Max Payne 3 Weapons: The M1911 Is In. "You're Welcome," Says Rockstar...

 

Although Max's go-to guns in the original game were twin Berettas, the more punchy power of the M1911 should please fans of the original game who happen to want to swing a heavier shooting iron about as they blow away the bad guys. Rockstar is really showing of that game engine to its fullest (the 360-degree renders here are amazing) and I expect MP3 to be dissected by the more core (and sane) gun-owning gamers out there who can talk your ear off about every type of firearm imaginable. You guys are fun to have a few beers with, but I'm not going to get you mad about anything regarding sports, women, politics or even where to get good BBQ, that's for sure...

Spec Ops: The Line: 2K Games' Answer To The Usual Suspects In the Military Shooter Genre.

 

Like Rebellion's Sniper Elite V2 (being published by 505 Games), Yager's spectacular-looking Spec Ops: The Line (headed your way in June from 2K Games) aims to bring a fresher face to a genre packed to the gills with blockbuster first-person games that some feel are going for the motions in terms of delivering a solid single player campaign. The team at Yager (responsible for the underrated Xbox game call Yager - go look it up, it's a pleasant surprise) has done a superb job at making a game where the story and environment are as important as the gameplay. Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (itself the inspiration for Apocalypse Now), Spec Ops' story puts you in control of a small squad as they infiltrate a sandstorm ravaged Dubai in order to take down a rather not so nice former ally. The game also has a multiplayer component that looks pretty solid and from what I can tell, won't detract or distract from the story's overall impact. Of course, the true test is getting the jaded gamers out there who only judge new titles against their favorites rather than on their own merits to get up off their asses and give this one a shot. I'll try my best to do my job and promote this potential game-changer, but at the end of the day, it's all up to you folks reading this to TRY something new that might throw you for a loop in a good way once in a while...

Dishonored Trailer: This Embargo is KILLING Me, But The Trailer Is Quite Spectacular

So, I saw Dishonored in action yesterday, but I can't write about it (or more accurately, post impressions) until next week. Meanwhile, Bethesda rolled this amazing trailer out just to taunt those of us who were floored at the press event yesterday and can't write anything (or more accurately, post impressions) until next week. I will say this, however: those jaded games who complain about all sorts of things not being doable by their character will be knocked off their feet when they get their hands on this one. Let's just say Arkane Studios knows and loves what they're doing and this one is doing it RIGHT.

More once the embargo is lifted... enjoy the trailer!

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Editon Launch Trailer: Your Game of the Year Candidate (#1)

 

After playing a small chunk of this last week at the WBIE press event and seeing this trailer yesterday, I'm putting in my first choice for GOTY. This game is massive, mature and definitely a must-play for any genre fan who won't mind some content being a bit too racy when compared to similar titles. Personally, it's about time, I say. The storytelling here is incredible and while the game on the 360 is a few steps down visually from the PC version cranked up to the highest settings, it's still an amazingly detailed and downright spectacular looking achievement for Microsoft's console. CD Projekt RED has a winner here, so don't miss it.

MORE Dragon's Dogma Gameplay? OK, Got An Hour And A Half To Spare?

 

So, you wanted to see how the game looks and plays in a more extended session? Well, here you go, thanks to Capcom Unity at PAX last weekend. I'm even more impressed with it and while I'm not crazy enough to run around screaming "It's Game of the YEAR!!!" all over the internet, it's pretty clear that Capcom has a winner here that's going to please a few different types of gamers. Hopefully, not one of them will be nuts enough to sic the Better Business Bureau on them if they dislike the ending or feel that any DLC that MAY or may not be on the disc violates some rights they think they have that aren't in the EULA...

Dragon's Dogma Captivate 2012 Videos: It's Getting Better And Better...

Capcom REALLY isn't playing around here with all these lovely Dragon's Dogma videos. Sure, they're going more for a "western RPG" look and feel rather than just making a Monster Hunter clone (like some crazed fans are wanting). But for me, that's a good thing, as I intend to explore every nook and cranny of that game world and get the most bang for the buck rather than blow through it for a quickie review that's going to miss all the fun stuff. Provided it's not packed with showstopping bugs and there's enough land to travel to keep me dialed in, this looks like the action/RPG of the summer once I finally get through with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings on the 360. It's going to be one big, fat indoor party for me, that's for sure. Sunlight? What's that again?

Max Payne 3 Design & Technology Video Update: Stop, Bullet Time!

 

The latest MP3 D & T video shows what it's all about when it comes to Max' signature time-stopping gunplay. I like that from the beginnings of the series, there's never been a logical explanation for his talents (he's a mutant, I tell you!), but it's all good because it's done so well (and has been copied multiple times since in other games). Yeah, yeah, The Matrix sort of did it first, but as far as games go, it's been Max who was the pioneer.

Resident Evil 6 Captivate 2012 Trailer: Capcom Loves It More When You're Frightened Than When You're Cranky...

 

As usual there; some absolutely lovely stuff here, but Capcom can't seem to catch a break from some haters who continually knock them for one thing or another. I have to wonder if some of the louder voices out there actually buy any of the games the company publishes given their penchant for threatening boycotts, living in the past and generally being completely unhelpful to any innovations that the series tries for. Granted, not EVERY change the franchise has gone through has been for the better. But I'd rather have Capcom's dev teams go all out and try new things rather than keep shoving the same thing out the door year after year so all the zombies can go through the motions of playing and enjoying the same old thing year in and year out. Say YES to change, ladies and gents - your gaming life will be all the better for it...

Max Payne 3 Weapons Update: Shotguns, Anyone?

 

Rockstar is really making sure fans know that Max is on point and on target to become a huge hit, so you'd better be respecting all this hard work they're putting out. I'm in for the story, the amazing attention to detail and the refined gameplay more than any multiplayer antics, but I like that the dev team is making the MP mode a bit evolutionary in a few respects. Keep it up, guys and you'll have some Game of The Year nominations from a few places and maybe even win a few more awards. We shall see...

Game of Thrones Trailer Updates: Late, But Still Worth Watching...

Yeah, yeah - I forgot to run these earlier, but I've been busy doing way too much stuff again. Anyway, it's all good because the second season of the show has arrived and is even going to be better than the first based on the fantastic first episode. Cyanide Studios, Atlus and Focus Home Interactive are taking a nice gamble here with this action RPG, but the solid visuals make it look as if it'll be pretty decent as far as capturing the overall grim tone of the HBO series. As for the gameplay, well, it's not Skyrim or The Witcher 2, but again, without some hands-on time, it's hard to say how this will play. But I trust everyone working on the project, as I'm sure they're all fans of the books and show and they don't want the hardcore GoT fans to unleash hell on them if they get it wrong. We shall see how well Winter hits on May 15th when the game arrives foe PC, Xbox 360 and PC...

Playing Dead Q & A Part 3: More About Telltale's Must-Have Zombie Adventure Game

As promised, here are some more details on Telltale's upcoming The Walking Dead game which is sure to be a hit amongst fans of all ages of the comic and show. I say Telltale is pretty damn smart, figuring out over the years through a bunch of very cool episodic games just the perfect formula to get a wider demographic playing their games. Cranky old goats like me LOVE that adventure gaming isn't dead as a doornail while younger players get to see content spread out in chapters good enough to make you want to wait on the edge of your seat until the next part is released. Now about that disc version or perhaps a console version of this one...

Lollipop Chainsaw's Soundtrack Will Shake Your Bones More Than A Little...

 

The soundtrack of Lollipop Chainsaw features Jimmy Urine from Mindless Self Indulgence and the great Akira Yamaoka. I've never heard of Jimmy before, but as a huge Silent Hill fan, Yamaoka's work has soaked into my brain ever since the first game. Anyway, here's a cool behind the tunes video to watch. I get to see (and hopefully play) the game tomorrow as well as meet Suda 51 (finally!), so I'll be a happy camper (with a slightly sore back that I won't even feel once I get my hands on a controller)...