Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Interactive
System Requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel® Pentium® IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB free hard drive space, NVIDIA® GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon® X1900 video card, Direct X-compatible sound card, DirectX 9, 3-button mouse, keyboard, speakers, Internet connection for multiplayer
Genre: Strategy
ESRB rating: Pending
Release date: February 7, 2012

In the wake of Paradox Interactive’s release of Sengoku, it shouldn’t surprise anyone in the game industry that Paradox is looking to create a sequel to the game that started them down the path of dynastic struggles and medieval warfare: Crusader Kings. While Sengoku is a budget offering depicting the Warring States period in Japanese history, Crusader Kings II advertises itself as a full price title that offers players the chance to “Increase your lands and fill your coffers, appoint vassals, battle traitors, introduce laws while interacting with hundreds of nobles, and create the most powerful dynasty of medieval Europe.” Luckily, I was given the chance to preview it for the past few weeks. And I have to say that even in its unfinished, beta condition, it is an engrossing game filled with the kinds of difficult choices historical medieval rulers would have faced, albeit with a slicker interface.

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Publisher: Overhaul Games
Developer: Overhaul Games, Interplay
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 3 GHz Pentium D CPU, GeForce GT 120/Radeon HD 2600 XT or better graphics card, 1 GB RAM, 1 GB hard-drive space, DirectX 9
Genre: FPS
ESRB rating: Not rated (original game rated Teen)
Release date: October 2011

Ever since widescreen flat-panel television prices finally came down from the stratosphere, “High Definition” has been one of our most cherished entertainment attributes. The phrase has joined “Director’s Cut” and “Remastered” as important buzzwords in TVs, DVDs and feature films. New developer Overhaul Games has used its inaugural release, MDK 2 HD, to add video gaming to the list of leisure activities sporting the magic high-def descriptor. They’ve taken an 11-year-old PC shooter and made it much more appealing to the eye, while retaining the original’s fast-paced gameplay.

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Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Reflections
Genre: Racing
Rating: Teen
Release Date: September 6, 2011

Video games, like movies, are a collaborative art form. Anyone who waits through the 5 minute scrawl of text that ends each game, waiting to see what bonus features all their hard work has unlocked, knows that the only real difference between a video game and a movie is the lack of a key grip. Other than that, these AAA titles are assembled by a cast of hundreds or thousands, and marketed by twice that. I usually pay particular attention to the Creative Director – the person who keeps the ship afloat as it makes that long journey from inception to “gone gold.” And it’s particularly interesting when a creator leaves his baby in well-meaning hands and heads off to explore new frontiers, only to return several years down the line. Within the next six months, gamers have the chance to enjoy a series of titles that are notable for having enticed their fathers back into the fold. Next year, Ken Levine brings us a brand new Bioshock after sitting the second one out. This Fall, Michel Ancel returns to his Rayman platforming roots. And in just a few weeks, Martin Edmonson takes the wheel in Driver: San Francisco – returning to the series once again after a lengthy absence.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Interactive
System requirements: TBD
Genre: Strategy
ESRB rating: Not yet rated
Release date: September 13, 2011

Much like WWII, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Crusades, Japan’s Sengoku Period is an historic conflict that game designers can’t seem to leave alone. The intrigue and warfare of such a violent period has spawned a number of interesting titles over the years of such widely varying kinds as Takeda 3 and Total War: Shogun 2. Now Paradox Interactive has decided to add their grand strategy gaming touch to this period, bringing gamers Sengoku: Way of the Warrior. Rather than trying to out-do Creative Assembly or Magitech in terms of tactical battles, Paradox has taken a page from their own Crusader Kings and designed a title that is more focused on the interaction of characters than it is on the proper deployment of archers on a battlefield. In Sengoku, plotting and scheming has a central role to play in a game where your own vassals can be as much of a threat as an opposing clan.

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Publisher: Flying Wild Hog
Developer: Flying Wild Hog
System requirements: TBD
Genre: FPS
ESRB rating: Not yet rated
Release date: September 2011

Last week was one of those weeks. I found myself nearly overwhelmed by a slew of personal and work-related projects. Then I heard there was an opportunity to get a hands-on look at Flying Wild Hog’s upcoming cyberpunk shoot-em-up Hard Reset. Projects got put on hold as I made sure to allot a suitable chunk of time for it. Ever since a single screenshot appeared on the Internet earlier this year, I’ve been eager to take a closer look at this baby, because it seemed pretty damn enticing. Then there was talk about it being an old-school FPS (Doom-like as opposed to Halo-like) and that increased my interest tenfold. Finally, when I learned it was a PC-exclusive aimed at capitalizing on my favorite platform’s strengths, I was all but sold on it.

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Preview by: Mark Turcotte

It seemed like a moment of deja vu this past winter when it was revealed that there would be yet another entry into the 15 year-old Tomb Raider series. The announcement was accompanied by reasons for why this game was going to be the return of Lara, but somehow they all seemed eerily familiar, recalling things that had been said about Lara’s previous 8 sequels. As I walked into Square’s demo room to see what Lara’s new adventure had in store, I had few expectations. When I walked out I was convinced that Lara was finally back and that next year’s Tomb Raider would be the game that fans have been waiting for.

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Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: Action
ESRB rating: Mature
Release date: July 26, 2011

Last night I was privileged to check out a special playthrough of Atlus’ upcoming action/puzzle platformer Catherine. Going into the preview, I didn’t know much about the game, aside from the sexually charged advertising and screenshots that had been released in the past months. Before I discuss the gameplay, however, I want to discuss some information about the upcoming release.

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To get back into the swing of things, this week’s App Attack is a special E3 Edition. You’ll notice a few things are different this week. First, we’re moving our App Attack release day to Thursday, and the second change is an expansion of each app’s review to two paragraphs. I felt like a single paragraph was too rushed and needed more meat. Since I got some hands-on time with some unreleased apps at E3, I’ve included them as previews. As always, these apps are only here because I’ve played them and would spend my hard earned cash on them. You should too!

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Publisher: GamersFirst
Developer: Reloaded Studios
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 2.4 GHz Intel Core2 Quad or better CPU, 512 MB graphics card, 4 GB RAM, 6 GB hard-drive space, DirectX 9-compatible sound card, broadband or DSL Internet connection
Genre: MMO/Shooter
Release date: TBA 2011

I never got to play the original APB, but somewhere in the back of my mind after reading other players’ thoughts, it seemed like a bad idea. A part of me was glad I had ignored the urge to get involved. The other felt terrible for the players who had invested their time and money into it before it shut down. How does a game come back from an experience that left such a bad taste in players’ mouths, let alone countless forum posts filled with a rage most of us feel is understandable? The first step is to rethink your strategy as a publisher and developer. I had heard some time ago that GamersFirst was going to be picking up the game, re-branding it as APB: Reloaded. I wasn’t sure if I should be excited or terrified.

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Publisher: TimeGate Studios
Developer: TimeGate Studios
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, Intel 3.0 GHz single-core/2.0 GHz dual-core/AMD Athlon XP3200+ or better CPU, nVidia GeForce 7800/ATI Radeon X1900 or better graphics card, 2 GB RAM, 5.5 GB hard-drive space
Genre: Shooter
ESRB rating: Teen
Release date: April 20, 2011 (Xbox 360); May 4, 2011 (PC); Summer 2011 (PS3)

I recently wrote an article on why I thought indie pricing would change the cost of non-AAA games. I brought up Section 8: Prejudice as one of the many reasons I believe quality games at a lower price point will dominate sales. TimeGate has a history of award-winning game content, and I’m not sure if labeling them an indie developer is appropriate, but with Prejudice they’re definitely gunning for the big boys. Also consider that the original Section 8 is still selling for around $12 to $20 (PC/Xbox) brand-new. I’ve had the pleasure of playing a preview build of Prejudice that gave me access to a couple of levels, and from what I’ve experienced, we have a lot to look forward to when the game is released. There are some pretty big titles coming in April, so I’m anxious to see how well Prejudice fares, but at $15 I’m hoping it does well.

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Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Genre: Fighting
ESRB: Mature
Release date: April 19, 2011

Like big Hollywood icons, TV personalities and rock stars, video game series are also subject to over-ripening. Sonic the Hedgehog is a good example – once ultra popular, the blue blur saw a steady decline as game after game featuring his likeness was released. A similar thing happened to Mortal Kombat, only instead of the games getting progressively worse, they just expanded out from the original idea and got too big for their britches. What was once an unstoppable juggernaut in the gaming kingdom, now drifted from the dock and relied on spin-offs and far-fetched distractions that took away from the core brutality of the series – the things that made Mortal Kombat great: fist to trachea – “Oh my God…did he just do that?” stuff your parents should have never let you play in the first place.

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Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare
Genre: RPG
ESRB rating: Mature
Release date: March 8, 2011

At 1.98 GB, the demo for Dragon Age II was downloaded in a mere six hours. Due to the lengthy delay, my initial enthusiasm waned as my mood shifted from elation to pissed. When I finally got to the black and white (with a hint of red) opening screen, I was not impressed. Still, I’d waited almost a year for this, so it was with much anxiety that I clicked that Start button.

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Sequels are a tough gig. In a shoot first ask questions later gaming market, it’s difficult to keep your fan base excited for the next chapter. There are so many different factors involved, but the main one always is the same basic idea. Keep the title fresh while managing to retain the good qualities of the original title. As a reviewer, I never find myself completely satisfied with many ongoing game titles out there, and find myself wondering why the developers bother trying to top some plot twist or an awe-inspiring digital scene. Guerilla Games’ Killzone 3, however, aims to please and it does it well. All I can say is: “The madness begins.”

Killzone 3 immediately follows the events of the execution of Autarch Scolar Visari by Master Sergeant Rico Velasquez. Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko sat, disillusioned by his comrade’s actions, on the steps of the Imperial Palace as the remaining fleet of the ISA is assaulted by a massive fleet of Helghast ships. With the almost requiem sound of violins, you find yourself as Sev, on a drop ship with a rag-tag group of ISA survivors, struggling to escape the now overwhelming Helghast forces. As your ship is shot down, you crash land into what looks like a refinery in an arctic tundra. As Sev scavenges for any useful weapons you find yourself already under attack. Slowly trudging through ice, snow and enemy fire; the game creates a tone of desperation, as you cling to a glimmering shred of hope in the enveloping darkness.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Colossal Order
System requirements: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7; 2 GHz Dual Core or higher processor; 2 GB RAM; 2 GB hard disk space; NVIDIA GeForce 8800/ATI Radeon HD 3850 or higher video card
Genre: Simulation
ESRB: Rating pending
Release date: February 22, 2011

In America, public transportation is a part of our society, but not quite as integral as it is overseas. While we in the states climb into our gas guzzlers, mount our motorcycles and pedal our bikes to green consciousness, the majority of our Euro brethren are hopping on trains, buses, streetcars and water taxis as part of their daily routine to get around town. Finnish developer, Colossal Order smartly understands this, which is why all of the scenarios in their inaugural game, Cities in Motion, take place in Europe.

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Publisher: SG Interactive
Developer: SG Interactive
System requirements: TBD
Genre: Shooter
ESRB rating: Not rated at press time
Release date: Q1 2011

So here comes another online shooter ready to duke it out with the likes of Counter-Strike and Call of Duty. Developed by SG Interactive, Project Blackout seeks to bring something new to the table in what is already a highly competitive genre.

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