The House of the Dead III PSN Trailer (Sega, Sega, Sega...)

*Sigh* Well, here's a pickle (again): In my opinion, in addition to a PSn release, the smarter move would be to get all of the HOTD games on a BLU-RAY with Move support enabled and HD visuals (3D optional), sell the package for $39.99 and rack up some major bonus points with those if us who prefer a physical copy.  Oh well. PSN users will be pleased about this download as well as the upcoming HOTD 4, but sometimes it's a good thing to serve as many folks as possible...

The Darkness II: MORE Executions (And Well Executed, Too)...

Digital Extremes is living up to its name with this latest short clip of gory deaths from The Darkness II. Of course, I'm looking forward to the story and where it goes first and foremost over any visceral thrills from flying body parts and splashing blood. Still, it's good to see a developer cut loos (pun intended) and have fun leting players do some creative slicing & dicing...

Syndicate Update: 4-Player Co-op Briefing Trailer

The demo for Starbreeze's SYNDICATE reboot is up and running over PSN and Xbox Live, so absolutely grab it, get a few friends together and PLAY this thing. Here's a great peek at what to expect if you happen to be curious but don't have an PSN or XBL account. Ea's got a winner on their hands that deserves a ton of respect. So until all the insane haters out there drop their fake outrage act and play the game, they really have nothing to offer to those of us who have played the game and know that it's going to rock,

Aliens: Colonial Marines "Contact" Trailer: Delay of "Game Over, Man, Game Over!"

Yeah, yeah - the game has been delayed until this fall, but that's OK in my book. As long as what's coming is the best Aliens game to date on a console, I'll wait patiently. My Atari Jaguar is dead, so no AvP for me. I never got a review copy of Aliens: Infestation (but it's on my buy list as soon as I've got some extra cash to spend) and I've played all three campaigns in the PS3 game to death. Still, I'm not stressing out over the lack of a new game... really. Especially with PROMETHEUS on the way in theaters to keep my brain swirling for a few months afterward.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Enhanced Editon) Opening Cinema

I didn't play through The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings thanks to my PC not being up to the requirements, but such is the life of an underemployed writer-type like yours truly.  Thankfully, a friend of mine with a much more killer PC got the game just after it came out and I managed to get in about four hours showing him the ropes (he was new to the series) and loved what I played. Then again, I enjoyed the first game quite a bit, warts and all, so I'm biased towards it a bit (and who wouldn't be, given the quality of the finished product). Now that the game is finally (and officially) headed to the 360, I'll be eager to dive into it and see how well CD Projekt has ported their baby over to a console.

The Darkness II Gameplay Live Stream From TwitchTV

Watch live video from 2k123123 on www.twitch.tv Check out The Darkness II on Live Stream! TwitchTV Thursday, 1/26 from 4pm - 6pm Pacific Time.

NeverDead: Konami And Rebellion Mash Up Humor & Horror

Gore in games can be (and is) too much for a lot of gamers who get a bit squeamish at the sight of blood splashing about in some titles. However, add enough well-done and outrageous humor to the mix and even the most skittish gamer may let out a laugh when things get gushy. NeverDead, coming soon from Konami and developer Rebellion, looks to bring the funny as well as bring the pain to its nigh invincible hero who can't be killed, just incapacitated by an assortment of wacky and deadly monsters. I'm liking how the game looks and want to see more, but I hope the jaded types out there give this one a chance and try not to take it too seriously. Hell, not every game needs to be dark and grim and gloomy to be worth playing, I say....

The Darkness II Trailer Twofer: Launch & Executions

2K Games and Digital Extremes fire off the first salvo in what's going to be a massive year for shooter fans (and 2K along with some top development teams working on games for the publisher). In stores February 7, 2012 (and 2/10 internationally), The Darkness II features the return of Jackie Estracado and his two rather special extra limbs plus a supremely twisted plot that make this more than another run of the mill FPS. From the stylized visuals to the new 4-player co-op mode and yes, Mike Patton voicing The Darkness (most effectively, mind you), I'd say 2K's got a hit on their hands here. Just bring a mop for all that red stuff. Or a loaf of bread for your two demon-headed, heart-munching friends...

Yakuza: Dead Souls Trailer: Undead vs Gangsters? This Could Get Bloody...

Yakuza 4 was one of my favorite games of 2011, but Sega's got more plans for some of the cast in this truly offbeat upcoming side-story that brings zombies into the mix and tasks you with dispatching them by any means necessary. I'm super interested in this one because it's one of those games that's absurd if you stop and think about it, but it also works because the source material is also completely bizarre. Japanese mafia goons heroically taking on waves of undead in a quest to clean up their city? Mmmm-kay - where do I sign up? This one arrives exclusively on the PS3 on March 13, 2012. Looks like I've got my next vacation spot all lined up... now where's my spiked baseball bat?

Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition: Who Needs A Real Vacation?

Now, what's MORE thrilling to you? Dropping all your cash on a trip to Las Vegas and losing your shirt there or camping out in front of your TV for weeks with this stacked deck from Bethesda and Obsidian that contains the original game plus practically every bit of DLC released for it? OK, maybe I'd still want to go to Vegas, but I'd not want to pass up this great game deal either. As the press info says below:

This complete package, which includes the full version of Fallout: New Vegas as well as the Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues and Lonesome Road add-on packs, allows you to experience everything that New Vegas has to offer. To sweeten the pot, you'll be armed with the latest cache of unique weapons, ammo types and recipes from the most recent add-on packs Courier's Stash and Gun Runners Arsenal. Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition will be available in retail stores across North America on February 7th 2012 and throughout Europe on February 10th.

Max Payne 3 Design & Technology Video Series Parts 1 & 2

Oops. Thanks to being busy moving the other DAF blog over to Wordpress, I missed posting the first video in this series here back in November and that was bad news for me (real bad news), so here are both the first and second in the series for Rockstar's upcoming Max Payne 3 set for a May 2012 release. What, you're asking me "How real bad news?" Well, it's like this, Ace. I'm getting up yesterday morning at about 5 to go to the bathroom when there's a knock at the door. I hesitated for a second, shook my head and went to pee, thinking it was nothing but the next door neighbor dinking about in his place. Next thing I know, there's a guy behind me wearing a leather coat and ski mask and before I can blink, something hard hits me on the back of the skull.

Fade. To. Black.



I wake up about an hour later with a splitting headache, one foot in the toilet and a note taped to my forehead that says "Don't forget the new D & T video this time." I didn't need to guess who it was that knocked me out, as there was a fresh bottle of painkillers I didn't have before on the sink. Thanks, Max. Next time, use the damn phone. Ouch. Anyway, I'll be fine - just go pre-order the game (Standard or Special Edition, it's your move) so I don't get another visit from someone who's SUPPOSED to be in Sao Paolo dodging bullets...

Resident Evil 6 Reveal Trailer: Capcom Still Knows How To Do It Right

It wasn't a big surprise at all to me that Capcom was hard at work on a new true Resident Evil sequel, although I was a TINY bit surprised that the game is coming so soon (as in November 20, 2012). I'd have expected more of a build up to the game. Then again, ten months will be plenty of time for Capcom to saturate the internet with news, screens and info about the gameplay and story. Think about it folks - you're getting at least THREE games in the franchise this year (Operation Raccoon City and RE6 on consoles and PC and RE: Revelations on the 3DS) and that's nothing to sneeze at. Even better, all three feature entirely different scenarios and are set across the series' long timeline, which also means there's going to be something for everyone this year. Color me more than pleased with that news...

Syndicate 4-Player Co-op Trailer: It's On (and On and On and On)...

As I've said previously, if you're not interested in EA's upcoming Syndicate remake because it's "just another FPS", you're a bit crazy. Starbreeze Studios has absolutely captured the feel of the originals in the game - the move to a shooter with a four-player co-op from a isometric game where you controlled four agents not only makes sense, it does an even better job of immersing you in the action. In case you missed the other multiplayer trailers, I'll be an even nicer guy here and run a few later this week just to twist your arms a little more.

Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen Gameplay Trailer: Tenchu, Too

It's pretty clear that Acquire's upcoming Vita game isn't going to be the best-looking or most innovative title for Sony's new handheld, but that's just fine with me. I'm a big fan of the Tenchu series and what's here looks as if it's going to fit right in with the best games in that series. We'll have to see how well the touch controls work and if normal controls are an option, as I'm seeing all sorts of negativity out there in terms of gamers who prefer traditional over touching and tapping their way around environments. I have the feeling those folks won't have to worry all that much, though.

Binary Domain "Bigger Than You Think" Trailer Pulls Off A Few Surprises

 The VERY hardworking team behind the Yakuza games is surely whipping up a nice new IP here. This new cinematic trailers shows off the dev team's awesome stylized realism, trademark cinemas, dynamic action set pieces and a game that's looking pretty interesting after a few early screens and images that were just so-so. I'm definitely interested in seeing how this one turns out, Sega!

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Multiplayer Trailer (PLUS!)

Here's the second REORC trailer released last week plus a look at the earlier "Heroes" trailer that shows off the playable characters from the game. I'm definitely going to be trying all these guys and gals out when the game finally ships out, that's for sure...

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Triple Impact Trailer: Yes, It's Killer Stuff...

Slant Six Games has a great surprise for those expecting another run of the mill RE experience.  As this amazing new trailer shows, Operation Raccoon City is set to blow players away with some excellent team-based run & gun action while keeping the scares coming when necessary. Between the faster-paced multiplayer action and the great all-around selection of bad-asses on display, the game is sure to win over new players, convert the diehard skeptics and make Capcom proud of the time and talent doing their best to bring the long-running franchise into 2012 with style to spare.

The game doesn't arrive until March, but it's been on my radar for a while and after playing the demo last year at NYCC, I can't wait to get by paws on the final version. Capcom is set for a stellar year with this, Asura's Wrath, their core fighters and Dragon's Dogma (once it tweaked a bit) plus whatever other surprises they can come up with and I just love that!