Video Games

How About Some Steampunk In Your RTS?

Sure, why the hell not!  The Real Time Strategy scene is full of hardcore realistic war simulators that let armchir generals command hyper-realistic recreations of actual military units and replay famous battles with historical authenticity.  But what if I wans to have troops fight the battle of Gettysburg while wearing steam-powered exosuits and carrying around handheld gatling guns?  Well now anyone with a measly ten bucks can fight the Civil War with the addition of zeplins, tanks, and a bunch of other wierd stuff in Gettysburg: Armored Warfare.

Are Bioshock Infinite’s Heavy Hitters More Fearsome Than The Big Daddy?

Player Affinity takes a look at the four “Heavy Hitters” from Irrational Games upcoming Bioshock prequel Bioshock Infinite.  Can the Motorized Patriot, Handyman, Boys of Silence and Siren compete with the iconic Big Daddy?

PlayStation Plus Perks Revealed for April

One of the biggest questions that was always asked about the implementation of Sony’s paid service, PlayStation Plus, was whether or not the rewards that one could get for signing up would be worth the money (which is the same price as Xbox Live), seeing as the free service is relatively strong post break-in that happened last year.  PlayStation Plus members have reasons to look forward to this upcoming April though, as the rewards for April were recently announced on the PlayStation Blog, and they look to be pretty strong.

The offerings for the month of April largely come in the form of free games, and while some of the games are a bit stronger than others, there are some titles that look to be pretty strong.  On the 3^rd of April, PS+ members will be able to get their hands on Shank 2 free of charge, which is pretty awesome considering the fact that the first game was quite strong, albeit a little short.  Another strong freebie that releases that day is Need for Speed Shift 2 Unleashed, which is pretty big, considering that it is only 5 days after the game releases retail, and it will be for free.  The last big title that will be released is a PSOne classic version of Silent Hill, which I think is a pretty enticing offer considering that the HD Remake will be released a few days before.  Do these perks seem like something that would make you consider signing up for PS+, or do the rewards not really seem worth what you would be paying for them?    

Be Commander Shepard in Final Fantasy XIII-2…Sort Of

In what is possibly one of the most unlikely crossovers in recent gaming history, Square Enix has announced that Commander Shepard’s N7 armor from Mass Effect 3 will be available as DLC for Final Fantasy XIII-2. The DLC will be available in Japan for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on Tuesday for $4. The company has yet announced if the DLC will be available stateside, but it seems very likely that it will be.

Happy Birthday Survival Horror

Believe it or not, Survival Horror and Resident Evil are turning 16 years old.  Let’s take a look at how Resident Evil has evolved over the years and see how competing franchises like Silent Hill and Dead Space have added to zombie shooting, whether it’s in space, a creepy town, or a secret Umbrella lab.

Next Splinter Cell Will Explore Neglected Themes

Details have surfaced on Splinter Cell: Retribution. According to Ubisoft Toronto studio head Jade Raymond, the action that the franchise is known for will make a comeback, but it will also explore a mysterious theme at the root of the franchise.

Why Journey shines for Gaming

My thoughts on why Journey is one of the most important, and greatest games to be released so far this generation, and possibly ever. It’s one of the few games where every moment stays with you long after you have finished it.