Review: Beware Planet Earth!

Sam Thompson
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Review: Beware Planet Earth!

Once upon a time, the tower defence genre was invented; it proved to be such a huge success, game developers across the world attempted to polish the winning formula to their own beliefs and expectations. One of the more unorthodox, if not still one of the best, is plants vs zombies; now to hopefully pry that thorny crown away, Namco Bandai and Lightmare Studios have unleashed the alien horde with ‘Beware Planet Earth!’

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For those who’ve never garnered their attention towards a tower defence style game, the premise is simple, yet the execution can be far from it. Usually, there’s a certain path of which the enemies must traverse; it’s up to you to stop them by placing turrets and other intrinsic defences adjacent to the path, in the vain hope that the enemy doesn’t reach their objective. Beware Planet Earth works no differently to the normal format, if you’ve played one before, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

With such a standardised arrangement to these games, you’d be forgiven in thinking that ideas may generally be recycled from other games. Mostly that would be the case, however certain parallels with Plants vs Zombies, do seem to discernibly crop up more than you might deem necessary. The overall visual styling of the game with its cartoony look, bubbly design and colourful overtones scream of PopCap’s classic; it doesn’t end there. Instead of Crazy Dave, you get a poor fellow who’s trapped inside an outdoor latrine, but don’t worry, he’s still a little wacky. The plant selection screen and subsequent enemy checker screen are almost identical, as are the resemblances to some of the weapons you can deploy, such as the ‘not spud mine’. Now I’m all for dotting around some sly nods to games, but there is a limit.

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Aside from the almost plagiaristic visual tones, Beware Planet Earth stands rather proudly as a game, the mechanics are solid, the weapons are varied enough and each successive map provides a unique challenge from the last. Due to most of the weapons having a rather, expectedly, meagre range, the usual challenge at the start of each map becomes the placement of your precious, yet offensively useless money/cog generators. You must quickly decide whether to build many at the start and forgo some aggressive placements in favour of selling them at a later date, or just keep a few secure and off the beaten path. Some certain enemy types will further increase the difficulty of this due to their special abilities. There’s a martian maid who doesn’t at all remind me of Consuela from Family Guy, who’ll hoover up your precious cogs should you let her. It’s not only her that makes life difficult either, due to the varied enemy types, you’ll encounter aliens that can pop shield bubbles around themselves and others that should be zapped away with the selectable ray gun as soon as possible.

The ray gun itself provides an interesting balancing act as you can do damage to enemies; even kill them outright with it, so long as you keep in mind that excessive use will make it overheat, and therefore be potentially useless when it’s actually needed. As is the case with some of the more sneaky types such as those who cannot be targeted by your defences (due to their incredulous disguise techniques) until you’ve given them a short blast with your trusty hand laser. Not only that, but you can also execute the risk/reward technique of super powering your defences, at the expense of them going offline for a while afterwards. It would be nice if there was a keyboard shortcut to the gun for use in those particularly hairy situations, but then that’s probably half the fun! Along with the generic adventure mode and all the bells and whistles it provides, there are also challenges and other things to keep you busy long after completion; even that is no joke due to the optional Veteran mode that can make the game a lot more difficult should you opt for it.

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As far as the game goes, it runs smoothly enough; will encounter no problems, even with fairly old hardware. This is a good job really as there are no visual or performance settings at all, which unfortunately raises the issue of it being, for some reason, in 4:3, with no way to change it. It simply doesn’t feel right, especially in this day and age to have the ol’ black lines down either side of the screen. The sound effects and music, whilst fairly standard for this genre, work well, but you’ll probably get a little tired of them long before the credits roll.

All in all, Beware Planet Earth is a solid entry in the tower defence genre and harbours its own little twists whilst implementing them seamlessly; if you haven’t had your fill of it by now, it’s a great place to rekindle your love for it. Being available on Steam also has its benefits too, with it, you can bag yourself some new levels, martians, exclusive valve content and a few cheeky secret achievements. Unfortunately, some issues do spoil it a little, such as its debatably unoriginal looks and presentation accompanied with its reluctance to join the 16:9 crowd.

12 Xbox Original TV shows that includes a Halo film from Ridley Scott

Chris Hare
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12 Xbox Original TV shows that includes a Halo film from Ridley Scott

Xbox: Xbox Originals starting this June with premium dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, unscripted shows, and live events. It will be only available only on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and other Microsoft devices, every Xbox Originals show will offer interactive capabilities, as well as unique interactive features customized on a per-show basis, making it a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Xbox Entertainment Studios has attracted alot of top Hollywood talent to develop its original programming slate, with names like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott attached to two separate scripted projects based on the “Halo” franchise – but that’s only the beginning. Other shows in production include an unscripted series about international street soccer, an original drama about robotic servants in a dystopian world, and a documentary about the search for discarded Atari games in a desert landfill, which were unearthed over the weekend in New Mexico amongst several others.

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“We are developing premium, original content for the Xbox community which is an audience we are incredibly respectful of,” said Nancy Tellem, President of Xbox Entertainment Studios. “We believe Xbox Originals should embrace the way our fans think about traditional TV.” Tellem’s creative vision involves year-round, high-quality programs based on subjects gamers care about, with interactive features tailored to each show.

Xbox are hoping that Xbox Originals will provide incentive for fans to make the Xbox their all-in-one entertainment device. In the eyes of the Xbox Entertainment Studios team, original shows aren’t a departure, but rather an extension of what Microsoft Studios has been doing for years with first-party game development.

“Microsoft has a long and rich legacy in the content business,” said Jordan Levin, Executive Vice President of Xbox Entertainment Studios. “Games have been part of our DNA for at least the last 15 years, and creating original TV content is a logical next step in our evolution.”

According to Tellem, bringing together the most forward-thinking minds at Microsoft with the most creative minds in entertainment is how Xbox Entertainment Studios is betting on success. Gaming is the heart and soul of the Xbox platform, and the objective of Xbox Originals is to bring more value to fans, Tellem said.

“I know full well from my years spent at traditional TV networks that creating a lineup of hit shows isn’t easy. It’s the beginning of a long journey, but we’re incredibly excited to be on our way,” Tellem said.

The Xbox Originals lineup covers a wide array of subjects and formats, both scripted and unscripted. Many projects are already in production and have set release dates, while some are still in the early development stages. Here are some of the new shows you can look forward to watching on your Xbox and other favourite screens, starting this summer.

Committed Projects

“Halo” television series

The “Halo” television series is a groundbreaking original series based on the award-winning “Halo” franchise. Award-winning filmmaker, director and producer Steven Spielberg will executive produce the live-action TV series, created in partnership with 343 Industries and Amblin Television.

“Every Street United”

“Every Street United” is an unscripted series of eight, thirty-minute episodes and a one-hour finale, featuring legendary soccer players Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids, focused on the global search for soccer’s most gifted and undiscovered street stars scouted across eight countries (United States, England, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Ghana and South Korea). The series culminates this July in a 4v4 street game finale in the shadow of the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

Each episode will feature unique and incisive narratives about the grassroots street stars and the communities that shaped them. Industry veteran and eight-time Emmy-Award winning producer, director, writer and editor Jonathan Hock (“Streetball,” “30 for 30: The Best That Never Was”) is directing the series. Emmy-Award winning producer Mike Tollin and Mandalay Sports Media are executive producing. Professional soccer luminaries, Henry and Davids, will serve as coaches for the 4v4 street game in Rio. “Every Street United” will premiere in June 2014. All episodes will be available through Xbox Video for Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows 8 (PC and Surface) and Windows Phone 8.

Bonnaroo

Xbox owners around the globe can experience the magic of the 13th annual Bonnaroo music and arts festival with a live concert destination on Xbox Live Friday 13th June through Sunday, 15th June, 2014, brought to viewers in partnership with Superfly Presents. With the Bonnaroo app, fans can enjoy live music like never before, with a virtual experience featuring the best performances, multiple stages, biggest artists and amazing SuperJams, and explore this year’s lineup to see the best of Bonnaroo’s past with exclusive performances. Fans can also join the conversation with fellow virtual-Bonnaroovians and get connected to their friends and the festival. Xbox is the exclusive broadcasting partner for Bonnaroo and the only location to get all of the interactive features.

“Signal to Noise”/“Atari: Game Over”

Xbox is creating a new six film documentary series, “Signal to Noise,” (working title) with two-time Academy Award winning producer Simon Chinn (“Searching for Sugar Man” and “Man on Wire”) and Emmy winning producer Jonathan Chinn (FX’s “30 Days” and PBS’s “American High”), through their multi-platform media company, Lightbox. The series will expose little known stories of how modern technology has radically altered the way we interact with our world.

The first installment, “Atari: Game Over” (working title), explores the fabled Atari mystery, dubbed “The Great Video Game Burial of 1983.” As the legend goes, the Atari Corporation, faced with overwhelmingly negative response to the E.T. video game, disposed of millions of unsold game cartridges by burying them in the small town of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Fuel Entertainment took an interest in the legend, and in December 2013, with help from local garbage contractor Joe Lewandowski, acquired the exclusive rights to excavate the Alamogordo landfill. Fuel Entertainment then brought the opportunity to Xbox Entertainment Studios. The team will head to the landfill in question to determine if the story is true, interviewing a cast of characters related to the game and its mystery along the way. “Atari: Game Over” is directed by writer/director Zak Penn (“X-Men 2,” “Avengers,” and “Incident at Loch Ness”). It will air exclusively on Xbox One and Xbox 360 in 2014.

“Humans”

“Humans” is a bold new drama co-produced with UK broadcaster Channel 4. Award-winning UK production company Kudos (“The Hour,” “Utopia,” “Broadchurch”) will produce the hour-long, eight-episode series, which will share a premiere broadcast window on the Xbox platform and Channel 4 in the UK in 2015.

Executive produced by Jane Featherstone (“Life on Mars,” “Broadchurch”) and Derek Wax (“The Hour,” “Sex Traffic”), and written by British writing team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (“Spooks,” “Spooks: The Greater Good”), “Humans” is an English-language adaptation of Sveriges Television and Matador Film’s acclaimed Swedish series, “Real Humans.” “Humans” is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a ‘Synth’ – a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences. Casting for “Humans” will begin in May 2014, and production will commence later this summer.

“Halo” digital feature

343 Industries and Scott Free Productions are creating a “Halo” digital feature to be released later this year. The project will be executive produced by Ridley Scott and Scott Free TV President, David Zucker. Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Pillars of the Earth,” “Heroes”) will direct.

Projects in Development

“Deadlands”

Xbox Entertainment Studios has committed to a script based on the successful pen-and-paper role playing game created by Shane Lacy Hensley. “Deadlands” is a genre-bending alternative history of the Weird West, filled with undead gunfighters, card-slinging sorcerers, mad scientists, secret societies, and fearsome abominations.

“Extraordinary Believers”

Xbox Entertainment Studios is developing an innovative, hybrid stop-motion show dubbed “Extraordinary Believers” (working title) with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, creators of the Emmy-Award winning “Robot Chicken,” the longest running stop-motion show on television. The executive producers on the project are Seth Green, Matt Senreich, and creators/writers/executive producers are Eric Towner and John Harvatine IV.

“Fearless”

“Fearless,” (working title) is an unscripted series currently in pilot production starring Paul de Gelder, an Australian Navy bomb clearance diver and shark attack survivor who takes on an adrenaline-fueled quest to aid individuals who risk their lives to make the world a better place. “Fearless” will be produced by Australia’s International Emmy-Award winning production company, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ).

“Gun Machine”

Xbox Entertainment Studios acquired the rights to “Gun Machine,” a hardboiled detective thriller based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Warren Ellis. Ellis will executive produce with Brett Conrad (“The Killing,” “Sons of Anarchy,” Netflix’s upcoming “Marco Polo”) who has signed on to write the pilot script about a detective tracking a serial killer who is tied to a mysterious collection of guns used in infamous New York murders.

Untitled JASH Comedy/Variety Half Hour

In this unique comedy format developed by Xbox Entertainment Studios with JASH (a comedy collective founded by Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim and Eric and Reggie Watts), the biggest names in comedy will showcase the people that make them laugh. Each week, a different comedian will host/curate a show featuring new and unsung talent, in various video formats. Sarah Silverman will host the pilot episode and Daniel Kellison (“Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Crank Yankers”) will executive produce. The series has a pilot commitment and will begin shooting in June.

“Winterworld”

Xbox Entertainment Studios and IDW Entertainment are co-developing a limited event live-action series based on Chuck Dixon and artist Jorge Zaffino’s seminal graphic novel series “Winterworld,” in which our world has been encased in ice from pole-to-pole. The surviving humans have formed tribes that war, enslave and trade with one another in an effort to survive the infinite winter. Ted Adams and David Ozer from IDW Entertainment, and Rick Jacobs and Dave Alpert from Circle of Confusion (“Walking Dead”) will executive produce.

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare Coming to PC This June

Chris Hare
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Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare Coming to PC This June

Today EA has announced Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare will be available on Origin and other retailers for PC beginning 27th June. Dubbed “a fun, refreshing family friendly take on the multiplayer shooter” from New York Daily News, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is a best-in-class multiplayer third-person shooter, with all the fun and humour of the wildly popular Plants vs. Zombies franchise.

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Since its launch earlier this year on Xbox One and Xbox 360, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare has attracted global attention as critics and fans praised the game for being an unconventional shooter with a flawless blend of humour.

“We’ve had an amazing response from players since launching the Xbox platforms, and can’t wait for PC players to join the party this summer,” said Brian Lindley, Producer on Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare. “The PC version has all the great content that we have put out since launch like Garden Variety and Zomboss Down for players to enjoy from the start.”

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In Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, players choose a side and square off in riotous combat against their plant or zombie opponents, utilising an arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Beloved character favourites from the franchise, including the Sunflower and Chomper, reprise their roles, and the game tops it off with a new cast of zany characters such as Ice Cactus and the Marine Biologist.

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Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare features four distinct gameplay modes including 12 vs. 12 competitive multiplayer called “Gardens & Graveyards” and “Team Vanquish,” as well as 8v8 Gnome Bomb. If you prefer co-op gameplay a four-player co-operative mode called “Garden Ops ” is available too! Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare for PC will also include all content from the Garden Variety Pack & Zomboss Down, a Wild West themed update with eight new playable characters, more than 200 wild customizations and a Cactus Canyon map.

Starting today, Players can also pre-order the Origin Digital Deluxe edition, which includes two Booster Packs, in-game coins and an exclusive character customisation pack.

Mutants: Genetic Gladiators Hits iOS, Android and Amazon

Chris Hare
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Mutants: Genetic Gladiators Hits iOS, Android and Amazon

The French developer Kobojo has launched its new hit on mobile devices iOS, Android and Amazon.

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Play geneticists apprentices to create new breeds of ultimate fighters!

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In Mutants: Genetic Gladiators players discover, grow and lead a large variety of mutants (robots, Cerberus, valkyries…). They can combine their monsters’ genes to create even more powerful hybrid fighters! These combatants have various powers and abilities depending on their combinations.

The players also compose their team and pit it in 3 versus 3 fights in futuristic arenas against players from around the world. Who will win between a zombie and a warrior, a demon and a werewolf or a dragon and an alien?

Throughout the game, there are no less than 400 specimens that players can create and collect, to build the ultimate team of fighters!

A role-playing game suitable for all mobile players

Mutants: Genetic Gladiators totally fit into Kobojo’s strategy to get involve in games with deep gameplay, targeting a mid-core population, says Mario Rizzo, CEO of Kobojo. This is our first step in the field of RPGs, which we intend to explore through our upcoming titles.

Mutants: Genetic Gladiators is a mid-core role-playing game, that is to say that players can progress according to the mode that best suits them, for example:

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• casualy and focusing on fighting Player vs. Machine.

• or on a more sustained and technical way, challenging other players around the world in “asynchronous” mode.

Out this Week 28th April for Wii U and 3DS in Europe

Chris Hare
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Out this Week 28th April for Wii U and 3DS in Europe

Out this week of the 28th April 2014, for Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. This week Child of Light on the Wii U from  Ubisoft to Mario Golf World Tour for the 3DS from Nintendo.

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Wii U

  • Child Of Light (Ubisoft) – £11.99 / €14.99
  • Stick It To The Man (Ripstone Publishing) – £6.99 / €7.99
  • Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (NES Virtual Console) – £3.49 / €4.99

3DS

  • Mario Golf: World Tour (Nintendo) – £34.99 / €39.99
  • Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl (NIS America) – £34.99 / €39.99
  • Azada (MSL) – £10.79 / €11.99
  • Cave Story (Nicalis) – £6.00 / €7.25
  • Hometown Story (Rising Star Games) – £29.99 / €29.99
  • Galaga (NES Virtual Console) – £4.49 / €4.99
  • Mystery Case Files Ravenhearst (MSL) – £10.79 / €11.99
  • The Denpa Men 3: The Rise Of Digitoll Demo (Genius Sonority) – Free
  • Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars Demo (Atlus) – Free

3DS add-ons

  • Mario Golf World Tour: Free-Trial Course Pack Free
  • Mario Golf World Tour: Mushroom Pack £5.39 / €5.99
    Mario Golf World Tour: Three-Pack Set £10.79 / €11.99 until 31st May, then £13.49 / €14.99

Watch some Level 30 WildStar gameplay action

Andrew Edney
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Watch some Level 30 WildStar gameplay action

It’s WildStar week here on CDW, and at a recent event for the new MMO WildStar, I got to play as a level 30 character, and I am allowed to share some gameplay with you all.

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So up until now, the level caps on the beta have been 20 and 25, so I jumped at the chance to play at level 30, unfortunately for me, I wasn’t very good at it, as you will see, so I enlisted the help of a Carbine Studios Dev to help!

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So enjoy the video, don’t be too harsh with the gameplay comments, and enjoy some level 30 action:

WildStar will be released on the PC in May, and we have some other WildStar content coming up.

You can learn more about WildStar on their website.

What do you think of WildStar? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Like our new Facebook Page

Andrew Edney
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Like our new Facebook Page

After a number of years of having our Facebook page as USING WINDOWS HOME SERVER, it’s time for a change.

CDW Facebook

Unfortunately Facebook won’t allow people to change the name of their Facebook Page, so we are having to start again!

So, could we ask everyone to re-like us on Facebook please? It just takes a single click below. Thanks!

We will be running some new contests over the next few weeks as well for those who do, so it will be worth your while.

A look at some Game of Thrones figures from the HBO Store

Andrew Edney
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A look at some Game of Thrones figures from the HBO Store

With Game of Thrones back on our screens, why not get your very own Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen?

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Who knew that Illyrio Mopatis’ seemingly harmless gift could help turn the Kahl’s new wife into a true Khaleesi and contender in the fight for the Iron Throne. The Game of Thrones Daenerys Figure comes armed with all three dragon eggs, green, gold, and red, interchangeable between their original compartment and her hands. The collectible 7.5” figure shows the Khaleesi in her wedding dress, the outfit worn when she received the gift from the Magister. Get this unique petite Daenerys Stormborn and prepare to prove you’re her most loyal fan.

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You can order it now from the HBO Store website for £20.99.

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Jon Snow is the sword in the darkness. As a crow of the Night’s Watch, the Game of Thrones Jon Snow Figure is outfitted in full black with his sword at the ready. The impeccably detailed figure shows the House Stark bastard with in the midst of snow. Get this 7.5” (19 cm) figure and he’s certain to live forever at his post, wherever you decide that may be.

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You can order it now from the HBO Store website for £20.99.

Win The Art of Castlevania Lords of Shadow book from Titan Books

Andrew Edney
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Win The Art of Castlevania Lords of Shadow book from Titan Books

Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 was released recently and Titan Books released an amazing Art of Castlevania Lords of Shadow book, and we have 2 copies of the book to give away.

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Combining concept art, game stills and promotional images from both Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and the upcoming sequel Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, as well as side story Mirror of Fate, the book will take readers on a visual guide through the supernatural world of Castlevania, following the Belmont family’s everlasting struggle against the forces of darkness. The book will offer an exclusive look at Gabriel and the rest of the Belmont clan, as well as the games’ allies and antagonists, supernatural creatures and otherworldly locations – and much more.

How to enter to win

Via the site

So all you have to do to win one of the two copies of The Art of Castlevania Lords of Shadow  book is to click on the Contact Us link here or at the top of the page and tell us what score we gave Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 in our review – simple!

Via Twitter

Just retweet the message below, and make sure you are following @aedney on Twitter:

Usual contest rules apply, and the winners will be selected at random. This contest is open only to those in the UK – sorry! You can enter as many times you as you like, but only one entry per day will be counted.

The contest ends Wednesday 30th April, so good luck.

Review – Strike Suit Zero : Directors Cut on Xbox One

Sean Labode
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Review – Strike Suit Zero : Directors Cut on Xbox One

Over the last year you might have heard about a game called Strike Suit Zero that has been available on the PC and playable using the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.

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This game is now available on more formats since the debut on the PC, sadly not available in VR, but is still a great port to the Xbox One. Strike Suit Zero : Directors Cut is an up to date space combat simulation game very similar to the classic and retro Elite, X-Wing and Tie Fighter games. I grew up playing these titles using a joystick peripheral and was a bit sceptical if this same genre of game would work as well with a control pad with analogue sticks. But what makes Strike Suit Zero different is actually in the name itself, the Strike Suit allowing you to transform from a ship into a hulking suit of space armour, think Zone of the Enders. Switching from Pursuit Mode (speed and power) to Strike mode (a powerful, highly manoeuvrable combat mode) is the game’s initial selling point and this certainly won’t let you down.

For anyone that hasn’t played a similar genre game before you could refer to any aerial dogfighting games out there, swapping planes for robust nimble space ships, replacing the environments and clouds with space, asteroids and floating debris, and think of Star Wars’ epic space battles. Once you can picture this image throw a mechanical suit into the mix along with a colourful and vibrant universe. Indeed, Strike Suit Zero is personally up there in the most recent beautiful and colourful games this year with your missiles and the enemy’s explosions being your own personal light show. It’s good to get away from the next-gen grey and brown colour schemes and this game didn’t make that easy decision to be generic like that.

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When you load up the Xbox One version you’d be greeted with probably more button layouts than you could imagine. I found it a little difficult remembering what button did what exactly and with the quick onscreen prompts suggesting new moves during the tutorial it was easy to overlook which actually would put you at a disadvantage if you forget said new moves. For instance pressing up on the d-pad switches your guns from alternately firing to both firing simultaneously taking down enemies quicker, using more weapon energy but this input doesn’t appear in the controller layout. Another big teething problem was not being able to bind the controls to see fit for my preferred preference of play. I’d have liked to swap the analogue stick’s ‘Yaw’ and ‘Roll’ movements without choosing a different layout in the process but that’s the price we pay for console gaming as opposed to PC.

Steep learning curve aside and a few missions further into the game, Strike Suit Zero features fast paced action fights against countless foes and eventually cruiser ships that come in titanic shapes and sizes. The game doesn’t stop you from enjoying such epic battles from the start right through to the end. With a great soundtrack, a perfect fit for the space and cyber punk meets Japanese mech anime-like battles you’ll encounter, the music just adds to that level of immersive action.

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This version of the game is the Director’s Cut version of the game that was previously already out and in comparison to the original this features a next-gen graphical overhaul, restructured campaign and additional content which makes a great bundle for the price. Other than the lengthy campaign, which has several difficulties to replay on for that extra challenge upon completion, you also get the Heroes of the Fleet campaign that recreates battles that are part of the backstory in a simulation environment narrated by your ship’s A.I explaining what each scenario played out like. The Director’s Cut also features two additional Strike Suits all designed by the renowned mechanical design engineer Junji Okubo who worked one Appleseed: Ex Machina and Steel Battalion.

Altogether Strike Suit Zero : Directors Cut was a great bit of nostalgia harking back to the days of space dogfighting games I use to play and it goes to show that this genre is still worthy in today’s current market. The fact you’re getting more than the base game and loads of replayable features including punishing difficulty settings this is one game you’re getting your money’s worth with.

New Update Coming Next Week for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Chris Hare
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New Update Coming Next Week for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. has today detailed a key update to its METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES title for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which unlocks previously format-exclusive elements to all users.

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Available on 1st May, the free update gives PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 users access to the ‘Jamais-Vu mission’, which was previously only available within the Xbox One and Xbox 360 editions. The Jamais-Vu mission re-introduces METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE star, Raiden, to the series, in a special mission set within METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES’ containment camp.

 

The new mission sees Raiden charged with investigating an alleged alien incursion, where – forgoing his famed katana blade – he is dropped on the edge of the camp, and must gain access and secure firm evidence of the alien presence. The aliens – dubbed ‘Snatchers’ by the intelligence group – are externally disguised as camp guards, but produce an inhuman X-Ray when tagged using the iDroid app or Raiden’s binoculars. Raiden must locate and eliminate the alien imposters while evading capture by the unaware humans charged with guarding the base.

 

Conversely, Xbox One and Xbox 360 users will also be able to access the previously Sony-exclusive ‘MGS1 Déjà-Vu mission’ when they update. The MGS1 Déjà-Vu mission celebrates the heritage of the acclaimed METAL GEAR SOLID series by creating a bespoke mission that harks back to the series’ first 3D entry. The mission visually references key events from the original PS one™ classic and tasks the user with reproducing famous scenes from the original METAL GEAR SOLID. As players recreate these iconic moments, a flashback system reproduces the original reduced polygon graphical style of the original game and introduces familiar enemies and recognisable weather conditions for added authenticity.

 

These new stages further enhance the replay value of METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. The missions tie in perfectly with the game’s 1975 setting and expand on the game’s basis as being a prologue to the forthcoming METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN. Additionally, Kojima Productions has also used this update to improve display items and menu aberration.

 

As first part of the METAL GEAR SOLID V experience, METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES focuses on the legendary Big Boss – a stealth operative – as he infiltrates a secret Cuban prison base called ‘Camp Omega’ on a rescue mission. Alone behind enemy lines, the game reveals a total freedom of movement within its missions, with users choosing how they engage guards, the route they pick, and which prisoners they rescue. The game’s unique open world and many possibilities encourage the player to revisit its content again and again to discover its secrets and features an online global ranking system where players can compare their achievements against others. It also has unique second-screen elements, via the free iDroid app, which allow users to sync maps, summon air support and use found cassettes on a linked iOS, Android or Smart Glass system.

Mad Max Game – Magnum Opus Trailer

Chris Hare
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Mad Max Game – Magnum Opus Trailer

Can you survive the Wasteland and customize the ultimate combat vehicle to overtake even the fiercest enemy. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has today released the Official Mad Max Game – Magnum Opus Trailer.

Set to release in 2015, Mad Max delivers open world gameplay in a post-apocalyptic setting where cars are the key to survival. Developed by Avalanche Studios, gamers become Mad Max, a lone warrior who must fight to stay alive in The Wasteland, using vicious on-ground and vehicular combat against savage gangs of bandits. Following the theft of his iconic Interceptor, Max must align himself with a gifted, but peculiar, mechanic named Chumbucket and others to build the ultimate war vehicle as he works to escape from the dangerous Wasteland.

Watch the Trailer for Bound by Flame

Chris Hare
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Watch the Trailer for Bound by Flame

Bound by Flame, is an RPG from Spiders studios, due for release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  and PC on 9th May 2014, has revealed its original soundtrack in a video with commentary from the composer Olivier Derivière and the singer Iré.
Bound by Flame

Olivier Derivière is a composer who won multiple awards for his work in video games (Remember Me, Assassin’s Creed 4).

In this video illustrated by many new sequences and enthralling excerpts from the game’s soundtrack, Olivier tells us about his work on Bound by Flame. This is also the opportunity to discover singer Iré Zhekova, who gives her voice to some of the game’s musics.

These two artists first explain how they steeped the music in an atmosphere of loneliness and despair conveyed in the dark atmosphere of the game.

They also describe how they combined a murmuring choir with the clear sound of a single voice full of emotion to produce a sense of contrast between the game hero and the flame demon possessing him.

They invented an imaginary language for Iré’s singing to explore the human voice and express emotions beyond the meaning of words and to express feelings of hope and fear. A total of several hours of original music was created for the game, which embraces many different styles and also enhances the somber and unique atmosphere that is the hallmark of this epic roleplay title.

You can listen to more extracts from this extraordinary musical oeuvre on the artist’s SoundCloud page.

Titanfall ‘War Games’ DLC map pack

Chris Hare
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Titanfall ‘War Games’ DLC map pack

Titanfall’s first set of downloadable content has been revealed by Respawn Entertainment, to be launched next month for Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

Titanfall - Expedition War Games

The ‘Expedition’ DLC comprises a map, ‘War Games’, for the first-person shooter.

The new map is situated in a virtual world where Pilots compete in simulated environments of Angel City, Rise and Airbase Sierra.

“When brainstorming ideas for the first Titanfall DLC map pack, the concept of a level in the training mission simulator got a lot of people excited,” the developer said.

“Designers imagined a level that was smooth, clean and abstract – a perfect place to design easy-to-read battle spaces and wallrun paths. Artists had images of differently themed areas mixed with digital artefacts and colourful lighting.

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