Category: PSP

Echochrome dated in Japan

echochrome.jpg

The most impressive game from E3 2007 finally gets a release date.

Last week I mentioned Echochrome was arriving on the PSP on March 19. Now I can confirm it will arrive on the PlayStation Store as a downloadable PS3 game on the same day. The price has not been announced, but if Sony is selling the PSP version for 3,990 yen ($36) it will probably fall in the $25-$30 price range.

I know what some of you are thinking, “no fucking way am I paying 25-30 dollars for some tiny PSN game.” You, sir, are dead wrong. Echochrome’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before, the kind of game M.C. Escher would make if he could only draw stick figures. I play games to have this kind of mindbending experience, and just watching the trailer, it felt like I had sprained my brain. Don’t let the lo-fi graphics fool you: Echochrome is one of the most promising PSP and PS3 releases this year. At least, I think I’ll probably have more fun with it than MGS4 and GTA4. If the trailer below doesn’t convince you of its awesomeness, well, you have no soul.

Courtesy of Siliconera.

Sony says Skype on PSP possible!

Skype on PSP?

If skyping on your PSP was a fantasy you dearly cherished, you will be pleased to know that it has reached fruition. The site for Sony’s upcoming CES showing says that the Skype messaging client will be available for the PSP. This would almost turn the PSP into a pseudo-phone that actually works better than the crap N-Gage!

We don’t have details about it now, but I suppose official word should be enough here. While this is an exciting feature to have for a PSP, the ability to use Skype anywhere in the world from your handheld game system is something worth buying the PSP for!

OK, maybe not. No, we’re not paid by Sony.

[Via Engadget]

The Games of 2008: Part II

In Part I, we covered the games whose release dates we knew for sure. Now it’s time to head into the more obscure territory, by covering the games whose quarters we know, but not their release dates.

Quarter I

Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
Genre: Driving/Racing

Mario Kart Wii is, well, the Wii version of the ultra-famed Mario Kart series that you must know if you call yourself a gamer. A new system of balancing things out between newbies and experts will be featured, along with an online racing mode. Also of note is the Wii Wheel that will be packaged with the game – yet another Wii accessory to make you look silly in front of your TV. As for the rest – It’s Mario Kart! Hop in and have fun!

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (PC)
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Clear Sky is the prequel to the surprise hit of this year, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Clear Sky will explain a lot of things that happened before SoC, as its protagonist is one of the reasons why the radioactive world of Chernobyl is the way it is. An armour/weapon upgrade system and improved AI has been promised, as well as a very atmospheric environment. A must-buy if you’ve played and liked Shadow of Chernobyl.

Worms: A Space Oddity (Wii)
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy (Action elements)

The Wii’s serving of the legendary Worms series takes us back to its 2D roots as our beloved Worms continue their eternal war in a brand new setting – space! A brand new interface, multiplayer and six different planets to play on are up for grabs. If you’ve never played the fantastically addictive Worms series of games before, this seems to be as good a place to start as any, especially with its unique Wii controls.

Sins of a Solar Empire (PC)
Genre: Real-Time Strategy

Perhaps winning the award for the most unique title of 2008, Sins of a Solar Empire is a sci-fi RTS that will feature seamless, real-time integration of epic strategy and close-up strategy. This means that you can check out your massive ships in space and zoom in to see your individual units, vehicles etc., all in real time! You also get to conquer planets, moons and the like, while the game’s impressive new engine is touted to be able to render lots and lots of space bodies. This might be a surprise hit in the RTS field, folks!

Frontlines: Fuel of War (PC, XBOX 360, PS3)
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Frontlines takes us to a near-future where an all-too-predictable war for natural resources (specifically fuel) has begun, causing chaos across the world. You must fight for your nation to find and defend fuel in this title! The game’s specialty will be its large-scale conflicts, which should make war more realistic than a dozen soldiers on each side fighting it out. A lot of depth in gameplay can be seen here, which makes this one first-person shooter you want to look into.

To view the large Quarter II and the other two quarters, hit the jump, babeh!

Continue reading “The Games of 2008: Part II”

Weekly Games: 10/14

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground Cover

Ok, so where I live it’s still officially 10/13. Who cares?! It’s a week in games, meaning someone’s gotta tell you all what you’re missing while you play Orange Box’s Portal or Team Fortress 2.

PS3

  • Tony Hawks Proving Grounds (10/18): In case Skate wasn’t good enough for you and you need something to cling on to for the weekend. Because apparently Everyday Shooter ain’t good enough fer ye.

PSP

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Ever have the need to build amusement parks on the go?
  • Swat: Target Liberty (10/18): So, liberty’s the target, eh? Well, good luck shooting her with a missile.
  • Spiderman 3 (10/18): Amazingly late, we thought this one was all but forgotten. Silly us. Activision doesn’t leave a man behind. Ever.

360

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Same as above, but from the comfort of your own home. Like a real architect would.
  • Beautiful Katamari (10/17): Rolling your way, this nonsensical puzzle make-everything-part-of-you game is fun…for whoever likes that weird stuff.
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (10/18): In the event you have a PS3 but remembered that achievements are meaningful in your life.

Wii

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Hey, why bother taking it with you or using a standard controller. Use the damned wiimote like everyone else!
  • Rockstar Presents Table Tennis (10/17): Finally, the 360 exclusive gets put on the console it was really intended for. That is, if it plays well.
  • Spyro: The Eternal Night (10/17): Say hello to fire breathing dragons and goodbye to…wait, nothing really.
  • Victorious Boxers: Revolution (10/18): Wii Sports, eat your heart out. This boxing game will give you a real workout. And when you throw an uppercut, it’ll work.
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Grounds (10/18): Well, at least it’s not on the PSP.
  • Ultimate Duck Hunting (10/18): This must be the greatest game of all time. I mean, it has the word “ultimate” in it. That makes it magical.
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): It’s a damn good thing you play as the Avatar, so you can blow those bad fires away and make sure the Earth doesn’t get too roasted. It doesn’t taste good burnt.
  • Guilty Gear XX Accent Core (10/18): As if the long and pointless name wasn’t good enough, it’s probably a fighting game with 2d graphics. ’nuff said.
  • Mercury: Meltdown Revolution (10/19): Three words that would never go together, put together, and still have no meaning.
  • Ultimate Board Game Collection (10/19): Can’t get any more straight forward than that. Because hey, you can’t play all these games on Yahoo! games. Or can you?

Nintendo DS

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): This would complete the demonic circle of game consoles, but the PS3 was spared of it’s pity. Well played Lucasarts.
  • Cheetah Girls: Pop Star Sensation (10/15): Ahh, to be young, fit, attractive, and a cheetah girl once again.
  • Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (10/17): Yes, staring at a small 2 inch screen that’s 2 feet from your face is a great way to improve your vision.
  • Bee Game (10/17): Not to be confused with the Bee Movie Game, this is like Catz. Not NintenCats, but close.
  • Prism: Light the Way (10/18): There is no way to be more inspirational then lighting the way.
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): This Nintendo exclusive is for you people (all 5 of you) without a Wii, yet with a DS.
  • Pet Wild Animals: Dolphinz (10/18): Oh, for sure. Add a Z to the end of a word where an S should be and now it’s cool. Why didn’t anyone see this earlier?!
  • Fish Tycoon (10/18): Imagine, the best way to spend time while sitting in a car or train or plane, is to deal with virtual fish. Peachy. MAN THE HARPOON!
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (10/18): That’s right, someone had to do it. Be on every system. There’s always one, and this bad boy did it. Congrats to insanity.
  • Mahjong Quest (10/18): The board games may stay at home, but if I had to take one with me, it would definitely be Mahjong. If I knew how to play.

PS2

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): blah blah blah…
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Grounds (10/18): …blah blah blah…
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): …blah blah blah…

Seems like that’s it for now. Stay tuned next week when we bring you more of those outrageous bloopers!

Oh, and don’t forget that there will be a ton of demos coming around, hopefully, from E for All. We may be a bit slow on updating with all that, so keep checking your local PSN/XBL provider!

BBFC Rejects Revised Version of Manhunt 2, Rockstar arms itself with clubs

Looks innocent enough

Months ago, we brought you news of Manhunt 2’s infamous banning in England and other British territories, as well as the remarks made by the BBFC which included ‘killing’ and ‘glorifying’ in the same sentence. Well, that led to Take Two apologizing and whipping Rockstar to revise the game and make it less gorier so that our British brethren will be happy. Rockstar grudgingly agreed, and presented before BBFC their revised edition.

Apparently, the BBFC isn’t all too happy. They have rejected the revised version of the controversial Manhunt 2, which makes us wonder as to what is going to happen to the game. David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

“We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.

Looks like Rockstar didn’t do their homework right. They have also made it clear that they aren’t kissing any more asses.

“We [BBFC] did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms. The decision on whether or not an appeal goes ahead lies with the distributor [Take Two].”

This furthers one of this year’s gaming sagas. Will Take Two further appeal against the harsh British decision? Will Rockstar attack Britain? Is the BBFC messing with Take Two? We can only guess until the next chapter is played. We stand by for Take Two and Rockstar’s responses.

Weekly games: Now with Demos!

Balls of Fury
Who needs Halo 3 when you can try out Crash Bandicoot’s newest adventure? Sure, you’ll probably rush out to buy it and stand in line at midnight for hours…oh, its out already? Well, no matter. Balls of Fury is worth the wait. I know. You’ll see.

Here’s a list of all the latest demos for your stay-at-home consoles, because hey, we all know what games are coming out. But just in case you aren’t sure, here’s some of those too.

PS3

  • Sega Rally Revo
  • Folklore
  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • The Simpsons Game (Demo)
  • Bladestorm (Demo)

Xbox 360

  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • Half Life 2: Orange Box
  • Sega Rally Revo
  • Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal (Game & Demo)
  • Thrilleville: Off the Rails (Demo)
  • Bee Game (Demo)
  • Bladestorm (Demo)

Wii

  • Balls of Fury
  • Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
  • Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal
  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
  • Bleach: Shattered Blade
  • Rock & Roll Adventures

PS2

  • Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal
  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • Mountain Bike Adrenaline

PSP

  • Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
  • Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
  • Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • Crash of the Titans
  • Sega Rally Revo
  • Spiderman 3

Nintendo DS

  • Backyard Hockey
  • Flipper Critters
  • FIFA Soccer 08
  • Bleach: Blade of Fate
  • Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck
  • Touch Detective 2 1/2
  • Power Play Pool
  • Cocoto Cart Racing

That’s everything. Couldn’t tell whether there were going to be more Looney Tunes or FIFA to type out, but now it’s quite clear. Ahh, the miracle of capitalism. And don’t forget that the Crysis Beta, for those of you who believe there’s a glimmer of hope of running it, can get that too. Yet in my heart, any game with the…well, balls, to be called Balls of Fury is a winner. Even if it plays like a loser.