Author Archive for Yaris Gutierrez

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 First Impressions

For the past couple of years, fans of WWE haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye with the previous releases of THQ’s Smackdown vs. Raw series – I myself am one of those fans. Clunky controls, redundant issues like the targeting system, and a few other thorns on the side that made the game’s entertainment factor inconsistent were the culprits that rendered the game’s overall value mediocre. When you’ve played unforgettable classics like Wresltemania 2000 and No Mercy for the Nintendo 64, it’s pretty hard to find something nowadays that fair against it, considering the gargantuan leap in technology that consoles have undergone. While many of us have perpetuated the thought and anticipation of something more concise (with regards to both look and feel) in the WWE franchise, we haven’t really been introduced to anything, recently, that has given us that “wow” factor. All that, however, has changed with THQ’s upcoming Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 – a game that THQ has clearly molded from the wants and needs of the WWE community.

Red Dead Redemption Liars and Cheats DLC Coming

We here at DualShockers, at one point, had our own little posse rummaging through the towns of RockStar’s Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer world. Of course, we didn’t advertise who we were; we just went in there like a mob of of immigrants looking for work at a fruit farm. Our job, though, wasn’t to pick fruit – it was to terrorize the inhabitants of Red Dead Redemption’s online province. Shooting horses, hogtying passing human players, killing off baddies, and riding through the desert sands as the sun’s sheltering glimmer quietly disappeared into the mountains.

After doing this for a couple of weeks, however, killing people off just got… well, boring. There seemed to be a lack of substance then. But now, with the the new DLC “Liars and Chear Pack,” it seems that the DualShockers crew will once again gallop through the star-filled skies to take advantage of what’s to come on September 21st.

The “Liars and Cheats Pack” will contain a plethora of new highly-requested features to expand the Free Roam world which includes the long-awaited Multiplayer Poker and Liar’s Dice. With the addition of Poker and Dice comes the a brand new Competitive Multiplayer mode. For those of you who recall the Free Roam Pack was originally supposed to be a free download. But because certain folks limit the number of free things that can be given away, Rockstar, instead, decided to add it to the Liars and Cheats Pack.

After the jump, you’ll be exposed to a couple of features that will accompany the upcoming DLC.

Okamidem Demo Hits Japan’s Nintendo Channel

Okamiden might seem like a familiar word. That’s because it contains Okami in there – a game that was adored by the PlayStation 2 community during its run. Now, we’re being introduced to Okamiden; a game that takes place nine months after the events of Okami, centering around the children of previous characters.

Capcom, the nice folks that they are, has decided to distribute a demo of the upcoming DS game via the Wii Nintendo Channel in Japan next month. The demo, which will be available from September 8 through October 5 on the Wii, will also be distributed via “DS Station” download kiosks throughout Japan from September 9 through October 6.  McDonald’s customers will be more than happy to hear that from September 10 through October 7, the game will be made available through Nintendo Zone connections. Now you can enjoy a greasy, cholesterol-infested Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese with a tub of soda and a side of yummy fries all while downloading and playing some Okamiden. You Japanese people are so spoiled.

No plans have been mentioned yet of the demo coming to North American before the game’s release. When we get word on this bewildering issue, we’ll make sure to let you guys know.

[Andriasang]

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Review

The Metal Gear Solid franchise has been one of the very few games in this industry that positively evolved with great consistency alongside progressing consoles every generation. It’s a series that has kept and gained a large following due to its cleverly saturated storyline, and a cast of characters uniquely astonishing and badass to the core. It’s one of the most exalted worlds in the PlayStation brand’s gargantuan library, and it’s a universe brilliantly crafted by Hideo Kojima – a man who has kept the series afloat with compelling storylines, immersive action, and more conspiracies than government agencies have with UFOs. Peace Walker diverts very little from the aforementioned qualities that the series perpetuates so well, and depending on your unique style of play, the game actually offers amendments on Sony’s handheld.

Nintendo Download: Paper Worlds And Some

A handful of games are releasing this week via Nintendo Download. As usual, some games sound and look great, while others are as appealing as a pile of dookie on a sterling silver platter. The award-winning And Yet It Moves makes its way onto the WiiWare, inviting players to mess with the laws of physics and “turn their worlds upside-down.” Rather than sitting here and going through the list of games that are making their way onto your Nintendo systems, it’s best if I list them. So, without further adeu I present you with the what’s to come (after the break).

First Crackdown 2 Add-On Announced

Crackdown 2, developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Ruffian Games, will be receiving its first add-on content pretty soon. Aside from super-jumping, constantly shooting people in the face with rocket launchers and kicking your foes across the city, you’ll now be able to enjoy a handful of perks that will be included in the upcoming DLC.

The new DLC is called Toy Box and, according to the official word on the street, offers free content as well as paid additions for those of you willing to cough up some mullah for added goods.

For those of you wondering what the free content has, it provides a new Vehicle Tag mode, a level six ability reward and the Keys to the City (which will all be explained after the break).

If you want to have all the sweet stuff like 10 new Achievements, new vehicles and gadgets and Avatar Awards, you’ll be spending a not-so-bad 560 Microsoft Points. For a full explanation for the soon to be released DLC, hit the jump.

Plants vs. Zombies Landing On DS 2011

Plants vs. Zombies – everyone’s favorite plant defense game – will be hitting the Nintendo DS January 2011. This gives those of you who don’t own an iPhone, Xbox 360 or PC a chance to experience the addicting “tower” defense game on Nintendo’s handheld platform. Popcap Games revealed today plans to publish Plants vs. Zombies on the DS at the suggested retail price of $19.95 – not too shabby.

The DS version of the game will have all the content of the original release, along with new and exclusive goodies. Knowing that the game is already awesome, one can only ponder at what it is Popcap Games will be adding to the DS version of one of the most creative, and addicting, games released this generation. And we all know that anything with zombies are worth getting.

THQ WWE Community Summit – We’re There!

WWE SummerSlam is here, folks! Yours truly will be journeying from my New York City home to Los Angeles tomorrow to attend the THQ WWE Community Summit, and to rock out with a handful of other community sites, and the guys over at THQ, at SummerSlam tomorrow evening – nothing like sharing the blood and sweat off of the backs of gargantuan gladiators with a group of great men, I say!

While we will be feverishly yelling at the top of our lungs in sheer excitement and overloading on testosterone at SummerSlam while taking pictures of your favorite stars, one of our main purposes for attending the THQ WWE Community Summit – besides having a plethora of fun (sorry Francois) – is to bring back some nifty impressions for THQ’s upcoming Smackdown vs. Raw 2011. I’ll be getting some hand-on time with the game, all while asking a series of questions that will, hopefully, quench your curiosity regarding the changes and implementations made to this year’s Smackdown vs. Raw title.

I apologize for throwing this salivating moment in your faces, guys – I really am. But just know that we’re doing this for you… kind of. Those of you who are hardcore WWE and/or Smackdown vs. Raw fans, we encourage you to provide us with any questions that you would like for me to ask the developers on your behalf. The more questions you give in, the more details you’ll more than likely get. And, at this juncture, we’re trying to give you as much info as possible.

This is my first time ever attending a live WWE event. Just know that if you see pictures of me looking like a pre-teen girl at a Jonas Brothers concert where I’m screaming and/or crying, it’s because I’m probably more excited than baby at a topless bar. I’ll be bunking with Rudy Colon from SFX-360.com, where we will be tagteam partners participating in TLC (Table, Ladders and Chairs) matches at the hotel with the rest of the sites attending. He’ll be wearing spandex shorts and baseball gloves; I’ll be wearing a leotard with large spiked armbands and tape on my feet. Okay, we probably won’t be doing any of this, but we’re sure as hell going to have a blast!

Surprise! Call of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition Announced

Those of you who thought that Modern Warfare 2’s Prestige Edition was the Holy Grail of collector sets will now bow down to the amazement that Activision has announced. Night-Vision goggles are cool and all if you’re into nighttime naughty activities or creepily spying on your next door neighbors while they undress, but it isn’t something that would perpetuate the word “fun.” It’s more of a molester gadget than anything else. But if molester-esque gadgets are your thing, you’ll love what Activision has in store for you now.

With the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops right around the corner, Activision has announced new and intricate editions of the game to release with the regular launch title. See that picture above? That’s the Prestige Edition for Black Ops which comes with a working RC car complete with a camera that provides TFT color video and audio to its operator (which is shown in the game’s multiplayer trailer).

Now that you have your “Do It Yourself Pervert Set” almost complete with the Night-Vision goggles and the sneaky RC car, you’ll want to shoot your attention away for a second and also glance at the pictured Black Ops medallion, an exclusive Xbox Live Avatar outfit (not too sure what the PC and PS3 versions will get instead), and four co-op multiplayer maps for you and your friends to go nuts in. The Hardened Edition will receive just about everything pictured above with the exception of the RC car.

What are you expected to pay for this? No price has yet been listed, but retailers have placed the Hardened Edition at $79.99 and the Prestige Edition at $149.99. Once we get details on the actual prices, we’ll fill you guys in. Now, any takers on what the next Call of Duty will have for its Prestige Edition? Since they’re going for this whole mobile perv thing, I’m aiming for sticky and/or worm cameras that you can use under doors, or place in bedrooms a la Splinter Cell. Any takers?

[Activision]

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition Spotted

If, for whatever reason, you haven’t picked up Battlefield: Bad Company 2, I would like to welcome you to the club. I too have yet to pick up this amazing concoction of entertainment that has been bestowed upon us by the folks over at EA and DICE. Luckily, we aren’t too late to the party as a new release has been spotted over at well-known retailers.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition has surfaced on retail sites Amazon and ShopTo.Net, appearing to contain all the downloadable content released thus far, which includes all the VIP content, the limited edition unlocks and the four-player Onslaught Mode, as well as DICE’s online-only Xbox Live Arcade and PSN game, Battlefield 1943. Quite a bit of awesomeness tucked into a tiny little package, I say.

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are listed at the comfortable price of $59.99 on Amazon, and is scheduled to release August 31st. While some of you are probably yelling at your monitors “This is the same price for a regular game!” note that Onslaught – which is included in the Ultimate Edition – is actually $10 as DLC. Think of it as a freebie, if you would.

For those of us who haven’t picked up this adored first-person shooter, this might be worth purchasing. Especially since my colleagues have been ridiculing me as I continue to play the likes of Modern Warfare 2, while they entrench whatever attention span they have left on Bad Company 2 – and I’m tired of owning alone.

[Gamerzine]

Castlevania: Lord of Shadow Special Edition Spotted on Amazon

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a chubby. If you’re wondering what’s wrong with me that I’d actually post something so ludicrous on a gaming publication, it’s because – as the title indicates – a special edition of Konami’s upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has been spotted over at Amazon (which has also been removed) – I am a huge fan of the series, with the exception of the ones released on the PlayStation 2 (they should have been aborted).

The image (above) shows a package composed of a soundtrack, two Xbox 360 game dics, and a “The Art of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow” book. A pretty nice compilation, if you ask me. However, as per what David Cox told Joystiq, the Lords of Shadow producer, “The images of the special edition leaked onto the net are mock ups and NOT final,” before continuing that Amazon “jumped the gun” by putting out images a tad too early. Naughty, naughty Amazon – like you really needs the hits. Once the official image surfaces, we’ll no doubt show it off. We’re just letting you know, though, that a special edition of the game is brewin’.

GoldenEye 007 CE Gets Gold Controller

We’re all pretty much pumped to have GoldenEye 007 join the ranks of this generation in the revamped way its being re-introduced. It was the N64 game that everyone raved about when it came to split-screen multiplayer action. Now that the game is hitting the Wii this fall, a nifty little peripheral will accompany it which, we believe, fits perfectly – pun and all.

For those of you who decide to pick up GoldenEye 007 Classic Edition for the $69.99 price tag it has, you’ll be receiving a sexy comfy-looking gold Classic Controller Pro as well when the game launches.

If you’re not feeling having to use the Wiimote and Nunchuck for some FPS old school action, then this is the perfect replacement for those of you seeking the “classic” feeling of Goldeneye 007 controls. Now, what would make this deal even sweeter? If Nintendo decides to launch a gold Wii to match the controller. That, ladies and gentlemen, will force me to purchase a new one.

[IGN]