Xbox 360

Review Revisited: Hydrophobia

I tried my hardest to come into Hydrophobia Pure, the new “extensive” update for the XBLA game Hydrophobia, with an open mind. I wanted it to fix all of Hydrophobia’s issues but I had my doubts that it would succeed. After spending a few hours with Hydrophobia Pure, I’ve realized one thing; some parts of a game cannot be fixed through just an update.

The developers, Dark Energy Digital, promised many new things in this update and they delivered. The new cover system is great. It’s fast, easy to handle, and tremendously better than the old cover in Hydrophobia. What they didn’t change is the combat itself. For example, it still takes way too many shots to take a Malthusian down. I understand that they had a different idea with the whole “the way to kill these enemies is by waiting for them to get close to an explosive canister then using the canister to kill them” but that’s not fun and Hydrophobia would’ve benefitted greatly by the removal of their kind of combat altogether.

Hydrophobia Receiving Expansive Update

If you don’t know or need a quick reminder, Hydrophobia, an Xbox Live Arcade game released as part of the “Game Feast” a few months back, was pretty bad. Some could say it was a 3.0 bad. Dark Energy Digital, the developers behind Hydrophobia hve sent out a press release revealing “Hydrophobia Pure” which is a title update that will come to the original Hydrophobia and will supposedly fix many of the games issues. Read some of the press release below.

“Dark Energy Digital is delighted to announce a comprehensive title update for Hydrophobia TM with a simultaneous price drop to 800 Microsoft Points. The title update is built from detailed analysis of critical and customer feedback and is a root and branch rework of all the major systems in the game.”

Bioware Founders To Be Inducted into AIAS Hall of Fame

What do Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuck have in common with Shigeru Miyamoto, Will Wright and Peter Molyneux? On Febrauary 10, the good doctors – creators of Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – will join these esteemed game creators as member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Science’s Hall of Fame (via 1up.com).

X-men Arcade (X360) Review

The sounds of quarters dropping, buzzers and lights flashing, sweaty strangers huddled around arcade machines. That was the arcade scene of the early 90’s. For those of you too young to remember, arcades were once a place where complete strangers would have to stand uncomfortably close to each other to play games. Not only that, but we had to pay per play of a game. If you died, it would cost you another quarter and if you didn’t have one another guy would totally steal your spot while you dug in your pockets. This was when X-men Arcade hit the scene and became an instant classic.

Homefront Trailer “Occupation” Released

The year is 2027. The world has suffered a decade-long energy crisis, and economies have crumbled. Reduced to a mere shadow of the super power it once was, the United States became the target of a North Korean takeover. American malls, suburbs and city streets are now battlegrounds as the civilian resistance fights for freedom. Featuring a compelling single player story crafted by John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn), Homefront immerses gamers in an interactive and cinematic FPS experience where they will assume an infantry role or take command of a wide variety of aerial and ground vehicles. In addition to the single-player experience, Homefront will deliver a robust multiplayer experience. In a land stripped of freedom, the brave will fight for their home.”

Indie Game Review: Death

Death is quite possibly the most concise title of all time. The entire game revolves around the concept of your character struggling to avoid dying. As you grasp for life, your objective is to basically press buttons as they appear on the screen. Correct button presses will keep you further away from “the light” and incorrect button presses will send you closer to the ever-present light. As you continue on you will have to contend with the on-screen commands changing colors, moving position, and even removing the button symbol. Death is a very simple experience that quickly becomes very difficult, but not unconquerable with a little practice.

Deus Ex Prequel Delayed

As if waiting for 8 years for a proper prequel to the revolutionary Deus Ex franchise is not enough, Square Enix will insist that you wait a little bit longer. The highly anticipated prequel Deus Ex Human Revolution was originally scheduled to release on March 8, 2011 but has been delayed for Square Enix to give it an extra coat of polish. As of now Square Enix has not announced a release date. We could possibly see this game creep into the 2011 holiday season to possibly help Square Enix increase their ever shrinking profit margin.