Lucas Set to Redeem Franchise with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Ok, so we all had to endure the pain and suffering that were the 3 prequels to the classic Star Wars Trilogy. Collectively, we had to put up with one of the worst characters ever created in Jar Jar, watch Hayden Christensen act like a sniveling baby and endure Darth Vader’s laugh out loud ridiculous scream of NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! in Revenge of the Sith (just thinking of how cheesy that was makes me cringe even now).

But alas there is a new hope. Seemingly out of nowhere, George Lucas has decided to bridge the 2 trilogies with a new chapter in the Star Wars saga. And yes, it is a videogame. With a story approved and overseen by George himself (which can be either good or bad), Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will explain the events leading up to Episode IV: A New Hope. How? You’ll play as Darth’s secret apprentice whose task is to wipe out the remaining Jedi using the most bad-ass force powers ever seen. Looks like it’s coming to every system under the sun…but the definitive versions will undoubtedly be on the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

If you haven’t seen the videos of this game yet, get ready to be blown away. The new technology that Lucas Arts has developed for this game alone makes it worth keeping your eyes on.

Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) by Pixelux Entertainment – Sounds complicated, but essentially this allows for all objects in the game world to react as realistically as you would expect them to. Check the sweet video to see why this is so cool.

euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd. – The second technology acts to create a gaming environment in which no 2 events are ever the same. Characters are programmed to move, interact and react to objects and situations just like in real life. We’ll actually get to have a taste of this in upcoming GTA IV. Check the video for some Stormtrooper tossing tech demo goodness.

Ok, now lets see why this game looks like it will be so awesome. First, check out the trailer…add Dark Jedi to Star Destroyer, lather, rinse, repeat.

And finally, check out a gameply video to see how it is all coming together. It looks like gamers will finally get the chance to be the ultimate force weilding badass we’ve all wanted to experience since we first set our eyes on the Star Wars universe.

White Knight Chronicles: The Biggest PS3 Exclusive that Nobody is Talking About

Much is made of the oft hyped and upcoming juggernaut’s that are Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, Final Fantasy XIII, Little Big Planet and to a lesser extent Killzone 2. All have huge hype surrounding them, and they are all exclusive to the PS3. However, lost in the crowd seems to be Level 5’s latest title White Knight Chronicles.

White Knight Chronicles is an RPG that follows the story of Lenard, a boy that finds an ancient artifact that allows him to transform into a 7 meter tall White Knight. Though details of the story are still being closely guarded by Level 5, as reported by Famitsu the game will run at about 50 to 60 hours to complete. Whether that is just the main story or takes into account side quests remains to be seen.

Enough talk though. I think this game is going to deliver for RPG fans in a major way when it releases in late 2008.

Don’t believe me? Check out some of the videos below for gameplay, a trailer and an interview with the creators themselves. This game is going to deliver for starved Sony RPG fans.

White Knight Chronicles (PS3 – TGS 2008 Trailer) – Gameplay footage of Level-5’s Sony PS3 RPG. White Knight Chronicles (AKA White Knight Story) is developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. TGS 08: White Knight Chronicles impressions – White Knight Chronicles has changed a lot since we played it at Tokyo Game Show last year. Our conclusion at the time was that the game would be a gorgeous JRPG with an intriguing, customizable battle system; an exciting prospect for … new white knight chronicles screens – it appears that the finest day for the white knight is still ahead. while white knight chronicles will be hitting japan on christmas day, there’s still no word on when the elves from the toy shop are going to bring it to the states or … The Great PS3 Trophy Debate – Loading Fetching blurbs now… please stand by …. Evil 5 Street Fighter IV White Knight Chronicles Yakuza 3 Hope other games will follow the trend . … white knight chronicles playstation 3 screenshots – 24 playstation 3 screenshots posted, from level 5. Jonas Brothers – SOS (Music Video) – Jonas Brothers – SOSUploaded by JonasBrothers-Official tags: Music. White Knight Chronicles: Wizard, Skills & Rewards – The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has a 4-page report on Shirokishi Monogatari: Inishie no Kodou (aka White Knight Chronicles), where three important elements were revealed. The head of Wizard, a mysterious organization that kidnapped … White Knight Chronicles to run in native 1080p – The latest issue of Dengeki has some new details on the Level -5’s PS3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles. No doubt the biggest news will be that the game will have some Monster Hunter like gameplay. If true Sony officially will have a … [tsubaki] square-enix stabs fans in the back – firstly, today is my birthday. i officially turn 21. secondly, square-enix stabs sony and ps fans in the back by announcing today at e3 that final fantasy xiii will also be available for the xcrap360. noooooooooooo. …

Prototype is Flying Under the Radar

It is a common curse in the games industry for a big title to be over-hyped and marketed to death. Typically, this leads to high expectations that are seldom met and the disappointment is reflected in lower than expected review scores.

But every once in a while a game flies under the radar and catches the gaming community unprepared. Last year we saw it happen with Crackdown and Dead Rising, 2 titles that nobody was prepared to enjoy. This year, I think that Prototype will be the game to surprise gamers.

Developed by Radical Entertainment, the story follows Alex Mercer, a shape-shifter that has no idea of how or why he came to be. Set in New York, Alex must uncover the mystery of his existence while battling not only the military, but an army of genetic mutants hell-bent on stopping Alex at all costs. Even as I write this it doesn’t seem to sell the game. I’m sure that is the same problem the marketing team is having with getting this game into the hearts and minds of gamers.

So, don’t take my word for it. Check out the latest gameplay video and see for yourself. I, for one, can’t wait to play this game when it releases this fall for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Unfortunately the only video that is available is still off-screen, but it will open your eyes nonetheless.

Tips N4G

Last GTA IV Trailer Hits the Web with a Vengeance

Wow. I was already pumped for this game, but the latest trailer makes it look incredible!!

Check it out!!

Ninja Gaiden 2 Demo Coming Soon

If you haven’t heard already, one the of the years hottest releases for the Xbox 360 will be getting a demo sometime in May. The second installment of everyone’s favorite ninja Ryu is again being helmed by Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of the first and highly successful Ninja Gaiden.

For fans eagerly awaiting the summer release for some more ninja fighting, blood spouting and dismembering action, this demo can’t get here soon enough. Though little is known of what will be contained in the demo, rest assured you will be severing heads before June.

To satisfy any early cravings and to see what’s in store, check out this awesome video courtesy of GameTrailers.com

For a link to the source of this information click here

Top 10 Podcasts for Gamers

Podcasts have become one of the best ways to learn about games, rumours and how our favorite game editors feel about particular games and events in the industry. Not only are all the podcasts that made the cut on this list informative, but they are funny to point of laughing out loud (which believe me is embarrassing when you are walking up the street by yourself). And now, drum roll please…the top 10 podcasts for gamers:

10. The Hotspot - Oh how far you have fallen mighty Gamespot. With the departure of notable personalities such as the likes of Jeff Gerstmann, Ryan Davis and Alex Navarro, the Hotspot is a shadow of its former self. Once one of the funniest podcasts around with great commentary…the soul left this podcast following the now infamous Gerstmann-gate affair.  Brian Ekberg remains standing, so hopefully he’ll hold down the fort.
Click here to check it out.

9. Retronauts -This podcast is for gamers that like to reminisce about old games. Basically, the podcast pulls together various editors from around 1Up and has them talk about their favorite old games, systems and memories of gaming. If you want to plug in and listen to a heated debate about Final Fantasy VII this is the place to be. Click here to check it out.

8. EGM Live - Another 1Up network podcast led by Jennifer Tsao, Managing Editor for EGM. This podcast is always different and they cover lots of topics including mailbags, industry news, the occasional interview and rumours. You never know what you’ll get with this podcast, but that makes it more interesting.
Click here to check it out.

7. GFW Radio – Not technically a podcast for consoles, I know, but a great podcast about PC games. Frequently they reference games on consoles and draw comparisons between a console and pc release of the same game (e.g. Call of Duty 4). Hosted by Jeff Green and Shawn Elliot, this podcast always cracks me up. Shawn is hilarious and does lots of great impressions and the show often gets way off topic. Not that it’s a bad thing.
Click here to check it out.

6. IGN’s Game Scoop – Game Scoop is a podcast that brings together most of the major editors from around the IGN office to talk about the latest news, rumours and games. It is generally a recap of the week and usually devolves into some insider jokes about the industry and provides some insight into the inner workings of the IGN office.
Click here to check it out.

5. N4G Radio - N4G’s own podcasts features a likeable cast comprised of ZeroTolerance, Gambus Khan and the Wombat. These guys are hardcore gamers and provide a refreshingly honest discussion on video games. Less harsh than most critics around the web, the love these guys have for gaming really shines through in every episode. If you are sick of following Metacritic scores and want to hear a grassroots opinion on a game title that interests you, these guys have the goods. Click here to check it out.

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Review: Lost Odyssey

Lost Odyssey is the second kick at the can for Mistwalker Studios. Headed by the famed Hironobu Sakaguchi who created the Final Fantasy franchise, Lost Odyssey is the Xbox 360’s first true JRPG. Teaming up once again with composer Nobuo Oematsu, Sakaguchi has managed to craft a game that is at once familiar to Final Fantasy fans and easily accessible to those that love the genre.

The story revolves around an immortal, Kaim, who has lived for 1000 years. While the game doesn’t take place over the span of those years, it has flashbacks in the form of dreams that help to flesh out his life and backstory. Of course, along the way he is helped by several companions and one man aims to rule the world. Typical stuff. I won’t go more into the story here, as I always feel that is something you need to discover for yourself. Not only is it more rewarding, it’s part of the overall experience. However, I will say that there are some great characters in this game. Notably, Sed (get it, like Cid from FF?) and Jansen stand out.

Despite being a traditional JRPG (random battles, turn based combat etc), a few notable additions serve Lost Odyssey well. First, it has implemented a ring system (pictured below) in the combat that requires you to hold down the right trigger and release it at the right time to achieve more effective attacks. There are hundreds of different rings that can be attached and a fairly deep assembly system that allows you to craft rings with various elemental effects or status boosts. In addition, there is now a “wall system” in place that takes into account the formation of your party on the battlefield. The long and short of it is that party members in the back row get a defensive boost relative to the HP of the front row. It serves to add a little more strategy to how you build and position your party throughout the game. On a side note, I feel it is important to point out that there are NO SUMMONS in this game. If you go in expecting to find them you will be disappointed. Rather, Lost Odyssey uses a elemental based system with fire, water, earth and wind.

Overall, Lost Odyssey can present quite a challenge to JRPG newbies. There is little in the way of a tutorial and the first boss fight can kick your ass if you aren’t prepared. However, seasoned Final Fantasy fans will likely have no problem hacking their way through the game.

The music in Lost Odyssey is absolutely top notch. Oematsu has crafted a fantastic soundtrack and I enjoyed it throughout the entire game. While it is very reminicesnt of his work on Final Fantasy, it still manages to stand on its own and help craft a unique identity for the world of Lost Odyssey.

There has been much made of the supposed 30 second load times in Lost Odyssey as highlighted in several reviews. Fortunately, this was only a problem with the early code and the retail version doesn’t suffer from any long load times that ruin the experience. However, there is a noticeable frame-rate chug when entering battles and even in some cut-scenes but neither do much to detract from the experience.

As always, the question remains, do I recommend this game? Unfortunately, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Any fans of Final Fantasy will really enjoy Lost Odyssey. It is essentially the game that Sakaguchi would have made as Final Fantasy X had he remained with Square-Enix. While the game mechanics of a turn-based RPG may feel a bit dated after the likes of Mass Effect and The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Lost Odyssey remains a solid RPG and should be considered by any fan of the genre.

The Good:

+ Great magic effects
+ Engaging and mature story
+ New ring system keeps combat engaging
+ Nice cinematics

The Bad:

- Pacing is a bit dis-jointed
- Dream sequences interrupt the flow of the game
- Some framerate issues

The Verdict: BUY IT

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