PlayStation Network to be down longer than expected

It’s been a couple of weeks since 77 million PS3 users found themselves without access to online services – but it’s not over yet. While the PlayStation Blog announced a week ago that services should be resumed within a week, it’s now been announced that there will be a further delay in PSN services due to the severity of the attack. While this is a frustrating period for PS3 owners, Sony have assured that their priority is making sure their system is secure, so it should be for the best in the long run.

As a “Welcome back” package, Sony will be compensating it’s users with an offer of a month’s free subscription to PlayStation Plus, and also ” offering PSN users the opportunity to select two PS3 games from a list of five, as well as offering PSP users the opportunity to choose two games from a list of four.” I would assume these titles will be lower-cost games from their library, but it seems like a decent gesture considering PSN is a free-to use service.

Portal 2 DLC Officially Announced

Fans of Valve’s physics-defying sequel to Portal will be happy to hear that the game will be recieving its first batch of DLC sometime “this summer”. And better yet – it’s going to be free!

The new additions will comprise of new test chambers, as well as challenge modes for both single player and co-operative modes – adding more complex spins on the already existing chambers in the game – time limits, portal restrictions or new elements to the stages. Leaderboards will also be added for the more competitive players out there.

Obviously the term “first DLC pack” makes it sound as though we’ll be seeing more additions to the game in future, so hopefully Valve will keep supporting the game in the future.

Nintendo to allow 3rd-party developers on 3DS eShop

While the Wii does have an online store, the lack of access to third-party developers has really let it’s store go stale – once fans had downloaded their favourite old Nintendo titles, the store rarely offers anything new or innovative – especially compared to the content regularly offered on Xbox Live or PSN – titles such as Peggle, and Zen Studios’ Pinball games.

However, the 3DS will apparently be leaving this restrictive choice made by Nintendo, and instead offer third-party developers to create content to be downloaded for use on their latest handheld system. So hopefully we’ll be seeing plenty of great new handheld content in the vein of Angry Birds or Castle Crashers, as well as old NES/SNES titles and GameBoy Advance games. Let’s just hope that it’s not too late for Nintendo to gain enough interest in downloadable games to make a profit.

- Leon

Portal was unlike any game I had ever played before. Not only was the concept new and refreshing, but puzzles challenging, the story line compelling and the in game physics quite simply mind bending. I cannot deny that from my first ‘Speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out’ gravity propelled jump I was hooked, and I could not bring myself to put down my controller until every last inch of the Aperture Science Testing Facility had been portaled to within an inch of its life. However when looking back at Portal it is not launching myself across seemingly impossible distances that I remember most fondly. Instead it was the dry sadistic humor of the all powerful Ai GLaDOS which really left me wanting more. After my many efforts to destroy her the mere suggestion that she may be ‘Still alive’ was the ultimate set up for a sequel, and luckily for me in 2011 my wish was granted. With such an epic reputation to follow my expectations for Portal 2 were understandably high, but could the long awaited sequel ever live up to the original? It was time to portal in and find out.

Without GLaDOS the Aperture Science Testing Facility has fallen into a state of disrepair. The test chambers have been abandoned, and the once white walls and smooth clean surfaces are now overgrown and cast into shadow. It is here that we once again join our heroine Chell, who having been kept in controlled suspension for many years is abruptly awoken by a small, extremely talkative Ai called Wheatley. It is with the help of your new long winded friend (voiced by Stephan Merchant, no less) that you are able to escape the confines of your room and travel back through the ruins towards safety. Now I say ‘towards safety’ because of course it is not that simple. Though wounded by your previous attempt to destroy her it would appear that GLaDOS, along with her trademark dark sense of humor is still very much alive and out for revenge. With your re-appearance not only giving her the perfect test subject but also a somewhat renewed vigor for life, she awakens and begins to rebuild Aperture Science ready to continue with the testing. Unlike the original Portal where GLaDOS mostly only appeared as a disembodied voice, in Portal 2 every part of the facility appears fully under her control with the walls, floors and panels mechanically moving effortlessly at her command. Time to run? I think so.

"I've been really busy being dead..."

With more time having been dedicated to its development, Portal 2 offers not only much more content, but more mind bending puzzles and more attention to detail. Your attempts to once again disable and destroy GLaDOS will take you deeper into the forgotten depths of Aperture Science than ever before. As well as battling your way through multiple new tests which GLaDOS has built, as you make your way through the lower levels of the facility you will also discover a wealth of forgotten test chambers containing many abandoned technologies. It is within these chambers that you must solve puzzles involving not only sentry turrets and your faithful companion cube, but also deadly lasers, areal faith plates, reflective cubes, light bridges and various types of experimental propulsion, repulsion and conversion gel each of which add their own challenge.

Light bridges

Exploring more of the Aperture Science facility also forces you to face new challenges concerning height and distance. Whereas the original Portal game mainly took place in and around the relatively confined environment of the test chambers, Portal 2 encourages you to use your portal gun combined with your new found technologies to traverse distances which would previously have seemed impossible. Using the zoom on your Portal gun you are now able to portal to new heights, fall to new lows and bounce like you have never bounced before. Though your freedom to explore is still somewhat limited but Un-Portalable walls the game does give you more of a sense of space and distance, which unless you are afraid of heights is a good thing.

Vertigo anyone?

On a slightly different note I must say that the zoom on the portal gun makes this game much more friendly to Non-HD Tv users than most other new releases. Aside from using the zoom to identify far away platforms and walls it also came in very useful when correcting my aim or even attempting to read the various signs and graffiti dotted around the facility. This makes a nice change for those of us whose appetite for technology is much larger than our rather skinny bank balances.

GLaDOS had really let the place go since Chell left...

Exploring the lower levels of the facility not only allows you to discover new technologies, but it also enables you to find out more about the forgotten past of Aperture Science. As you explore the deserted offices and test chambers automated recordings intended to brief new test subjects introduce you to the CEO of Aperture Science, Cave Johnson (Jk Simmons) and his partner Carolyn. These recordings may start as helpful instructional tapes but as the game progresses they become much darker and more personal becoming less instructional and more like audio diaries recording a decent into madness. Listening to the lost recordings gives a much needed insight into the history of Aperture Science adding depth to the story without losing the sense of mystery the game creates. It is like being told a story which you feel like you already know, and yet somehow you cant quite remember where you have heard it or how it will end. In short, compelling.

This could get messy

It is worth mentioning at this point that though up to now I have told you quite a basic version of the story line and that this is not all that you can expect out of Portal 2. For spoiler reasons I will not go into great detail about what is to come, however I can say with confidence that the story line is new and engaging with a lot more plot twists and turns than the original. The game maintains its sense of humor throughout, with the addition of Wheatly’s over wordy commentary contrasting nicely with GLaDOS and her sinister sense of humor.

Introducing Wheatley

Aside from the single player mode Portal 2 also has an impressive stand alone Co-op mode which can be enjoyed with a friend either though split screen play or online. The Co-op levels are set after the events of the single player game and consist of an entirely new set of levels in which you and a friend are put through your portal paces. You play as two robots designed by GLaDOS to test the most demanding set of test chambers yet. Using four Portals instead of the traditional two you and your partner must work together to negotiate your way through the test chambers, using a combination of moveable colored markers and pre-programmed expressions (In addition to the old pointing and shouting method) to communicate with one another. The fact that these levels are entirely independent from the main story line not only makes them easy to enjoy with a friend but it also makes it feel as if you are getting 2 games for the price of one.

Its more fun to play with a friend...

If I had to give Portal 2 a score out of ten it would be a solid nine. I had to knock a point off because I found that when playing the Co-Op mode through for a second time (with a new partner) I found myself remembering the solutions to many of the puzzles leading me to become bossy and not so much fun to play with. Other than this, the game was an enjoyable, compelling and worthy sequel. A great new addition to the Portal family which I highly recommend to puzzle gamers, FPS gamers and in fact, any random passer by whom I happen to meet in the street.

Until next time,

24

x

Portal 2

Out now for XBox 360, PC and PS3

Valve: www.thinkwithportals.com

Robot Hugz

]]> http://www.plusxp.com/2011/05/portal-2/feed/ 2 http://www.plusxp.com/2011/02/portal-playing-the-game-as-a-character-or-just-playing-the-game/ http://www.plusxp.com/2011/02/portal-playing-the-game-as-a-character-or-just-playing-the-game/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:14:43 +0000 Garvaos http://www.plusxp.com/?p=6367

Everyone probably knows by now that FPS games are my thing, I have said it enough times and I am probably going to say it several more times before I die, it’s even getting to the point that when I do die I do genuinely hope that I respawn and get another go. But with all that being said my FPS tastes have been broadening and I do genuinely thank Portal for this.

When I first played Portal back on the orange box, I wasn’t expecting much of a game if I am to be honest. It was just a game that was included with Half Life and Team Fortress to fill up some disk space. I genuinely thought this when I was taking the game back from the shop I bought it from. So I got stuck into HL and completed it as usual. Then I thought why the hell not and broke out Portal to see what it was like, Sure I had heard a couple of things on the net stating that this game was amazing and revolutionary. I was undecided, untill about, say a minuet or so into the game literally. It was like love at fist sight all over again.

Portal had everything I thought a game needed to make a fantastic and engrossing experience that would give you a good mixture of action, thinking and overall brilliantly simplistic story line that will keep you entertained for every minuet of playing the  game. I never thought a first Person puzzle game would work so well but it did.

One of the things that I do love about video games in general is the fact that you can connect with the main protagonist, the fact that you can take the role of someone or something that saves the world from and alien invasion or a demon onslaught. You just feel that in games most days you are in control of a super powered being and you feel awesome. Portal is very different.

For a long long time I had no idea Chell was even female let alone a named protagonist in Portal. It wasn’t untill I was mucking about with portals in a corner of one of the test rooms that I caught a glimpse of my bionic legged self. This then changed my perspective of the game ever so slightly, I’m not running round the chamber of the Aperture science facility as a generic un-named character who I genuinely thought was myself. I have now taken the form of a woman who does have a name (after a little bit on internet research as the game didn’t mention her name once). So this now means I am leading someone elses life and not my own as it were. Making someone elses decisions, and did this take the atmosphere away from me a bit?

Well yes and no, yes because I thought for so long that I was my own character, ok so I didn’t get to the point of calling myself a name and making up my own back story (and I kind of have when I have played generic nameless character before. This is another reason why I love GTA III, sad I know) and having the realisation that I was indeed a character that Valve had created and had given a name, I was a little taken back, as the immersion of the game was taken away from me a little.

But then there is the other side of the coin. There is also the reason why it didn’t take from the experience. Playing portal I never really saw myself or Chell as the main character. The first voice you hear as you come out of your cryo-sleep is the voice of GLaDOS (interestingly her name is never mentioned in the game either) and she is the only voice you hear through the entire game. So I like most of the gaming universe out there consider her as the main character of the game. As she is such a fantastically written character she carries the story of the game perfectly, meaning that whatever form your character takes it never takes from the fact that GLaDOS is the core character of the game.

So as you can see, even though I was a little taken back that Chell wasn’t a generic character for my mind to play with, she didn’t take away from GLaDOS and that in general makes me happy. Portal 2 on the other hand maybe much of the same or could take Chell to another level which I am a little worried about.

After doing a little bit of research of Chell in Portal 2 it appears she has gone through a couple of designs. The first one being revealed saw Chell as Aperture science constructed test subject who had obviously been abducted by the test facility after her escape in the first Portal. This design automatically then gave her a bit more personality and characterisation that would probably take away from the atmosphere that the first Portal gave.

Then she went through a redesign, back in her orange overalls which does a little bit of fan service as well as give her a tiny bit of characterisation but not too much, I do prefer the second design as it still makes her a tiny bit generic so she doesn’t take too much away from the awesomeness that is GLaDOS and indeed any of the other character that will be in Portal 2.

The art designers from Portal 2 had this to say about the re-design: “In the end, Chell still functions mainly as a representation of the player in the world. We want players to feel it’s their own personal journey they’re embarking on in Portal 2, instead of forcing them into the character of Chell and making them role-play that in some awkward way. That said, we wanted players familiar with Chell from Portal 1 to see evidence of a transformation when returning to the world of Portal 2.”

This makes me very happy indeed, and Portal 2 is definitely still one of the games I am seriously looking forward too this year. All in all, its great that Chell has a name, but keeping her at least a little generic and plain is perfect as the Portal story will just mold around her and you as a player.

- Garv

Back when I first got my hands on Portal when it was released in 2007, I was both amazed and hooked to what had to be the best game that I though was ever made. It was like nothing I had ever played before. Granted I was and always will be an FPS fan through and through, but Portal was so much its narrative was well thought out and its game play was second to none. No one had ever played a game such as this before, so it was pretty revolutionary.

The game had me hooked, to this day it is still the only game I have played and re-played a countless amount of times and still loved every second of it. It is one of the few XBox LIVE arcade games I have totally maxed out achievement wise. In other words it is just awesome.

So you can probably imagine my over blown excitement for the release of Portal 2 in April. But will the game rival its predecessor and be dubbed as probably one of the best games of 2011? I am hoping so for a couple of reasons.

Innovative Level Design

Yes we all know the first Portal had some innovative level design and some fantastic game play. But Portal two promises a lot more gadgets to solve puzzles and a more diverse environment. You have things like jump pads, tractor beams, laser beams, red goo that makes you run at break neck speak, blue goo that makes you bounce around the room, that is all well and good, but what I am excited about most is the fact that you are playing in a dilapidated Aperture science reasearch facility, and the facility is being brought back to life by GLaDOS while you play the game. This could make for some awesome and very memorable gaming experiences. It is giving me goose bumps just thinking about it.

Multi-Player

If Portal wasn’t awesome enough already, multiplayer has made Portal 2 possibly one of the most anticipated games of 2011. Co-op play between friends trying to solve puzzles. Doesn’t sound all that on paper but if you have played Portal then you know how stupidly awesome this is.

Multiplayer wise we know that you play as two Aperture science robots and you have to solve the puzzles as a team, both armed with portal devices, this could shape up to be one of the best co-op modes in existence. The other great thing here is Portal could be making a turn for the gaming history books, as this is the first ever online game to go cross-platform. Meaning PS3 and PC owners and go hand in hand when playing Portal 2 online. This is a step in the right direction for games and should not be over looked in the slightest. If this cottons on we can see a new gaming revolution quite soon.

I seriously cannot wait for this game. Stay tuned to Plusxp.com for more info on Portal 2 as it reaches our ears.

Garv

E3 this year saw Portal 2, and oh my god I think I have seen the game of 2011, no sod that I have seen the game of the decade. Believe me, I am not exaggerating.

The first portal gave us so much, by showing us a new dimension to puzzle games and indeed first person perspective games as a whole. Now that the first game has established this, this then gave Valve a lot to play with for next installment, and believe me when I say that Valve have gone full-out with Portal 2.

Lets set the scene, it has been a fair few years since GlaDOS was destroyed and the Aperture Science facility was blown to smithereens, and for some reason you have made a welcome return to the test facility. Valve have stated that this game will be more story heavy than the last game. But knowing Valve’s use of the use of humour and the awesome personality that is GlaDOS, the game being more story driven is defiantly not a bad thing.

From what I have seen you are first guided around the ruins of the Facility by an AI sphere named Wheatley. He has an awesome british cockney accent and is just simply trying to break you out. What I have seen of him is hilarious, in certain parts of the opening of the game he has to access information from the Aperture science data base. Thing is he can’t do whilst you’re looking because it makes him nervous, its little bit of humour like this that will make portal 2 pretty much perfect. Anyway Wheatley is the one who accidently awakens GlaDOS and, she rebuilds the facility around you.

As she is rebuilding she has put in some new things into each test chamber, it is up to you to of corse complete the puzzles and get your self out of there and probably defeat her once more. NOw with the facility being rebuilt there is obviously going to be some new puzzles, and some new features. I gotta say, some of the new things that Valve have put into this game, look amazing.

So what new features are we looking forward too? Well here is a list of what has been confirmed.

Tractor Beams

These beams are very simple but effective. They can carry objects in a straight line in mid-air. The beauty of these things is that you can of corse use portals to alter the destination of said tractor beam. For example, you want a cube, throw the cube in the beam, set a portal at the end of the tractor beam, set another portal above the button you want the cube to go on and watch is float onto the button. Very simple, but when used with transporting yourself, very awesome.

Ariel Faith Plate

Basically these are just huge trampoline floor tiles that spring you in a direction with great hight. Think Sonic and the trampolines you get in that and you get the idea. Just times it by at least 100.

Thermal Discouragement Beam.

Basically a shiny red laser beam that will instantly fry you. The awesome thing here is they come with cube’s with mirrors in them. So you pick one of these cube up and you can direct the beam how you want with the cube, destroying enemies and activating switches, of corse you can use portals to direct the beam also.

Pneumatic Diversity Vent

This vent will suck up anything and just transport it to another place in the facility or another section of the room. Watch in hilarity as you see gun droids get sucked up by this thing and they shout, weeeeeee!

Repulsion Gel

A nice blue goo like substance that is dispensed out of a vent. Use portals to put the gel wherever you like, then walk on it and see yourself rocket to the skis. Like the ariel faith plate but more portable and awesome.

Prepulsion Gel

Another Nice goo that is dispensed out of a vent. This Red Goo when applied to any surface lets you run along that surface and tremendous speeds. It’s like nitrous oxide for your feet. Its going to be one of my favorite features next to the tractor beam.

Portal 2 is looking amazing, and it sounds like there might be more announced yet. In my opinion it looks like this game is set to be a full stand-alone release as opposed to a downloadable game, meaning Vale will have a lot to play with.

I Love GlaDOS!

Garv.

Video’s from IGN’s E3 Portal Coverage

Disclaimer: The interviews for Inside Look are the ideas of the Plus XP Team ONLY and are not the ideas of the creators and developers of the games. All characters interviewed in Inside Look remain the property of the video game developers and creators. Basically we are sorry if we took your characters guys, we promise we’ll give them back.

Welcome one and all to today’s show. This week I am sitting on the couch with ‘Genetic Life form and Disk Operating System’ This is a once in a life time interview, and we will be discussing the Values of Human life and what it means to be a hyper intelligent A.I.

Garvaos: Welcome GLaDOS, May I call you GLaDOS?

GLaDOS: Hello, and again, welcome to the Aperture Science computer aided enrichment center.

Garvaos: Umm Yes. So tell us about yourself, where are you from.

GLaDOS: My Purpose is to help and guide test subjects through the Aperture Science enrichment center. Once the test subject has completed the test, there will be grief counseling and cake…The enrichment center would like to Thank you for helping us to help you help us all.

Garvaos: In….deed, so tell us more about Aperture Science and the Enrichment Center?

GLaDOS: The Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center is the perfect place to test the Aperture Science Hand held Portal Device. We also have the Aperture Science ‘Bring your daughter to work’ day, which is the perfect time to have her tested and the Aperture Science Self Esteem Fund for Girls where you can donate all your vital organs.

Garvaos: I see, So lets get to the subject in hand. What are your thoughts of us as a Human Race and the Value of Human Life?

GLaDOS: Humans are the perfect test subjects for the Aperture Science Hand held Portal Device which is now more valuable than the organs and combined incomes of everyone in {SUBJECT HOMETOWN HERE.}*scrambled computer noises*
With the promise of cake, human test subjects can for fill the Aperture Science tests quickly and sufficiently. Once the test subject has been used it is then Disposed of and will be…..missed.

Garvaos: So you don’t value human life in the slightest.

GLaDOS: There was one test subject I remember. We had a great time together. I remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said ‘Goodbye’ and they were like ‘NO WAY”, and then I was all “We pretended we were going to murder you”, that was great.

Garvaos: So what happened to this test subject? Did he or she get their cake?

GLaDOS: The subject failed to assume the party escort position and did not get their cake. She put the Aperture-Science-Thing-We-Don’t-Know-What-It-Does into an Aperture-Science-Emergency-Intelligence-Incinerator. Then I flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin. The Aperture-Science-Thing-We-Don’t-Know-What-It-Does was my Morality Core they installed after I flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin the first time.

Garvaos: Did the test subject survive?

GLaDOS: After a big explosion, the test subject then proceeded to Assume the ‘Party Escort Submission Position’ and was then collected for the party. Her best friend could not make it though, she killed it. Her record says she is Unlikable. It’s official.

Garvaos: So in the end they actually got the cake you promised?

GLaDOS: The test subject was then- *scrambled computer noises.* Speedy-thing goes in, Speedy-thing comes out. *More scrambled computer noises* weeeeeeeeeeeee

Garvaos: So what is instore for you next? What future plans do you have?

GLaDOS: I am awaiting the Test Subject’s comeback . My data processing chip informs me that she will return. Then I will give her what she deservs.

Garvaos: And what is that exactly?

GLaDOS: Another Cake….. *scrambled computer noises* Excuse me {SUBJECT NAME HERE} have you tested a Aperture Science Hand Help Portal Device?

Garvaos: Ummm……no?

GLaDOS: The Enrichment center would like to take this oppotunity to offer you to be our next test suubject. There will Be Grief Councelling and Cake on completion of the test.

Garvaos: I think I’ll be ok thank you….

GLaDOS: There will be a weighted Companion Cube….

Garvaos: A what?

GLaDOS: The Enrichment Center reminds you that the Weighted Companion Cube cannot speak. In the event that the Weighted Companion Cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice *scrambled computer noises*

Garvaos: Ummm GLaDOS?…….Hello? Are you still with us?

GLaDOS: Unbelievable! You, {SUBJECT NAME HERE}, must be the pride of
{SUBJECT HOMETOWN HERE}

Garvaos: ummmm….ookk Well Thank you GLaDOS and thanks for coming on the show.

GLaDOS: Stop squirming and die like an adult or I’m going to delete your backup. Stop! Okay, enough, I deleted it. No matter what happens now you’re dead. You’re still shuffling around a little, but believe me, you’re dead. The part of you that could have survived indefinately is gone. I just struck you from the permanent record. Your entire life has been a mathematical error…A mathematical error I’m about to correct.

Garvaos: Ummm security…..Please Escort GLaDOS out of here…..

Let me lay down some facts here, as you are all aware by now I grew up with the FPS genre - so when I say Classic FPS I mean games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Duke Nukem 3D. The principle of the single player - and indeed co-op - campaign in these games is simple. You run through the level gunning down everything that moves, until you get to the end of level goal - usually a big button that says end of level, and finally you get your level statistics. It was very simple gameplay back then, but hell was it damn effective; nothing compares to unloading a clip of ammo into any unsuspecting demon, nazi or indeed alien.

First Person Shooters nowadays have evolved. When you pick up and play the campaign mode in Halo, or Modern Warfare you are thrown into a different kind of gameplay that is more objective based. Instead of just gunning you way through hordes of enemies to get to your one and only goal, you have to fulfill objectives that go towards obtaining that end level goal. Now this is definitely a more in depth style of gameplay that most gamers have come to expect these days, but I find that this new style of first-person shooter is less of a stress reliever that Doom and Wolfenstein were.

The original Doom had the option of punching demons to death, now that's what I call an FPS.

Ever since the first Halo, I have come to accept this objective base style of First Person Shooter. The Unreal Tornament franchise tried to keep to the classic style with its tournament based killing spree, but for me it just wasn’t the same. Then Serious Sam came along, which was damn good for just non stop killing, but in my mind it lacked something, (AKA Story) and wasn’t the serious survival FPS I wanted. I was about to say goodbye to the old style FPS, but then I played Left 4 Dead 2.

Now I have got my hands on this demo I have been kicking myself quite hard. Mainly because I should have been bitten by the Left 4 Dead bug a while ago with the first game. Granted I had a little go on the first game over my mates house but I really didn’t take it in and I regret doing so. To my mind Left 4 Dead is the next generation FPS game I have been hunting for. It returns to the classic FPS game genre with its simple, run, gun and get to your goal in one piece, but not only that, it brings lovers of this type of FPS game play together. Being mainly a co-op driven game, it somehow gets the balance of single player action and team based survival just right, meaning you can either play this on your own or with friends, no problem. Kind of reminds me of the Doom Co-op campaign days, ahhh memories.

The one thing I love about the ‘kill everything that moves’ game design is that pretty much anyone of any skill level can pick up and play it, not only that, they can also get good at it. To be honest I did struggle a bit with my first encounters with a Tank and a Witch, as I hadn’t played the first L4D much, if at all. I really didn’t know what to expect when a Witch was around. Basically I heard the crying, saw a sobbing zombie, thought it would be great to put her out of her misery with a shotgun shell to the back of her head. Next thing I know I am on the floor screaming AHH MY FACE!!! Can anyone say N00b!1!

The beauty of this game and indeed style of First Person Shooter is that you can attack it in any way you see fit. Some people like to stay behind and pick enemies off. I personally love to grab the nearest melee weapon, smother myself in Boomer Bile and shout something along the lines of “Here Zombies!! Lunch Time!!” and see how many of the undead buggers I can decapitate, it was the same with Doom, find a horde of pinky deamons and hack them down with the chain saw.

I gave the Left 4 Dead 2 demo to GuitarGirl to try, seeing as we did the expo coverage together I thought why not. She had a go, and her approach to the gameplay was somewhat different to mine. I love to lead the group and kill as many zombies as possible, where as she likes to hang back and pick them off. Both methods are effective. It’s just I remember GuitarGirl playing the demo and accidently setting a car alarm off. It happenes to all of us in L4D at some point. So the zombie horde came in their thousands and she survives it. Thing is, her team mates were on the brink of dying and she remarkably still has pretty much full life and was standing on a table. Then she says “I think I pissed my friends off because they’re nearly dead - But I’m OK because I am standing on the table!”….Facepalm.

As you can see. Left 4 Dead to my mind is a welcome return to the classic style of First Person Shooting. With simple controls, non-stop killing and one goal in sight; to survive the zombie apocalypse. I will no doubt be putting both Left 4 Dead games on my christmas list, and now I breathe a sigh of relief that the classic, kill-everything-that-moves style of gaming is back. I welcome it with open arms, lets just hope a charger isn’t going to mow me down in the process.

Garv.

So sit back and relax as you watch these highlights from Eurogamer 2009.

Plus XP’s Garvaos speaks weapons and swimming on Assassins Creed 2.

Guitar Girl 24 talks to Chet from Valve about upcoming sequel L4D2. ARGGHHHHH ZOMBIES!

Garvaos takes a breather with media molucule for a candid chat on LittleBigPlanet.

Francis asks the questions we all want to know. HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY?

The gang do the rounds with gamers impressions from the AvP demo available at Eurogamer.

The Plusxp and Gamersunite gang join forces to discuss our impressions on playing the game. Nintendo did not sponsor us for our positive reviews of the game, we all genuinely liked it that much.

Then again party games do usually make good expo games.

***

My Site www.gamers-unite.com will be coming soon.

- markBOSS

Garvaos and GuitarGirl 24 played Left 4 Dead 2 at Eurogamer, so read on as they both take you through the zombie slaying action in Plus XP’s first joint review.

Garv- At Eurogamer, the Plus XP team got the opportunity to try out Scavenger Mode, The new multiplayer game variant that features in Left 4 Dead 2.
24- In celebration of this new multiplayer mode we at Plus XP have decided to team up and give you our first ever joint review, so sit back, relax and enjoy a double dose of this exciting new release.(but don’t relax too much and forget to watch out for the zombies…).

Story
Garv– It’s your typical survival horror scenario, you are one of the few survivors left after a virus has broken out and turned most of the human population into crazed flesh-eating freaks. First person shooter gamers and B Movie horror fans will be right at home here as you fight your way through hordes of zombies by any means possible.
24- It is clear from the start that this game is as a true sequel to the original Left 4 Dead. With the tried and tested theme of zombie horror madness still going strong, anyone who loved the first installment is sure to love this new addition. The game promises to be like stepping right into a zombie movie, with all of the blood, guts and in some cases good old-fashioned comedy value a good horror flick should have.

Scavenger mode
Garv- For all of you gamers out there who don’t know what this mode is, its a two team battle, where the survivors have to collect petrol cans, which they then have to take to a generator on the map. The opposing team, AKA the infected, have to stop the humans from fueling this generator by mauling them to death in any which way possible.
24- To me this new mode opens up endless party play possibilities. Though the original Left 4 Dead was a good title to play through solo, this new mode gives the option for multiple players to take part in shorter battles, making it much more fun to play with friends. The format was reminiscent of the Slayer multiplayer mode in Halo, with Survivors Vs Infected, best of three team battles, bringing out many a competitive nature. My advice is; get this title, add some friends, a big stash of junk food (and quite probably a few drinks) and let the zombie death match rage.

Gameplay
Garv- For me the basic gameplay of Scavenger mode - and indeed for Left 4 Dead as a whole – is very well done, I can easily see myself maybe spending days on this game mode alone, it’s the classic simple-but-effective approach that makes this mode so appealing. Left 4 Dead 2 as a whole feels and plays beautifully. Having only played a small amount of the first game, I can safely say the classic B Movie Horror feel is back in full swing, making this game a unique gem that stands out from any First Person Shooter Game and any generic Zombie mashing gore fest.
24- The gameplay of Left 4 Dead 2 proves to be as smooth and enjoyable as any hard-core gamer could wish for. Reminiscent of the original Left 4 Dead, it allows many possibilities for varied forms of combat, with quite in-depth (but still easy to master) controls. Despite the odd zombie getting stuck in doors (much to our amusement) the demo ran smoothly throughout, which is more than I can say for some of the other new titles showcased . All of this looks promising for a classic, smooth running, familiar yet still exciting gaming experience.

New features
Garv- One of the things I found interesting was the new infected characters. The Spitter, the Charger and the Jocky. Getting to actually control these new zombies has been something I have been looking forward to since Left 4 Dead’s appearance was announced for the Eurogamer Expo. The Jocky I was most impressed with, because he could jump on any unsuspecting survivor and control where they moved, meaning you can lead any survivor into a horde of zombies for a flesh-eating mosh pit of carnage. The Charger and Spitter were good too, the Charger being a lot like the tank from the first game but with a great speed boost, and the Spitter spits stomach acid that can engulf any unsuspecting group of survivors. I loved to see three or four survivors cowering in pain as they dissolved in a pool of acid, but then maybe I’m a tad masochistic.
24- I also enjoyed playing with the new infected characters, but it’s also worth saying at this point that the storyline also features 4 completely new survivors. I also can’t go without mentioning the new melee weapons this game features. Aside from the more traditional weaponry, in this title you can also choose to fight with an electric guitar, crowbar or even a frying pan. Though I didn’t find these weapons as effective as the guns, there is still something to be said for fighting off hordes of very angry zombies with your kitchenware. Very Sean of the dead.

Sum up
Garv-As a whole, Left 4 Dead 2 is a must for any one who has a slight inkling to rip apart the living death. If you were a fan of the first game, I suggest you welcome this game with open arms. Put boycotting aside, because I will tell you now, with all the new content, this is far from just a glorified DLC pack.
24- If you enjoyed Left 4 Dead you will definitely be up for Left 4 Dead 2. I have it on good authority (The writer in fact) that this game promises and entirely new storyline, as exciting and zombieful as the first installment. That plus the new characters, modes and weaponry makes this game a surefire hit for all of those wannabe post apocalyptic survivors out there.

Resident Evil started the whole craze off with the umbrella corporation going a bit hey wire and unleashing an uber virus onto the world, Bioshock came along some time after with a half sane kind of zombie type human, wanting to splice people up and bleed them dry of a substance called ADAM. There has also been other games such as Dead Rising, which was just a mall full of zombies and psychopaths.

So zombies have got a large appeal over the years. But the game that took zombie slaying to the next level was Left 4 Dead. This game was mainly  a multiplayer based kill fest, but this time the zombies weren’t the slow walking vacant stare type. They were more the, we are going to run and scream in packs of about 200 and then rip any human to shreds type. This type of Zombie game play, gave players a new sence of urgency, a sence of insecurity and a sence of what the hell is going to be screaming round the next corner? Seeing as the game had a unique selling point of random enemy placement, meaning that if you were to go through the same level again, the zombies would be placed differently on the level. So that corridor you thought was deserted, next time could have a pack of zombies ready to eat your face.

But enough about the past. Lets look to the future and see what Left 4 Dead 2 has to offer the zombie slaying public. Well I can tell you now that the new game will feature five new campaign levels. These levels are bigger in size than the last game, meaning more hordes of zombies for the masses. Each of these levels can again be played in the other multiplayer modes, which are Co-op, Versus, and Survival mode. There has also been a new multiplayer mode mentioned but no confirmation on what said game mode is yet.

Three of the five new campaign levels have been announced so far. These campaign levels are “The Parish” set in the New Orleans’ French Quarter, “Swamp Fever” which is set in a murky swamp type area, surprisingly and “Dark Carnival” which sounds pretty awesome to me, The whole idea of a creepy carnival to kill zombies in sounds great.

With these new levels there will be some new boss characters as well. We have had 3 announced so far: “The Charger” which is the rugby/american football player of the zombie race. This leviathan charges into anyone or thing in its way. “The Spitter” who has a nasty habit of spitting mutated stomach acid on the floor, which then quickly turns into a pool the murky green acid, so running and gunning is good here as you don’t really want to fall into that. The 3rd boss type zombie to be announced is The Jocky, this git of a zombie apparently attacks its prey from behind, grabbing his/her head and then tries to gain control of its new prey. So I would be very careful of these guys, especially if your still on the look out for Boomers, Hunters, Tanks, Witches and Smokers.

From bottom left going clockwise: Charger, Jocky, Spitter

In Left 4 Dead 2, there are four new characters for you to pick from who are: Nick, a run of the mill slick con man, he is one of these guys who likes expensive suits and the rich life style. Rochelle, Left 4 Dead 2’s answer to Zoey, the only woman of the group who is a journalist…nice.  Coach, an ex high school football coach turned health teacher who is pushing 40, and last but not least, Ellis who appears to be the ‘Stiffler’ of the gang. A high school student who is loud-mouthed and likes his beer.

From left to right: Nick, Rochelle, Coach, Ellis

I bet your thinking, now that I have gone though enemies and playable characters, what about the all important weapons new to Left 4 Dead 2? Well some of you ‘bloody violence’ types out there will be pleased to know that Left 4 Dead 2 has taken melee combat into consideration with a whole host of melee weapons. Such as a Baseball Bat, Cricket Bat, Crow Bar, Electric Guitar, Fire Axe, Frying Pan, Katana, Machete, Police Baton and the all important Chainsaw. Thats a massive 10 new melee weapons to get you zombie hacking hands on.

Right so after all that info who is up for some Zombie slaying? Because I sure as hell am.

Left 4 Dead 2 is coming out on the 20th of November for Xbox 360 and PC. Look out for our hands on coverage of the game at Eurogamer next month.

Garv!