Category Archives: Previews

Here is where we take a look and drool over what games we know we’ll be playing soon. You’ll see the latest trailers, gameplay, and screens from the future of gaming.

U.S. History Just Got a Bit More Interesting – A Preview of Assassin’s Creed III


U.S. History was always a subject I could never really quite get that into.  I mean I consider myself to be quite the history buff.  I love ancient history and world, but for some reason the Battles of Lexington and Concord or the signing of the Declaration never really resonated with me as much as say the battle of Thermopylae or discovering the Rosetta Stone.  Maybe call me un-patriotic or what have you, but I just never really found our nations history to be that riveting or exciting.  That is, until now.

In Assassin’s Creed III, the next installment to the critically acclaimed Assassin’s Creed series, the on going war between the Assassins and Templars has been moved from the dense and rich European cities to the vast and open American frontier.  Taking place over the course over 30 years, the story is before, during, and after the American Revolution.  Unfortunately the sauve yet badass Ezio will not be making the long trip to American shores, however we are introduced to a new character and lead, Ratonhnhaké:ton or better known as Connor.  Half Native American and half British, Connor is conflicted on whom to fight for, however it is this conflict that makes the story.  This is Connor’s story and how he became a part of the Assassin order and how he becomes a part of the fight in the American Revolution.  Along the way Connor will encounter numerous historical figures such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Charles Lee, and others, ensuring that history is still a staple aspect of the series.

In an interview with CVG (computerandvideogames.com) Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot stated that this Assassin’s game “will be the biggest to date,” and from what’s been revealed so far it certainly appears to be that way.  Ubisoft Montreal is returning yet again to spearhead this latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed series, so it should be of no surprise then that a lot of the same elements seen from previous Assassin’s Creed games will be returning, however they have been totally revamped and made a new, creating a fresher and new take to the Assassin’s Creed formula.

The combat has been totally redone and a new controller scheme has been created for this upcoming title.  In being a new assassin Connor now always fights dual handed.  According to creative director Alex Hutchinson, the brand new controller scheme “allows you continual access to tools such as pistols on one button, as well as maintaining access to your core weapon, such as the hidden blade.”  This creates a more fluid control when it comes to combat making Connor not only easier to handle, but also making him look extremely graceful and badass when it comes to killing.  Since the game takes place during the American Revolution guns have become a bigger threat in this Assassin’s game as opposed to past.  According to Hutchinson “firing lines are a key feature of the period and we’ve integrated them into both combat and pre-combat, to give the player different opportunities such as the meat-shield.”  Countering is still a huge aspect when it comes to combat.  Enemies now attack in unison generating a new and stylish “duel counter” and according to Hutchinson after you counter an enemy “you have a choice of what to do, whether to assassinate, dodge, or throw them.”  They call this a “window of opportunity,” which creates a new and refreshing taste when it comes to combat.  On top of this the assassinations have also been totally redone.  In being a new assassin Connor can now assassinate with any weapon, and can also perform “running assassinations,” giving off this impression that Connor is always on the move.

The biggest and most intriguing change with Assassin’s Creed III however is the environment and animation.  The dense gridded cities that always made up the scenery in past Assassin’s games are gone, and has instead been replaced by the vast and open American frontier.  This change of surroundings has lead to a totally redone parkour and navigation system that has always been a staple part of the series.  Tree navigation is the newest and most significant addition to the overall navigation system.  According to Hutchinson tree navigation “allows Connor to deal with forests, cliffs, uneven surfaces as fluidly and smoothly as previous Assassin’s dealt with cities.”  The team at Ubisoft Montreal is “trying very hard to keep natural shapes, organic surfaces, to make believable terrain” according to Hutchinson.  The environment is no longer gridded with square surfaces, and Connor can now grab onto all sorts of different shapes and objects.  “You can go anywhere.  Anything you see that has a handhold that’s climbable is climbable, and we really highlight the areas where you can’t go,” says Hutchinson.  This new navigation system not only brings a fresh take on how to traverse and travel throughout the environment, but it is also a major leap in gaming animation.

With this new environment it opens the door to a whole new type of gameplay.  Seasons such as winter and summer are now implemented in the game, and both have their own unique effects on Connor.  For instance during the winter, snow slows Connor down encouraging him to climb and stay off of the ground.  This introduction of the frontier has also introduced wildlife to the series.  “There are over 200 different species of animal in the game,” says Hutchinson and they all offer unique opportunities or threats to Connor.  Although the vast frontier has replaced the populated city, cities or rather colonies will still play an important role in Assassin’s Creed III.  Colonies such as New York and Boston will be central areas in the game, and will offer a different take on gameplay as opposed to the wilderness.  With two virtually different atmospheres to explore, the environment in Assassin’s Creed III will be a refreshing take to not only the series but also action adventure games in general.

Hutchinson and the team at Ubisoft Montreal truly believe that they “have the most robust third person character in action games today,” and from what’s been seen and revealed so far they just might.  If anything can be said, they for sure have the most robust third person character in any Assassin’s Creed game to date, and this title is definitely shaping up to be the best in the series.  With super tight animation, a new combat scheme and navigation system, this is one title that for sure needs to be on your radar when it comes out later this fall on October 30th.  Be sure to check out the gameplay video and let us know what you think, and stay tuned to updownright for all the latest on this highly anticipated title.

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The New Face of War – Warface Preview


Imagine if top rated shooters like Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 were free to play? It would be pretty unbelievable and I’m sure gamers everywhere would rejoice to the fact that they wouldn’t have to drop $60.00 in order to save the world from terrorists. I’m speaking hypothetically here of course; something like this could never happen, right?

Well, it turns out something like this is going to happen, and it’s called Warface.

In development by Crytek studios, the team behind the various Crysis games as well as the amazing CryEngine gaming engines, Warface is a new first person shooter MMO being developed for the PC. It should be of no surprise then that Warface will feature some stellar next gen graphics. Crytek has already announced that the game will run on the new CryEngine 3, however no need to worry if your system can’t handle this new gaming engine. According to Jack DeVries, an associate editor over at IGN, Crytek has “developed Warface to use as low system reqs as possible. Anyone with at least a 2 Ghz processor and 1 GB of RAM should be able to war all the faces they can handle.”

Warface is a military shooter set in the near future. I know, sounds like every other military themed shooter that has come out within the past few years, however Warface is different. It is a strict multiplayer game that will feature your typical PvP (player vs. player) game modes such as deathmatch and bomb defuse scenarios, however what separates Warface from other shooters is its co-op play, or also known as PvE matches (player vs. environment). According to DeVries, “every day Crytek loads new missions to complete using the game’s random mission generation. All of the co-op missions feature moments where you have to use teamwork. If there’s a huge armored enemy blocking a bridge, chances are there’s a way for you to boost your partner over a ledge somewhere and sneak around behind him while the rest of the squad distracts the enemy.” This new co-op play is a refreshing take on the multiplayer experience, and with new missions being generated everyday the experience will never grow old.

Like Call of Duty, Warface will also feature their own system of perks and rewards. According to IGN’s PC executive editor Charles Onyett, “to enhance your performance, you’ll be able to equip special items like silent shoes that muffle your footsteps, boots that allow you to pass by claymore mines without triggering them, and other items lengthen sprint times.” Furthermore there will also be weapon customization and upgrades, which you can earn by completing the daily missions, and specific class sets such as soldiers and medics.

There is one final difference that separates Warface from other shooters, and if you didn’t catch on to it at the beginning of this article then I’ll reveal it now in clearer terms. Warface will be a completely free-to-play shooter. Yes, you read that correctly, I kid you not. Warface is supported by a free-to-play model and you can already reserve your screen name on the official website.

Already live in China and Russia and receiving critical acclaim, Warface is shaping up to be a very promising online shooter. With amazing next gen graphics and a free to play model in place, Warface looks to be a top contender in the realm of online shooters. I guess we will all know for sure when it is released in the states later this year.

Lets Hope They Do Have Blasters: Star Wars 1313 Announced


E3 is the time for games industry titans to flex their muscle, for indie developers to make a name for themselves, and for new information on games to be released. In this instance however, an entire game was announced by LucasArts at E3. Meet Star Wars: 1313.

Setting: The game is to be set on the famous planet-city Coruscant. You are to take on the role of bounty hunter tracking down targets in the depth of Coruscant, and uncovering the truth about a corporate criminal conspiracy. The time period of the game is between the two movie trilogies. Regarding the title, 1313 refers to Courscant’s over 5000 levels, 1313 being located in the seedy underworld. Darker themes surprisingly dominate the game rather than the more typically campy or dramatic feel of Star Wars games. It seems to be an entirely new direction for the Star Wars franchise in general.

Based on the lackluster showing of the Force Unleashed games, my first reaction to 1313 was skepticism. After viewing some gameplay trailers however, I am extremely excited for the title to be released.

Gameplay: 1313′s gameplay mechanics are third person shooter Star Wars- meets Uncharted-meets Deus Ex. So far, a cover system and cinematic quality platforming are present in the game. It does not seem like a typical third person shooter at all after watching gameplay footage. The graphics are gorgeous, and cutscenes are rendered from the actual game engine. 1313 is the first internally developed LucasArts game in a while, possibly since the Jedi Knight trilogy.

Bottom Line: Certainly, high expectations are to be had for Star Wars: 1313. The storyline is a new direction, and the gameplay elements are unique as well. Lets hope they do have blasters for us to dodge and vault from in this beautiful Star Wars title. As Anthony Gallegos from IGN puts it, “Star Wars: 1313 has all the potential to be the best video game the franchise has seen in years.”

No Comrades Here: Metro Last Light Preview


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words “short film” usually bring to mind  images of tiny, obscure movie theaters, random movie festivals or special feature discs. The short film I am speaking about however, is  one made for the sequal to the cult classic Metro: 2033.

Metro: Last Light is a post-apocolypic and survival horror first person shooter set in the aftermath of a nuked Soviet  city (presumably Moscow). The 4 minute short film made as a teaser trailer for the game apparently shows how the main character came to survive the bombing. The short film is live acted and is set 20 years befor the events of the game. The film really sets the grim mood of the game, and only shows a breif amount of game footage at the end, showing the protagonist standing alone amongst the ruins. The actual game footage is visually pleasing.

The gameplay of Metro: Last Light is being marketed as “survival horror” and “post apocalyptic.” It will be a first person shooter where the player gets to use a wide variety of D.I.Y hand made weapons. The main character will then use a combination of stealth and skill to kill both mutant and human enemies in the darkness of the Metro. Realistic physics and lighting are to be expected in Metro: Last Light. Also, a multiplayer feature is being developed for the game. An article on Kotaku titled “Three Important Notes About Metro: Last Light” by Stephen Totilo gives a good summary of why this game is worth paying close attention to.

“1.) This is not a Western post-Apocalypse. It’s a post-Soviet one, with a mix of realism, mysticism and folklore… ghosts, demons and gritty drama.”

“2.) One of the game’s developers says: “Our bid is to combat shooter fatigue…[to fight] against the sense that single-player is just a shooting gallery.”

“3.) And he also says, “I’d love to say enjoy the demo but frankly I hope it gives you nightmares.”

With live acted short films rarely being made as video game trailers, I am  actually quite excited to see how Metro: Last Light will turn out.

The game is slated for release Q1 of 2013.

Welcome to the Jungle – Far Cry 3 Preview


An adventure.  The one thing everyone strives to have in their life, and what better way to have an adventure then taking the quintessential backpacking trip in another country.  In Far Cry 3 you assume the role of Jason Brody.  An “everyman” setting out on a backpacking adventure with three of your friends on a remote and luscious island situated somewhere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  However, this is not a normal island, and soon after you disembark you find yourself fighting for your life in order to save yours and others from the crazed inhabitants of this tropical paradise.

Ubisoft Montreal, the team behind the various Assassin’s Creed games as well as Far Cry 2, takes the lead for Far Cry 3.  It should be of no surprise then that a lot of the same elements that were in Far Cry 2 will be present in Far Cry 3.  It’s still an open world sandbox game that has structured story missions; however as in past games there will be a heavy emphasis on exploration.  A 360-degree approach to missions will also be seen, making it a “your battle your way type of game.”  If you want to approach an enemy encampment through stealth and pick off each enemy one by one you can; or if you’d rather go in guns a blazing you can do that too.  There is no limit to what you can do in this game, and according to an interview with Gametrailers.com, Mark Thompson the level design director stated that “the tools are not the limitation.  It’s you as a player.  It’s your choice.”

What’s most intriguing about Far Cry 3 however, are the psychological aspects of the game and the island itself.  In a recent interview with Gamespot.com, lead writer Jeffrey Yohalem stated that they “want a game that directly relates to the player on a psychological and social level.”  All of these issues are explored within the game and the island itself instigates all of them.  According to Yohalem “the characters all represent different levels of psychology.”  So far we have only been introduced to two characters; Vaas, the insane pirate terrorist bent on killing everyone, and Dr. Earnhardt, the crazy doctor that sends you into caves to find shrooms.  Each character is a product of the insanity the island creates.  Their personalities are a result of their lives on the island, and this could very well represent the transformation that Jason will undergo.

Each character Jason meets also represents a different take on a mission.  With Vaas for example you are in a kill or be killed situation.  His missions will focus more on the shooting elements of the game for example, whereas with Dr. Earnhardt his missions will be more focused on the exploration aspects of the game.  This creates a lot of variety within the game, and represents that no two missions will ever be the same.

Multiplayer can also be found within the game.  As opposed to past multiplayer shooters where there can be a heavy emphasis on the lone wolf type of play style, Far Cry 3 tries to break that mold by having a heavy emphasis on team play.  In an interview with Gametrailers.com, game designer Daniel Berlin, stated that the team “set out to create a set of core team play features with interaction that would funnel through the entire experience.”  One of these features for example is the battle cry, which is used to buff your teammates either by giving them faster reload time or quicker health regeneration.  According to Berlin these team play features “give you a team play resource, and then you can spend it and call in the heavy ordinance, the real cool stuff, which we call the team support.”  Some of these ordinance packages range from a UAV to a hallucinogen drop causing opponents caught in the gas to perceive everyone as enemies.  The map/level editor from Far Cry 2 will also be making a return giving players the opportunity to create their own maps or play on other custom ones.

Far Cry 3 is aiming to be the “definitive shooter.”  According to Yohalem it “will be about what shooting is about, and we want to close the issue on some level.  That once you’d play Far Cry 3 you will have dealt with what it means to kill people using a gun in a video game.”  Far Cry 3 is an ambitious and bold game that is creating something new in the FPS genre.  With an engaging story littered with insane characters that hit at a strong psychological aspect, and a robust multiplier that offers a fresh take on multiplayer, Far Cry 3 is well on it’s way to being the one all be all first person shooter.  I guess we will all know for sure when it comes out later this year on September 4th.

Infinity: Halo 4′s Multiplayer Redefined by 343 Industries.

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Meet you’re new home for multiplayer action, the UNSC Infinity.

When you get your hands on Halo 4 this holiday season, you might become a bit confused when you notice the lack of a “multiplayer” option on the menu. Don’t fret, though, because there’s a new option called ” Infinity”.

As you can expect with a new developer, “there’s going to be some changes ’round here!”. 343 Industries has decided to take multiplayer to a new level, so that as long as Halo 4 is in your disc tray, you’re involved in the campaign’s story. Infinity garners its name from the ship it takes place on, the UNSC Infinity. The Infinity crosses paths with Master Chief over the course of the game, and is where players find themselves as Spartan IV soldiers, an entirely new breed of deadly soldiers in the lightweight Mjolnir armor.

This is the Spartan IV, the best of special op soldiers, and also you’re new best friend.

The Infinity is the largest ship in the human fleet, and has a large training room where soldiers suit up in the classic blue and red teams for training missions. This is where the more traditional aspects of Halo’s legendary multiplayer can be found. The room is equipped with technology that allows it to simulate any building and terrain, therefore expect to see the new set standard maps here.

So what, it happens to take place on a ship, that’s all? Well, no. Infinity is more than just a name, it’s also an adjective. The Infinity will be embarking on its own missions, with a new set every week, allowing seemingly infinite play. Each week, 343 will release a new CG movie to deepen the Infinity‘s story, along with a set of five new co-op missions to embark on.

Each mission will take place in a new location so you don’t get to bored, and you get to use your custom Spartan IV in these four player co-op missions. Since the Infinity is somehow tied into the main campaign, don’t be surprised to see missions that reveal more of Master Chief’s story, so when you’ve completed the campaign, it’s not over yet.

Despite the addition of Infinity, classic multiplayer modes remain intact and more exciting than ever

So far, few people have been disappointed by the main series of Halo games, and I doubt Halo 4 will be any different. The new Infinity mode looks promising, and getting my hands on this possible masterpiece becomes more exciting with every announcement. Come this holiday season, plan on putting your social life on hold, you have more important things to do.

Whatever a Spider Can… Preview of The Amazing Spider-Man

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Spidey tries to revisit his former glory in the free-roaming movie tie-in, The Amazing Spider Man

I tried remembering the last time I played a movie tie-in game and enjoyed it, and, needless to say, it took a while. However, while going through some old games, I happened to find, ironically, Spider-Man 2.

Based on its movie counterpart, Spider-Man 2 wrote the book on how to make a good, “based on the major motion picture” game. It really let the player feel like a tight-wearing crime fighter (with a few less wedgies of course). Also, Spider-Man 2 became one of the most successful last gen free-roaming games due to its creative feel of swinging across New York City.

Beenox, a studio very experienced in making games based on movies, has decided to revisit the free-roaming formula and once again let Peter Parker suit up and take on NYC. The game is set to release on June 26, slightly before the movie, which could be a problem for anyone worried about spoilers, because, well, the story is set after the movie’s. Now, lets be honest, any of you comic book connoisseurs won’t be terribly surprised by the outcome of the movie, but for the rest it might be a problem. Beenox claims that it specifically wrote the story in a way to not spoil the movie, but Game Informer’s Ben Reeves got his hands on the game and it shows  the fate of some of the main characters in the movie.

Even though outdoor Manhattan is the focus of the game, a large part of the story will be played out inside buildings like Oscorp.

Even though this game borrows a lot from Spider-Man 2, it certainly has no shortage of new features. While swinging around New York, you’ll have more to do than just sightseeing. Expect seeing the occasional car chase, robbery, maybe even a damsel in distress or two. Nothing quite scares a criminal to death than seeing a man in tights land on their roof. Also, there is a new feature called web rush that allows Spider-Man to slow down time and zip to one of many nearby locations that show a Spidey silhouette. The web rush feature is very useful in both combat and transportation, allowing you to hold it down and quickly change positions to avoid enemy attacks or just simply move along quickly.

All of this looks very promising, but will it deliver? The Amazing Spider-Man ships June 26 so its unlikely to take a wrong turn from here, but until I have my hands on it I’m not making any promises. Should you be excited? In a word, yes.