The Last Story Gets Online, Customization

Wii-xclusive action RPG The Last Story continues to move toward its January 27th release date in Japan while periodically reminding us here in the West how awesome it's going to be.. And that we don't have a finalized release date for it yet! 

Andriasang gives us a recent update on Nintendo's upcoming hotness, which will include 6-player online cooperative and competitive modes, orchestrated through the in-game "Raid Lobbies". The cooperative mode allows you to pick your favorite character, and face off against giant baddies with 5 teammates. The competitive mode allows you to pick your favorite character and face off against 5 of your teammates. Everyone is a winner! The implementation of online play in what already looks to be a kick ass adventure saddens me a bit that The Last Story wont make an appearance on PS3 or 360, though I suppose any reason to fire up the Wii is a good reason. 

Customization will be a big part of The Last Story, as your character's appearance will change as you add different pieces of armor and new weapons. You'll even be able to recolor your equipment to put a very personal spin on the fashionable gang.

That's pretty much all the details there are regarding multiplayer and customization thus far, but as the game is just two months away, I'm sure we'll be hearing more very soon. An English announcement can't come soon enough.

L.A. Noire's Second First Trailer

Rockstar is billing this L.A. Noire trailer as it's first, but I have to respectfully disagree, as there was a trailer released almost four years ago, which we jogged your memory with earlier this week. 

Technicalities aside, L.A. Noire looks astounding. The photorealism captured in the characters is on a new level it seems, not only in the minute facial details, but the expressions and how they convey exactly what the character is feeling, as paralleled by their voice. It creates a lovely bond between the player and the characters, allowing you to easier feel for them during their anxiety, pain, and happiness. Rockstar makes a point to mention that the entire trailer is comprised of in-game footage, and can you blame them? I don't know if I've seen a game that looks quite this good.

Of course, it's about more than just OMGRAPHIX. The game needs depth, it needs to play solidly and have a kick ass storyline to match its vanity. Is a 1947, realistic Los Angeles, GTA-sandbox adventure going to cut it? I say no, but the masses would disagree. There's also mention of a detective mechanic of sorts, which would make sense, seeing as how you take the role of a gumshoe doing his thing amongst a corrupt LAPD. 

If you notice, there's some the grit to the vocal tracks, as if they weren't recorded with the newest, clearest mics and mixers, which I like. It suits the piece well, but it doesn't suit the visuals. Since clearly they don't plan to present the game in black and white or even desaturated colors, a film grain or element of roughness is needed on the visual side to match the aural. Either that, or get clean voices. I say go with the former. Fortunately, that's a quick fix, which I hope Team Bondi has waiting for us. Right?

REVIEW: Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage

Disclaimer: This review will make no mention of anyone being already dead. As one of my earliest memories of pure gangsta, and one of my favorite quotes to this day, Ken's "you're already dead" line is being done a disservice with it's laugh-inducing overuse in every damn Ken's Rage article written since it's first mention.  

One of my fondest memories as a doe-eyed tween in the early 90's was being lent a VHS of Fist of the North Star from my much older friend and neighbor. The movie's exploding heads and bleak outlook was a huge departure from the cartoons I was used to watching, and I loved every minute of it. So forgive me if there is a special place in my heart for my first experience with anime, and what was a great influence in laying the Otaku But Gangsta groundwork. Twenty years removed, would Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage have the same effect on me as it's source material?

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L.A. Noire Ain't Dead, Though Maybe It Should Be

Rockstar Games has today announced that the oft-forgotten L.A. Noire will reveal a new trailer this Thursday.

For those of us who are not completely familiar with the embattled detective story, here's a bit of a recap. Set in "a perfectly recreated Los Angeles" circa the late 1940's, L.A. Noire, clearly, is in the stylistic composition of 40s and 50s film noire; black and white, low-key lighting, offset camera angles, and dark storylines. Well maybe not black and white, who would want to play a game devoid of color? Rockstar isn't gutsy enough to take that gamble. Nevertheless, gumshoes, sex, drugs, corruption, and a touch of jazz music will surely be a good chunk of Noire's subject matter, how it will all intertwine is yet to be seen.

The game has some promise, if done right. And it wouldn't be a Rockstar release if it didn't come with buckets of hype, but the thing is, this game has been hyped for more 8 years. Yes, L.A. Noire has been in development since sometime around 2002. That's an awful long time to develop a game, true-to-life Los Angeles or not, isn't it? After multiple delays, the title is finally on track for a mid-2011 release. We know what happens when your game gets delayed too many times. Sure, delays are for the best, iron out everything that could be wrong, put out a refined product, all that jazz, but damn. We've seen a lot of platforms and a lot of technologies come and go in a span of 8 years. As a once PlayStation exclusive, you can't have us believe Noire's been in development for the PS3 since 2002. If your game has to be adjusted for more powerful hardware mid-development, you're playing with fire in a bad, bad way. 

For those of us popping the Noire Viagra, Rockstar's announcement couldn't be better news. Though in honesty, I wonder how many people wiped the detective story's existence from their memory. As an ever-vigilant Rockstar contrarian, Thursday's trailer better be something really fantastic if L.A. Noire plans on capturing my affection. 1940s GTA ain't gonna cut it here, for that, I could just be playing Mafia II. If you want us to drink the Kool-Aid this time, you need to come correct, R*.

Make sure you check in Thursday morning for the full L.A. Noire trailer in glorious high definition. In the meantime, here is the very first look at Noire, released way back in 2007. Old trailer is old.

Can Kick Ass Keep Kicking Ass?

Written by contributing author John Rios

Kick-Ass 2 #1 is, in almost every way, a true sequel to the comic. The tone feels slightly more upbeat and optimistic than the original, which slightly recalls the movie, but that’s the natural progression of the story. While the original series was about people so down on life that they would take the urge to become a superhero to its furthest extension, the sequel begins with the characters in a much better place. Dave finds success as Kick Ass, teaming up with other costumed heroes. Hit-Girl has the stable family life she was always denied, although she still sneaks away to keep her skills, and weapons, sharp. The story flashes ahead a bit to suggest that the series will eventually examine what a world of superheroes would look like. It appears that the villains and costumed gang wars to come might be as bad as the criminals and crime waves that preceded them.

One thing the first book is missing is the brutal moments of violence that the first series was known for. The almost cartoon level excess that made the first series such fun are noticeably absent, and attempts to make up for it with some boundary-pushing offensive and out of date jokes feel unnecessary. Understanding that these books have such a lead on writing to print Millar should keep the jokes relevant. 

John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer, colorist Dean White and letterer Chris Eliopoulos are a fantastic team and it shows. Tom Palmer’s washes give a depth to the work that matches the look of the original series, and Dean White’s colors are as vibrant as ever. Romita’s clarity and experience give real weight and depth to every panel, and the fight sequences are imagined brilliantly. Chris Eliopoulos’ lettering never gets in the way and displays Millar's story proudly.

One might think Mark Millar to be a hack out to make money, and doesn’t truly care for the comics, but to think that would be a disservice to the man and his fans. Most first issues have to build steam for the entire run, and that’s what Kick Ass 2 #1 does. With 5 more books to be released, it’s going to be interesting to see where Millar takes the series and the characters.

John is a technogeek with a gangsta edge. If it's new and cutting edge he probably already owns it; phones, computers, games, you name it. He is a school teacher by day, but a gamer for life.

Oh No You Didn't, Black Ops

Call of Duty: Black Ops new TV spot features a bunch of ordinary folk roaming the battlefield shooting the hell out of shit. There's a businesswoman, a cook, a nurse, and what appears to be a little girl getting their frag on. And also Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel with branded weapons. 

Obviously, this commercial is targeted toward those of us who play online. Activision wants to appeal to your desire to kill a complete stranger, possibly even Kobe Bryant, then possibly crouch over his corpse in a tea-bagging fashion. Obviously, the sensible folk like you and I know that this is what it is. It's a a commercial for a game that will depict scenes of intense violence, but in no way condones or encourages it, at least no more than your typical action movie.

Though these are dark times for the freedom illustrated in the games we love. Politicians these days have an analog stick up their ass, and they can only ease the discomfort by trying to censor this art that we play, create, and live. Someone must have told the media and government that the gamers are the geeks to steal on, and that a crusade to silence our freedom would be met with little resistance. Go fuck yourselves, we're fighting back.

So I can't decide where this Black Ops spot puts us. Is it too visual? Will our detractors get the wrong idea, as usual, and start firing shots at the games industry, especially in light of these high profile concerns? Is Activision pushing the wrong buttons at the wrong time? Or is this a blatant middle finger to decision-makers, in essence telling people to parent their kids the right way if they want to see the biggest impact be made.

No idea, really. Penny for your thoughts, Activision? All I know is that I would love to dominate Kobe in Black Ops. Let's see what you got without Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher, punk!

The Old Republic's New Objective-Based PvP

I'm not any less excited for Star Wars: The Old Republic than I was when it was first announced. Robust, overflowing with lore, and done by our future benevolent leaders at Bioware, as both a gamer and a Star Wars fan, what's not to look forward to?

The trailers that have been outed have done ridiculous things to my adrenaline levels, resulting in some home videos that I'm not very proud of. Revealed gameplay has looked good, though I still wonder how a smuggler can beat any self respecting Sith. The story that's being set, the locations, the historical figures, everything sounds so deep and involving, I'm definitely foreseeing a huge dip in productivity once the The Old Republic hits the general public.

The player vs. player system has been pretty low key, but the latest trailer is blowing up spots! Warzones will pit the Republic against Imperial forces, allowing them to engage on the battlefield while each team works to secure an objective to turn the tide of battle. This first Warzone is found on the neutral world of Alderaan, where players must take control of the planet's massive planetary defense cannon, to deplete the opposing orbital fleet's shields, thus prompting an enemy retreat. 

More information will be available on Warzones soon, but so far so good. It will be interesting to see if these skirmishes will have any bearing on the overall story. I'm also curious about the topics of world PvP, different objective-based PvP types, and other Warzones. All in due time, I suppose. Star Wars: The Old Republic can't go gold soon enough.

Beyond Black Mesa is Back with a New Trailer

Seems like it's been forever since Beyond Black Mesa crossed my mind. The incredibly slick looking, low budget fan movie has just rekindled fold old memories with it's latest trailer. 

The movie is now doing its tour of duty to some of the lesser known film festivals. Keep yourself informed to see if Beyond Black Mesa will be playing near you. Personally, I can't wait to see it. 

Meaty Super Meat Boy Updates

Those wacky and lovable fellas at Team Meat are very close to rolling out an update for the incredibly awesome Super Meat Boy. The update will fix a few bugs that have plagued users, and to make up for the trouble, Team Meat is giving their adoring fans a brand new world!

Teh Internets, as it's called, will feature new music and 20 new stages based on, you guessed it, the interwebz. I guess that means we can expect plenty of trolling, hardcore pornography, and racism to go along with the other pleasantries. And just like Teh Internets, it's free!

That's a good look for Xbox gamers, but PC gamers get an even better look. Those who have patiently waited it out for the PC version will be heartily rewarded when the game releases during the last week of November. First of all, Mr. Minecraft will be an included character. If you haven't heard of Minecraft, where the hell have you been? Secondly, Mr. Minecraft is black?! Holla, equal opportunity! 

Super Meat Boy on PC will have a bunch of other awesome additions, such as 5 characters not seen in the XBLA version, and a freakin' level editor. Does that mean sharing community maps? That could be something special. Time to dust off the Steam account come the end of November.

Infinity Blade is Full of Hot DAMN!

Earlier this week we gave you a look at Infinity Blade, the Unreal Engine 3 powered iOS game that looks like nothing we've seen on the iPhone before. Those were pictures and a loose release date. This is ice cold video, baby. 

Hot DAMN, this game looks good. I mean it's no fart app, but it's close. My one concern would be the lack of movement during battle. It looks like dragging across the screen makes your character attack in real time, but there's no movement during a battle. The limitations of control are understandable, but if you can't move, shouldn't there be an attack timer? We need to know more, now!