Satan vs Dracula?! Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 doesn’t release until next year (2014), but we have another sweet trailer to whet our appetites!
*SPOILER ALERT* Set to launch this winter, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 picks up where the first game left off, with a resurrected Dracula left weakened by his ordeal and yearning for release from his immortal bonds. Besieged from all sides, Dracula is also threatened by Satan, who has returned to walk the Earth in a quest to bring about the apocalypse as an act of final revenge for his defeat.
A weakened Dracula must regain his lost powers in order to make a pact with Death to defeat the Devil and gain eternal rest. However, the famed Belmont clan is also intent on slaying the Vampire and unlocking the truth behind their mysterious ancestry. The fight between good and evil comes to a dramatic close, as Dracula faces his nemesis in Satan and the Belmonts’ unyielding quest for revenge. *END SPOILER*
Players will be able to experience Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2’s unique blend of action and adventure for the first time at Konami’s booth (#2401, South Hall) at E3 2013 (Electronic Entertainment Expo). Set in a modern day world, fans of the series can play as Dracula and sample a key part of the shocking conclusion to the Lords of Shadow saga.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be available this winter for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
So. Freakin’. Awesome. I can’t wait for this game, although I really gotta get to playing the first game! :D
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Ultimate Edition is coming to Steam on PC this Summer 2013 as Konami celebrates the amazing fact that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (currently avaiable for Xbox 360 and PS3) is the best-selling title in Castlevania franchise history!
More on the game will be shown at E3 2013.
The PC version will feature a number of new additions and enhancements, including the following:
* Enhanced Graphics, Frame Rate, Steam Trophies: Fans will enjoy the original full game plus add-on content Reverie and Resurrection. Additional features include enhanced 1080p High Definition Graphics, solid 60 frames per second (recommended spec), and trophy integration through Steam with Cloud saving. * New Storyline: Players can immerse themselves into the brand-new Lords of Shadow storyline, meeting classic characters and experiencing tangential side stories. * New Weapons and Skills: Overcome obstacles using the Combat Cross multi-function weapon and hone platforming skills in this sprawling adventure. Swing across chasms, climb sheer walls, rappel down cliffs, grip and pull away any and all things that get in the way! * New Titan Battles: Take on behemoth enemies that scale to the size of complete world environments and where special attacks and cunning speed are required for advancement. * New Exploration: Explore gothic ruins, dark castles, old forest and frozen wastelands. Discover a whole world to investigate with many routes and hidden secret places that contain items to aid Gabriel on his quest.
No word on whether or not Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for Steam will include Controller Support or not. Most Steam games these days do, so hopefully it will.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a dark and vivid new re-imagining of the Castlevania mythology. It is the end of days and ungodly powers isolate the Earth. The World’s alliance with the Heavens has been threatened by a dark and malevolent force – the mysterious Lords of Shadow. Across this shattered land, the souls of the dead wander unable to find peace, whilst creatures of evil wreak chaos and death upon the living.
Gabriel Belmont is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who protect and defend the innocent against the supernatural. His beloved wife was brutally murdered by the evil forces of darkness and her soul trapped for eternity. Neither living nor dead, she realizes the horrific truth of what is at stake and guides Gabriel to his destiny – and hopefully salvation for the world.
This is awesome news, even if you are already very familiar with the game. With all the new content it will be worth downloading the PC version and replaying through this awesome game again. I still have not played through this game, even though my brother owns the Xbox 360 version and loves it. I definitely need to hop to it!
A Castle of Illusion: Starring Mickey Mouse remake has been announced for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC via Steam. The remaster will hit this Summer! This is an exciting development, especially considering that we’re also getting DuckTales Remastered this summer too! Both of these games are classic Disney videogame masterpieces, so it is absolutely awesome to see them getting revived.
Sega will be publishing with Sega Studios Australia set as the developer. The game will be completely remastered from the ground up, including stunning new graphics and visual effects, and all-new gameplay mechanics that update the game for the modern era but will remain faithful to the original; As players step into the big black shoes of Mickey Mouse himself on a quest to save Minnie Mouse from the clutches of the evil witch Mizrabel.
The original game was released way back in 1990 for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive (also developed by Sega) to critical acclaim, with outstanding control, graphics, music and a unique feel. That was the first game in a series. It was then followed by “Land of Illusion” for Sega Master System in 1992 (ported to Sega’s Game Gear portable in 1993), and “World of Illusion” released in 1992. Finally, the last game in the series was “Legend of Illusion” released for Game Gear in 1994 (it was also ported to Master System exclusively in… BRAZIL, of all places, in 1998). Additionally, the portable version of the second Epic Mickey game was titled “Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” for 3DS and was a reference, a tribute, to the phenomenal Illusion series.
“The original Castle of Illusion was tremendously entertaining and has a well-deserved reputation as a SEGA classic. Castle of Illusion Featuring Mickey Mouse brings this great game to a new generation,” said Chris Olson, vice president of Digital Business at SEGA of America. “Mickey is back and he looks fantastic.”
Strangely the game has not been announced for the WiiU eShop, hopefully WiiU owners will not get the shaft…
Left 4 Dead 2 x Resident Evil 6 has been announced by Capcom and Valve(!). This DLC will be launched with the PC Resident Evil 6 on March 22nd. Basically characters from Left 4 Dead 2 will be added to Resident Evil 6’s online multiplayer, and characters from Resident Evil 6 will be added to Left 4 Dead 2!
Here is the news article from EGMnow with the details:
The upcoming PC edition of Resident Evil 6 will arrive with a splash of Valve in that tall drink of Capcom, the two companies revealed today.
Resident Evil 6 x Left 4 Dead 2 will add Left 4 Dead 2 survivors Coach, Nick, Ellis, and Rochelle to the Resident Evil 6 PC-exclusive mode The Mercenaries No Mercy. Two Left 4 Dead infested, the Witch and a mini-Tank, will also be among the game’s enemies. The crossover content will be free, and available for download April 5.
Sometime this spring, Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2 will gain three of Resident Evil 6′s enemies—Lepotitsa, Napad, and Ogroman.
Trials Evolution Gold comes to PC with nifty extras like a soundtrack.
Trials: Evolution – Gold Edition will be released for PC at retail(!) and digitally via Steam, etc. on March 21st 2013.
This news was announced to celebrate the great success of the side-scrolling Excitebike-style platform/racing/puzzle game series which has sold an amazing 4 million units since the release of Trials HD in 2009 for Xbox Live Arcade. Its sequel, Trials Evolution was so successful it hit a launch-day sales record for Xbox Live Arcade when it was released last year (2012).
Trials Evolution Gold Edition will include the complete Trials HD game alongside every track from Trials HD. Additionally the retail game will come in a steelcase box and include the game’s official Trials Evolution Soundtrack. Also included will be a Gold Bike, Gold Wheels and Gold Rider Outfit.
Here is a video with tons of gameplay footage from Trials Evolution.
The Steam Christmas Sale 2012 (Holiday Season) is ongoing now, and runs from December 20th 2012 to January 5th 2013.
As per usual, tons and tons of great, amazing games have been on sale for extremely cheap prices. Given that I am an Achievements-whore wherever Achievements of any kind (or Badges, in this case) are available… I couldn’t resist and didn’t stop until I earned the Christmas Tree badge for this year’s holiday sale. I will willingly jump through hoops and do whatever I can to earn Achievements, you see.
The Steam Christmas 2012 Sale was no different! Today I Achieved all six objectives and earned my Christmas Tree Badge! WOOT WOOT! See my Astrotriforce Steam Profile to look at all the game’s I own and see my Steam Badges/Achievements I’ve earned.
The six objectives you had to fulfill to earn the Christmas Tree Badge included:
* Be the Decider – Participate in at least 5 Community Choice votes. * The Will of the Electorate – Participate in at least 15 Community Choice votes. * Shopping Trip – Log in to Steam using the Mobile client. * It Pays for Itself – Purchase any discounted game, bundle or DLC. * The Holiday Spirit – Buy a gift on Steam. * Checking It Twice – Add 10 items to your Steam Wishlist.
Here are pictures as I fulfilled the objectives.
Two of the objectives fulfilled but the badge incomplete.
Shopping Trip objective complete for signing in to Steam App on mobile device.
….. Shopping Trip Objective complete for buying a game or DLC during the Christmas 2012 sale (I bought Oblivion)
…. Will of the Electorate Objective complete for voting in 15 Community Choice polls (for what game goes on sale next). The hardest objective to fulfill.
* See the pic above at the top of the article for the completed Steam Christmas Tree Badge with the final objective, “The Holiday Spirit”, for buying a game and sending it to one of your Steam friends as a gift, completed. I gifted Closure to my brother in order to complete the final objective, completing all six, and earning me the Badge in complete form! Sadly the Christmas Tree doesn’t light up with Christmas Lights when all six objectives are achieved, a criminal oversight! FOR SHAME!
Hotline Miami is as bloody and violent as they come. But looks awesome and stylized.
Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat and is now available on PC and on Steam ($10).
The action is intense, uber-violent and from an overhead 2D perspective, giving the game a really cool retro look, as you can see in this gameplay trailer.
Set in an alternative 1989 Miami, you will assume the role of a mysterious antihero on a murderous rampage against the shady underworld at the behest of voices on your answering machine. Soon you’ll find yourself struggling to get a grip of what is going on and why you are prone to these acts of violence.
Rely on your wits to choreograph your way through seemingly impossible situations as you constantly find yourself outnumbered by vicious enemies.
The action is unrelenting and every shot is deadly so each move must be quick and decisive if you hope to survive and unveil the sinister forces driving the bloodshed. Hotline Miami’s unmistakable visual style, a driving soundtrack, and a surreal chain of events will have you question your own thirst for blood while pushing you to the limits with a brutally unforgiving challenge.
This game has received outstanding reviews so far even getting a 10 out of 10 in some publications! So this is definitely a game you’ll want to check out, as long as you can stomach a Mature, adults-only, extremely violent, killing-spree-style of action game. I am generally prone against “Mafia-“-style crime games…. and I don’t like gratuitous violence… but the gameplay in Hotline Miami looks too good to pick up. So I definitely am looking forward to playing it at some point in the (probably far) future.
The beautiful Nights is ever-more beautiful in HD! Coming this Fall 2012 to XBLA, PSN & Steam!
A Nights Into Dreams HD Remake has been announced by Sega! It will be coming to XBLA, PSN and Steam this Fall!
Here is the debut Nights HD trailer!
The game will include updated high-definition graphics, making this the most beautiful version of the game yet seen, all-new Achievements and Trophies to earn for the first time! A 16:9 aspect ratio, and support for Leaderboards. Even better, this Nights HD version will feature a “Saturn Mode”, that allows you to play the exact original version of the game with its retro graphics!
Boss fights will be better and clearer than ever in the Nights Into Dreams HD remake!
“Initially released for SEGA Saturn 16 years ago today, on July 5, 1996, NiGHTS into dreams is one of the best-regarded games in SEGA history and a favorite of many fans thanks to its innovative 3D gameplay and multi-faceted level design. This new version will bring Nightopia to vivid life with improved HD graphics and a 16:9 aspect ratio, as well as added support for leaderboards, trophies, and achievements. It will also feature an optional Saturn Mode that will let players experience the game with the original graphics intact.”
“The SEGA Saturn offered many unique gaming experiences, and NiGHTS into dreams stands out as one of the most recognizable titles that found a home on the system,” said Chris Olson, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA. “We’ve gotten a lot of requests about this game over the years, and are very happy to be able to give both former Saturn owners and new players a chance to play it in its most beautiful form to date this fall.”
Hopefully more great Saturn games are in the offering following Nights! Games like Panzer Dragoon Saga and Burning Rangers!
All the gameplay you love from the Saturn original is back in the Nights HD Remake.
You’ll finally be able to unlock all-new Achievements and Trophies in Nights HD!
WatchMePlay Super Meat Boy! I finally dive into my Steam collection of over 200 games (only three of which I’ve installed) and pop in this gem of a platformer… The critically acclaimed Super Meat Boy!
This is a game that I’ve been dying to play ever since it was announced. I always wanted to play it on Xbox 360, but thanks to the numerous Indie Bundles, I also picked the title up on Steam. Luckily for me, the game supports Xbox 360 controller play, so it feels just like you are playing it on a console! This made me a happy camper! I finally decided to bust the game out and play through some of it, and recorded it all the while!
Here is the fruits of my labor, a video montage where I’ve streamed together an hour’s worth of playtime of me making my way through Super Meat Boy! Included is the entirety of Worlds 1 and 2, over four videos of me trying to defeat the negative 1 Glitch Zone, boss battles, Warp Zones, and a whole lotta fun! Additionally, I am still a newb at Super Meat Boy, so you get to see some funny moments as I go through and attempt to beat each stage with an A+ Rating!
Face off against a titanic boss in the third game in the Penny Arcade RPG series!
The third On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Penny Arcade game, Episode 3, will be released early, on June 25th, as part of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Xbox Live Indie Games section, as well as a legit release on Steam.
This is a much earlier release than was originally intended, as the game was supposed to hit in July. But since the game is done now, the developers thought it’d be dumb to sit on their hands until later. Cool right?! :D
Additionally, fans of the Penny Arcade comic-based videogame who purchase On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 3 on Steam will get an extra goody! Buy it on Steam during the first week of its release will net you a full copy of the Indie darling “Cthulhu Saves The World”! The Steam version also supports SteamPlay and Mac gamers will be able to play the game once it hits Steam.
Here is a video of the game in action, which features a completely different style from the former two games in the series, and was made by Indie Developer Zeboyd Games, makers of Breath of Death VII and Cthulhu Saves the World, as well as other retro-style modern RPGs.
On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 3 is also scheduled to hit Android and iOS in the future.
Watch Us Play Games 