Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Gaming Today

Gaming Today

Dead Space 2 Achievements

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 10:19 PM PST

Thanks to it’s eerie ambiance, pulse-pounding combat, and inventive Zero-G gameplay, the original Dead Space was one of 2009′s sleeper hits. Now, the secret is out, and Dead Space 2 promises to be one of the first marquee releases of 2011. To that end, information about the game’s achievements has already hit the interwebs, the better to stir up pre-release hype. Below, we present the achievement list in full.

Regular Achievements

Mission Impossible – Complete the game on Zealot setting – 50G

Romper Stomper – Stomp 10 Containers – 25G

Vacuum Cleaner – Decompress 20 Necromorphs without getting sucked out yourself – 30G

Made Us Whole – Complete the game on any difficulty setting – 10G

Frozen in Time – Kill 50 Necromorphs while they are in Stasis (single player only) – 10G

First Aid – Use Quick Heal ten times (single player only) – 10G

Epic Dismemberment – Dismember 2,500 Necromorph Limbs (single player only) – 50G

…And Stay Down – Kill 25 crawling enemies with Stomp (single player only) – 10G

Think Fast – Kill 30 Necromorphs with Kinesis objects – 15G

The Nanny – Kill 30 Crawlers without detonating them – 10G

C-Section – Knock down an enemy with Contact Beam Alt-Fire, then kill it with Primary Fire before it stands up – 10G

Going for Distance – Impale an enemy and make him fly through the air for 17 meters — it must then stick to the surface – 20G

Taste of Your Own Medicine – Impale a live Slasher to a surface using a Slasher’s arm — it must stick to the surface – 20G

It’s a Trap! – Kill 20 enemies with Detonator Mines in a deployed state – 20G

Necro Flambe – Kill 50 enemies using the flamethrower – 10G

Peek a Boo! – Kill a stalker with the Seeker Rifle while in Zoom Mode – 20G

Brute Juke – Kill a Brute without taking damage – 10G

Shoot the Limbs! – Dismember 25 Necromorph Limbs (single player only) – 10G

Bouncing Betty - Kill a Cyst by catching its Mine and throwing it back – 10G

Skewered in Space – Impale an enemy into a Decompression Window to cause it to blow out – 15G

Hard to the Core – Complete the game on Hard Core setting – 50G

Clean Cut – Sever all three tentacles of a Lurker with one Line Gun Primary Fire shot (single player only) – 10G

Lawnmower Man – Kill 4 enemies with the same Ripper blade – 10G

Fully Loaded – Simultaneously have four completely upgraded weapons – 50G

The Sampler Platter – Kill a Necromorphy with every Weapon in the game (single player only) – 20G

Lightspeed de Milo – Dismember the Lightspeed Boy Statue – 10G

Looking Good – Purchase the Advanced Suit – 10G

Fully Outfitted – Upgrade your RIG and Stasis completely – 30G

Picking Favorites – Upgrade 1 Weapon completely – 30G

The Engineer – Collect 10 Schematics – 10G

My Boom Stick – Kill 6 enemies at once with Line Gun’s Alt-Fire (single player only) – 20G

Shock Therapy – Impale an enemy with the Javelin Gun and use its Alt-Fire to shock 3 others (single player only) – 10G

Collect Peng – Find the Peng treasure – 20G

The Librarian – Collect 100 logs – 10G

The Electrician – Collect 10 Semiconductors – 10G

Secret Achievements

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 50G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 30G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 50G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 10G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 20G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 20G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 15G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 20G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 10G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 30G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 15G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 25G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 15G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 10G

Secret Achievement – Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement – 15G

X-Men Arcade Review

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 09:39 PM PST

The release of an HD update for the classic X-Men arcade game was guaranteed to get a certain segment of the gaming press in a tizzy. Those of us born around the year 1985 have fond memories of the Konami cabinet, a staple at Chuck E. Cheese birthday parties and mini-golf lounges across the country. My friends and I still occasionally amuse ourselves by shouting the various Engrish catch-phrases, and I have  a distinct memory of beating the game thanks to my Aunt Julia and her unlimited supply of quarters, which at the time seemed to me the most appealing aspect of being an adult. Now that I am (hypothetically) an adult and have access to large, but not unlimited amount of quarters, the question presents itself: is X-Men Arcade worth $9.99?

Short answer: no. The game is exactly the kind of nostalgia cash-in you’d expect, offering an HD graphics update of the original and little else. Sure, being able to play through the game in one sitting with unlimited continues is fun for about an hour, but then what? If you think about it, having to pony up for another three lives was pretty foundational to the gameplay.

Konami made only a half-hearted attempt at offering bang for your buck. You can opt for the four-player mode, which fills less of the screen and constrains participation — for the life of me, I can’t figure out why anyone would want to do this. You also have the option of choosing between the Japanese and American ROM’s of the game, which at least provides a gameplay tweak: the former includes power-ups that can be snagged to replenish your health and mutant powers. These may well have been the only extras that were able to cobble together, despite a valiant effort, but that doesn’t excuse the exorbitant price point. Am I really expected to believe that this game is one-sixth as valuable as Mass Effect 2?

What little replay value the title has will likely lie in the drop-in, drop-out multiplayer, a tidy piece of game design that offers a number of easy-to-use filters for selecting the right game. Between that and automatic matchmaking, getting online and kicking Sentinel butt is nearly as easy as it was in the arcade. Initial reports of server overload seem to be exaggerated, though the framerate lags a fair amount anytime someone decides to spam their mutant power, which is often.

For aficionados, there is a robust, sortable leaderboard system which I suppose will act as the main attraction for anyone who is not either A) playing the game very soon after release or B) sober. For all its quirks, the X-Men Arcade is exactly the kind of repeatable, perfectible challenge that score-burnishers love to sink their callused thumbs into. For the rest of us, it’s an evening of retro bliss that will be quickly forgotten.

Pros:

  • Oodles of mid-nineties nostalgia, hilarious voice acting, shouts of “Ecksmin!”
  • Decent party-gaming potential.

Cons:

  • Short running time
  • High price
  • Little value added in its new incarnation

Test Drive Unlimited 2 – Developer Diary Series 1 of 3

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST

Take a tour behind the scenes of 2011's hottest racing game as developers walk you through the key elements of what went into creating the world of the highly anticipated racing game. Hear from Atari Executive Producer Vince Farquharson, Eden Games Executive Producer David Nadal, Senior Producer Eden Games Nour Polloni and Game Director Alain Jarniou as they walk you through the next iteration of Test Drive Unlimited 2. From a look at some of the licensed cars in the game, to the open online world, to what makes TDU2 different from the original, this series will answer all your questions. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Silkroad Online and Vindictus Client Downloads

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 04:24 PM PST

Looking for the newest clients? We have them ready for you to download from our Fast and Free servers:

Silkroad Online – Legend Ⅵ: Forgotten World Full Client v1.280
http://www.filefront.com/17682287/Silkroad-Online—Legend–Forgotten-World-Full-Client-v1.280/
Silkroad Online is a free-to-play MMORPG blending ancient fantasy and mythology from sources all along the historic silk road, including China, Islam, Europe and Egypt.

Vindictus Client v115
http://www.filefront.com/17682292/Vindictus-Client-v115/
Client version 115 for Nexon’s Vindictus, a free-to-play, melee-focused MMORPG built upon Valve’s Source Engine.


Warhammer 40000 Dawn of War II – Retribution Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 04:07 PM PST

THQ has released a new trailer for Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II Retribution. This trailer features almost a minute of gameplay footage. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Dead Space 2 “Get Caught Up” Demo Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Dead Space 2 Demo when live today on XBL and PSN. Here is a trailer that will help you “Get Caught Up” with the Dead Space universe. You can download this video in either MP4 or MOV format or watch it below.

CrimeCraft: Bleedout Episode 4 Teaser Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 03:30 PM PST

Preview the fourth episode of CrimeCraft: Bleedout with this exclusive teaser trailer, with an original story by Mike Kennedy and featuring the original art of David Williams. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Black Ops Makes a Billion

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 01:43 PM PST

Merry Christmas to Activision, and to the folks at Treyarch. Too bad they’re going to have to work overtime through the holidays to count all the money they’ve made from Call of Duty: Black Ops.

According to a press release, Black Ops has now reached the $1 billion mark in worldwide sales.

Let’s face it, there’s no surprise here. We knew this was coming, so let’s not act like we didn’t. Still, it’s a pretty strong showing for a game that was one of our Most Overhyped of 2010.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River Gameplay Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 10:50 AM PST

This clip shows off gameplay from Operation Flashpoint: Red River in a profile of Staff Sergeant Damian Knox, one of the characters in the upcoming military shooter sequel. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Yakuza 4 Tanimura Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 09:32 AM PST

This trailer focuses on 4th playable character, Tanimura, a good cop gone bad who is seeking vengeance for the death of his father. Yakuza 4 is SEGA's newest edition in the Yakuza franchise which chronicles the story of Akiyama and his descent into the underground criminal world of Tokyo. The Yakuza series is known for its epic storylines and refined combat systems. Yakuza 4 takes the series to a new level with an even larger world to explore including Hostess Bars, Karaoke pickup bars, massage parlors and pachinko palaces. With a deeper fighting system, four playable characters, and new street chases, Yakuza 4 is an intense gaming experience that we can't wait for you to play. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Gamefront 2010: Funniest Games

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 09:23 AM PST

Humor is an underrated quality in games — they seem to be getting more serious and stentorian by the year. 2010 had some humorous high points, including the re-release of classic LucasArts comic capers Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge. A lot of the side-splitting fare seemed to appear in games that are otherwise quite serious. Let’s see what the Gamefront staff has to say…

Mafia II

Ben Richardson’s Pick

I’ve already waxed complimentary about Mafia II’s writing, but nevertheless I found it particularly compelling when it came to the humor. Mob dramas since the beginning of time (significantly The Sopranos) have shown the importance of jokes and “breaking balls” to the criminal fraternity, and the game’s writing really nailed this quality of la cosa nostra‘s culture and argot. It also captured the banter back and forth between protagonist Vito Scaletta and his best friend Joe Barbaro — the pair trade barbs with all the mock vitriol of lifelong acquaintances.

For sheer comedy, it’s hard to beat the scene in which Vito, fresh out of jail, gets taken to a brothel to celebrate, only to end up designated driver for Joe and the alcoholic hoodlum Eddie Scarpa. The gag reveal of a dead body in the trunk of Scarpa’s car is priceless, and the drunk mo-cap and voice acting are spot on.

Deadly Premonition

Phil Owen’s Pick

When a Japanese developer decides to make a game that is making fun of other Japanese games, it usually results in plenty o' laughter. Half-Minute Hero was a good example of this from last year, and this year we got Deadly Premonition.

A weird mash-up of Silent Hill and the recent Resident Evil games, with a bit of Twin Peaks thrown in for good measure, Deadly Premonition is basically a jokey, Japanese Alan Wake. (That's a weird thing to say, since Alan Wake came out a few months after this game, but the similarities are undeniable.) It's got a protagonist who constantly addresses the player (he calls you "Zach"), wildly inappropriate music cues, and lots of the typically ridiculous dialogue one would expect from a Japanese game.

You'd be forgiven for thinking this game is playing it straight, but that's just not the case. This game is certainly in on the joke, and what a wonderful joke it is.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare DLC

Ron Whitaker’s Pick


I was wondering how Rockstar would present its Undead Nightmare DLC. Would they take the route of a serious zombie survival story, as Left 4 Dead did, or would they go for a campier take? I was very satisfied to find it was the latter.

It didn't take long to figure this question out, as John Marston leaves his infected wife and son hogtied with a raw steak for each of them, telling them to "Stop biting people."  They went on to make fun of classic zombie movies, with the doctor saying, "I'm going to walk down here by this dark alley, then I'll be back. Wait here, would you?"

There's plenty of subtle humor on display in this DLC, from the gossiping townsfolk who blame the outbreak on everything from the English to the Jews to the ridiculous stories people tell Marston in his travels.  All in all, it was really a tour de force of all the great humorous moments you've laughed at in old horror films for years.  If you're a fan of those old horror flicks, you should really check out this DLC — it's definitely good for a few laughs.

Mass Effect 2

Ross Lincoln’s Pick

The Mass Effect series has a very serious plot about the threat posed to Humanity (and the Milky Way galaxy as a whole) by Cthulu monsters from Beyond Infinity who want to enslave or re-purpose all organic life. It also requires you to make the effort to bond with NPC’s; in Mass Effect 2, actually play HR Rep/Counselor to them as they work out their personal issues (and thus become more effective at killing bad guys.) It's surprisingly touching, action-packed, and addictive beyond belief. Also, no joke, the villains' actual plot is to turn every organic species in the galaxy into space-sperm, which is genuinely creepy and kind of terrifying.

It's also full of in-jokes, running gags, brick jokes, and plain silliness that actually adds much needed brevity and does not in any way detract from the ability to fully enjoy the more serious aspects of a game. Greatest hits include:

Blasto: The Jellyfish Stings. The Hanar are a floating, contemplative race of jellyfish-like aliens with no discernible physical prowess whatsoever. They speak in the third person and float around harmlessly. During the original Mass Effect, someone joked about 'Blasto, the Hanar Spectre' on the BioWare forums, and it became so popular they added the gag into Mass Effect 2. Occasionally, you'll here a radio ad for Blasto: The Jellyfish Stings, an in-universe exploitation film that closely resembles Dirty Harry. "This one doesn't have time for your solid waste extractions" is pure win.

"I'm Commander Shepherd, and this is my favorite store on the Citadel". You can get discounts from certain merchants by offering to endorse their shop, and this is the line you will use for every single one. Every time you walk near the entrance, you'll hear the recording (and the implication that every single merchant believes it's unique). It only gets funnier the more times you hear it (booze helps).

Hamlet, featuring an all-Elcor cast. Imagine slow moving, slow talking aliens who have to explain the emotion they're feeling before speaking, performing Shakespeare. This in-universe advertisement promises "an unforgettable 14-hour experience".

There's so much more than there is space to talk about it, (like Mordin singing Gilbert and Sullivan), but if you want to have the funniest possible game, play as a total renegade and witness the best dialogue ever. This video shows you why.

Brill. Yant.

Super Scribblenauts Deeper Levels Trailer

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 09:16 AM PST

Go inside Super Scribblenauts with creative director Jeremiah Slaczka as he teams up with Maxwell to demonstrate the game's deeper levels. Watch Maxwell as he navigates around a few of the 120 brand new levels and demonstrates the unique gameplay elements available in the game. You can download this video in WMV or MOV formats or watch it below.

Unreal Engine Ported to Android, First Game Coming this Week

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 08:31 AM PST

Epic Games has made a lot of mobile phone news lately, first by making the Unreal Engine run on the iPhone, and then with Infinity Blade and the mad sales it has rung up. Now, they’re upping the ante once again, announcing that the Unreal Engine is now ready to be released on Android handsets.

We knew that this was coming, but I don’t think anyone expected it to happen this soon. Heck, Epic even has its first Android game ready to roll out.

Dungeon Defenders: First Wave is the inaugural title for the Engine on Android, featuring cooperative multiplayer, online connectivity, and seamless drop-in-drop-out gameplay. As you might expect, all this awesomeness has a few minimum phone specs attached to it. Here’s what you’ll need in order to play Dungeon Defenders:

  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 800 MHz processor
  • 400 MB of storage

Most recent Android devices should handle this just fine. If yours doesn’t, this is as good an excuse as any to go get that upgrade you’ve been putting off. Plus, you can call it a Christmas gift.

Dungeon Defenders: First Wave is due out this Thursday, December 23. No official word on pricing yet, but as it’s $2.99 on the iPhone, odds are the price will be really similar to that.

First Fallout: New Vegas DLC is Live

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 07:52 AM PST

If you’re playing Fallout: New Vegas on the XBox 360, you can extend your gaming experience today. The “Dead Money” DLC for Obsidian’s Fallout sequel is now available on XBox Live.

Dead Money puts you to work alongside three other captured wastelanders trying to recover the lost treasure of the Sierra Madre Casino. According to the press release,

In Dead Money, your life hangs in the balance as you face new terrain, foes, and choices. It is up to you how you play your cards in the quest to survive

No word yet on when the DLC will make its way to PS3 and PC, but you know it will be showing up there eventually. Until then, you can just keep roaming the wasteland collecting bottle caps.
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