H.A.W.X

The Combat Flight genre has been woefully scarce on next gen consoles, with the only prominent franchise giving gamers a chance to stretch its wings on Next gen, being Ace Combat 6. Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X is the newest in the Clancy Franchise, and is indeed a flying game. Will the game soar, or will it crash and burn ?

The game puts you in the seat of an elite pilot working for a private military company, which in typical Tom Clancy Style begins with the player working for them, and eventually work to bring them down. If you’re looking  for a hardcore flight Sim, stop reading. This game is geared to fast, arcade style air combat, there is no hassle of taking off or landing, your mission begins, and ends in the air. The physics system is also a lot more forgiving, its difficult to stall the aircraft, and there is no blackouts, or red outs, and getting damaged seems to do little to the aircrafts aerodynamics.

One thing that this game introduces, is a little RPG style Leveling, depending on your progress throughout the game. Leveling up gives the player a nice shiny badge, but more importantly, access to new aircraft and weapon configurations. The Aircraft handles like a charm, but some, like me would think that the handling is almost too floaty. However, you can turn flight assistance off, which gives you a 3rd person view, almost cinematic view of the aircraft, as well as slightly more realistic handling characteristics. The player can now have greater control of the aircraft, allowing for tighter turns, more drastic missile evasion, and even strategic (or accidental) stalling. Trying to shoot down enemies in his mode is a pain – since the player doesn’t easily know when the nose of the aircraft is pointing at the enemy. Also, since the viewpoint is constantly changing, it can get quite dis-orientating, thus the risk of flying into the ground is greatly increased. It would be nice to experience the more realistic handling (when Assistance is OFF) with traditional views, but it does add an interesting perspective to dogfights.

There is also a minigame type mechanic disguised as E.R.S. (Enhanced Reality System). What this does is help you lock onto evading enemy aircraft, and evade missiles, by drawing a flight path on the screen, for your aircraft to follow. Its fun in the beginning, but once you get used to the maneuvers in assistance OFF mode, you’ll barely need it.

The game is split into 20 missions, each with cheesy mission briefings and ,often set of handicaps. One of my favorite missions was having to duck under radar cover, to take out generators, all the while avoiding enemy patrols. The problems with HAWX is that its inconsistent. There are times where you fly around for several boring minutes, just to reach your target. You may also be battling a small of group of aircraft, when suddenly, you get swamped with enemy aircraft, and missiles. Yes, its needs to be challenging, but not to the point that it becomes frustrating. Having said that, theres a fancy voice command system that can be used, buts its more a gimmick than anything else .The game also has Xbox live/system link Co-op, whre you and a chum can battle it out online. There are also online dogfights, but as to whether  its well done, or not is personal opinion.

The graphics are also a mixed bag. The satellite imagery appears to be put to good use, that is until you come close to the ground, where its not as impressive. Having said that, it does help. Another complaint is the trees : Trees on the PS1 looked better. They literally look like sprites, and when you fly low for any length of time, it really stands out. The aircraft look really good, with dynamic reflections, exhaust heat effects, vapor trails, as well as the sonic boom cloud, to name a few. There are some frame rate issues when there are a lot of moving objects on screen, but it isn’t serious, lasts only a few seconds, and only few times throughout the game.

Apart from the cheesy voice acting, the audio is pretty much standard – Its nothing exceptional, nor is it bad. Really, theres not much to listen to, apart form the briefings and wingman chatter. The sound effects are also decent, the sonic booms feel like they might if you were actually flying at 1200KM/H, as well as the standard array of engine and warning tones. The only mentionable property of the audio was that it was cheesy, probably deliberately as a homage to movies like Top Gun.

So, HAWX is a difficult beast to judge, there are very few combat flight sims to judge it by. In the end, I think its worth a try. Some of the missions are really engaging, with assistance on, you can pull off moves that that would impress  Pete Mitchell (Top Gun). Nothing, however, beats the satisfaction of pulling of hair raising maneuvers in OFF mode, which is where true satisfaction is enjoyed. The campaign is decent length, and varied enough to keep your interest. In the end, there aren’t many other arcadey flight sims (for consoles), at the moment, and this is a good way to pass some time : Kick back, and take to the skies !

Fallout 3 v1.5 Patch Now Available

Bethesda has thrown a new patch into Fallout 3 wastelands. The patch, which will bring the game to v1.5, fixes some bugs and adds achievements for the upcoming DLC, Broken Steel. Here is the changelog:

New Features

• New achievements for Broken Steel

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue with VATS calculations not appearing properly for perks (PC)
• Fixed crash related to altered references between master files
• LOD objects render properly when loaded from DLC worldspaces
• Fixed issue with companion NPCs not loading into cells immediately after player

The patch is available for both Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game. The patch will automatically apply on the Xbox 360. PC users can download the patch from here or here.

COD: World At War Map Pack 2 On Its Way

The first Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack sold a million copies. That’s good enough reason for Treyarch and Activision to have a go at a second map pack, which will release sometime in June.

The simply named Map Pack 2 will introduce four multiplayer maps: ‘Banzai’, a jungle map with plenty of caves, ‘Sub Pens’, a rain-sloshed submarine base, ‘Corrosion’, a Russian train yard and ‘Shi No Numa,’, a Nazi Zombie map which will offer new Perk machines, a new weapon and achievements/Trophies.

The Map Pack 2 will release for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Tekken 6 Now Also on PSP

Press release:
It’s the year of the Iron Fist as NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S today announced plans to deliver the perfect fighting trifecta with the addition of TEKKEN™ 6 for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable). Already a highly anticipated title for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP version will be the quintessential companion for players who want to hone their fighting skills on-the-go. Unbridled vengeance will be served worldwide this autumn when each version of the game delivers pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat action with bone-jarring punches and gut-wrenching grapples.

Spanning a 14 year legacy, TEKKEN is among the most popular and well-known gaming brands in the world with the entire franchise selling more than 33 million units to date. A new King of Iron Fist Tournament is about to begin, complete with intense gameplay modes as well as new features and environments.

A must-have for TEKKEN aficionados, TEKKEN 6 sees the return of many familiar faces as well as new characters to create the largest line-up the series has ever seen. With a growing roster of fighters, each equipped with their own deadly techniques, martial art moves, and attack combinations, TEKKEN 6 will be the best “King of Iron Fist Tournament” yet. Adding to the already rich gaming experience, a deeper character customization feature will only enhance the incredible fighting intensity as players go mano-y-mano.

Optimized for the PSP system, TEKKEN 6 will not only contain all the explosive action of its home console brethren but also feature additional stages, content, items, and an ad-hoc multiplayer mode. Fighting amongst friends is encouraged as players can battle wirelessly against each other using original or fan favourite characters. Rounding out its list of impressive features is the return of the “Ghost” Infrastructure mode, which allows players to upload their “ghost” character data and download others’ from the Internet onto their PSP. When players have reached the height of their TEKKEN fighting skills, they will be able to see how they stack up against others through the game’s network support.

Screenshots:

The Witcher Console Versions on Hold

Press release:
The French company Widescreen Games has announced that the adaptation of the video game “The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf” for Playstation3 and Xbox360 consoles is being frozen.
The game was under development in partnership with Atari (publisher) and CDProjekt (creator of the original game on PC).

“The development of the game “The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf” has been suspended in an attempt to resolve financial problems among the various project partners.

We regret this measure, particularly on behalf of the fans who were impatiently awaiting the release of the game. I hope that we can find an amicable solution with our present and former partners involved in this ambitious project,” commented Olivier Masclef, manager at Widescreen Games.

Although the finalization of the role-playing game “The Witcher :Rise of the White Wolf” is indeed frozen, the video games studio will continue to concentrate on its other productions.
Widescreen Games is also strengthening its R&D department as its proprietary technology continues to contribute major added-value.

“The experience gained on the “Witcher” project shows the incredible talent, competence and tenacity of our teams. In fact the entire code of the original game was recreated by means of our proprietary engine (Da Vinci). The quality does not disappoint in relation to the improvement of the graphic assets, the creation of dynamic lights or also the mechanics of combat," added Olivier Masclef.

The company is also undertaking other projects and, although they are still confidential, is developing several other games for Playstation3, Xbox360 or Online (via the Identifiction brand).

NFS: Undercover Content Packs Now Available

Press release:
Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), announced today two new content packs for Need for Speed™ Undercover. The Challenge Series is free and features 60 events across two new game modes including the opportunity to earn up to three new cars. The premium Boss Car pack will give players access to Undercover’s specially customized boss vehicles for $5.00 (400 MS points).

The Challenge Series and Boss Car packs are available now on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and coming soon on the Xbox 360® videogame system from Microsoft and the PC. This new content reflects an ongoing commitment of post-launch support to Need for Speed fans.

Challenge Series:

• Highway Wars is the ultimate fusion of Undercover’s signature Highway Battles with the adrenaline fueled competition of sprint racing. In this mode, players will race at top speeds through traffic filled highways against three AI opponents in a winner take all battle to the finish line.

• Highway Checkpoint forces the player to push their car to the limit as they weave through traffic in an attempt to make it to the next checkpoint before time expires.

• Players can also earn three new vehicles as they complete the Challenge Series. Each vehicle is available for use in career or online and has been specifically tuned to compete against the top cars in the game.
o Battle Machine Mazda RX-7 will be awarded upon completion of the first 30 events.
o Speed Machine Porsche 911 GT2 with matte black paint and custom gold liveries will be awarded after completing all 60 of the Challenge Series events.
o Dominator Corvette Z06 is for players that dominate a minimum of 31 events.

Boss Car Pack

This premium car pack gives players access to the entire fleet of boss cars featured in Undercover. These high performance machines are tuned for maximum performance in their appropriate tiers enabling players to compete against the fastest cars in each tier of Undercover.

• Carmen’s Shelby GT500
• Chase’s BMW M6
• Chau Wu’s Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
• G-Mac’s Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
• Hector’s Nissan 370Z
• Nickel’s Dodge Viper SRT10
• Rose’s Porsche 911 GT2
• Zack’s Volkswagen Scirocco

Fable II- See The Future DLC Dated

Press release:
Enter Lionhead Studios’ world of whimsy to catch a glimpse of the new adventures that await the heroes of “Fable II” in the much anticipated second Game Add-on, “See the Future”, which will be available on Xbox LIVE on 12th May. In this latest behind-the-scenes diary episode, the team chats about the continued storyline, wacky characters and design choices for “See the Future,” including the creation of 250 fun Achievement points and a trip down memory lane to the original “Fable.”

“See the Future” returns to the beloved world of Albion, where a set of cursed items from Murgo the Trader unleashes new challenges for players to overcome, including encounters with kooky ghost hobbes, bloodcurdling necromancers, a cursed knight and the Coliseum, where only the greatest heroes will emerge victorious to claim the ultimate prize. Of course, what would travel be without a trusty companion? The “Fable II” dog returns with three alter egos to guide players on their quests to see the future, in the form of a Dalmatian, Bloodhound or Husky.

In addition to fantastical new quests, creatures, characters, events and legendary artifacts, “See the Future” also offers free unique items* to all, including a unique soldier helmet, braided ponytail hairstyle, psycho Jester make-up, a new hero expression, the back flip trick for canine companions, and a collectible Murgo the Trader gold statue.

As an added bonus, all Xbox LIVE Silver account members are invited to join in on the adventurous LIVE co-op festivities during the Multiplayer Unlocked Weekend for free! Created specifically for “Fable II” fans, this Multiplayer Unlocked Weekend will be accessible in all LIVE-enabled regions where “Fable II” is available, starting on 8th May and concluding on 11th May.

The “Fable II” Game Add-on, “See the Future,” will be available for download exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on 12th May for 560 MS Points for the premium content package. “Fable II” is available exclusively on Xbox 360 and is rated 16+ by PEGI. To learn more about “See the Future,” including access to this developer diary and new screenshots, head over to http://www.lionhead.com/Diaries/Default.aspx or http://www.lionhead.com/Fable2/SeetheFuture.aspx

*The free content update must be manually downloaded from Xbox LIVE and will enable those who haven’t purchased the “See the Future” premium content to continue the co-op action with their friends.

Screenshots:

Battlestations: Pacific Demo Now Available

A demo of Eidos’ Battlestation: Pacific, a sequel to the acclaimed Battlestation: Midway, is now available for download on Xbox Live Marketplace and Windows.

The Battlestations: Pacific demo features:
• In-game tutorials
• One action-packed mission (Divine Winds of Leyte) from the US campaign
• Two multiplayer modes (Island Capture and Siege) that can be played in “Skirmish Mode,” a new mode which allows players to tackle multiplayer maps against AI-controlled enemy

You can queue the Xbox 360 demo from here. PC users can download the demo from here or here.

Screenshots:

Dead Rising 2 – First Full Trailer

Dead Rising 2 has got its first full trailer and it is nothing but 2 mins of pure killing and madness. The game apparently features motorbikes. With chainsaws. On both sides. Oh the carnage that will ensue.

Batman: Arkham Asylum System Requirements

Eidos is out with the requirements to play their Batman: Arkham Asylum on the PC. They are:

Minimum:

• CPU: Intel single core 3 Ghz or AMD equivalent
• Memory: XP = 1 GB, Vista = 2GB
• GPU: Shader Model 3 NVidia 6600 or ATI 1300 or higher

Recommended:

• CPU: Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual core)
• Memory: XP = 2GB, Vista = 3GB
• GPU: NVidia 7900 GT or higher

Enhanced for multi-core

Online features:
– Friends
– Achievements

 

The game is coming out in June for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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