Spider-man Shattered Dimensions first hit my radar earlier this year when I got an advanced eyes on look at Wonder Con, in August (on my Birthday, ironically enough) I had the chance to attend Activision’s Gamer’s Day event in New York and get some hands on time with it. Activision, was annoying though because they wouldn’t let us take any video of the event and we had to adhere to so many different embargo dates that I threw my hands up and decided to wait until this week to start posting impressions. The game is available for all platforms today. Check out this Exclusive Interview with one of the Producers. You can see my quick impressions after the break.
Those, crazy, crazy kids at Sony have release another weird, head scratching game for the PlayStation Network, you have to admire them for thinking outside the box. Their latest experiment, Terrover is a Published by Sony Online Entertainment in collaboration with independent developer Creat Studios, TerRover transports players into a surreal 2-D physics universe where they must use their rover’s wheel rotation, pivot center, gravity system and weapons to overcome obstacles while traversing through 40 levels in five distinct worlds with unique art styles.
To you hard-core Metroid fans, I’m sure you’ve been following this particular news for a while. To those casual gamers who play on the Wii, let me bring you up to speed. It has been three years since Nintendo released Metroid: Prime 3 Corruption and a year since Metroid: Prime Trilogy This upcoming 31st, Nintendo will be releasing Metroid: Other M. “Other M” will be a game that will clearly stand on its own. According to Nintendo, they had A LOT to say about this game…here’s the oveview:
“For decades, Samus Aran has been known as one of the first female protagonists in video games, and one of the most enigmatic. Having traded her haunted past for the solitary life of a bounty hunter, Samus™ finally tells her own tale in this revealing, personal story of her failings, her flaws and ultimately her motivation. Metroid: Other M is an unprecedented collaboration that blends the slick, action-packed production of the world-renowned Team Ninja development team with the game design talents of the creators of the original Metroid. Metroid: Other M is a dramatic new direction for a legendary franchise and a bold new blend between cinematics, storytelling and the best in interactive entertainment.
-Metroid: Other M takes the best elements of 1st-person and 3rd-person gaming to create a seamless blend between gameplay, story-telling and dynamic cinematography, that feels like a movie the player can control.Players hold the Wii Remote controller sideways while navigating and battling in 3rd-person. However, at any moment, players can switch immediately to Wii Remote pointer controls to examine and explore the environments in 1st-person perspective.
-Metroid fans know more about Samus’ suits and weapons than they do about what drives her. That’s about to change. The story begins immediately following the events of Super Metroid, when a baby Metroid gave its life to protect Samus. With voice acting and a rich story, players learn the engaging backstory of Samus as she weaves through an action-packed adventure aboard the Bottle Ship, a decommissioned space facility. As she hurtles into this new adventure, Samus will encounter her first mentor and Commanding Officer of the Galactic Federation, Adam Malkovich.
-The development of Metroid: Other M is an exciting collaboration between Nintendo’s Yoshio Sakamoto and Team Ninja. Sakamoto was the director of Super Metroid in 1994. Team Ninja is the renowned action developer of Ninja Gaiden. Metroid: Other M pairs Sakamoto’s expert level design and exploratory focus of the classic Metroid series with Team Ninja’s signature stylish, no-holds-barred action.”
For me personally, it has been years since I’ve played a Metroid game but “Metroid: Other M” has really caught my interest and has given me the itch to get back into the series again. To those that still play on the Wii, if you’re still not sure about this game, check out the trailer below and decide for yourself:
I hate any game that forces me to get my lazy butt up and move. That’s why I hate the Wii Remote (that and it doesn’t work all that well), PlayStation Move and Kinnect. Just not a fan of motion controls and by extension any Dance Game, but I have to say, I’m strangely enamored the idea of playing a Dancing Game dedicated to the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. UbiSoft has announced the first set of tracks for their officially sanctioned game Michael Jackson The Experience.
I used to love me some plastic instruments but I have to say, I’m just not excited about Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock or Rock Band. I think there’s a finite number of hits you can squeeze onto these games and with the thousand+ songs (combined) available in the Rock Band and Guitar Hero stores I think we pretty much already have most of the songs that would be worth playing. I will say, I’m really curious about the Piano/Keytar additions to both games. Activision has released the full set 90+ song set list. Of that list, I recognize maybe 9 tracks. Take a gander after the break.
NSO Distant Worlds - Final Fantasy at Wolftrap, Friday, 7.30.2010. Photo by Michelle Alexandria
Somebody’s getting laid tonight. The stage is set at the Wolf Trap Theatre. A midsummer night’s breeze. The breathless art of Yoshitaka Amano. The operatic and emotional themes of composer Nobuo Uematsu. Cosplayers safely locked away so as not to destroy the high class ambiance. Guys grinning from ear to ear as they guide their clueless little Chocobos through the aisles to their seats. Tonight will be a night of beautiful scoring.
Final Fantasy is in concert! The show, titled “Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy,” is produced and conducted by Arnie Roth, a name that deserves to be chanted with the likes of Sephiroth, the most popular Final Fantasy tune that is also conspicuously absent from the program. That is, until Arnie saves the day with a last-minute “extra” performance foreshadowed by the disclaimer “Program subject to change.” This would not be the last surprise of the evening.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to catch a live performance of Video Games Live, the group has secured a deal with PBS to air a 90 minute concert. I attended this show a few years ago and it’s a pretty amazing experience that features a full orchestra performing music from the most popular video games against a backdrop of big HD Televisions that project images from the games. The show features music from Halo, Mario Brothers, World of Warcraft and others. Check your local listings for airdates, it airs on Maryland Public TV tonight (Sat).
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