Transformers Revenge of the Fallen

With the summer well underway, you can either do two things in Dubai – flock to the malls or head to the cinemas for the latest summer blockbusters. And of course, hot on the heels of the movie releases comes the infernal slew of video games based on movies. For as long as I can remember, I have yet to review a video game that does the movie justice, or at least comes close to it. Sadly, my latest experience with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on the PS3 was yet another disappointing experience, and left me debating which was more painful to sit through – the movie or the game. Truth be told, it would be unfair for me to slate both in this review, so I’ll just stick to the video game.

When Transformers was released last year on the various consoles, it was plagued with various issues, ranging from buggy graphics, boring gameplay, crippled controls and a host of other problems. So it’s only expected that the developers would learn from their mistakes and ensure that the next version was much more polished for fans. To be fair, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a marked improvement over 2007’s blunder, but it still has some shortcomings that make the overall game less enjoyable.

Once again, the Autobots and the Decepticons square off against each other in a bid to either save or destroy the human race. The two parallel campaigns run seamlessly, and have a variety of missions for you to unlock as you blast your way through each level. Unfortunately, the missions themselves eventually begin to mirror each other, and consist of destroying an enemy base or Transformer, or defending a base from attacks. Though each single player campaign is lengthy and ensure plenty of gaming hours, the action soon becomes a bit repetitive. That’s not to say that it’s boring in any way – often you’ll find yourself absolutely overwhelmed by the on-screen explosions and robots flying across the screen.

There are a variety of Transformers to choose from either side, with some classics such as Optimus Prime, Starscream, and Bumblebee making an appearance, as well as some new characters exclusive to the game. Each Transformer has a basic melee attack, as well a primary and secondary weapon. You also get a unique special ability with each robot, ranging from health regeneration to devastating shockwaves. Each of your attributes can be powered up when you finish a level, allowing you to tweak and master your Transformer’s abilities. It’s an evenly balanced reward system based on the number of enemies you can clear in a level, special takedowns,  and how quickly you finish a mission. The control system however, needs a bit of getting used to – the face buttons are used to jump, boost, and melee attack, while the shoulder buttons let you cycle weapons as well as quickly transform into vehicle mode. While in vehicle mode you can still attack your enemies as you zip around roads or soar through the air, and a combination of the face buttons will let you transform back while performing a surprise attack. Still, trying to pull off a lock-on while transforming and then cycling through your weapons will have your fingers in a cramp.

It all sounds very exciting, but after a while it soon grows incredibly dull. The missions don’t have any particular link to each other, and you’re only allowed to play levels that you’ve unlocked by achieving a certain score. It’s also incredibly annoying that you have to listen to a drawn out monologue after each mission, which I would much rather skip through. The voice-acting is passable, though there is a very bland rock soundtrack which is really off-putting.

Should you tire of the single player gameplay, you can of course choose to hop online and beat up other players in one of the various game modes. While not necessarily ground-breaking, this offers some diversity to the game, though be on your guard for annoying players who fly around the levels targeting you with homing missiles before you can even step forward. There was also a noticeable lag in a couple of games that I played, which made for a rather disappointing multiplayer experience.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a marked improvement from the first game, but doesn’t hold your attention long enough to keep you playing for too long. If you’re fan of the franchise, then give this game a shot – if you’re not, then you’re best moving on as there isn’t anything special to see – not even Megan Fox!

Forza Motorsport 3 Limited Collector\’s Edition Revealed

Press release:
October will mark the launch of “Forza Motorsport 3” in the Middle East, exclusively on Xbox 360. With more than 400 cars on over 100 tracks, the next game in the heralded series will be the biggest and most vividly realistic console racing title launching this holiday. And while all “Forza Motorsport 3” players will get to experience the bone-jarring physics, unparalleled levels of customization, and epic car and track list, fans who purchase the Limited Collector’s Edition will find even more goodies under the hood.

The Forza Motorsport 3 Limited Collector’s Edition (LCE) gives aspiring drivers, tuners and painters instant VIP Membership status within the Forza community including special recognition in the new Storefront feature as well as the online Auction House, scoreboards, ForzaMotorsport.net and more.  As a VIP member, consumers gain exclusive access to five of the world’s hottest cars:
•    2009 Aston Martin DBS
•    2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
•    2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia
•    2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
•    2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)

And if you crave cars, you won’t want to miss another perk of the “Forza Motorsport 3” LCE – an Exclusive Collector’s Car Pack, personally hand-picked, tuned and painted by the team at Turn 10:
•    Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro (Forza Motorsport 3 Cover Car)
•    Acura NSX (Forza Motorsport Cover Car)
•    Nissan Fairlady (Forza Motorsport 2 Cover Car)
•    Aston Martin DB9 (Forza Motorsport 2 European Cover Car)
•    2008 Dodge Charger Stock Car (with Xbox 360 livery)

In addition to the exclusive cars, Turn 10 also plans to create a series of new and exclusive designs and tuning kits exclusively for VIPs.  And to show off your true “Forza Motorsport” pride and prowess, consumers also receive a Forza Motorsport 3 collector’s keychain and a 2GB USB thumbdrive in which you can store your favorite “Forza” videos, photos and designs to easily share them with friends.

Xbox Project Natal Could Be Out Next Year

While Microsoft has yet to stamp a release date on their wonder technology, THQ boss Brain Farrell thinks consumers will be able to get their hands on ‘Project Natal’ late next year.

As we all know, THQ had been working on Natal even before it was unveiled as the next best thing since polygon textures by Microsoft at last month’s E3. So when the boss says it will be out before Christmas, we have little to doubt him.

Let’s recall what Microsoft’s Shane Kim had said about the launch of Natal at E3 ’09, "Conceptually, the launch of Natal will be like the launch of Xbox 360. It’s going to be that big. We’re not just going to ship it when the hardware and software are ready." So next year or not, the launch will be as big if not close to the Second Coming.

Microsoft Introduces Face of Forza

Press release:
Xbox® today announced Swiss born, female racing sensation Natacha Gachnang as the European ‘Face of Forza’ to celebrate the upcoming launch of Forza Motorsport® 3 for the Xbox 360® from Microsoft.

Launching on 23 October 2009, Forza Motorsport 3, is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who’s ever dreamed of driving at full-throttle. Who better than Gachnang to speak to its incredible realism and thrilling driving action.

In December 2008, Gachnang was announced as the first ever female driver to race in the FIA Formula Two Championships. The 21 year old, who is the cousin of Formula One driver Sébastien Buemi, is currently shining in her debut season racing under MotorSport Vision.

Natacha also spent some time in Seattle as a consultant on the game, giving advice on the realism of some of the tracks she has raced in her career, as well as critiquing the sounds and set ups of the cars she has driven. Gachnang also explored the customisation and tuning elements of the game and created her own car.

The ultimate thrill seeker, Gachnang lists heliskiing as one of her favourite hobbies and she jumped at the chance to test her experience of the road on the breathtaking virtual tracks of Forza 3.

“What a buzz – the tracks, the cars, the handling – the attention to detail is incredible. Forza 3 is a car fans dream! It really feels like I’m right there, in the car, racing round the tracks, all in the comfort of my own living room!” said Natacha Gachnang

Launching this October exclusively on Xbox 360, "Forza Motorsport 3" unites the racing game genre making it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world’s most exotic and exquisite cars.

You can take the wheel of over 400 of the most loved cars on the planet on over 100 different tracks, including the sublime Audi R8 and the infamous German Nürburgring.

Developed by Turn 10 and Microsoft Studios, Game Director Dan Greenawalt stated, “A love of all things cars lives in everyone at Turn 10. It’s fantastic to see this mirrored in Natacha. Her passion and expertise for racing is clear to see and the realism of the game really lets her skills as a driver shine through. From a pro driver like Natacha to anyone who has a passion for cars, Forza Motorsport 3 has something for everyone.”

Overlord II – Battle Rock Nemesis DLC Now Available

Press release:
Extend the evil as Codemasters® announce the new ‘Overlord II – Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content for Overlord® II™, the twisted fantasy action adventure, for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®.

The ‘Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content is available now from PLAYSTATION® Store (£3.19 / €3.99 / $5.00) and today on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace (400 Microsoft Points). Details of downloadable content for the PC edition of Overlord II will be announced shortly.

The ‘Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content installs the imposing ‘Battle Rock’ arena in the Netherworld which plays host to a series of new combat challenges as the player progresses through the game. Gamers harvest life force as they wreak havoc upon Nordburg Hunters and Gnomes in practice rounds and then take on fearsome foes, including the Satyr, the Empire’s Champion, and the fabled Phoenix in a series of boss battles which unlock new rewards including more powerful spells and in-game items for the Overlord and his Minions. On Xbox 360, players can earn Achievements worth 100 points through winning the boss battles.

Overlord II is the sequel to the original twisted fantasy action adventure and is available for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, with full online & offline multiplayer and split screen functions. Overlord® Dark Legend™ was developed and designed exclusively for Wii™ and features Minion control through intuitive Wii Remote movement. Overlord® Minions™ is a dedicated puzzle action title, developed exclusively for Nintendo DS™ and uses 100% touch screen controls, perfect for Overlords on the go.

Lips: Number One Hits Song List Revealed

Press release:
One of the most incredible collections of the world’s hottest number one songs is about to launch this fall. Get the crowd singing and the party started with “Lips: Number One Hits,” the newest game in the “Lips” singing franchise exclusively for Xbox 360. Show off your singing chops with friends, harmonize in a duet or belt out those high notes to a diverse collection of 40 global smash hits, spanning genres, generations and countries so that even the pickiest of singers can find their unique pitch.

Available worldwide this fall, “Lips: Number One Hits” features popular songs that have graced the # 1 position on major global charts. Joining previously announced hits from Coldplay, Rihanna, Tokio Hotel, Timbaland feat. OneRepublic, Extreme, Culture Club, MC Hammer, Roy Orbison and Marvin Gaye the full catalog also includes:
• California Love by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman (U.S.): this song earned the late rapper a posthumous Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, Duo or Group in 1997
• Barbie Girl by Aqua (Denmark): a breakthrough international hit, this song featured the band’s lead singers as the toy couple Barbie and Ken in the music video
• Just Dance by Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis (U.S.): the debut song of this theatrical pop singer became an international smash hit
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears (U.K.): this successful single was written and recorded in two weeks, becoming the band’s first Billboard Hot 100 #1 and peaking at #2 on the U.K. Top 40 chart
• The Fear by Lily Allen (U.K.): from her second album, this song is the artist’s social commentary about the dark side of celebrity and consumer culture
• Don’t Phunk With My Heart by Black Eyed Peas (U.S.): influenced by Indian music, this song sampled the Bollywood cult hit film “Don,” a movie about a man posing as the leader of a gang of international smugglers
• I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ by Scissor Sisters (U.S.): this song was written with the legendary artist Elton John and features his piano playing in the melody
• Heartless by Kanye West (U.S.): this is the first single in “pop art” music, a new genre which West describes as making pop music in an "artistic" way
• Touch My Body by Mariah Carey (U.S.): this song was Carey’s 18th #1 on the U.S. singles charts, which pushed her into second place behind the Beatles as the artist with the most chart-topping singles
• Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s (U.S.): this song was written as an ode to a girl named Delilah that the band’s singer met only once by chance in NYC
• Always On My Mind by Pet Shop Boys (U.K.): the Daily Telegraph’s music critics ranked the band’s cover of this Brenda Lee song as #2 of the all-time best cover songs
• I’m Yours by Jason Mraz (U.S.): while this artist’s music has appeared on the charts since 2003, this single is his first chart-topping hit
• Push the Button by Sugababes (U.K.): this song was the girl group’s fourth #1 single in the U.K. and topped the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles

The complete song listing of artists and songs available on “Lips: Number One Hits” can be found at xbox.com/lips.
In addition to the huge variety of songs available on disc, “Lips” fans will be able customize their “Number One Hits” set list with a theme pack of their choice containing five additional songs, available to download for free on Xbox LIVE. This summer, singers can help decide what themes will be available for “Lips: Number One Hits” by voting for their favorite themes at xbox.com/lips.

“Lips: Number One Hits” and the original “Lips” game combine to create the ultimate singing party, with more songs to keep the fun rocking all night long. But for singers with an insatiable appetite for variety, Xbox LIVE Marketplace has a vast library of tunes that can be downloaded for both titles. New tracks of all genres and artist-specific songs packs are added regularly each week, so personal catalogs can keep growing and growing. “Lips,” combined with the power of Xbox LIVE, makes Xbox 360 the best destination for music game fans.

“Lips,” Xbox 360’s first exclusive singing party game from iNiS, launched November 2008. The second title, “Lips: Number One Hits,” launches this October 2009. More information on “Lips” is available at xbox.com/lips.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 Now on XBLA

Press release:
Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today launched the long-awaited Marvel VS. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes for Xbox LIVE® Arcade.

Marvel VS. Capcom 2 features the biggest roster of challengers to ever square off in a Capcom fighting game, a total of 56 combined brawlers from both the Capcom and Marvel universes. From the world of Capcom comes characters such as Ryu from the Street Fighter® series, Jill Valentine from the Resident Evil® games and unofficial company mascot Mega Man®. Marvel is represented by some of its biggest names, including the Invincible Iron Man, Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty, and War Machine, Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D. Players can mix and match from both worlds in order to create their own ideal three man/woman/robot/monster team-up.

Due to the amazing combination of Marvel and Capcom characters and the game’s celebrated fighting system and graphics, Marvel VS. Capcom 2 has been a hotly sought-after title on the game collector’s circuit. Previously owned copies for older game consoles have been demanding more than $100 in auctions and at specialty video game outlets. Now players who have been desperately searching out used copies of the game will be able to go hands-on and play online with the same great online experience from Super Street Fighter® II Turbo HD Remix. Additionally, Capcom has added an optional advanced visual filter that improves the overall appearance of the game and added online modes, including Ranked Matches and the popular Player “Quarter” Match, that allows up to four people to watch and chat while two others are battling it out.

Borderlands – Five New Screenshots

Gearbox Software has a released a new batch of screenshots of its upcoming bazllion guns featuring RPG-ish shooter Borderlands, which looks incredibly like the streamlined, black pencil-bordered little brother of Fallout 3. But anyho, check them out:

Ubisoft Working on New Anti-Piracy Tool

Ubisoft had announced that the company is facing a 50% decline in game sales, blaming overall market slowdown and industry’s favorite blame-goat, piracy.

In an effort to ward of pirates, the France based publisher announced that they are working on a new anti-piracy tool, were a bottle of grog would have worked just as well (a cookie for getting the reference). The technology will be ready by the end of the year, as confirmed by CEO Yves Guillemot, who hopes to reduce PC and DS piracy considerably.

Here is what he had to say pertaining to each platform:

On the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3: "What we see is that it’s very small on PS3. It’s actually also good on the 360 because it’s very difficult to pirate when you play the games with your machine online regularly–[Xbox 360 piracy is] a difficult thing to do because the risk is quite high."

On the PC: "All together, on home consoles, the piracy is low. But on the PC, the piracy increases quite a lot, and we are working on tools that will allow us to actually decrease tremendously the piracy on PC, starting next year in fact and probably one game at the end of this year."

On the Wii: "We see some piracy in some countries, but it’s still small."

On the Nintendo DS: "What we are seeing in Europe, especially on the DS, is that the piracy is strong. We are working to put new figurines and new elements in the box that will change that for the future."

On the Nintendo DSi: "For the DSi, the piracy is a lot less than on the normal DS…[Piracy] is more affecting the DS than the DSi at the moment."

On the PSP: "It has always been a machine with lots of piracy. It’s a machine we were not developing too much on…there are new ways to control piracy [on PSP] so we have reinvested on the machine."

On the difference between US and European piracy: "The DS is affected a lot more [in Europe] then the US, and the US we don’t see the penetration…we expect a lower impact [on the DS] in the US than in Europe. It’s more also the continent-side of Europe that is affected than total Europe." "We see a different attitude towards piracy in the US than in Europe. We made a survey that is telling us that in the US, our consumers will be more willing to buy product than to pirate them. That’s a major difference."

If you are two byte as clever as we are, you would now know why they decided to delay all of their top titles to next year.

Fight Night Round 4

Friday Night Fight Round 3 was the best Boxing game ever released on any videogame console. The graphics were unbelievable, the gameplay was engaging and the presentation was just perfect. Rarely do people go out and buy a new console just for a sports game, but that is exactly what that game did a few years ago. The title was one of the few sports games to go platinum as well. So if anything, pressure on the next game in the series is huge. EA Sports however avoided the trap of releasing Round 4 a year later. Instead you can tell the developers used all this time to figure out what they did wrong the last time around and fix precisely that.

The two finest things about Round 3 were the presentation and graphics. Graphically, the game was just what people wanted all the next generation games to look like. Fight Night Round 4 is no different. The graphics are straight up jaw dropping and will actually have you stand up to make sure all the action in your screen is not real. While Round 3 suffered from some hiccups, round 4 runs at a comfy 60 FPS. So the game runs as smoothly as possible. What makes the graphics even better in Round 4 is the new physics system. The game plays out utterly realistic. Punch your opponent in a certain direction and watch as his body receives the blow and move in a certain way, pay some more attention to see the skin ripple across his body. All of this, plus the fantastically done character designs make this game one hell of a graphical masterpiece.

Speaking of characters design, you will be able to upload your own face into this one.  Watching your face getting beat up soaking in blood as you sit in the comfort of your living room is absolutely priceless.

Alright, so the graphics is amazing. How about the presentation this time around? Again the game nails this department down. Everything about this game’s presentation screams realism. The way the boxers enter the arena and ring is epic. If that was not enough, the game menus are very well done and are very easy to navigate. The menus might get slightly complicated in the career mode, but you will get used to them in no time.

Gameplay wise, little have changed. The game still features the fantastic gameplay engine from Round 3 so there is nothing to worry about here. A few noticeable changes are the corner healing and counterattacks. Counter moves now are very important. Avoiding a punch and countering it correctly will win you a load of matches and points. Only problem here is trying to execute those punches VS the AI. This might prove to be nearly impossible on some high difficulties as the AI will predict your every move. Healing in the corner, the other noticeable new feature, gives you points based on how well you perform in the ring. Based on how many points you are granted, you will be able to heal your Boxer.

The mode you will spend most of your time with is the career mode. As some of you sports fans have come to expect, career mode features a calendar with some important dates scattered all over it. Round 4 is no different. You have a calendar which you can use to pick or plan an event across the year.  Most of your time here will be spent either fighting or training. While the fighting is a whole lot of fun, the training mini games are defiantly not. You will have to go through some tedious and repetitive moves to improve your own character over and over again. The best thing you can do here is let the AI do this task for you.

The major issues with the career mode in this game are the awards given at the end of the season and the limited options you have. Limited options come in the shape of the game not allowing you to hire your own trainer or promoter. Sure, this is not a big deal and will surely not affect the gameplay experience, but having such options is crucial in sports games these days. At the end of each season, the game will award different boxers some awards. Believe it or not, most of those awards are given out randomly. An unbeaten rookie can finish the season with zero awards while someone with 5 defeats cans end up with one or two awards to keep. Again, not something that will hurt the overall experience, but we would have appreciated an award or two for our troubles over the whole season.

We already mentioned and praised the graphics enough, now it’s time to find out how good the game sounds. The sound department might not be good enough to knock out the graphics here, but it still gets the job done. The punches sound ultra realistic and the commentary managed to keep us entertained during every match we played. You might come across a few glitches were the sound effect doesn’t play on time, but that rarely happens overall.

Fight Night Round 4 is what all sports games should be like. It takes the whole sport of boxing and manages to put it into one fantastically done videogame. The graphics, gameplay and presentation here are perfectly done. While the AI might get frustrating at times, playing this game with some friends will surely make up for that. Everything else is just fine and this game will keep you coming back for more and more for quite some time. One thing to point out however is that this game have surely benefited from not being rushed and released a year after Round 3. At the end of the day, sports games fan or not, get out and knock your wallet out buying this one.

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