REVIEW: Killzone 3

In a world where resources are shared and releases are almost always multi-platform in order to maximize sales, few have the balls to release console exclusives. Well, for argument's sake, let's exclude the Wii. As for Microsoft and Sony, two notables stick out; Halo for Xbox 360, and Killzone for PlayStation 3. While Halo seems to have the greater mass appeal, the Killzone series has released a solid lot of games for shooter fans. As big-budget console exclusives, these titles have to be something special, lest they risk losing interest, fans, and the almighty dollar. Killzone 3 is in familiar territory; It knows what has to be done to succeed, and developer Guerrilla Games has done it in the past. Does the fourth entry in the series hit its target or detonate a nuke on itself?

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REVIEW: Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Capcom's Versus series is one of the quirkiest and most respected fighting franchises in the industry today. Its last entry, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom may not have captured a broad audience due to its Wii exclusivity, but Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has charmed both OGs and new gamers alike. Alas, the 11 year old game has shown its age. With the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3, fans of the fight have let out a collective sigh of relief, but does the Fate of Two Worlds take us for a ride?

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REVIEW: Hard Corps: Uprising

For more than 20 years, Contra has been a staple of classic gaming worldwide. From its original, painfully difficult roots, the series has grown and evolved into different entities over time, with slight gameplay changes introduced to keep the series fresh. Hard Corps: Uprising, while not a member of the Contra family in title, is a spiritual relative of the esteemed franchise. That said, The look of Hard Corps: Uprising is as drastic a departure from the series as the name change is. Does it get past the heavily armed and fortified one-eyed wall, or does it mistime it's leap and plunge into a pit?

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New York's Arcade, Chinatown Fair to Close Down February 23

Image Courtesy Michael Nagle for The New York Times

Update: It is now February 23 and Chinatown Fair is still open. Huzzah! While New York's best arcade may still have to shutter its location on Mott Street, word is that if it comes to that, a relocation to Williamsburg may occur. Goodbye Chinatown, hello hipsters! 

Sad news for New Yorkers, and East Coast heads on a whole. Chinatown Fair, one of the premier arcades for fighting game competition on all of the right side of the country will be shutting its doors as of February 23 due to a loss of lease.

The dank, dark cavern which houses some of our generations greatest head-to-head games has been a fixture for world warriors seeking challenges whenever they may pass through New York City. Little more than a hole in the wall on the end of Mott Street, the lore of Chinatown Fair is one built on both urban legend -- in more ways than one -- and cold, hard quarters. 

In operation now for decades, one of the last true game arcades is a second home to many of those indoctrinated to gaming culture. Backpackers, goths, nerds, geeks, lawyers, college kids, grade-schoolers, old Asian men; the mix of folk here is an interesting one, yet a camaraderie is formed between them, stemming from the love competition and the love of the game.

If you're in the New York area, you only have a few days to pay your last respects to a true monument. Regulars are hoping for a relocation of some sort, somewhere that, while not as iconic as the humid, narrow corridors of that hole in the wall on Mott Street, will bring gamers and fight fans of different generations together for head-to-head, face-to-face competition and fraternity.

via EventHubs

REVIEW: Explodemon!

The planet of Nibia is under attack by a threat named the Vortex, and all of the Nibian Guardians are out of commission. You are Explodemon, a Guardian held in cryogenic storage due to your instability. Not only are you barely able to control your tendency to spontaneously explode, but you hardly have a grasp on the English language. Faced with the greatest decision of their history, the Nibian elders would rather surrender before letting Explodemon run free. Despite their choice, a stray missile hits your cryogenic chamber, and you awake from slumber to find the city under attack. Explode now, and ask ridiculous sounding questions later!

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Killzone 3 Says "Get Used to These Odds"

I was greeted this morning by a package courtesy of PlayStation and Guerilla Games containing a Killzone 3 branded bag full of Army Men. Awesome! I haven't played with Army Men since some time last year, so it is very pleasing that I'll be hitting my yearly Army Men quota early in 2011. 

These aren't just any old little green plastic men though, they come in custom ISA and Helghast flavors. While the ISA trooper looks like your typical soldier, the Helghast all rock their iconic masks, complete adorably evil red specs. Also of interest, the fact that the pack contains 11 total figures; 10 Helghast to 1 ISA soldier. Nope, it's not a mistake. It's just getting us used to the overwhelming odds we'll have to face in Killzone 3. 

If you haven't preordered it already, you can pick up Killzone 3 this coming Tuesday, February 22 in North America, and three days later in Europe. Check back soon for our review.

Moon Diver Will Confound You and Your Friends on XBLA and PSN

If you told me there was a four-player cooperative stylized side-scrolling futuristic action game in which I take control of a super-powered ninja and fight oversized bosses for PSN and XBLA, I'd slap fire out of your mouth and call you a liar. Fortunately for you, this is not a lie, so rather than resorting to violence, I'm just going to cream my pants instead.

Directed by the dude who created Strider (and it shows), Moon Diver combines many things I love, even if it looks like it might be a little confusing. Four ninja throwing flashy moves all over the screen in a side-scroller seems like it might be overwhelming to keep track of the important factors: position, health, enemies, pitfalls, etc, but hot damn if it doesn't look like it'll be worth the trouble!

Aside from the beautiful art and effects, Moon Diver has some RPG elements peppered in to assure that your character progresses in stride with the difficulty, which I'm sure is going to be pretty steep. This looks to be the experience I had hoped Castlevania: Harmony of Despair would deliver, but couldn't quite nail down. Fingers crossed Moon Diver gets it right when it releases, sometime this spring.

via Game Informer

The Latest RAGE Trailer Gets Me Angry!

The latest trailer for id Software's racing-FPS with a splash of RPG elements is still looking good. Seems we've been hearing about RAGE for years now.. What's that? Oh, I guess we have been. Well, the light at the end of the blood-stained tunnel is not just the flaming wreckage of an scrapped battle-buggy, but also the North American release date of September 11. 

Urge to slaughter hostile deformed mutants rising! 

Dead Island Ruins the Idea of a Tropical Vacation

Zombies, zombies, zombies. They're everywhere, and frankly, I'm getting tired of them. Zombies in space, zombies in the old west, zombies in the Red Light District, and now, zombies in paradise! Oh noes!

As much as this whole walking dead craze is wearing on me, I have to admit this trailer for Dead Island -- a new IP in which you brutalize the undead on a tropical island paradise -- is fucking insane. Incredibly well made, hauntingly beautiful, and a total mindfuck. All positive signs that this, another zombie game in the pile, could be something special. 

Of course, trailers can look as amazing as they want, but it wont matter a damn if the game itself sucks. Though it's been in development for quite some time, Dead Island has few details. What has been confirmed is that it's a first person shooter with RPG elements, focused mostly on melee combat, with multiple characters and four-player coop. Sounds like a Left 4 Dead mod to me, but I'll reserve judgement until I have a little more to base my biased opinions on.

If you're not much of a thinker, and the original trailer is too Memento for you, here it is played backwards, which is actually forward. 

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 DLC Shows New Costumes, Teases New Characters

If you have yet to purchase Marvel vs. Capcom 3, I ask you this: what the hell is wrong with you?! While you're busy lollygagging on possibly 2011 most anticipated release, Capcom is making moves on the DLC tip. They got schedules, schedules of DLC that detail what you'll miss if you haven't copped Marvel vs. Capcom 3 yet, and what date you'll miss it. 

Landing on March 1 is the first of many costume packs, which re-outfits 6 of your fighters in stylish new duds. Ryu gets thrown back to his Street Fighter gear, complete with terrible slippers. Dante gets ladies with his fathers features in his Sparda outfit. Chris Redfield gets hooked up in his duds from the original Resident Evil, though unfortunately he doesn't bring his stroke face with him. On the Marvel side of things, Thor rocks his tried and true 80's suit that I grew up with. It's not quite Beta Ray Bill, but it will have to do for now. Iron Man gets all TSA on your ass with his Iron Patriot gear that was worn by Norman Osborn for a hot minute. And saving the best for last, Captain America lets his locks hang, with the maskless Steve Rogers look, complete with the sweet freakin' shield. This pack runs you $5 on PSN, or 400 MS points if you're using funny money.

Also dropping March 1 is the first Shadow Mode DLC pack, which allows you to play against AI controlled characters who are programmed to fight in the style of several notable Capcom staffers; producer Ryota Niitsuma, along with assistant producer Akihito Kadowaki and a namless "QA team leader". Bet he's the worst of the bunch! 

And finally, news from the rumor mill. Everybody who's anybody knows about the first two downloadable characters, Shuma Gorath and Jill Valentine. Now grain of salt, but a eagle-eyed reader of Destructoid did some digging in Marvel vs. Capcom 3's coding and found two things of interest. Namely Frank West and Doctor Octopus, who either will be added as DLC or are left over code as character that didn't make the final cut. It was already said that Frank West was in an early build of the game and cut at the last minute, but fuck it, keep fingers crossed these guys get added in. I would love to whoop some ass with Doc Ock.