Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Microsoft Acquires the Rights to Gears of War

Microsoft announced this week that it has acquired the rights to the Gears of War franchise from developer Epic Games. Although the series was mostly synonymous with the Xbox brand during the seventh generation, Microsoft never actually owned the rights. That is, until now.

Microsoft now owns all the the rights to Gears of War, including "all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise." Moving forward, the series will be developed by Microsoft's Black Tusk Studio. Rod Fergusson, former Director of Production at Epic Games, has joined Black Tusk and will play a "key studio leadership role at Black Tusk on the development of the franchise going forward."

Monday, January 20, 2014

Top 10 Best Games You've Never Played

Everyone knows Super Mario, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty. They're household names, they bring in millions of dollars, they attract legions of fans. But what about the lesser-known titles, the games that are unknown to the general public, in some cases unknown to even diehard video game fans? Many of them are doomed to obscurity despite glowing reviews from critics and grassroots campaigns to raise awareness.

Such are the following ten games. Some are critical darlings, some are cult classics, but all missed the mark in terms of sales. They're great or near-great, but they're also greatly unknown. They're the best games you've never played.


#10
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land
(PS2/2001)


A spin-off of the Wizardry series, Tale of the Forsaken Land tells the story of a paralyzed city with a forgotten past, and a user-created protagonist who infiltrates a deadly labyrinth nearby to discover the truth. Fans of fast-paced action RPGs might be turned off by its slow, methodical pacing, but the game emerges as one of the best PC-style role-playing games on PS2, really on any console. The class system and "allied actions" allow for a healthy amount of strategy; the game's presentation, in terms of storytelling, music, and especially sound design, is excellent; and the level design is varied and, often, quite challenging.


#9
Folklore
(PS3/2007)


As with many games on this list, Folklore embraces several interesting and different mechanics and ideas that failed to resonate with consumers. Set in a small seaside village in Ireland, the game slowly unravels a mystery that flows across two worlds: the real world and the netherworld, home to creatures and spirits called "folk." Once defeated, these folk can be used by the game's heroes, giving players a huge library of offensive and defensive moves. But this unique and effective battle system is only one part of what makes Folklore so much fun to play. Also important is its rich mythology, its poignant story, rich atmosphere, and spectacular artwork. To this day, Folklore remains one of the prettiest games available on PS3, thanks in large part to the beautiful and enchanting art direction from the artists at Game Republic.


#8
World Driver Championship
(N64/1999)


Arriving on N64 shortly after the release of Gran Turismo on PS1, World Driver Championship suffered from some serious bad timing. With its non-licensed cars, lack of real-time damage, and the lower install base on N64, World Driver Championship didn't stand a chance to match the phenomenon that was Gran Turismo. Nevertheless, WDC is an excellent, addictive racing sim that controls like a dream and looks like a million bucks, thanks to detailed models and advanced lighting and atmospheric effects from the tech wizards at Boss Game Studios. Despite some missing damage models, mentioned above, the physics engine is outstanding, as is the game's artificial intelligence and track design.


#7
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
(TurboGrafx-16/1993)


The Castlevania series has been a part of the video game industry for decades, during which it has won over a huge group of fans. Yet not every game in the series is well-known or well-played. Such is the case with Rondo of Blood, one of the very best Castlevania games but also one of the most obscure. Launched originally in Japan on TurboGrafx-16 in 1993, Rondo of Blood made its way to North America and Europe fourteen years later as unlockable content in The Dracula X Chronicles on PSP (it arrived on the Wii Virtual Console one year later). Rondo of Blood was one of the last of the "classic" stage-based, linear Castlevania games; its direct sequel, Symphony of the Night, is credited with transforming the series into a platform-adventure much like the Metroid franchise.


#6
999: Nine Hours, Nine Person, Nine Doors
(DS/2009)


Although it earned a sequel and a significant cult following, 999 has not made much of a splash with the larger gaming public. Part puzzle game, part visual novel, 999 asks its players to solve puzzles and riddles and also to make life or death choices. Featuring several alternate "bad" endings and only one true "good" ending, the game encourages multiple play-throughs. The tedium of replaying each segments and puzzle can be frustrating at times, but the payoff is worth it. 999 boasts perhaps the best, most mind-blowing story of any game ever made.


#5
Astro Boy: Omega Factor
(GBA/2003)


From the action experts at Treasures comes this hidden gem on Game Boy Advance, a frenetic, kinetic beat 'em up starring Astro Boy. Omega Factor isn't especially long, and it suffers from some repetitive levels, but it consistently delivers spectacular action set pieces and engaging fighting mechanics. One element that separates it from other action games is an abundance of NPCs, all drawn from the Astro Boy universe. These characters, once met, provide points to Astro to upgrade his physical performance.  A feast for the eyes and a joy to play, Omega Factor stands as one of the very best licensed video games of all time.


#4
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
(Wii/2007)


Despite high scores from gaming publications and a campaign from Matt Casamassina at IGN, which encouraged Wii owners to pre-order the game, Zack & Wiki underperformed in sales. A throwback to the point-and-click adventure games that filled the PC landscape in the early 90s, Zack & Wiki uses the Wii remote as a mouse substitute, allowing players to point and "click" their way through several pirate-themed levels, all of which are packed with brain-teasing puzzles. One of the more interesting mechanics in the game allows Zack, a young would-be pirate, to shake his partner Wiki, a golden, floating monkey, to transform enemies into useable items.


#3
Tempest 2000
(Jaguar/1994)


The best, and, some might argue, the only reason to own an Atari Jaguar, Tempest 2000 is a reimagining of the 1981 arcade classic Tempest. Enhanced with smooth graphics and a techno soundtrack, Tempest 2000 boasts three one-player modes: Traditional Tempest, Tempest Plus, and Tempest 2000, which is a complete remake of the original coin-op classic, featuring new enemies, weapon power ups and a brand new jump move. Tempest 2000 also features a terrific two-player mode called Tempest Duel, in which players control ships at either end of a web and try to blast each other to smithereens. Each ship is equipped with a mirror that reflects enemy shots.


#2
Beyond Good & Evil
(PS2, Xbox, GCN/2003)


Tragically ignored by consumers, Beyond Good & Evil was a financial disappointment despite critical acclaim. Set on an alien world, Beyond Good & Evil follows the exploits of an investigative reporter named Jade, who stumbles upon a massive conspiracy. Stealth is an important component of the gameplay in Beyond Good & Evil: while Jade does carry an offensive weapon, she often has to embrace a clandestine approach when faced with overwhelming enemy forces. One of the most engaging and immersive elements in the game is the ability to take photographs with Jade’s camera. The camera can be used to photograph evidence of the conspiracy or simply to snap pictures of the fauna on Hillys.


#1
Psychonauts
(Xbox, PS2, PC/2005)


From the brilliant mind of Tim Schafer comes Psychonauts, one of the most unique and enjoyable platform games of the last 20 years. Infused with the expert storytelling and clever sense of humor that defined Schafer's early career with LucasArts, Psychonauts excels in both presentation and gameplay. The game is funny, it's heartwarming, it's surprising, but most importantly it's technically sound and, mechanically, engaging. Players control Raz, a young boy gifted with psychic abilities who sneaks into a summer camp for other like-minded children. That Psychonauts suffered from poor sales is a crime. It deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Super Mario Galaxy, Banjo-Kazooie, and Rayman 2.