Yakuza: Dead Souls Controls Tutorial: Not Your Average Third-Person Experience...

 

When you have to have a video that teaches you about the controls in a third-person game, that's not a good thing most of the time. However, given that Yakuza: Dead Souls is a bit "special", I'll cut Sega some slack. Pay attention, grasshoppers and you'll be shooting down undead Tokyo denizens with relative ease as you hoof it to the geisha lounge for some fun times. Or don't pay attention and die a lot - it's your move...

And Now, A Message For The Guys From Yakuza Dead Souls: Be Nice To Your Hostess (Or Else)...

 

Sega's latest entry in the Yakuza franchise (which has so far stayed exclusive to Sony systems) isn't a sequel at all, but a funky chunk of zombie slaying set in the same Tokyo locales as previous installments. I haven't had the chance to play this one yet, but a few friends seem to like it, flaws and all. I like what the dev team has done with the humor from all these trailers, but nope, in no way, shape or form is this one for the kids.  While I have no clue as to if Sega plans to ever get the series out on the Xbox 360 or any other console, I'd really love to see the all the games get the HD remix treatment with ALL the chopped content restored. C'mon Sega, we're all adults here and wacky Japanese trends won't make us crazy. Well, those of use who understand cultural differences and can see how our own views on certain things are twisted to even more extremes...

The House of The Dead 4 Coming to PSN: Move It, Agents!

Ah, Sega... I'm still holding out hope for a disc version with the entire series on it, but I guess this will have to do. Move support is a HUGE plus, as when done right, it's as good as it gets for light-gun gamers. Anyway, April will be the cruelest month after all if there's another PSN hack the kills the service for a while, that's for sure. Here's to a safe PSN launch for this one (and hopes that we do see that HotD collection on a Blu-Ray at some point - retail video game sales aren't going away for a while, folks)...

Yakuza: Dead Souls Pre-Order Trailer: Come And Get It (Or It Will Get You)...

The wait is almost over and this pre-order video is a total hoot, Sega. I'm a bit misty-eyed about this game, as it was a bit over a year ago when Japan was rocked by that one-two-three disaster punch that's still an ongoing reality for far too many people there, but I'd pay full price for this one just to support Sega and Japan in general. If you're a PS3 owner (and of age to buy M-Rated games), yup, you should buy this one too...

Binary Domain "Hollow Child" Trailer: Think Of The (Robotic, Out To Destroy Humanity) Children...

Here's another excellent (and lengthy) cinema from Sega's sci-fi action/shooter for the PS3 and Xbox 360, which should be in stores on February 28, not quite even as we speak, but soon enough. OK, so we're NOT actually speaking (this is more of a one way conversation where I try to get you to buy or rent something cool you may have overlooked with so many games coming out this year), but you get the point, right?

Yakuza: Dead Souls Mini-Games: Bringing Sexy Back... In That Weird Japanese Way...

Ah, memories... no, not of any secret trip to Japan I've made, silly (hell, not on my budget!) - just of Playing Yakuza 4 last year and getting a chuckle over the assorted geisha-themed mini-games. You really can't take them too seriously (like a few game critics and prudish did) because at the end of the day, you're playing a GAME that pokes great fun at what actually goes on inside these leisure lairs. That and hell, this time out, there are packs of zombies standing in your way, so even getting to the club will have you wading through a few dozen or so undead out to chew your face off. After all that hell, a little relaxation will be very much needed, I say.

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...

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.

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?

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!

Aliens: Colonial Marines Gameplay Footage

Sega has released a very cool E3 demo gameplay video from Gearbox Software's upcoming PS3/Xbox 360 and PC shooter. The game is certainly looking tight so far, combining scripted moments with plenty of combat and appropriately scary moments. Of course, there are plenty of fans of who are probably benchmarking those older PC Aliens games by Rebellion and tossing mighty suggestions to Sega and Gearbox to copy those classics exactly. I say let the developer do their thing so they can surprise those expecting them to simply template stuff just because a few too many diehards aren't willing to accept a new take on their favorite game. Yeah, yeah - that's why I don't make games, being stubborn and wanting to go my own way and all. But hey, I trust the guys at Gearbox completely. We'll see what happens and hope Sega drops into NYC so I can get some hands-on time...

House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut Hospital Level Trailer

That PlayStation Move will be getting a workout again as Sega brings this HD update of its Wii game to the PS3 this October. Expect some awesomely gory shooting action, plenty of "grindhouse" aesthetic and replay value galore like any good light gun game. I may have to get a second Move controller just to play this with double guns. Too bad this one isn't coming to Kinect, but then again, Xbox 360 owners have Rise of Nightmares, so I guess you could call it "even" in terms of horror-themed on-rails games, right? Of course, if Sega decides to do a Move-enabled version of RoN, that would be pretty cool as well...

Rise of Nightmares Now Available (Get Ready To Beat Down Creepy Stuff, Kinect-Style!)

Looks as if the Kinect isn't all about dancing games, fake fuzzy petting zoo action, exercise simulations or jumping around and trying not to get a heart attack in a family-friendly smash hit*. Sega has shipped its creepy horror game to stores and while the reviews are mixed, it might do well enough among Kinect owners craving something a bit more gory than your average game in the growing library. Here are three trailers Sega has released over the past month or so to promote the game - enjoy!

*(Yeah, yeah, I know all about the Gunsmith feature in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Crytek's hack & slasher, Steel Battalion and a bunch of other 2012 titles. But none of these really count until the games actually ship...)

Anarchy Reigns Gameplay Trailer

PlatinumGames' upcoming brawler in action - as lovely and brutal as expected and then some. I really STILL want that single player offline and versus modes, folks. It'll make for a better game for all, trust me(nag, nag, nag)...

Yakuza 4 "Hostess Club" Trailer

Yes, they're back. A little downtime in downtown Tokyo from all the ultra-violence. Relax with an ice cold Suntory beer and some conversation with the lovely ladies of Sega's upcoming PS3 exclusive Yakuza 4. Or something like that. Just watch the trailer - I'll leave the catchy copy to someone else!

Anarchy Reigns Character Profile: Zero

Ho-kay... Well, so much for my Iron Phoenix jokes about this one. Looks as if PlatinumGames is going to blow a few folks away with their upcoming multiplayer-focused brawler. I'm STILL holding out for a story mode geared to single player action, as hell, I actually prefer to practice my moves against opponents that won't curse me out for having Zero skills (ha ha).

Yakuza 4 "Battle" Trailer

Check out the tough guys doing their thing on the streets in this latest Yakuza 4 trailer. Somehow, I'm going to have find a way to shut time down so I can actually PLAY all these blasted games coming out this year... this is getting RIDICULOUS.