This Week's Releases: LittleBigEdition

It's another good week for new games and here are my picks for this week:

My Game of the Week

LittleBigPlanet (PS3)-10/28

If you've been following my blog, you know that LittleBigPlanet is one my most anticipated games of the year. Having played the beta, I'm pretty convinced that this game will be a load of fun. Whether you want to just go through the story mode, create some levels, or play with some friends, this game will have you covered. LBP promises to be a truly unique experience and it's my pick for the game you should get this week.

Fallout 3 (PS3, 360, PC)-10/28

I have to admit that I wasn't too impressed with the demonstrations of Fallout 3 at E3, but it just doesn't seem to be able to demo well in a short period of time. Everyone who's gotten a chance to play it speaks very highly of it and I thought that Bethesda's last effort, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, was a really good game (even if it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea). So, despite not being too initially impressed, I have faith that the game will turn out well. RPG fans should check this one out.

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (PS3)-10/28

I really liked the original Motorstorm. The driving mechanics were really well done and the graphics were some of the best ever when it released, but it was a little lacking in content. While Pacific Rift's graphics won't blow you away like the first one, they are looking to fix that whole lack of content thing. Twice as many tracks as the original and splitscreen multiplayer look to give this new game a lot more life. The demo played pretty well and this should satisfy Motorstorm fans and other racing junkies.

Fall 2008 continues it's stretch of great releases this week with two games that will probably be two of the highest-rated of the year (LBP and Fallout 3). Any of the above games should provide some serious fun for gamers this week. Next week will have another solid slate of releases and I'll be back with my picks.

This Week's Releases

This is a new weekly feature I'm going to do that will talk a bit about each week's biggest releases. I won't cover everything, but I'll try to hit up some games that look really interesting to me or are pretty popular and this will be just retail stuff (I may do another post for download stuff after things release on the online stores). I'll also have a pick for what I think is the best game coming out that week. It's a good week to start as there are a bunch of huge games coming out. Unfortunately, LittleBigPlanet is no longer coming out this week, but there should plenty for those looking for a new game. Here's what you guys can get this week (oh and I listed "ship dates" whether they will release that day or the next is usually a mystery and depends on the store and game):

My Game of the Week

Far Cry 2 (PS3, 360, PC)-10/21

I really feel with the big hype surrounding Gears of War 2 and Resistance 2 (and deservedly so it seems) that Far Cry 2 may be kind of a sleeper in the shooter-genre. The new Far Cry ditches the jungle of the first game for an African Setting, but retains the open-world gameplay that should help set it apart from the other aforementioned shooters. The game also gives you a lot of choices in how you tackle missions and has a pretty sweet map editor, too. If I was going to get one game this week, it would be this one (though I'm going to hold out for some others later this year instead).

Fable 2 (360)-10/21

I've been hearing good things about Fable 2 lately. I'm not really an RPG player, but this one actually did look pretty interesting when I saw some demos a while back. It's co-op feature seems neat as well. 360 owners looking for a good RPG should check this one out. Oh and it features this awesome tree monster pictured above (at least I think that's what it is). That has to be worth something.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS)-10/21

Castlevania is almost always solid. This is your typical Nintendo handheld "Metroid-vania," but it has a few things to keep it fresh like a new female protagonist, more outdoor environments, the new glyph system, and this cool new ability where you can fling yourself around environments. This was my pick for the Best Handheld Game of E3 and it looks like it should be one of the better handheld games released this year. Order of Ecclesia is likely a must for Castlevania fans and definitely worth a look for those looking for some good handheld action this week.

There are some other games worth noting. Guitar Hero: World Tour comes out this Sunday for a bunch of platforms. There's also a DS game coming out called Tornado which looked alright when I saw a preview of it a while ago. It's got this Katamari-esque feel where you suck a bunch of stuff up into a tornado. PS3 owners can finally explore Rapture when Bioshock hits the PS3 this week (unless they also own a 360 or capable PC, then they may have done so already). Also, for those interested Spiderman: Web of Shadows and The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon are coming out for most relevant game systems (unless you want Spyro on PSP, I'm pretty sure you're going to be let down then). Well, there's plenty of things to like here though I'm not sure another Spiderman game is one those things. And for those of you who were hoping to pick up LittleBigPlanet this week, I'm with you and it'll only be another week now (unless you don't live in the U.S., then a bit longer it seems).

Hands-on: Motorstorm: Pacific Rift

With the demo hitting the Playstation Store this week, I finally got to play Motorstorm: Pacific Rift which releases later this month. Having enjoyed the first game early in the PS3's life, I've been looking forward to seeing how this new Motorstorm would play.


So, how does it play? Well, actually, a lot like the first game which is to be expected and it's not really a bad thing. The game controls almost exactly the same. The R2 button accelerates, the X button is your boost, the circle button breaks, and the left analog stick steers. This is really all you need to know. I mean there are some other things like punching while on bikes plus new stuff like using L1 and R1 to bump opponents next to you. But the focus here is again on speeding through the course, powersliding around corners, and using your boost well (as using it too much will make you explode like before). The demo gives you access to one track, Rain God Spires, which you can play single-player or in two-player splitscreen. You also have access to different vehicles (bike, racing truck, and monster truck in single; rally car, buggy, and racing truck in splitscreen). Like before, different vehicles have a different feel to them and are better for different routes. Rain God Spires shows off how this sequel will again have multiple routes to take throughout the course. While this track doesn't have as many routes as some of the original's more elaborate tracks, it is very well designed with two main routes that intertwine throughout with plenty of jumps to get some big air. This track is in the jungle, but the actual portion you race on is a bit reminiscent of the dirt courses of the first game. I would have liked to have gotten to try out one of the courses featuring water which can be used to cool down your boost meter, but this course was still fun. The new monster truck plays well though I still prefer the faster vehicles like bikes and rally cars. I got the chance to try splitscreen as well. It's going to be a really great addition to the game. It does cut down on your view of the course which means it may be helpful for each player to try courses in single-player first to get a handle of the layouts. Otherwise, I think splitscreen will be a blast. While the game may not be one of the best looking games ever when it launches like the first game, it still looks good and runs well even in splitscreen (though it does take a bit of a hit there graphically obviously) especially considering this is seemingly an older build. And the crashes still look awesome. The soundtrack also fits well with the racing.

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift looks to be in good shape. The core racing elements from the original are intact and feel as good as ever. And they've added some nice new features like splitscreen multiplayer and the monster truck while also fixing issues like reducing the first game's long loads for choosing a vehicle. The full game promises to have more courses (twice as many as the original) and a larger variety of environments than the first (read: not all desert courses). All this points to a sequel that should satisfy fans of the first while fixing the game's major issue by adding more play value to the game. Racing fans can look for Motorstorm: Pacific Rift when it ships to stores October 28th.

LittleBigPlanet Beta Impressions

I was lucky enough to get into the beta for LittleBigPlanet which allowed me to get a taste of what the game has in store for us when it releases next week. Now that I've had the last two weeks to play around with the game, I'm going to share my thoughts on the LBP beta.

The game begins by throwing you into the story mode (after a bit of an intro). The beta had the first three levels of the game and a mini-game available. These first three levels act as a tutorial on how to play the game. It's basically a 2.5D platformer and is rather simple to play. The most important control aspects are the jump and grab button. The X button jumps, higher depending on how long you hold the button, and the R1 button grabs onto things. This can be used to grab things to swing on or move blocks to help you get up to places. This plus the left stick moving your character is basically what you need to get through a level. The square button will open up a menu that let's you customize your sackboy and activate switches with stickers you've found while other buttons will allow you to move around your sackboy's arms, head, and change their expression. All that is mostly just for fun though. The level design is a mix of platforming challenges and puzzle elements. You'll hit buttons and switches to get mechanisms to move, swing over gaps, use jetpacks to fly around, and avoid enemies. All this is really fun, though the first two levels are really just tutorials. The third level was really well-done and gets me excited for what the full game might have in store. Levels can be played with up to three friends online or off which makes the game even more fun. Also, doing various things within the levels like collecting bubbles or not dying will unlock new things that can be used for either creating levels or dressing up your sackboy (or girl).

Picking stuff up while flying around with a jetpack is pretty fun.

This brings us to the other main aspect of the game, the creation portion. The game allows you to make levels just like the ones already in the game. You can start with a template like a city or a temple or just start with a blank level. The game makes you go through a load of tutorials on how to use the different tools in the game, but after this you can really make any number of things. You'll have access to everything from different building materials like wood, stone, or cardboard to buttons and switches to winches and pistons and much more. You'll learn how to utilize different materials for different purposes. For instance, glass is slippery and acts like ice. You'll also need to become used to the physics behind the game. You can't just make a wood platform in the air and expect it to stay there. You'll have to prop it up somehow or use the dark matter material which will just stay where you place it. You must also get used to the fact the game world has three planes along which you can run. Once you get a hang of these things you can make some truly great levels. I was impressed with what I had seen from people in the beta. I especially liked a couple levels I saw made based upon the game Shadow of the Colossus and the TV show Ninja Warrior. I made my own level that had a number of platforming challenges like hopping on "icy" platforms, jumping up some piston powered sections, and running along teetering platforms. I had some other parts where you had to find a switch to move a door or start a mechanism to progress in the level. The level turned out pretty well. I also toyed around with making different vehicles with engines and wheels in another level. There wasn't a whole lot of stuff to customize your sackperson with, but if videos I've seen are any indication, the full game will have a lot more options.

The beta had a skateboard part similar to this which made for an exciting ride.

Overall, the game was a lot of fun. If you just want to play some levels, the ones on the disc should be great and you're bound to find a ton of great ones online when the game has a been out for a little while. I could see enjoying this game without ever touching the creation aspect. The platforming mechanics are simple yet work well and it seems there will be a lot of secrets for those looking to explore. The creation aspect is really cool and seems like it will only get better when more is available in the full game. It looks to be a good co-op game, too. Overall, I was pleased with what I played in the beta. LittleBigPlanet looks like it will please platforming fans and those looking to tap into their inner game designer. I'll try to have a more on LBP when I get the full version soon.

Tokyo Game Show: What Can We Expect?

With TGS starting in a few days (October 9 for those wondering), I thought I'd take some time to write about what we know will be there and some other things we can expect. The focus at TGS will be on games designed by Japanese developers (or at least it usually is). These will include both games that will be aimed at the Japanese market and the western market. That doesn't mean games by western developers aimed at non-Japanese markets won't appear. Sony and Microsoft are likely to have games like Resistance 2 and Gears of War 2 among others at their respective booths though I wouldn't expect much in the way of new updates on these games. Another thing worth noting is that with the show occurring in October, I wouldn't expect a whole lot of announcements (read: very few) for games coming out this year. But with E3 and GC focusing so much on this year's games, it will be nice to see a bigger focus on 2009.

So, what do we know? Well many publishers have announced their line-ups for the show (thought they may still have some surprises). Square Enix will have a number titles to show some in trailer form only like the three FF XIII titles and Dragon Quest IX, while other games like the Kingdom Hearts DS and PSP games, Star Ocean 4, and The Last Remnant will also be playable. I'm interested to see how From Software's new Xbox 360 game Ninja Blade looks in playable form. I wasn't liking the lead ninja's look in the teaser, but the game's concept looks promising. Sony is set to have a slew of games playable at their booth from Loco Roco 2 and Patapon 2 on PSP to many PS3 big hitters coming this fall. Sony is also going to have some third-party games like Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter IV playable in their booth too.

Will this be the year that this become's more than a tech demo? Could we see a Final Fantasy VII remake for the PS3? No... just no.

This is just skimming the surface of what we know will be there, but what's always exciting to me about these shows are the surprises. Sony along with their playable list announced they would 14 unannounced titles at the show (and these seem to be referring to playable titles). Three of these will be for the PSP from Sony Computer Entertainment. The other eleven will be for PS3, 1 from Irem Engineering, 1 from Konami, and the other 9 from SCE. The last issue of Famitsu seems to have filled in some these blanks. For one, the Irem PS3 title seems to be Spelunker HD a remake set to release on the PSN. One of the mystery Sony PSP titles is called Diamond and the Sound of a Gunshot. The most interesting tidbit from the magazine came in the form of the new action-RPG from...erm... From Software called Demon's Souls which seems to be one of the SCE PS3 titles. What he rest are is yet to be seen. Could we see a something new from Game Republic (who made Folklore and Genji)? Will they be downloadable games or full releases? What about non-playable games? And most importantly will Team ICO's PS3 game be there? I'm going to say it will. I said back at E3, it would be and I still think it will. As a pretty big fan of both Shadow of the Colossus and ICO, I can't wait to see what they're cooking up for PS3 owners. But hey it's not just Sony who will have surprises. Rumors suggest we may see the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 3 for the PS3. I'm also really excited to see the new titles that Team Ninja has said they would reveal that I already wrote about on this blog. Marvelous has teased that they have an announcement that involves a big Japanese game creator set for the first day of the show. Some have speculated that it could be former Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki or maybe even Final Fantasy XII director Yasumi Matsuno, but these may just be wishful thinking. We'll just have to wait and see.

How does Team ICO plan to top this? I'm not sure, but I'd like to find out.

All this is just a bit of what will be present at the show which I think could well be better than any gaming event of 2008 especially for new game announcements (though I'm going to try to keep my expectations low anyway as to not be disappointed). It's only a few days until the show starts up. I'll be sure to update with any big news and give my thoughts after the show with either some Game of the Show Awards or just some ramblings about the goings-on. Now let's all just keep our fingers crossed for something from Team ICO.

My Sly Cooper Jak-O-Lantern

The past few years for Halloween I've made a video game themed Jack-O-Lantern. So, with Halloween approaching I thought I'd share some of my creations before the holiday arrives and then I'd add my new one around Halloween this year.

First, I'm going to share my Sly Cooper Jack-O-Lantern from last year. This one is based off some art from the series and is a rather simple design (I didn't have much time last year). The front features a silhouette of the thieving raccoon with his cane in hand. The back features the symbol/icon that was used as Sly's calling card and for various other purposes in the games. It was made to shine light up on the wall and display the symbol against the wall behind the pumpkin which it did, but I couldn't get it to show up in photos, so, I just shot the carving with the pumpkin turned around. Anyway, here are some shots of my Sly Cooper Jack-O-Lantern. Hope you guys like them (Note: the captions refer to the pictures above them).

A shot from a bit further away of the front.

A closer look at the front.

This is the back. Like I said before it projected this icon up onto the wall, but I couldn't get a good photo of it, so, I just took a shot of it from the back. The one eye looks a bit messed up, but that didn't affect the projection, so, I didn't go crazy changing it.

This is a shot of it with the lights on just to show it is indeed a Jack-O-Lantern which isn't as apparent in the other shots.

Well, what do you guys think? Feel free to leave a comment below. I'm going to follow this post up with my Jak and Daxter one from a few years back. So, keep an eye out here for that one and some of my new creations for this year.