Also, melee attacks look as if they could be a little deepened, as Leon is shown planting an axe in the head of one enemy. Looks like enemies have been given a few new tricks, too – with one Majini extending it’s parasitic arm over the cover that Chris was hidden behind and grabbing him, yanking him up into the air.

Visually, the game is looking good and the animation looks clean – one gameplay scene shows Chris running through a street in China as civilians flee, pushing them out of the way and shoving a reporter’s video camera out of his face while making his way through the wreckage. One thing I also noticed was that the game seems to be set mostly at night – one thing that RE5 deviated from that did seem to take away some of that Resident Evil atmosphere.

While it’s unclear on exactly how the game will turn out at this point, the initial footage has definitely got me excited. It looks to me that Capcom have taken the Resident Evil 5 style and worked upon it, while simultaneously trying to put lots of fan-service into the mix. I do hope the game will have a good amount of scares in it, but I’m sure it can’t have less scares than RE5. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one.

We’ve also been given a release date – the 20th November. A while off, yet – but better than some of the waits we’ve had to endure between announcement and release *cough*FinalFantasyVersusThirteen*cough*. Plus, we’ve got Operation: Raccoon City and Revelations to keep us busy till then – two titles I’m even more excited for now.

-Leon

A week or two back, Xbox Live’s gallery leaked a screenshot that showed M. Bison and Ling Xiaoyu’s portraits as tag partners, which sparked some new hype for me and Garv – some of our favourite fights being between Ryu and Bison, and Xiaoyu being a childhood favourite of mine from playing Tekken 3.

Anyway, this week rolled around and Capcom suddenly announced that they would be unveiling 6 new characters, as well as 2 “secret” announcements – and now, here’s what they announced on Tuesday morning:

Street Fighter

Juri – Introduced in Super Street Fighter IV, this is her first time participating in another title – C. Viper having beaten her to a spot in Marvel vs Capcom 3. Bringing her Feng Shui Engine powered fighting style into SFxT, I’m looking forward to seeing what little changes or new moves they’ve implemented into her style. She’ll also make a fine partner to Bison – evil purple auras for the win!

Vega – One of Street Fighter’s more iconic villains, Vega’s claw weapon is infamous – as well as his unpredictable fighting style. Good to see him included as he’s a personal favourite of mine, and I’m glad to see his Bloody High Claw move makes a return from Street Fighter IV. I’m personally going to team him up with Poison for one hell of a crazy team.

Balrog – Not totally unexpected, what with him and Vega completing the set of classic Street Fighter villains – and a perfect rival for Tekken‘s boxer, Steve. Balrog is one of Street Fighter’s heavyweight characters, and with projectile-free move-set I’m sure he’ll fit nicely into the mix with all the Tekken melee fighters joining the fray.

Tekken

Xiaoyu – No surprises here, with the leak and all – but a welcome addition for me all the same. Xiaoyu is a quick-hitting character with the capability to create long attack chains. She’s looking good and seems to be having a bit of a rivalry with Juri going on, as well as her old friendship with Jin – more on that in a minute.

Law – With Street Fighter’s Fei Long and Tekken‘s Law both being very obvious homages to Bruce Lee, I was wondering how Capcom would handle them. Would they both be included for some epic Bruce Lee fight-offs? Would they pick only one? Or would they ignore both. Well, we’ve now got Tekken‘s Bruce Lee in the game, and I must say he is looking very similar to Fei Long in terms of fighting style (which isn’t a surprise, of course). I do hope this doesn’t mean that Fei Long is out of the game as I’m a big fan, but I doubt they’ll actually include both. Either way, Law is looking awesome, and I can just stick a “Fei Long” name sticker on my screen.

Paul – Competing for most hair gel with Guile comes the hard-hitting American from Tekken – who I can also see being confused with Ken Masters by a certain overweight warrior. He’s seen tagging with Law and reminds me a lot of Ryu now he’s rendered in Capcom’s style – albeit without the projectiles. His super punch move (I forget its official name, it’s been a while since I was into Tekken) has been shown in his super art, but otherwise I’ll be very interested to see what tricks he has up his sleeve to turn the tide on his projectile using rivals.

While there were only 6 characters “announced”, the latest in the series of full CG trailers has also been released, featuring M Bison and Jin squaring up to one another, while Juri and Xiaoyu also fight. Both Jin and M Bison have been hinted at already in the past, but this pretty much confirms the two of them (unless Capcom are insane), so that’s looking good. Check out the trailer below – looks like Devil Jin will be making an appearance in this game, too.

Last but not least, at the end of the gameplay trailer (featuring the 6 officially announced fighters, shown below), there’s a short section about the Vita version. At the end of that, there can clearly be seen the silhouettes of Pac-Man, and what appears to be the terrible old box-art version of Megaman. I seriously hope this is Vita exclusive, as I’m no fan of these characters that are neither part of Street Fighter or Tekken – with the Sony exclusive characters already pushing me into going for the Xbox 360 version to avoid Cole, Kuro and Toro. And if that really is Box-Art Megaman… I have no idea if Capcom are actually trying to troll Megaman fans (or perhaps they actually are insane).

All in all, it’s been a good announcement and it’s got me excited for Street Fighter X Tekken all over again. A nice batch of characters, and hopefully Capcom will keep the info coming over the next few weeks.

- Leon

Though the game has lost its subtitle ‘Deadly descents’ the extreme theme still seems to be going strong. Though a lot of the stunts are little bit unrealistic I must admit that the thought of grinding a board over a power line does excite me, as does the prospect of performing tricks by off of the side of a moving helicopter. From what we have seen and played so far the theme of helicopter runs very strongly though this trailer so I expect we will be seeing a lot more chopper action on the slopes this time.

Something which also caught my eye in the trailer was the night levels. Glowing lights on the fingertips of the boarder illuminate the slopes around you giving these levels a unique rave look. I can imagine these levels would be great played with the lights turned down low. The trailer also shows players being able to rewind the last few seconds of gameplay and try again, allowing them to avoid crashing out. This time reversal is a clever feature, but one which I feel could be controversial amongst some fans.

One of the things I always loved about the SSX games were their soundtracks which always consisted of a unique mix of everything from indie, to rock and hip-hop. Its nice to have a good variety of tunes to throw yourself down a mountain too, and if this trailer is anything to go by we will not be disappointed.

So on to our own journey down the virtual mountain. The first thing we noticed upon sitting down to the new SSX was the impressive attention to detail that had been payed to the new slopes. It is easy when presented with vibrant and impressive trailer to doubt that the final game will live up to the promises, but I can assure you that with the graphics of new SSX you will not be disappointed. I was also pleased to find that though the slopes and tricks had been updated to provide new challenges the gameplay did not feel at all alien. The controls felt sharper and yet familiar making this game a good addition to the SSX family.

The level we played followed a simple time trial format, with tricks and boosts helping you to set the fastest time to the bottom of the run. In true SSX style the more awesome the trick the more boost you earn and with boosts creating impact ripples through the snow the better your tricks the faster your time and the more epic you feel. As our video coverage shows ghost players allow you to race your friends or yourself, charting your progress to help you beat your high score. This was only a taster of the full game, and we will be interested to see how the other mode will play on full release.

Though only one level appeared to be playable at the expo we also accidentally got a glimpse at the games menu system, Oops. Here we were presented with a 3d globe which we could rotate in order to browse and select from the most extreme slopes on planet. This was a nice touch as it added a sense of context to the game and gave a great visual representation of your progress.

Though overall my first impression of SSX was very good the first showing of the game was not without its glitches. At one point my character started spasming uncontrollably, which despite adding a considerable amount of points to my score did not really add much to the gameplay. Still, this was a very early version of the game so lets hope they work out the kinks before the release this March.

Until next time,

24

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SSX
02/03/2012
EA Sports
www.ea.com/ssx

The game is set in an almost entirely destructible modern city with road signs, traffic, shopping malls, monuments and lots of other things for you to crash into and destroy. The controls are relatively simple and through my lack of experience with driving games meant that it took me a while to get used to the game, once I had completed a couple of laps I found the cars to be quite responsive. As well as steering, accelerating and reversing (I’m betting that you won’t use reverse) you can charge your car by drifting with B and then boost to smash through objects with A. Though the cars are extremely hardy and charge quite easily if you don’t have enough boost you will crash and destroy your car, so time your boosts carefully. Though this game is simple quite in its setup, the detail that has gone into making the destruction as varied and intricate as possible is really quite impressive. Gone are the days when winning a race meant staying on the track, in this game if you want to win the only way is to destroy.

In the world of Ridge Racer your car can smash up nearly anything, however there are certain points which when destroyed reveal handy short cuts through the city. These points are marked with flashing targets, and usually appear on walls and monuments slightly off road of the main course. If you use these points wisely you will not only be rewarded with a good dose of cinematic destruction but also often with a slight advantage in the race. You can also use your boost to send other cars off course and even damage and destroy your competitors. A full boost will smash not only through oncoming traffic and annoying roadworks, but also through your fellow racers. Watch out though, your car may be hardy but it is not indestructible. In this game destruction can be used to create tactical advantage, usually favoring those who save their boost for the optimum moment.

One final thing which caught my eye about this game was the way that the scores are displayed. Instead of simply showing the scores in the top or bottom corner of the screen, in Ridge Racer Unbounded the scores are displayed around the edge of the track as you race. Having the scores embedded in the scenery gives the game a futuristic arcade style look, which in my opinion is pretty cool. This neon text coupled by the textured grimy look of the city gives the game its own unique aesthetic which is quite a move on from the days of Ridge Racer on the PSone.

So there it is, my first look at Ridge Racer Unbounded. Over the course of the Expo the team and I nicknamed the game “Me and my shiny red car smash stuff up!” In other words overall the game is a tad unrealistic but good fun nonetheless. If you are looking for a hardcore, realistic driving game then this one is probably not for you, however if want to drive madly around a destructible city causing mayhem with your mates then this may just be the title you are looking for.  Ridge Racer Unbounded features in my Eurogamer Expo Round up video 2011, so if you want to see the game in action check it out!

Until next time,

24

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Ridge Rager Unbounded is Due for Release in early 2012 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 Namco Bandai Bugbear Entertainment Ltd.

The last game I got my hands on at this year’s Eurogamer was one of the many sequels I’m looking forward to next year – Mass Effect 3. While I found the original title took a little getting into, it was a fantastic experience in the end, and Mass Effect 2 was even more enjoyable, offering one of the best “space adventuring” style titles I’d ever seen, allowing you to captain your own crew in a galactic adventure in a brilliant mix of RPG and Third Person Shooter style gameplay. With Mass Effect 2 taking your own decisions from the first game into consideration - affecting the story and characters you meet depending on various events – and Mass Effect 3 promising to carry this on into its own story, it sounds like quite an undertaking and is said to be the conclusion of the saga.

The demo itself was presented as a ground based mission, and I was happy to see some familiar faces on my squad – Garrus, who has been by my side for a large portion of both ME1 and ME2, and Liara – who returns as a squad member from the original Mass Effect (while she did play a part in the second game). Also involved in the mission was Mordin (Mass Effect 2) whose goal was to evacuate a lone female Krogan, with my squad helping him through checkpoints and keeping the Krogan safe – from indoctrinated (Reaper-brainwashed) Cerberus members, who apparently wanted to stop him.

Before the actual level began, however, I was prompted to assign ability points – I assume to match me to the level of the mission I was about to tackle. I wasn’t given a choice of class, so I was stuck as a Soldier – not that I minded. The general system is very similar to that of the previous games – assigning points to level up various skills and abilities. However, when selecting a certain type of ability to level up, the game opens up a new screen specific to that ability tree, which is more aesthetic and informative than before. There seemed to be more options than the previous titles – with a decent selection of upgrades, and also branches in the ability trees that allow you to tailor your class even more to your liking. I personally upgraded my damage, grenades and Concussive shot skills, though there were options for different ammo types and such as well. Given the scenario, I didn’t delve into the influence/dialogue stuff. I really liked the look of the upgrade system – with more options than Mass Effect 2, yet more key skills than that of Mass Effect 1.

As the level began, I instantly noticed that the graphics had been given a definite overhaul – while nothing game-changing, the areas looked great, and Bioware are clearly keeping things up to date, the area looking vibrant, and character models looking that little bit more detailed. While I wouldn’t consider myself to be particularly shallow in the whole issue of the importance of good graphics, I must say that the improvement between Mass Effect 1 & 2 was one aspect that made ME2 better – it’s larger range of locations and appealing vistas making the various galaxies more exciting to explore – not just endless grey spaceship corridors. It seems Mass Effect 3 will be following in this trend – which I’m happy with, so long as the game’s size hasn’t been compromised in any way!

Now for the mission itself. Sadly, I was disappointed that the demo didn’t show off the new Omni-blade melee kills – while it’s one of the features I’m most excited to see, it didn’t seem to be available in that particular build – or if it were, the game didn’t tell me how to do it. However – that’s not to say that I was disappointed with the combat itself. Battling Cerberus troops has never been more fun – the general combat feels much like any other third-person shooter, although with all the usual Mass Effect RPG abilities we’re accustomed to. Shepard can now blind-fire – a favourite ability of mine – which makes all the difference in a shootout, and his abilities seem to tie into the action well. The concussive shot felt more useful than I remember, offering a high-impact round that can pack a punch when available, and the new conventional grenades are satisfying for some heavy damage.

Another noticeable difference in the game is that Shepard can now use ladders, and also drop down from upper levels where there is a ledge. While it doesn’t sound like much, it really makes the game feel less flat, and a bit more realistic – as they say, it’s all in the details. Once I had battled my way through a quite a few enemies, I eventually found myself face-to-face with a large Cerberus Mech that acted as a boss. It’s heavy attacks meant it was important to keep moving – staying in cover wouldn’t keep me safe. However, it didn’t take too long, and after plugging it with shots and a few grenades it went down without too much trouble.

One feature I almost forgot to mention was the inclusion of a weapon load out area that I discovered during the mission. While I didn’t have many options, it seems that you are now able to change weapons and upgrades mid-mission, which could come in handy. I am a little worried that this might suggest that there may be long periods where you don’t have access to the Normandy where you would usually do this – but hopefully my fears are wrong. Otherwise, it’s a nice addition for a few mid-level tweaks to your arsenal.

Overall, what I’ve seen of Mass Effect 3 is looking good. While the combat is only one aspect of the game, it does seem that Bioware have pulled out all the stops in perfecting Mass Effect’s RPG/Action combination – with plenty of upgrades and improved combat controls for the best of both worlds. If all the other aspects of the game have been improved equally, I think it’s easy to say that Mass Effect 3 will be the best in the series – and considering Bioware have stated that it’s been easier to produce than Mass Effect 2 (since it doesn’t have to link into a following title), I hope that they won’t disappoint! I just hope all my favourite characters return as recruitable squad members…

- Leon

So this year at Eurogamer we got our first chance to get hands on with the PS Vita. What were everyones first impressions?

Garvaos: As I wasn’t the biggest fan of the PSP I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the Vita. After sitting through the developer session and getting some hands on time with the console I was pretty impressed as all the features manage to work well together to make for some great gameplay on the move.

RandomMan: I was surprised with how well the PS Vita turned out. Before the expo I thought not another Sony release, yet another console they have built up with no future, but alas I was so wrong it hurts me. Its now on the top of my buy list.

24: I was also very impressed. When it was announced I was unsure of the PS Vita as I did not think it would be a large enough move on from the PSP, but after seeing it in action my opinion has changed drastically. I definitely wouldn’t say no to one now!

Little Big Planet making good use of the touch screens

The PS Vita offers several new exciting features which set it apart from its predecessor the PSP. Which of these features impressed you the most? 

Garvaos: I was most impressed with the augmented reality. I am a big fan of this feature on the 3DS and the Vita seems to take it to the next level. The 3DS relies on AR cards for augmented reality to work, whereas the Vita on the other hand doesn’t rely on cards. Instead it is sophisticated enough to read and capture its surroundings and then add the characters and game elements into the environment without faffing about with bits of cardboard. The developer session we attended also demonstrated that a lot more games will be using the augmented reality function, which I was pleased to hear as I think it is something that the 3DS has often neglected.

24: Though the augmented reality was outstanding, for me the feature which impressed me the most was the combination of both front and rear touch screens. Before seeing the console in action I did not really understand the use of this feature, however seeing them used in Little Big Planet to control elements of the environment has left me really excited. Having both a rear and front touch screen allowed players to physically push elements of the level (such as blocks) forward and back, allowing them to solve puzzles and create steps to reach new areas of the levels. Using the two touch screens together made the levels truly interactive and gave an extra dimension to the game.

RandomMan: I was very impressed the combination of the front and rear touch screen, but also with the motion gyros as they allow you to do more than any previous hand held console. During my time with the Vita I played a game that allowed me to use all of these augmentations at once. It showed me just how much skill is required to play games using these new features and that you must use more dexterity then you normally would playing with other consoles. With all of these systems working as one in a single game, you can truly see how advanced the Vita is.

Reality Fighters showcases augmented reality on the Vita

We all got the chance to play some of the games due for release on the PS Vita. Which game did you play and what did you like/dislike about it? 

Garvaos: At Eurogamer we didn’t really have the chance to choose the game we wanted to play, instead we drew cards and whatever game was on the card you played. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on Wipeout 2048. Being a Wipeout fan since the PS1 I was more than happy with this. I played a couple of tracks, first of which using the front and rear touch pads to accelerate and fire weapons and gyros to steer. The control set up worked really well, I was especially impressed with the steering because in the past I have found steering with gyros on other consoles not that responsive. The second time round I switched to more traditional controls, using right bumper to accelerate, X for weapons and the left joystick to steer. This felt like the Wipeout I fell in love with back on the PS1. Graphically the game also looked amazing. As 2048 is set at the creation of the sport the setting looked a little like Steam-Punk meets Tron, which made for some fantastic looking tracks. The weapons are your standard Wipeout affair with rockets, machine guns and shields. If your new comer to Wipeout I would describe it as futuristic Mario Kart on speed, a great title for both newcomers and fans alike.

RandomMan: I randomly picked and played Little Deviants, a game that I had heard very little about. I found out that this is four different games in one, with each game requiring you to use different aspects of the PS Vita unique gaming system. For example, one game requires you to use the motion gyros and the front touch screen to look for portals and shoot some Little Deviants, another uses the rear touch screen to move a ball around to collect coins, and so on. I was extremely impressed with the unique way you play this game, but I did find it difficult to play to start with. It took me a while to get used to the controls and the motion gyros, but once I did get used to them the game was a lot of fun. The amount of concentration required for this game made it very immersive, however I was playing this game on a level and stationary surface. If I was playing this on a train, bus or car, I honestly believe this game would be very difficult to play. No matter how well you can maneuver with the front and back touch screen, the motion gyro system would probably just make you jump around too much. I enjoyed playing the game, but I feel a bit like Little Deviants was made just to show off the Vita’s new gaming system unlike some of the other games on show.

24: I was lucky enough to be able to play one of my favorite titles on offer for the Vita, Uncharted Golden Abyss. I was very impressed with the look of the game on the Vita. With the large high quality screen and the impressive capabilities of the Vita the game looked and played like a miniature version of the PS3 game. The game also made use of the PS Vitas new touch and motion capabilities. Though the touch and motion aspects made some elements of the game such as climbing and swinging out to ledges more enjoyable it did make the combat in the game feel a little disjointed. The main problem with the combat was that in order to shoot an enemy you needed to use the traditional shooting buttons (L to aim R to fire) but if you wanted to melee attack you had to use the touch screen.  Switching from tactical shooting to madly tapping the screen not only felt quite unnatural but also had the added bonus of looking quite frankly ridiculous. This would not be one to play on a train. Overall the game was very good, but given the choice I would pick a button melee attack over touch any day.

Wipeout 2048 showcased at Eurogamer this year

Now for the big question. Now that we have had the opportunity to try out both which would you be most likely to buy, the PS Vita or the Nintendo 3DS?

RandomMan: Before getting my hands on the PS Vita I would have chosen the 3DS without question, but after the expo I would say the Vita is taking the front running. With the 3DS you have the amazing 3D graphics and street pass, but the Vita has so much more. It has graphics that rivals the PS3, plus you have an instant messaging service that rivals any other console. I also have a PS3 so with the links to PSN I would be able to do so much more with the Vita then I would with a 3DS. Sony has done something that we previously thought was not possible and had made the PS Vita the pinnacle of gaming at this moment.

Garvaos: As I own a 3DS I am in two minds about this question. There is no doubt that the Vita is far superior to the 3DS with more features and gameplay elements, and the Vita will more than likely have its fair share of triple A titles that will rival the Nintendo hand held. However looking at them side by side I feel that the 3DS is more of a true portable console. The games that the 3DS supports you can simply pick up and play while you are on the move, whereas I see the Vita supporting more games that need at least a good hour of gameplay before you come to a save point. This takes away from the pick up and play element which is so important with a hand held console. The next generation portable console war is just beginning, will the 3DS stealing the Monster Hunter franchise from PlayStation’s grasp be enough? Only time will tell.

24: After my experiences at the expo for me it would have to be the PS Vita. The impressive quality of the screen and the graphics made me feel like the Vita was allowing me PS3 quality gaming on the move and to me the range of titles the console boasts is beyond compare. In addition to this the new front and rear touch screens added an extra dimension to puzzle and platform games such as Little Big Planet making the gameplay on the whole feel truly unique. As for 3D and augmented reality after viewing both consoles in action I now see that the Vita offers much innovative ways in which to use this technology. As with many things in life its not what you’ve got its how you use it, and my does the Vita know how to use it.

Uncharted makes the most of the impressive graphics capabilities

Still want to know more about the PS Vita? Then check out our coverage of the PS Vita Developer session for more info.

Until Next Time,

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Greedy Bankers

Greedy Bankers is a highly addictive game available for the iPhone and iPad.The aim of the game is to match together gems of the same color to form larger gems and then tap them to add them to your total. Each level has a set amount of cash which you must claim, and once you achieve the set goal the timer resets and a harder goal is set. As the levels progress you will face new challenges such as fixed blocks and even a robber in the vault who is determined to steal your gems and leave you bankrupt. In the single player mode you are playing against the clock for a high score, but if you are playing on an iPad you can compete with another player in a seriously addictive multiplayer battle. I had the opportunity to try this multiplayer mode at Eurogamer and I have to say that though this game is simple in concept, for me it was the most addictive multiplayer Indie game offered this year. Oh and the development team, just so you know, really nice guys.

Available now from the iTunes store: £1.49
www.greedy-bankers.com
Alistair Aitcheson

Molecat Twist

Now for a game which wins my award for most frustrating and yet compelling game of the expo, Molecat Twist. In this refreshingly different puzzle game you must guide a procession of marching Molecats through a maze of rotating tiles towards their goal. The Molecats behave similarly to Lemmings, marching blindly forwards leaving their collective fate entirely in your hands. In order to guide your Molecat procession towards their goal you must use a mixture of colored levers and rotating squares to quite literally turn their world upside down, connecting up tunnels and blocking off danger as you twist. This may seem like a simple concept, but factor in keys, switches, traps, monsters, non-rotating tiles and a whole army of Molecats which need saving and you have yourself a pretty decent game. Molecat Twist took some time to get used to, but once we had mastered the basics we were hooked. The demo is free to try online, so what are you waiting for?

Try the free demo now!
www.molecats.com
Stas Gailunas

Snuggle Truck

Also known as Smuggle Truck this brilliantly simple physics based mini game involves keeping a number of small fluffy animals in the back of a truck whilst driving as fast as possible. Negotiate Jumps obstacles and explosives all whilst keeping your urm…precious cargo intact. We played at the expo on a PC using a keyboard but it is also available on the iPhone and is in my opinion better with the addition of touch and tilt controls. The simplicity of this game coupled by the cartoon humor of the graphics makes this my new favorite game for those 5 minute game sessions between tube stations. Snuggle truck has a large range of levels from easy to extreme as well as a refreshingly intuitive level creator. This feature allows you to create and then share your own levels in the level portal where other users can play and rate your creations. Let the virtual fur fly!

Available now from the iTunes store: £1.49
www.snuggletruck.com
Owlchemy Labs

Blocks That matter

In Blocks That Matter you play as a Tetrobot, which is a small cube with a drill and legs which is on a quest to rescue its creators game developers Alexey and Markus. As a Tetrobot you have the ability to drill through other blocks which allows you to pick them up and re-use them later in the level. As you journey through this quaintly retro looking world, you will encounter a wide variety of blocks including blocks made of wood, stone, ice and even explosives all of which can be useful to you on your quest. Different blocks have different properties and the block supply is not unlimited so you must use the blocks you find wisely in order to progress through the levels. There are currently 40+ levels available to play and though our time with the game at the expo was limited, from what we did see was the building blocks of a really good game. If you like idea of a challenging puzzle platform game fusion in which you get to play as what is to all intensive purposes a washing machine on legs, then this one is for you.

Available now on Steam: £3.99
www.swingswingsubmarine.com
Swing Swing Submarine

Really Big Sky

Really Big Sky is a fast twin analogue shooter set in the vast colorful expanse that is space. A bit like a mix between retro classic Space Invaders and modern arcade hit Geometry Wars, in this side scrolling firework display of a game aliens are attacking your planet and you are not giving it up easily. The theme of the game is best explained by the tag line, They’ve given you a really splendid space ship, they’re not expecting it back. In this epic battle for the planet you not only blast objects out of the way but you are also able to drill through objects in your path for added destruction. There are many game modes to choose from including Classic, Boss Rush, Arcade, Pacifism, Countdown, Marathon and if you are feeling particularly brave Nightmare Mode. As well as this impressive selection of single player modes the game also supports up to 4 player co-op multiplayer modes. Play Really Big Sky and you can expect bright lights, shiny spaceships and very fast gameplay. Ready to blast some aliens in the face and get your planet back? I sure am.

Boss Baddie Studios: £4.95
www.bossbaddie.co.uk/bigsky

So thats it for the Eurogamer Indie Arcade round up this year. There were so many great titles on show it would have been impossible to have showcased everything, but I hope this summery of my favorites encourages you to go and take a look at more of the great games being developed by Indie developers this year.

Until Next time

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All Prices correct as of October 2011

Their latest work is Anarchy Reigns (known as Max Anarchy in Japan), and while many people may not have even heard the name before, it was one game I was highly anticipating at this year’s Eurogamer. Set in a post apocalyptic future (yes, I know that’s not too original), the game is a multiplayer brawl featuring more than ten playable characters in over-the-top action.

Now, while I’m not a huge fan of the modern craze of adding multiplayer to everything (and usually dislike things even more when multiplayer is the main focus), the difference in my eyes is the fact that Anarchy Reigns is one of the first I’ve seen to focus flashy, Devil May Cry style melee combat. While I tend to find myself flattened when playing any FPS deathmatch style game, third person action is one of my favourite genres and I’ve always felt there’s been a gap in the market for multiplayer modes in the genre. And I’m not talking Fable‘s botched, tacked-on two-player, or Dynasty Warriors’ simple (yet fun) co-op action - I’m talking fast paced, high-octane combat with the flow of Bayonetta in a four-way experience. Now that gets me excited.

At the expo, the demo they had running for Anarchy Reigns was given to us in the form of a 4-player free-for-all deathmatch. While I was a little disappointed that there was no sign of the single-player or co-op modes to try, I jumped on all the same to have a play with Platinum Games’ newest venture – to take a look at how the combat works, and the various characters on offer. And much to my delight, I was good at it. Or at very least, luck was on my side and my opponents weren’t very prepared.

First off, we got to choose our character. Initially, I picked the character that had interested me the most during my earlier research of the title, Leonhardt ”Leo” Victorion – a cool looking guy with “Positron” blades in his arms and legs. Besides, his name sounds very close to Leon, which is a bonus! We could also pick from a selection of colour schemes for our player’s look, and when everyone was ready, the game began. For a moment, the control scheme flashed up on-screen – now, there was quite a lot to take in, so I couldn’t exactly study the entire move set before the match started, but I did my best to pick up on the basics.

First off, every character has a mixture of attacks using the Square and Triangle buttons, which can chain together combos using whatever means your character has of attack. In my case, Leo had a nice assortment of hand-to-hand combos which flowed nicely together in chains of punches and kicks. Pressing Circle allowed me to do an impressive-looking grab attack, and X was to jump. Perhaps the most useful button of all was the L2(?) button which, when held, allows you to pull off special moves with the attack buttons – where your character uses their main weapon to attack, and does heavy damage with some spectacular attacks - Leo exhibiting some deadly spinning attacks utilising his Positron Blades. It’s possible to lock-on as well, when chasing a particular opponent, which does make you feel a little bit of a stalker! Characters are also able to taunt - a feature I love in games, although I couldn’t tell if it had any purpose other than to look cool.

Now, the actual fight was a bit of a blur, but what I do remember was an exhilarating clash between four people. Big Bull was perhaps the most memorable – a huge robotic beast, he’s quite intimidating so I tended to keep my distance to begin with – until I got a bit more gutsy at least. The environment of battle is an open arena, reminding me something of a modern-age Power Stone. With multiple regions at different heights, characters automatically leap up to higher areas when you head in that direction, the different levels making it more interesting to run around. Being a free-for-all, I attacked anyone I saw without fear – quickly stringing together some combos and finishing with a special attack which would hopefully finish them off. Chaining up kill-combos gave extra points (I think), and it’s very satisfying to let loose and wail on a whole group of players with a well-timed special.

With all that combat going on, the game performs very smoothly – obviously we were playing on a local network, though. It’s quite impressive watching some of the battles going on from a distance when you’re not being targeted, such as witnessing Zero’s multi-slash speed kill taking down multiple enemies, and the game is vibrant and colourful with its cast of misfits. I won the first match by a fairly big gap of 4 kills (go me!), and eagerly waited for a second go.

Next round, Garv joined me in the fray and I picked Sasha, the Ice Queen. Looking a lot like Samus Aran (the version without her suit), Sasha doesn’t look like much, but packs a punch with a more magic-based moveset. Using her fists as her basic weapon, Sasha’s heavy attacks feature flowing ice that she uses in various forms - from any icy whip attack, to a move where she impales a stunned opponent with a group of ice shards positioned around them. While her basic controls were the same as Leo’s I did find her moves to have different timings and had fun working out good situations to utilise her various attacks.

It’s quite hard to explain the nitty-gritty details of the game, with such a fast pace I’d need longer to sit down and really get into the game’s inner workings and tricks, but what I did play was highly enjoyable – which is coming from someone who usually hates multiplayer deathmatches.

Little is known about the details of the game, although several modes have been confirmed - including co-op story, tag-team deathmatches and a type of horde mode against waves of enemies, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of the single player and co-op elements. The game’s over-the-top style reminds me a little of God Hand, and I’ll be happy if the story mode is at least as good as that. I doubt it will be quite on par with Bayonetta in terms of length and level design, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.

It’s said that Leo and Jack (formerly from MadWorld) are the story’s protagonists, but I do hope that the others will all be available for subsequent playthroughs, as they all feel equally fleshed out and it could extend the game’s replay value hugely. The one thing I would like to know is whether the characters are all fixed with their skill-sets, or if there’s any way to modify or expand their choice of moves – as mixed as they are, it would be even better if you can put some time into upgrading them.

All in all, my experience with Anarchy Reigns at Eurogamer was short, but sweet. Playing it confirmed to me that it’s a game I’ll definitely be wanting to buy, and I can only wait until I can get my hands on the full title and really dissect it. The game is currently set for January, and I cannot wait. Check out the official website for more info and trailers.

-Leon

One such sequel really caught the crowd’s attention – Batman: Arkham City, sequel to the critically acclaimed title from Rocksteady Studios, Arkham Asylum. Situated in the very centre of the expo, fans gathered in queues over an hour-long to get their hands on a taste of the Bat’s next adventure. However, when the news came to us that the Dark Souls developer session had cancelled – only to be replaced with one for Arkham City - we brimmed with excitement and attended Rocksteady’s demonstration for some inside info on the title. Sadly, we weren’t allowed to film the demonstration, so I will now attempt to convey the events of that hour to you now.

We were greeted by a couple of members of Rocksteady’s staff – one of which was an extremely excitable woman who served as the narrator for the session. The crowd cheered in appreciation for Rocksteady’s work on Arkham Asylum, praise they certainly earned for their previous work. They then proceeded to guide us through the demo, and show us a good amount of footage – including some exclusive parts never before shown in the UK.

The scene began with some thugs uncovering a vault in an old building within Gotham, apparently working for a boss who sought it’s contents. The shadow of Batman seemingly revealed in the moonlight, but instead emerged Catwoman – Arkham Asylum’s new heroine and playable character. The game then went straight into gameplay, where Catwoman proceeded to take down the villains. Arkham City’s combat looks very much like that of its predecessor – smooth, fluid combos on multiple opponents – which is no bad thing of course. While the mechanics for Catwoman looked very similar to that of Batman’s, her movement and attacks were much more agile – using a mix of acrobatic grapples and attacks, to a few unique moves involving her trademark whip. Often, she would also use the environment – such as rebounding off of certain surfaces to strike opponents. Before long, all of the enemies were unconscious, and she went to claim her prize – only to have a gun pointed at her head by an off-screen Harvey Dent.

We were then transported to the rooftops of Arkham City, where Batman knelt in all his gargoyle-like glory. The city itself looked fantastic, a vast expanse free to explore, and the visuals looked pristine and full of dark – but rich – Gotham-esque colours. Receiving a signal on one of his gadgets, he tracked the location of where Catwoman was being held hostage – police rushing to the scene to stop him. However, instead of going to Catwoman, the Rocksteady spokesperson instead decided to explain a little about Arkham City’s free-roam. Much like the original game, you can go off the beaten path to discover extras and secrets, and with Arkham City being, well, a city, this has obviously been moved up onto a larger scale.

With a whole city to explore, the game’s gliding system has been given a bit of an overhaul for long-distance travel. Leaping from a building, Batman can glide with his cape, riding the air-currents – dropping to gain speed, and then levelling out again for lift. This could pick up considerable speed for covering large areas, and using the grapple-hook to pull Batman to certain surfaces, can be manipulated to gain more height and keep on the move for long periods. Exploring Arkham City looks incredibly satisfying, and after seeing the mechanics I’m not even sure I’d want a Batmobile.

It was then that we were told a little about one of Batman’s old foes – the Riddler. Returning from the first game, the Riddler returns with his riddles, and we were told that apparently this time we’ll actually be able to get our hands on the slippery character – optionally of course, as always. This time, however, it seems that the Riddler’s riddles have been expanded – with a few stages to the process. Having taken hostages across the city, it’s up to Batman to track them down and rescue them – the first step in this process is to interrogate specific enemies to find out where to go. Spotting an enemy highlighted in green, Batman glided down into a group of thugs and attacked – taking all of them down except for the one holding the information. Keeping him conscious until the end, Batman put a heavy boot on the minion’s face, who then gave in – adding a few Riddler locations onto the map.

These markers lead Batman to riddles, somewhat like the riddles in the original title. However, this time there are a variety of challenges – one of which involved hitting a switch with a Batarang at the right timing to unlock the trophy, and as always the Riddler gives condescending comments every time you solve one of his tasks. Once certain amounts of trophies have been found, the Riddler reveals a location of one of his hostages. Traversing to the area, Batman then found a weakness in a Riddler-marked wall which he then punched through to access the challenge room, where he was then greeted by a projection of his enemy daring him to attempt his game.

The challenge room involved a few different tricks and gadgets. Finding himself in a room with an electrified floor and spinning blades, Batman hacked a panel (Arkham Asylum style), and a timer began. Looking back at the floor, a safe path along the floor was open, and he had to make his way across within the time limit. Evading under saws and hitting switches to extend the path, Batman proceeded along the pathway until he got to a point where he could climb up to a higher walkway. It was here that he used his old line launcher from the first title, allowing him to zip horizontally between two walls. We were then shown that he also retains other old gadgets, using the explosive gel to break down a wall, and then a remote-controlled batarang to hit a switch behind it. Finally, we were shown a new trick – Batman launched along his line-launcher, zipping above a pit of spinning blades, before letting go and relaunching it to change direction, turning 90 degrees to the right and sliding across another part of the room, grabbing the suspended hostage and finally smashing through a glass window at the end.

We did see a little about other villains Batman would be encountering during the game as well. While travelling in the city, Rocksteady guided Batman to a familiar area – a back alley behind the Monarch Theater, the location of his parents’ murder that had assisted Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman. Kneeling in remembrance, Batman received a message from Hugo Strange, a deranged psychiatrist armed with knowledge of Batman’s true identity. We were also greeted with another scene depicting Batman encountering the Penguin in Iceberg Lounge, where he is holding some cops hostage, seemingly to lure Batman into a trap. After some heated talk and Batman’s usual threats, the Penguin released a large group of crazed thugs to attack, promising that the one who kills Batman will become one of his elite. While Bruce his way through the crowd, Rocksteady explained that Arkham City allows about double the amount of enemies to be on-screen at once, raising the bar from around 15 to closer to 30 – so we can be expecting a fair few brawls during the course of the game.

Batman’s combat was shown off here, and then explored further in the first challenge mode that was explained to us a little later on. Very much like the old challenge maps, the first involved fighting increasing waves of enemies that got tougher each time, attempting to get high scores by avoiding damage, varying moves and chaining hits into large combos. As with Catwoman, the combat seemed very much the same as Arkham Asylum, just cleaned up and with a few new tricks. While the combat itself seems to be a natural successor to the old engine, the new animations and such do make a noticeable difference, with plenty of cringe-worthy attacks such as arm-breakers, and double take downs. One thing that was noticeable was that Batman uses his cape a lot more as part of his combat – which looks cool, and also seems to serve as a means of breaking an enemy’s guard – such as one strange enemy dressed as a toy soldier, which would block most attacks unless he was first stunned with a cape attack.

Batman is also able to use various gadgets during combat. While of course the batarang returns, gadgets seemed to be a lot more prevalent in combat in Arkham City. Batman was seen using explosive gel to detonate during a brawl, which sent enemies flying, as well as a couple of new tools – the Ice Grenade, and the REC Gear. The former sounds as though it may have a link to Mr Freeze (perhaps earned after beating him?), and serves as a way of freezing an enemy solid for a while. The latter is a “Remote Electrical Charge” that works like a taser. It seems that these tools will also have other uses during exploration, much like the explosive gel, so I’m hoping the game will retain that “Metroid” feel of opening up new locations as Batman’s inventory grows.

The other type of challenge shown was that of the Predator challenge – the returning stealth challenge that requires you to silently take down a room full of enemies without being spotted. The gameplay here showed some returning features, such as the ability to quickly grapple between footholds in the ceiling, and detective mode showing x-ray features to see enemies through walls. Unlike the combat challenges, the objectives here involved performing certain manoeuvres - such as taking down an opponent while he was panicking from a smoke-bomb. We were also shown a couple of stealth take downs, such as regular ones used on an unaware opponent from behind, and more contextual ones such as smashing through a window to knock an enemy out before they know what’s happening.

After letting a couple of crowd-members compete against one another for a higher score on a challenge map in order to win an official t-shirt, the developer session came to a close. The repetition of seeing the challenges three times over got a bit tiresome, perhaps it was due to the over-excited comments of the spokesperson beginning to grate, but I was never a fan of combat challenges – it’s the overall experience of being Batman and exploring Arkham that I enjoy. Overall, I left feeling very positive about the game – while Arkham Asylum set a bar that was going to be difficult to meet, it seems Rocksteady are on the right path, and could have another AAA title, maybe even another Game of the Year, in their hands. Now I’ve just got to keep my sanity for the next four weeks until it finally hits stores for purchase on the 21st October.

- Leon