CONSOLECREATURES.COM previews a few XBOX LIVE Arcade titles coming this summer
In keeping with the classic spirit of the Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft went old school with its recent XBLA summer preview, hosted at Flo’s vintage diner in Toronto. Console Creatures was on hand for a first-hand look at some reinvigorated coin-op classics, as well as some fresh original titles, all of which will debut on the 360’s download service this summer. Microsoft supplied the beer and burgers, while the following publishers supplied the games:
Capcom – Wolf of the Battlefield: Command 3 & 1942: Joint Strike
With hotly anticipated ports of Street Fighter II and Bionic Commando due later this year, Capcom, in particular, has embraced the growing retro revival. While neither title was shown at Microsoft’s event, the Japanese publisher was nonetheless well represented, showcasing its reboots of the Commando and 194X franchises. Developed by Backbone Entertainment, both games feature slick new polygonal engines, but remain faithful to the feel of their classic counterparts.
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 maintains the elevated isometric perspective of the original, but pulls the camera closer to the action for a better look at the large, caricatured characters and bright colourful backdrops. While dual-stick shooters have become a crowded genre on XBLA, Commando 3 ups the ante by offering a 3-player co-op mode as well as top notch production values. To sweeten the deal, Capcom has also included an access key to the Street Fighter II HD Remix beta, set to begin on June 25th. With or without the beta, Commando 3 has good value at 800 points, and is available now.
1942: Joint Strike, like its predecessors, is a frantic top-down shooter. As its title suggests, the game has been optimized for co-op play. Thanks to several all-new joint strike attacks, taking on the swarms of enemy aircraft and massive bosses is all the more rewarding with two pilots at the controls. Graphically, Joint Strike looks crisp in HD, with detailed visuals and subtle effects that convey a genuine sense of altitude. Due for release next month at 800 points, Joint Strike is set to join Ikaruga as a must-play for fans of vertical shooters on XBLA.
Activision ¬– Tee it Up Golf
Targeting a slightly more casual audience, Activision was also represented at Microsoft’s summer preview with the Housemarque-developed, Golf: Tee it Up. The title isn’t going to win any awards for originality, and neither is the game itself, but that can certainly be excused given its similarity to the hugely popular Hot Shots series. From the cutesy, bobble-headed characters, to the tried-and-true triple tap swing mechanic, Tee it Up will look and feel instantly familiar to fans of Clap Hanz’ franchise.
That’s not to say Tee it Up hasn’t brought anything new to the table. Housemarque has taken the concept of after-touch to the next level, introducing an optional bullet-time feature that will allow players to adjust wayward drives or turn good approach shots into great ones. Characters’ outfits are also fully customizable from the get go, with clothing options that range from three-piece suits to baseball caps and bunny slippers.
The lack of casual golf-games on the XBLA has been puzzling, but the as-yet-undated Tee it Up appears poised to fill the void nicely, with graphics that are among the best on XBLA, a fully featured online tournament mode and several downloadable courses already in the works.
Torpex Games – Schizoid
Meanwhile, rather than aiming to fill a gap in an established genre, Torpex Games is touting Schizoid as the birth of a new form of gameplay. The first XNA Game Studio title to come to the Live Arcade, Schizoid combines elements from Pac Man with a visual style reminiscent of Geometry Wars and an entirely co-op focus. The result is a “co-op creature eater” where each player takes control of either a red or blue avatar, and must work closely with their counterpart at all times. Red players can devour red enemies, but are vulnerable to blue ones, while the reverse is true of blue players. Each player must balance their attempts to eliminate enemies with the need to protect their partner.
The various enemy creatures move at different speeds and have different abilities, making it important for players to strategize and co-ordinate as they attack and defend. The co-op dynamic is very much the core of the gameplay, and there is no true solo mode; single players are partnered by the AI. While the simple controls and 2D graphics have a definite retro appeal, the teamwork element is a truly innovative touch that will help set Schizoid apart when it’s released in the coming weeks.
The two remaining games at Microsoft’s event were Southpeak Interactive’s Roogoo, and Microsoft’s own Buku Sudoku. As both titles have been available on XBLA for several weeks Console Creatures invites you to form your own impressions via the available demos. Roogoo, especially, is worth a try for puzzle fans. Though the graphics and production values are very kid friendly, Roogoo is literally block-stacking with a twist, and may surprise you with its hidden depth.
In all, this summer is shaping up nicely for the Live Arcade service. With Microsoft recently increasing the size-limit on XBLA releases, expect to see some very pretty and ambitious games on the horizon. Nonetheless, also rest assured that publishers have not forgotten that the service was built with simple, old school fun in mind, and that there is plenty in the pipeline for casual and hardcore gamers alike.
Julian Carrington for consolecreatures.com
CONSOLECREATURES.COM. The Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots REVIEW
Metal Gear 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
In 1998, Hideo Kojima (producer) returned to the Metal Gear series by introducing us to Metal Gear Solid for the PS1. The release of the game rejuvenated the series as well as helped solidify the PlayStation (a new entry in the console business at the time) as a legitimate competitor in the console market. Almost ten years later, two more Solid titles for the PS2, a remake of MGS on the Gamecube, and a myriad of Metal Gear spin offs on portable systems, Metal Gear Solid 4 was announced for the Playstation 3 at E3 in 2005.
At that time the PS3 was being touted as the next big thing in the console market and was the unquestionable heir apparent to the PS2’s dominance in the previous generation. While questions of a release date for the game kept growing and growing as time went on, the market changed. Previous PlayStation exclusives moved to multi-platform, Microsoft had an extra year to establish its console base for the 360, there was a slow adoption rate of the PS3 along with the lack of original high quality games, and oh yeah, the Wii came out.
This added a bit more weight on the shoulders of Metal Gear 4 as one of the remaining exclusives for the PS3. Not only did it have to live up to the standards that Kojima Productions set in past Metal Gear Solid games, it had to surpass it. All eyes were on the game to see if it was worth the wait/hype and if this would finally be the AAA title PS3 owners were waiting for.
The Pros
The unique game play will be familiar with Metal Gear veterans, but the concept is simple enough that newcomers will be able to familiarize themselves with it. Rather than going in with gun’s blazing the player must sneak, hide, and manipulate their way through to the objective points in each level. The AI is a bit smarter in this game from troops noticing your cigarette smoke if you decide to light up while hiding, to them thoroughly inspecting drum cans that you’ve been sneaking around in. Luckily you’ll have new tools like the MK-II (invisible robotic scout) and the Snake Eye (field of vision enhancer), as well as the classic Oct-Camo suit that camouflages your body and eventually your face to your surroundings. The in-game iPod is also a neat little touch but kind of gets in the way when using it during the game.
The Story is as deep and engrossing I’ve seen in any game in recent memory. A rapidly aging Solid Snake, the celebrated American hero (in this universe at least), comes to grips with his fate and the resurfacing of his reincarnated brother in an ever growing “War Economy” controlled by the secret society called “The Patriots”. Kind of over the top, I know. But it works. Along the way, and without giving away too much, Snake comes across almost every character in the Metal Gear universe in one way or another, plot twists develop, various emotions arise and Snake’s character is deeply explored before it comes to a very satisfying end.
When you are left with no choice other than to fight the aiming mechanics are easily manageable and the first person view and Close Quarter Combat (CQC) options can come in handy at times. The bosses in the game are not that difficult but require more thought as opposed to shooting those more then getting shot.
The add-on game of Metal Gear Online is a nicely robust online experience that unfortunately does take a back seat to the single player Story Mode. Players will enjoy using the Metal Gear game techniques and gadgets in an online environments especially in unique co-operative modes. The registration is long and tedious through Konami but the game will serve as nice bonus feature once you’ve completed the Story mode increasing the replay factor as a whole.
Finally, the most impressive thing about this game is that you’re easily blown away by the cut scene graphics of the game. You then realize it is the same graphics engine they use for the game play and how smoothly it transitions from one to the other.
The Cons
Fox Dye, Liquid Ocelot, Shadow Moses, PMCs, and “The Patriots” are just a few of the many past storyline references that a number of newcomers to the series might not be able to understand unless they’ve enabled the services of Wikipedia and/or Youtube. Even still, the story line at times gets so complex it’s hard to keep track of the dialogue in the countless number of cut scenes in the game. Hideo Kojima tries to even inject his own brand of humor into the story which is very hit or miss. The developers also do try to combat the complexity of the story by introducing the “flashback” button during the cut scenes of which usage by the player affects their score. Despite that, it doesn’t seem to be enough to help a newcomer ingest all that is being said in the cut scenes.
The cut scenes in the game happen very often and at times can drag on for quite a while. Though integral to the plot for the last Metal Gear Solid game and experience, you can sometimes get the feeling that you’re watching more than playing which can delay your gaming experience and decrease the replay factor of the game. To further contribute to your delays, even though PS3 owners are used to mandatory installs to their hard drive to decrease in game load times, the player is subject to several shorter installs as you progress through the game as levels and locations change.
Here’s the Deal
The production value of the game at the very least has to be admired. This game is not just about moving your character around and pushing buttons at the right time. It’s a cinematic gaming experience. The story and game play have been intertwined to perfection and the graphics are some of the best I’ve ever seen. If you’ve ever picked up a Metal Gear Solid game in the past and didn’t love it, you probably won’t love this game and may nitpick in the delays between game play. It is however a must have for a Metal Gear Solid fan. As for those who are curious or just hungry for a great PS3 game you better do your research on Metal Gear history before hand because I assure you, once you start this game you will not be able to put it down until you find out how Solid Snake says goodbye. 9/10
Sean Capisonda for consolecreatures.com
NHL HOCKEY lights the lamp on the Wii
Nintendo’s iconic video game character, Mario trades in the Mushroom Kingdom for the red carpet at the 2008 NHL Awards in Toronto. Mario high-fived fans celebrating 2K Sports’ NHL 2K9, the first official NHL and NHLPA Licensed Hockey Video Game for the Wii Console. Available this fall, NHL 2K9 will allow fans to play like the pros using the Wii Remote controller as a hockey stick. Stay tuned for screenshots and game details.
DC NATIONALS SET TO BEGIN IN 2 WEEKS
British Columbia and Quebec kick off the Regional Qualifiers, New Website Complete
(VANCOUVER, BC) The first stage of the DC Nationals Skateboard Championship will begin in less than three weeks with the British Columbia and Quebec Regional Qualifiers. Five other Regional qualifiers will follow throughout the month of July and the beginning of August.
For the first time, the Regional’s are open to all skateboarders, meaning there is only one step to qualify for the Nationals. The top 5 skateboarders in each region will advance to the Nationals to compete for a piece of the $20,000 cash purse – double from 2007. First place at each Regional Contest with receive airfare and accommodation to the Nationals in Montreal on August 23rd.
The new website is complete with a blog, videos and will have updates after each Regional Qualifier. Contest information and judging format can also be found online. Check it out now at http://www.dcnationals.com. Regional participants can preregister online or at any host shop. Registration will also take place on event day.
DC National Regional Qualifiers
PORT COQUITLAM, BC – Railside Skatepark June 28th @ 10:30AM | Presented by Westbeach
MONTREAL, QC – South Park June 29th @ 10AM | Presented by Empire
COCHRANE, AB – Cochrane Skate Park July 5th @ 10AM | Presented by The Source
REGINA, SK – Regina Skate Plaza July 5th @ 12PM | Presented by The Tiki Room
WINNIPEG, MB – The Forks Plaza July 26th @ 11AM | Presented by SK8 Skates
HALIFAX, NS – The Commons Park July 26th @ 10AM | Presented by Pro Skateboards
TORONTO, ON – The Brampton Skate Plaza August 2nd @ 10AM | Presented by Adrift
DC Nationals is Canada’s only nationwide skateboarding contest. It also boasts the largest contest cash purse for Canadian amateur skateboarders at $20,000.
Since 2003, DC has given back to its roots of skateboarding by hosting the DC National Skateboard Championship. The mission of the contest is to promote and involve Canadian youth in skateboarding. The DC Nationals is a Non-Profit, Canada-Wide skateboard contest and the only event of its kind that gives Canadian amateur skaters a chance to showcase their talent on a national level.
consolecreatures.com presents Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness (Episode One) (Hothead Games, Xbox Live Arcade)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary later this year, Penny Arcade has achieved an iconic status for many gamers. Having already given rise to a children’s charity and a full-fledged industry expo, the web’s best known games-centric comic strip recently teamed up with BC’s Hothead Games to deliver the first in a series of interactive episodes, billed as a mashup of the classic RPG and adventure genres. Does the result live up to the Penny Arcade Pedigree? Read on for the Console Creatures verdict.
PROS
Even down to its absurdly melodramatic title, On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness is unmistakably a Penny Arcade creation. In other words, it’s cleverly crude, bitingly funny, and in zero danger of taking itself too seriously. Thanks to a script penned entirely by Jerry “Tycho” Holkins, the game retains the comic’s uniquely twisted sense of humour, and genuinely feels like a fully realized incarnation of one of the series’ occasional spinoffs into continuity. While long-time fans will thus feel right at home, the story itself is wholly original, and series newcomers should know that the game succeeds as more than a lengthy in-joke.
Set in the town of New Arcadia in a very fictional 1922, Precipice of Darkness re-imagines series protagonists Gabe and Tycho as a pair of gumshoes who operate the Startling Developments Detective Agency. As the game opens, an enormous robotic fruit processor is run amok, and the duo are hot on its trail. Your created character is literally swept into the pursuit when, while raking his (or her) front lawn, the rampaging robot crushes his (or her) home. Armed with only the rake, your character joins forces with the noir-esque heroes to get to the bottom of the bizarre happening. This being a Penny Arcade product, thereafter things simply get more bizarre. During the 6-hour episode, you’ll do battle with deranged mimes, angry hobos, malevolent barbershop quartets, and dozens of fruit-loving robots, each of which hold clues to the cosmic mystery at the adventure’s core.
Combat itself is a slapstick take on traditional turn-based mechanics, borrowing heavily from Chronotrigger’s “Active Time Battle” system. Rather than offering an indefinite and static period of time in which to plan moves, encounters play out in semi-dynamic fashion. Because all combatants are governed by independent timers, you’ll be asked to think on your feet in order to maintain the initiative. While it’s clearly nothing new, the system works superbly, and underpins each battle with a greater sense of urgency than you might expect from a turn-based game. The dynamic nature of the combat is also enhanced by the availability of super attacks, which require quicktime-event-style button inputs to maximize damage. These features, as well as the absence of random encounters, should make Precipice of Darkness a compelling option even for those who normally prefer their battles be real-time.
Graphically, Hothead has succeeded in translating Mike “Gabe” Krahulik’s signature caricatures into a great-looking 3D engine. Krahulik himself also contributed significantly, drawing all of the game’s cut-scenes comic-panel dialogue sequences. As a particularly neat touch, Krahulik and Hothead have rendered corresponding 2D and 3D models for all of your character’s customizable features, meaning your created character appears in all cut-scenes as though hand-drawn by Krahulik himself. In general, the over-the-top visuals add to the laughs and cement Precipice of Darkness as an authentic Penny Arcade experience.
CONS
While the game succeeds admirably as an RPG-lite, as an adventure game it’s something of a disappointment. The game’s “puzzles” can largely be solved simply by collecting certain items, many of which are dropped by vanquished foes. Indeed, one potentially puzzling interaction essentially solves itself, as re-visiting an initially stubborn character reveals a seemingly arbitrary change of heart. Sadly, at no point will you need to combine obscure and apparently unrelated inventory items into an ingeniously utilitarian thingamabob, which is, of course, the hallmark of classic adventure gameplay. Also, environmental exploration is basically limited to rummaging through trashcans to discover randomly-generated combat items (you’ll do this a lot). Suffice it to say an old-fashioned point and click adventure this is not.
Speaking of the environments, while the film-noir-meets-steampunk aesthetic is a great fit for the Penny Arcade cast, the game’s staging lacks variety. There are just three neighbourhoods of New Arcadia to explore, and you’ll find yourself repeatedly re-treading the same ground as the story unfolds. The lack of diversity is understandable given that Precipice of Darkness is an episodic Live Arcade title, but at 1600 points ($25 CAD), some will justifiably expect a richer world to explore.
HERE’S THE DEAL
For regular readers of the Penny Arcade webcomic, Precipice of Darkness should be a no-brainer. Not only does the game capture the series’ trademark look and feel, but, in many ways, it is the most comprehensively realized Penny Arcade venture to date. Obviously, by the same token, those with a distaste for Penny Arcade’s offbeat sense of humour should steer clear. Those in between should know that the series’ “by-gamers, for gamers” ethos is certainly maintained. Although its adventure elements leave something to be desired, as a bite-size take on the old school RPG, it’s well-crafted, surprisingly fluid, and refreshingly absurd.7/10
Julian Carrington
HipHopCanada.com launches digital music label in association with Koch
Conceived in Ottawa by then sixteen year old Founder and Co-President, Jesse Plunkett, (Maurice Laurin being the other Co-President), HipHopCanada.com has become an institution in our home and native land with 13 000 unique visitors a day and over 400 000 unique visitors a month. Last month they inked a digital distribution agreement with Koch that will begin to roll out shortly. Jesse Plunkett lets us in on the multi-faceted launch plan, what the label has to offer artists, and more…
What is signing criteria?
We always begin reviewing potential projects with the music first. We judge things on creativity, concepts and the overall quality and production. We also take into consideration the overall buzz of the artist. Who is this artist and what is his story? In addition, we definitely look at the short and long term vision that the artist or indie label have put in place for the project relating to image, marketing, promotions. An artist with a solid pro-active team is always a major plus in our decision making.
Will there be album and single deals?
Distribution Deals
We will be offering a variety of Distribution Deals to labels and artists that have ready-to-release product. Our goal for these deals is to give independent labels and artists a digital vehicle to get their music into the hands of online consumers worldwide. From older catalogues to unreleased EPs and albums, HHC Digital will assist these Canadian artists in expanding there consumer base on a larger scale through worldwide distribution.
Exclusive Single Deals
The “exclusive singles” will be one of our major priorities at HHC Digital. Our objective is to license a variety of unreleased exclusive singles from Canada’s most exciting artists with the goal of promoting these singles in viral marketing campaigns and selling them throughout the worldwide digital retail pipeline (iTunes, Puretracks, Jamster, etc), and on HipHopCanada.com.
The Canadian Collection Series
HHC Digital will be creating a series of collected singles that will be grouped together in volumes tentatively called “Canadian Singles”. These volumes will be created under a variety of concepts.
HipHopCanada Compilations
We plan to produce and release the first of many official HipHopCanada compilations. Artists for the compilation will be carefully selected from the label executives and will be recorded, produced, mixed and mastered in-house.
Who is currently signed?
Based on the different types of deals and projects listed above, we have currently have contracts in place with the following entities/artists:
Wannabe Famous? Records (The Kid Famous)
A.W.O.L. Records (Empire)
Camoflauge aka Gangis Khan
Pending deals include Checkmate & Concise, Concrete Mob, Foundation (Jahvon, Lincoln, Joe Louis) and others.
Will signed domestic artists be invited to produce and release digital only street tracks?
Yes
Will the HHC/Koch alliance release mixtapes of domestic artists over other artist’s beats?
All of our official releases will be 100% original compositions.
What artist has received the most love from HHC?
No artist in particular has purposely received more love from HHC then any other artist. We’re about supporting growth and progress on a long term basis and the list of artists we cover grows every month. We’ve followed certain artists for longer periods of time then others but this is largely due to the buzz the artist has been able to develop for themselves or the length of time they have actually been involved in the music industry.
Hate?
HipHopCanada the company does not hate on anyone. When an artist’s song isn’t selected or we decide not to do an interview with someone at any particular moment, it’s easy to chalk that up as hate or politics but the reality is we offer coverage to what we feel is best and there is nothing remotely “political” about that. That being said, we don’t go out of our way to hate on anyone’s movement. Now, if you’re talking about the HHC message board community, it’s a matter of opinion and it’s best to visit the message board to create your own opinion.
Downloads?
Downloads is a difficult statistic to discuss because it depends on if you’re referring to “all-time” or particular projects/songs. Some artists that have received a higher proportion of our views/plays/downloads all time include (but aren’t limited to) Kardinal Offishall, Classified, The Rascalz, Belly and Shad.
Controversy?
Controversy can be found on the HipHopCanada message board. There is usually something controversial being discussed and it’s always fueled by a variety of opinions from around the country.
Moose, Bears, Sheep, Deer & Elk. Brockway Biggs cross Canada 100 day tour is one month in…
Brockway Biggs, formerly known as Pimp Tea, sent in a note to Peace HQ following day twenty-five of his one hundred day cross Canada tour. All told, during the drive, “I saw 2 moose, 5 black bears, 4 grizzly bears, 7 long horned sheep, deer, elk and more.”
Here’s some pic….
