All Entries Tagged With: "Demo"

Vanquish Demo Impressions

There is something about Platinum Games titles that I just can’t put a finger on. They have a certain je ne sais quoi or swagger if you will. Whether you’re slaying angel fiends or entrenched deeply within space, each of their games possesses a unique and distinct flair that simply oozes quality. In this aspect, Vanquish appears to be no different from its older brothers and sisters.

From the very start menu it boasts a very distinct, very immersive ambience. This only increases as you begin to play through the demo. Playing the game somehow makes you feel so cool and stylish. The visuals are absolutely superb. You’re going to make your first stop at the tutorial though, where all the controls are explained in a very simple yet effective manner. The controls really are wonderful I might add.

Views: 168

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]

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 Demo Available Now

The only thing better than free demos are free demos for games you’ve been excited about for months on end. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm was a PS3 exclusive fighting game that was easily the best Naruto game available.

That is pretty significant considering the plethora of games available starring the young, blonde headed ninja. Namco Bandai clearly meant business. The sequel will be a multiplatform affair, this time also being released on the Xbox 360.

This demo will be single player and pits players against Kakashi sensei, offering a small taste of the action packed game. Naruto Shipudden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will be available on October 15th, 2010. The playable demo is available now.

Lost Horizon Demo Released

Lost Horizon will tell the tale of Fenton Paddock, a pilot turned hero in a 1936 setting. The demo is available now here and puts players in the prologue of the game as well as the first chapter which takes place in Hong Kong where Fenton wants to pick up a lovely lady but must deal with the triad. This all precedes the quest to embark on a journey to save his missing friend. With a release date of September 17th in the UK and September 24th in USA, this game will be arriving soon so you may want to give it a try. Take a look at a bunch of Lost Horizon screens after the break for a closer look at this title.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Demo Planned

According to Joystiq, Lucas Arts has confirmed that they intend on releasing a demo for Star Wars: the Force Unleashed II prior to the game’s release. Apparently, there was a demo for the game present at Gamescom and this demo will be very similar to the one shown there.

Also accordingly, the demo may be releasing rather soon. While there is not a confirmed date, the release date for Star Wars: the Force Unleashed II is October 26th. Earlier today we reported Vanquish which would release more than a month before the actual game. Let’s hope for the same treatment with this much anticipated sequel.

Vanquish Demo Incoming

Straight from SEGA comes the announcement of an Official Demo for Vanquish, titled the Velocity Attack demo, which will allow gamers to check out a level from the upcoming game before it releases. Players will engage in battle against enemies being delivered via drop-ship using an afforded arsenal and upgrade system likely to not encompass that of the full game in addition to “Walker” suits that will give abilities to boost and more. The demo will have two playable difficulties, Casual and Normal, and will also feature a boss fight against a foe named Argus.

Vanquish Official Demo: Velocity Attack will be released on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Store August 31st in North America, September 1st in Europe, and September 2nd in Australia. The full game Vanquish will be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 October 19th in North America, October 21st in Australia, and October 22nd in Europe. Be sure to keep your eyes open for this one, and if you haven’t had a chance yet check out our Vanquish developer interview/preview from E3 2010.

PlayStation Move Will Only Cost Me $180, And I’m Buying All of It

PlayStation Move, what can we say about this device yet to release? Well if you have been following the news lately there is a lot to be said. The accuracy of this device is arguably the best ever seen in a motion gaming solution. Tech demos like THIS have brought us a peek into the future of what Move will bring but E3 2010 has also shown us what is already in the works such as Socom 4. Some things change, some things stay the same. E3 2010 opened eyes about motion gaming and brought new thoughts on the Move as people realized that this is not just another gimmick, including us.

I once had doubts about motion gaming being accurate and about its relevance to gaming, until I saw it add to gaming I had to assume this would just be another broken promise from a gaming giant over-stretching itself to try and cover every aspect of gaming technology they could. I was wrong, and the proof is in the pudding as they say. Move brought the heat and now I’m here to tell you why I have no issue putting down the big bucks to jump in.

The Mafia II Demo Goes Online Today

2K Games is giving gamers that “try before you buy” option that we cheap bastards love to bits. There newest action title Mafia II, has a playable demo that is available as of today on the PS3, PC, and Xbox 360.

With the game releasing later this month, most would say it’s not a day too late either. 2K urges contemplating fans to try the new demo. Sporting a unique ambience linked directly to its 1940s setting, Mafia II looks to be one hell of a game. Check out this excerpt from the advisory:

While the game spans two eras, the Mafia II demo invites gamers to dive into the “Buzzsaw” level, which takes place during the summer of the ‘50s – a time considered the “Birth of Cool”, and with it, rock ‘n’ roll, hot rods, and rebellious attitudes. In the demo, Vito Scaletta and his buddies, Joe and Henry, are sent to take out a mobster known as “The Fat Man”. This mission showcases the vibrant edge-of-your-seat action, era-evoking cars, memorable characters, and a snapshot of the expansive city of Empire Bay in this colorful era.

You’d be crazy not to at least try this title at the perfect price of free.  This is especially true for rabid fans that’ve been waiting for this game for months. Mafia II hits store shelves in America August 24th.

Earthworm Jim HD Demo Impressions (w/ Game-Play Video)

Hitting the North American PSN Network a little late from its Xbox Live (or European PSN) counterpart, Earthworm Jim HD presents itself as a downloadable title for $9.99 and comes with the free demo treatment as well. I haven’t played Earthworm Jim more than a few times in the past, but I found this title to show some promise in key areas for those who may be new to the series while finding it almost certain that returning fans will enjoy this romp in 2D side-scrolling action. The graphics and art style are fun to explore and interesting, with levels that become similar to puzzles at times challenging the player to solve tricks and turns in the game-play to progress while fighting off enemies with a combination of melee and projectile attacks.

The controls are a little clunky feeling when you first start out but once you get going the core mechanics of this title demo prove to be pretty decent. Goofiness via the sound effects may be a bit over the top at times, but in general seems to fit the quirky theme of the game. There are plenty of optional side-areas that you can challenge yourself to mastering for extra pick-ups but the level is timed so you’ll have to pace yourself while doing so. Jim’s main attacks involve whip-lashing his worm-ish head as well as blasting off his gun. The only major complaint might be that the boss featured in the demo is defeated very quickly and without much challenge, but this probably changes as you get deeper into the full title’s offerings.

At the end of the level the demo presents you with a fast-paced racing level which was fun and interesting but seemed to be very sensitive to twitch movements. Overall, if you liked Earthworm Jim before and have been looking for reasons to replay the game, this remake might be for you. If you haven’t ever played it before or are otherwise on the fence you will definitely want to have a feel for the demo yourself and see what you think about how this cult classic may have aged for better or worse. Check out the game-play video after the break showing the demo in full if you’d like to save yourself the trouble of downloading and installing it for now.

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days Demo Impressions

The other day I had decided to pick up the demo of Eidos’ Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days off of the PlayStation Store, and I must say at first I had quite the mixed feelings about it. But, after playing through the demo a couple of times, I had decided that this game is going to be pretty kick arse.

A few of the things that made me feel unexcited about the game was the length of the demo itself, it was rather short in my opinion, but the game-play was rather fun and it had kept me entertained. It’s full of tons of action and intense game-play, just as its predecessor. Another one of my dis-likings of the demo was the fact that I couldn’t even get into the multi-player of Fragile Alliance at all, even after waiting for about 15 minutes in a lobby by myself, waiting for other players. But, no one came.

On the upside, things that I noticed that were improved from the first was the cross-hairs while shooting. That’s right, it is no longer a small tiny dot on the screen, they had actually placed actual cross-hairs into the mix this time around. Thank you, by the way. The Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days demo offers a great storyline segment of these two killer criminals, and I’m sure that if the full release is anything like the demo, this game is going to be one to pick up within the upcoming months.

Take a look after the break for my game-play footage that I had recorded, and see what to expect.

Views: 455

Making History II Demo Released On PC

Those of you who enjoy your video games mixed with some history can now play the demo for Muzzy Lane’s Making History II: The War of the World on PC.

This is a full-featured demo that allows players 50 turns of strategy gameplay through the Last Days of Peace (1939) scenario, which refers to the time when Hitler invaded Poland and decalred war.

Making History II: The War of the World is a strategy game that allows players to remake history, and customize the development of specific cities, regions, and units to support their objectives.

You can find the executable demo HERE.

Madden NFL 11 Demo Detailed and NFC East/West Ratings (w/ Screens + Trailers)

Every year the gaming world sees a Madden NFL title and every year that title is usually met by a pretty massive reception, this year is no different. Madden NFL 11 has been getting its ratings, sizzle trailers, and screens, and here comes another batch from the NFC East and West teams. The demo is also being detailed this time which will release on July 27th, feature 5 minute quarters, the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New York Jets (which was voted for by the Madden NFL 11 community), and the ability to create offensive and defensive plans in addition to GameFlow integration. If you want to know which stadium this demo will take place in, the answer is Jets Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ at 1:00pm on a clear day.

There will also be 4 skill levels available including Rookie, Pro, All-Pro, and All-Madden. If you want to unlock an accomplishment early you can even grab the “Master Strategist” achievement/trophy. Hit the break for the latest official ratings of the NFC East and West for Madden NFL 11, Sizzle trailers and a boat load of screens of Madden NFL 11 which is set to release August 10th, 2010.