Now that we’ve all had a solid few days to dig into Mass Effect 2, it’s become clear that the strong majority of us are loving this game. Critically, BioWare’s sci-fi action-RPG is doing wonderful. Financially, well, it’s a little early to say, but chances are high it’s doing quite well in that regard too.
Talking to CVG, BioWare’s Ray Muzyka expressed his happiness with how the game turned out. “It’s the second highest-rated game on the platform, so it’s probably a good opportunity if you don’t have a system to look at getting one if you want a great experience.”
“I would hope it would be a system seller,” he says. I would hope so too; if Mass Effect 2 can’t sell systems, what can? Don’t answer that question.
“I think every game we make we try to make a system seller. Because every game we build we strive for 90%+ quality.” I can agree with that, and so can the millions of die-hard BioWare fans. Love the ambition, guys. Don’t stop anytime soon.
Nippon Ichi claims that its new dungeon-crawling PSP RPG Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku (Ultimate Hero Modding Project), can be replayed approximately forty million times.
The reasoning behind this modest claim lies in the ability to customize your hero’s equipment, abilities and statistics in a ridiculous number of ways, exploring randomly generated maps infested with enemies, deadly traps and an insane sense of humor.
The hero “Absolutely Victorious Make-Ranger,” was run over by a car on his way to fight the Last Boss, “Demon General Mr. Tanaka DEATH-DARK!!!” You, the protagonist, happened to be buying groceries nearby, were thus selected to inherit the mantle, and the duty to defeat the Demon General. Of course, you’ll need to undergo a lot of special training by crawling through a series of randomly generated, isometric-perspective dungeons infested with monsters.
Thankfully, you’ve got myriad pieces of equipment, including handguns, lances, swords, drill arms, tank legs, gatling guns, extendo-claws, cat ears, Prinny hats, angel halos, chonmage, and other such things in your arsenal. That, combined with a fully customizable stat grid and hideout, should help you grasp victory without too many deaths.
Anime fans will also be delighted to know that several anime characters (and their signature weapons), will be making appearances, including Taiga of Toradora!, Dokuro-chan from Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan, Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and Spice & Wolf’s Holo. Are you reading this, Brad Rice? Taiga is in this game.
The game is out on March 11th in Japan, and so far there hasn’t been word on an English release, but you can check some screenshots and a trailer narrated by the wonderful lisp of Norio Wakamoto below.
2K has today released some brand new screens for its polarizing sequel, BioShock 2. Some anticipate it, some dread it, but whatever you’re stance, it’s easily among 2010’s biggest games.
As well as the new screens, a full list of hot new Plasmids has been revealed, courtesy of MTV. These brand new genetic goodies sound pretty damn promising, and should provide players with even more fiendish options for taking out the enemy in unique and sadistic ways. Here’s the list:
- Scout (single player): Become a “ghost,” can use other plasmids while invisible, but not guns.
- Hypnotize (single player): Gain control of ordinary Splicers, like you could with the Big Daddy in BioShock.
- Aero Dash (multiplayer): Run at high speeds, damage anybody you run into.
- Cyclone Trap (single player): Returns from BioShock with new charge level.
- Electro Bolt (SP & MP): Returns from BioShock with new charge level.
- Incinerate (SP & MP): Returns from BioShock with new charge level.
- Winter Blast (SP & MP): Returns from BioShock with new charge level.
Spicy hotsauce! Whether or not you agree with the game’s narrative elements or return to Rapture, those Plasmids sounds pretty good and it seems that the gameplay will at least be excellent. BioShock 2 is out this year and we’re looking forward to seeing how it turns out and lives up to the original.
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(Yes, we’ve used the same header image for three NBA Jam-related posts now. I apologize for nothing, because it’s the only piece of art we have from the new game, and because it is awesome.)
Yesterday, EA Sports officially announced a new NBA Jam game that will be coming to the Wii (and the Wii only, as far as we know) in 2010. Most gamers who were old enough to be playing videogames in the mid-’90s have fond memories of the instantly addictive fast-paced, over-the-top, 2-on-2 experience that NBA Jam provided. Whether it was the Utah Jazz’s formidable duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone; the Chicago Bulls’ Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant (no MJ, of course); or, for a New York boy like me, Patrick Ewing and John Starks of the New York Knicks; everyone had a go-to team.
Then again, the rosters almost didn’t matter; the game was so damn fun that you didn’t need to care about the NBA to enjoy it. If EA Sports wants to be successful with their revival of NBA Jam, they’re going to have to focus on the gameplay above all else, but with a healthy infusion of nostalgia. I’ve got some ideas on how they can do that — hit the jump to read about them.
If there’s one thing the God of War games are very good at, it’s making you feel awesome as you do insanely epic things. God of War III will be no exception, if these scans showing a climactic battle against Poseidon himself are anything to go by.
The images aren’t massive, but you can get a good look at the God of the sea in the top half of the first page. You should be able to note that he looks remarkably badass, and the whole battle appears to be very awesome indeed. I somehow doubt that Sony will be skimping on the huge, climactic fights with this one.
God of War III is out in March, which really isn’t all that far away. Exciting times ahead!
New God of War 3 scans – HOLY CRAP Poseidon [N4G forums]
2010 is almost here, and we’re counting down the days with the most anticipated games of the upcoming year. Yesterday, we took you on a tour of Destructoid’s most eagerly awaited Xbox 360 games of 2010. Today it’s the turn of the PS3, and boy, what a good-looking bunch of games we have.
Sony has been consistently delivering with top-quality exclusives, more so than the 360 lately, and it looks like 2010 will continue this trend. The PS3 has arguably the hottest collection of exclusives on the market, so join Samit Sarkar and myself as we tell you about the best-looking PS3 games of 2010.
A developer would be out of its mind to not include a competitive multiplayer component in its game now, right? This afternoon we were reminded that EA Montreal’s cooperative-focused shooter Army of Two: the 40th Day has more than one online mode. In fact, it appears as if the game will ship with four: Warzone, Team Deathmatch, Control, and Extraction.
We’re worried about the latter mode, Extraction (Horde). Four bros on one screen might generate too much Dude Power, which based on recent scientific research by some college somewhere, is known to cause universal implosion. Hold on to your butts.
Just when I was wondering what on Earth happened to Blood Bowl, here comes Southpeak to announce that the Warhammer-flavored football game is due for a retail release in January 2010.
Previously only available as a downloadable PC game and released with very little fanfare, a boxed PC version, an Xbox 360 version and a PSP version are all planned. The PSP version will arrive later than the others, coming some time in the Spring.
Blood Bowl quietly hit the downloadable market back in June and received fairly decent reviews. I’ve been meaning to play it for ages, even though a review would be ludicrously late, but this news might make it relevant again. In any case, this is coming out very soon. 2010 is f*cking full of stuff.
MIDLOTHIAN, VA – December 29, 2009 – Leading videogame publisher, SouthPeak Games, today announced Blood Bowl® for Windows PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system coming in 2010. The hard-hitting fantasy football title previously available exclusively as a Windows PC downloadable game is lobbing a ‘Hail Mary’ pass straight onto retail shelves in 2010.
Just in time for the human football season’s end, SouthPeak is here to offer a less than traditional spin on classic football. With a rich heritage of table-top gaming, Blood Bowl is poised to tear your Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP system a new end zone. With turn-based gameplay and each play teetering on the roll of the dice, Blood Bowl will keep you on the edge of your seat from kickoff to final score. Inspired by the infamous Warhammer® series, Blood Bowl brings some of the most vicious gameplay, dirty tricks and lest we forget – secret weapons – to the field in an all new way.
“We’re thrilled to have a part in bringing a proper retail version of Blood Bowl to North American gamers on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP.” said Aubrey Norris, Manager of Human-Orc Relations at SouthPeak. “It’s never easy to get all these races to agree on something – but if there’s one thing they love its good competition with a lot of bloodshed!”
Blood Bowl’s retail Windows PC and Xbox 360 packages will kick-off in January 2010 with the PSP system version taking the field in Spring of 2010. If you’ve never seen a goblin thrown into the end zone by a troll to score a touchdown, then prepare to be amazed! More details are sure to pop up as the teams get themselves in order and the pre-season action begins.