So this week’s episode of GT TV had an exclusive trailer for the upcoming Resident Evil 5. Not many surprises in this trailer if you saw the E3 2007 trailer, however we do see some gameplay and the return of the third person view. As far as characters go, it looks like Chris Redfield will be joined by a new female accomplice who apparently can “hold her own”, her words not mine. Discuss this at our forums, HERE.

- Walker

Source

Most of you will already know since the info appeared on the Gamestop site a week or so ago but Microsoft’s Gamerscore blog just confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Gears of War will be getting a price cut to $39.99 MSRB in the US & Canada on June 4th, the PC version will also drop to $29.99. They will also be releasing a 2 disc edition on June 24th with the maps that are already free over Live, some trailers and gamerpics + themes. The Gamerscore guys would also like to remind us the new version will not include the PC’s exclusive Brumak battle level.

I’ll just quickly point out there really is no benefit to getting the new edition (unless of course, you don’t own the game) since the maps still have to be stored on the hard drive and aren’t on the disc which is disappointing. Still if you don’t already own Gears of War, now you have a great chance to pick up one of Xbox 360’s finest games and save some money in the process (though you could probably get a used copy cheaper still!).

No word on whether us Europeans will be getting a similar deal but hopefully we will somewhere down the line. Want info on what exactly is on the bonus disc of the 2 disc edition? Hit the jump. Want to discuss this? Head on over to our forums, HERE.

- Walker

Source

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Penny Arcade: On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 1

Platform: Xbox 360, PC, Mac - Developer: Hothead Games
Genre: Adventure RPG - One Player

Reviewed by Chris Cesarano (a.k.a. Grohdinger)

Introduction:

The creators of online comic Penny Arcade Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, code-named Tycho and Gabe, are well known for their criticism and satire of the games industry. The pair have now themselves stepped into the realm of game development, and one must wonder if they are able to put their money where their mouth is.

After playing through the title, I can certainly say yes, they can.

 
Note: the screenshots in this review are all from pre-release, and mostly for the PC version of the game. While they provide an accurate idea as to how the game plays, they are not 100% true to the Xbox Live version.

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Grand Theft Auto IV

Platform: Xbox 360/PS3

Developer: Rockstar North - Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action/Sandbox – Players: 1 Offline/2-16 Online

Reviewed by EarthViper

Introduction:
Grand Theft Auto IV, the biggest game of the year, has finally landed. Somewhere beneath the immense hype, the unprecedented sales and the glowing critical reception lays an actual game; go figure! The question is how does said game stand against the standards of the industry, the genre and even its own predecessors? So setting aside the hype machine for just a few minutes let’s look at how the game’s merits and flaws balance out.

Click for full review

-EarthViper

We all knew Rockstar’s GTAIV would do very very well but this well? Probably not. Selling 6 million copies globally making $500 million dollars in its first week, GTAIV officially breaks Halo 3’s record of $300 million for its first week. GTAIV sold 3.6 million copies globally on its opening day which translates into approximately $310 million. Now that’s damn impressive. I’m sure Take-Two are patting themselves on their backs right now and breaking out the victory champagne. For the press release hit the jump.

Discuss

- Tiberian

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This game is sure looking like an excellent one. However, Sonic’s last games were a pretty big disappointment to most fans of the franchise. I can only hope that this game will be better with it’s new “2.5D” style gameplay.

This trailer is barely anything, but I liked it enough to post it here. I like the style, and it shows off a new element to the Sonic series. Supposedly, this is Werewolf Sonic. While the new gameplay mechanics seem cool, the stories seem to be getting a bit cliché. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.

Discuss

Video Link

-Thomas 

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Platform: Xbox 360/PS3/PC
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal - Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: First Person Shooter – Players: 1-2 Offline/2-16 Online

Review by EarthViper

Introduction:
In case you haven’t noticed, the current gaming scene is pretty much swamped with shooters. Of course while the popularity of the genre implies that there is a very large market for such games that doesn’t make it easy for just any shooter to gain notoriety. In fact, with such a crowded genre it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a game to stand out. A little over a year ago, Ubisoft Montreal did just that with the original Rainbow Six Vegas. The popularity of the franchise coupled with some truly superb gameplay mechanics set it up to be a big success in spite of some stiff competition. A year later however, a largely unchanged sequel has to go head to head with even tougher competition than the original faced. So does Rainbow Six Vegas 2 ‘stand out’? Read on to find out!

Full Review

-EarthViper

Devil May Cry 4

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 - Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action/Hack and Slash - One Player

Reviewed by Chris Cesarano (a.k.a. Grohdinger)

Introduction:

I originally had a few misgivings about doing a review for Devil May Cry 4. I had never played any of the previous titles, and I was afraid that one little comment about a mechanic that didn’t please me would bring the franchise fanboys clamoring in anger and rage.

However, it is just that fact that makes me an excellent choice to review the title. Capcom has attempted to create a new entry in the franchise that can bring in new fans, as well as please the old. The result: huge success.

Note: Some of the screenshots of this review are of older builds of Devil May Cry 4

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Eidos Interactive confirmed today that they are working on Battlestations: Pacific, sequel to 2007’s Battlestatins: Midway.  The game will be released on Xbox 360 and Windows PC.  The game allows you to play as the Americans, continuing the war effort where Midway left off, or to play as the Japanese, starting with Pearl Harbor.  It sounds as if the Japanese campaign is more of an alternate history, though, where you take full control of the Pacific.

Personally, I’d find it more interesting if you got the opportunity to play through a campaign on the losing side.  It would provide a very interesting perspective for a change, fighting a more and more desperate battle, and in the end be part of the effort that surrenders.  It’s a perfect opportunity to explore the “tragic ending” in video games, something that is occasionally seen in film.

All other gameplay notes are the same as usual for a sequel.  It’s the first game, only bigger and better.  The game has twice the number of missions as the first title, divided between the U.S. and Japanese campaigns.  Several other new units will appear, as well as the feature to pinpoint troop landing, adding a new layer of strategy to the game.

No release date is currently given for Battlestations: Pacific.

- Chris Cesarano

SouthPeak Interactive has announced X-Blades, an anime style game where you control an acrobatic with a pair of large gunblades.  The game is slated for a release at the end of this year on Xbox 360, Windows PC and PS3.

The team, consisting of a large group of anime fans, chose to go with that visual style as it was the inspiration for the title.  They seek to breathe new life into the hack and slash genre by focusing not only on the character’s blade abilities, but on pistol action and acrobatic manuevers as well.  The game combines a very cinematic style with “endless high speed action”.

The first notable aspect about the heroine: at least her boobs are of a reasonable size.  The second: that’s not a thong, that’s a g-string.  I was a bit shocked to browse other available screenshots and come across this.  I have a theory that game developers aren’t actually a group of undersexed nerds, they just make female characters like this in anticipation of the inevitable cosplay that comes of it.

Feel free to discuss your feminist rage on the forums, or exchange your masculine cheers at more polygonal T&A.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)