The Playstation » Upcoming Releases

Explodemon!: Nuff Said?

www.theplaystation.org — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:36:38 +0000

The upcoming platforming game Explodemon! could best be described as the video-game equivalent of a Quentin Tarantino movie. Like the director’s films, Explodemon! is a homage to its classic forerunners, many of which come from outside the U.S. These include platformer adventures like Mega Man and Super Metroid, the fighting game Street Fighter II, and more recent games like Halo and Half-Life 2. The developers, Curve Studios, say that their game will pay tribute to aspects of all of these, including the bad translation when applicable.The game is scheduled to be released this winter. In preparation, Curve has released a one-minute trailer, showing off the game’s 2.5-D graphics, physics-based puzzle-solving, fast-moving gameplayand of course explosions. Lots of explosions. The trailer ends with the Explodemon! logo, which includes Japanese kanji, just like the games of yesteryear.Developer Curve Studios actually hails from London, with staff members that have worked on big-name titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Eyetoy. They’ve released a number of games with different collaborators, and they claim to have done it all without “crunch” or excessive overtimean impressive accomplishment in the dog-eat-dog world of video games. If you’re interested in learning more about Explodemon! and Curve Studiosor if you want a jobcheck them out at their website, http://curve-studios.com.

Kick comic-book butt in Kung-Fu Live

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:49:04 +0000

If you’ve ever read classic kung-fu comics like Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu or Iron Fist (or its excellent modern reimagining), then you know just how good beating up on ninjas can look on the page. But until now, you’ve never known how good it can feel. That’s all set to change with the upcoming release of Kung-Fu Live on the Playstation Network. More information is expected to be released at Comic-Con this week, but here’s what we know already.Kung-Fu Live will be the latest title to incorporate Playstation Eye or the upcoming Playstation Move camera technology. These devices literally allow you to become the game character, and beat down on a variety of thugs and nogoodniks. In addition to using your most reliable weapon (your body), you can also bring in objects like the bat seen in the game trailer. It also appears that you will be able to tap into the more mystical side of the martial arts and unleash special elemental attacks, like a burst of lightning from your hands.Several features have been announced on the official Playstation Blog, including five-player multiplayer and monumental arena and boss battles. Since this is a Playstation Network title, this looks like it could be quite the bargain for the amount of entertainment it can provide to you and your brawler buddies. Dust off those old books and get reacquainted with the arts of kung-fu so you’ll be ready when Sony and developer Virtual Air Guitar Co. release more details at Comic-Con. The convention starts on July 22 at the San Diego Convention Center and runs through the 25^th.

Mortal Kombat could be getting the kick it needs

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:08:54 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, a mysterious 8-minute long video started making the rounds on the web, featuring Michael Jai White as hard-bitten detective Jax, Jeri Ryan as the sultry Sonya Blade, and Ian Anthony Dale as the eerie Scorpion. If those characters don’t sound familiar, then you’re not a fan of the long-running Mortal Kombat fighting series, and considering its lackluster presentation in recent years, it’s hard to blame you. However, the short showcased a darkness and energy never before seen in the series, tempered by a real-world sensibility.While fans wondered what this short entailed, NetherRealm Studios announced the latest in the game series. It was later confirmed that the video was an unofficial teaser for the rumored third film. This synergistic shot could be just what the series needs to win over a new generation of fans.The new game is titled simply Mortal Kombat, taking a back-to-basics approach. In that vein, the storyline revisits the events of the first three games, picking up with thunder god Raiden right before his execution by the evil Shao Kahn. Raiden sends a message back in time, and in doing so, he (and the player) revisit the events of MK I-III, encompassing black magic, humanoid reptiles, and cybernetic ninjas.In terms of gameplay, the player will have the option to choose from around 26 characters, with room for more as downloadable content. The action will be 2D, but fast enough to keep up with the best of Mortal Kombat‘s fresher competitors. Of course, secret moves and combos will abound, including a new Super Meter and a special “X-Ray Mode” attack.Remakes have been bringing in money in Hollywood for years, and Mortal Kombat definitely still has enough fans to make this enterprise profitable on its own. But from the looks of things, Mortal Kombat should be able to hold its own, and attract even more fans.

Marvel gives the Playstation a superhuman jolt

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:03:29 +0000

Marvel comics have seen an amazing resurgence in recent years, especially with the success of films like Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Popular game titles like Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 also brought in new fans. Ultimate Alliance 2 was an adaptation of two popular storylines from the Marvel Comics universe, Secret War and Civil War. These tales left no character untouched, and many were thrilled at the opportunity to play as favorites like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, along with surprises like vampire-hunter Blade and the wisecracking assassin, Deadpool.Now Marvel has a number of new ways for fans to create their own stories. First up is exclusive downloadable content for Little Big Planet, the acclaimed PS3 title which allows players to construct their own doll-like characters (referred to as Sackboys and Sackgirls) and run them through puzzle-based levels, making sure not to get crushed, flamed, or thrown into the abyss along the way. Marvel’s content will come with costumes of 20 of the most popular characters, including Captain America, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man, as well as the urban vigilante, the Punisher. There will also be a four-level kit in which players can take on the X-men’s nemesis Magneto.Marvel’s other big focus is Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the fifth in the long-running franchise to pit Marvel superheroes against Capcom video game characters. This will be the first game in the series to feature 3D character models, although the gameplay is still in the tried-and-true two dimensions. Marvel has stated their commitment to including references to their decades of comics in the game, in the form of dialogue and special events in certain match-ups. Of course, the circle would not be complete without a comic book adaptation of the game, which Marvel and Capcom are currently discussing.