Bayonetta Review

Game: Bayonetta
System: X360 (also PS3)
Genre: Action
Developer: Platinum Games
Release date: January 5, 2010


Pros: Brilliant combat system, beautiful art direction, good sense of humor
Cons: Some screen tearing, recycled enemies


With the sequel announced for Wii U last year, I determined it was time to play the first Bayonetta, which had been on my wish list for a few years. Like Devil May Cry and God of War before it, Bayonetta is a hack-and-slash game, heavy on combat, combos, and fast-paced action. Bayonetta first grabbed my attention with its brief commercial spot (included below) featuring "In for the Kill" by La Roux. It looked like a crazy game with incredible combat and style to spare, and that's exactly what it is.

Bayonetta takes place in Vigrid, an ancient city in Europe. Once home to demonic and angelic powers, the city has buried its supernatural origins. Or so it seems. The heroine of the game, Bayonetta, is drawn to the city in search of an ancient relic. Along the way she encounters angels who try to stop her at all costs -- that's right, in Bayonetta the angels are the bad guys -- and a few other friends and enemies.

The story in Bayonetta, while sometimes confusing and melodramatic, is told with style by director Hideki Kamiya. He infuses a great deal of comedy into the proceedings -- humorously referencing his own and others' games -- along with a surprising amount of tenderness. All the cut scenes are worth watching.

But the true star of Bayonetta -- apart from the titular character -- is the combat system, which is accessible for beginners but also demanding for veterans. The combo system makes use of close-range and projectile attacks, along with special commands that are integrated into the action; these include executions, finishes, and "torture attacks," during which Bayonetta summons antique torture devices once used against her clan. Bayonetta also possesses "Witch Time," triggered by a well-timed dodge, which allows her to slow down time and outmaneuver enemies.

Bayonetta fights against an angel.

Finally, I want to reserve some space for the leading lady of Bayonetta, who has become an instant favorite. Rarely does a character make such an impression in a single game, but Bayonetta is a rare creation. Kamiya is on record as saying that the central theme of Bayonetta the game is "sexiness," and it shows. Bayonetta is, without a doubt, the sexiest video game character I've ever seen, male or female. And it's not just her physical features. It's the way she remains cool and confident, the way she stylishly destroys all enemies without flinching, the way she moves, and talks, and oozes sexuality. Basically, she makes Lara Croft look like Laura Bush.

Bayonetta isn't a terribly long game -- maybe 15 hours in game time -- but Kamiya and company created several different difficulty levels and rankings that encourage lots of replays. Plus, only with the "halos" gathered through multiple play-throughs will players be able to afford some of the game's most expensive items and accessories. So do yourself a favor and pick up Bayonetta. And get ready for the sequel coming to Wii U in 2014.

Ouya Sells Out at Select Retailers

The Ouya "microconsole" has sold out at both Target and Amazon, less than a day after launching on June 25.

For thoes who don't remember, the Ouya device, which retails for $99, was one of the most successful Kickstarter projects of all time, raising over $8.5 million. After a three-week delay, the console launched at a number of retail outlets, including Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop.

Although the console sold out at Amazon and GameStop, many early supporters, who pledged money through Kickstarter, have not yet received their promised systems. According to a Kotaku report, approximately 7,500 backers have not yet received their Ouya because of problems with a shipping partner, and they might not arrive for a few more weeks. Ouya backers were supposed to receive their systems before the general public.

"I am pissed," wrote CEO Julie Uhrman. "I did not promise to ship to most of you before we hit store shelves. I promised to ship to all of you."

Making the matter worse is the fact that Ouya financial backers have taken to Facebook and Twitter and complained about inconsistent or nonexistent communication with Ouya customer support.

Ouya can still be purchased at GameStop, Best Buy and the Ouya store.

Microsoft Reverses DRM, Online Policies

Microsoft announced today it's reversing many of the anti-consumer policies it introduced along with the Xbox One, its newest home video game console.

The updated policies:

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

The full update can be viewed here.

Operation Raccoon City Review

Game: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
System: X360 (also PS3, PC)
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Slant Six Games, Capcom
Release date: March 20, 2012


Pros: Online co-op works well, interesting multiplayer modes
Cons: Inferior cover system, uninspired level design, bad story


The team that brought you the Left 4 Dead 2 review is back with its review of Operation Raccoon City, a non-canon installment of the survival-horror series. Unlike the other Resident Evil games, Operation Raccoon City is a tactical squad-based third person shooter. It takes place during the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3, and focuses on an elite squad of Umbrella security forces.

The ORC team in all its glory.

What were your first impressions of ORC?

Evan (Four Eyes): My first impression was one of darkness. Not figurative darkness, physical darkness. Operation Raccoon City is dark. Early in the game, the four of us stumbled around in almost pitch blackness as we tried to navigate a records room. A few tweaks in the option menu fixed the problem, thankfully. Other than that, I noticed that the cover system in the game caused several problems for me and my teammates.

Bertha

Kevin (Bertha): As soon as the game loaded, I felt a disconnect with it's content. There wasn't much for detailing the back story connection to the previous Resident Evil games it was spinning off of, nor did it detail the history of the characters you were playing. Some may say that isn't too necessary for a 4 player survival co-op; the Left 4 Dead franchise is an example of this. Maybe this was why the game isn't really considered canon to the franchise. The characters traits and their "uniforms" were so over the top, that I craved to know where they came from and how they got their skill, or how they came to look and act the way they did. Some of them were laughable to be fighting beside, like Bertha the medic who dresses in an all black short skirt like a nurses uniform, or Spectre the marksman who had the most ridiculous long oculars for his night vision goggles. The ultimate of the first impressions was the campy dialogue which was colorful, but an obvious example of translation failure, as it didn't serve well to develop the story and was littered with obscenities. I looked forward to the cut scenes dialogue in other Resident Evil games. In this one, I would have rather hit the mute button.

Nick (Lupo): It was fun to get back into a multiplayer game after over a year long break from four player gaming but first impressions were of disappointing. Immediately the game did not live up to its lofty potential.

Rob (Spectre): Like the others, the first thing you notice is a lack of visibility. Some parts of that first level are in total darkness. Maybe the game is designed that way to create a more frightening atmosphere, but I was mostly frustrated. The records room was practically impossible to navigate and the only available light source was to fire off your gun repeatedly to see a few feet in front of you. I also was not pleased with the cover system. Instead of being able to crouch, you would automatically seek cover when near an appropriate object. Sounds simple enough right? Well the problem is that even if two people could conceivably take cover behind the same object, you would not if someone was right next to you. Due to the darkness it was almost impossible to tell that was the reason you were standing up nice and tall in the middle of a firefight. Luckily the visibility issue could be fixed in system settings. The cover system you were unfortunately stuck with the entire game.

How well was co-op integrated into the game?

Evan: Co-op was really the saving grace of Operation Raccoon City. It was designed with co-op in mind and for the most part it plays well. The introduction of character classes lends some strategy to the proceedings. Each character has his or her own specialization so picking the right combination is important, especially on the higher difficulty levels. In addition, the levels were large enough to accommodate four players and there were plenty of opportunities for teammates to save one another or provide cover fire. One area where co-op didn't perform so well was firearm selection. It would have been nice if certain characters were limited to a set list of weapons, instead of the entire weapons list available to all. That way, the developers could have introduced more enemies and scenarios that favored certain weapons sets.

Each player can customize his/her weapon loadout and skills.

Kevin: The variations to the different character classes weren't as great as I had hoped them to be. It wasn't until the four of us built enough experience points to purchase and upgrade our abilities that we saw the benefit of the classes. There were specific abilities I rarely used and some that were pointless in certain levels of the game I.E. The ability to cure infected teammates or oneself when the level didn't have any zombies to infect you. The fact that I could buy or carry any gun the other classes had could have been looked at. If I were to play this again on a harder difficulty, I would like to see how the co-op abilities cash in against a tougher horde or more vulnerable teammates.

Nick: Co op is integrated very well into this game, it is how the game is meant to be played. I doubt the game would be very much fun playing by yourself.

Rob: As always I enjoy video games the most when being able to save the world with my idiot friends. Co-op certainly made the game more enjoyable as opposed to playing alone where I would certainly have become bored. However it seemed the co-op was not as essential as in Resident Evil 5. Co-op moves and strategy certainly played a large part in the campaign. Even in a game such as Left 4 Dead you could not make it to the end without your teammates, and usually a real person was better to have on hand than a bot. In ORC, you could just fend for yourself and leave your teammates to die. Since only one person needs to make it to certain checkpoints, rather than attempt a strategy or risk your own life to save a teammate, you could just haul ass and pull everyone else forward. Certain parts of the game I found myself lost as to where to go, only to magically appear in a new room. Co-op makes the game easier to beat, but also disengages you from the proceedings. I was not as invested in playing ORC as I was previous co-op games.

Which character did you play as? Why?

Four Eyes

Evan: I played as Four Eyes, the Field Scientist of the group. We decided early on that our group should include a field scientist and medic to heal injuries/infections, so I volunteered for Four Eyes. She was a fun character: smart, serious, logical, and lots of dialogue.

Kevin: I played as Bertha. It was good to be carrying more health spray than the average teammate, and I took advantage to heal everyone with them. There were an abundance of herbs throughout the game, so health wasn't an issue from scene to scene, but the sprays did come in handy just after a tough enemy or boss attack. As for the infection healing ability, that was handy, and I can imagine it would be a vital skill on a harder difficulty. There was a temporary health increase ability called "Painkiller" that I never opted for due to all the herbs. Also there was an increase in speed and accuracy ability called "Stimpack" that wasn't necessary during our run through. I didn't find out until later that one of Bertha's melee moves triggers the appearance of a green herb. Of course, it's a Resident Evil game, and there always has to be more herbs available when you run out of ammo.

Nick: I played as Lupo, the team leader and assault character. I picked this character because it fits my style I've always been the charge in head first gun's a blazing sort of player. It works about 5% of the time.

Spectre

Rob: I played as Spectre, the surveillance expert. I picked Spectre largely because he tends to hang back and assess the situation before taking action. I like to charge blindly forward firing wildly as much as the next guy (coughNickcough), however in co-op I try and play smarter in order to help out others. Spectre has the ability to detect those precious objects needed in order to survive (such as ammo and health) and also those that are just for getting more XP than your friends (such as data). In such a poorly lit game, seeing an icon on the map highlighting where the ammo was could be a lifesaver. He also had an enemy detector which could send out a pulse and let the entire team know what to expect in the next area. Lastly, Spectre is just a really cool name.

How does ORC compare to other Resident Evil games?

Evan: It's easily the worst. Apart from the uninspired and clumsy combat and cover mechanics, which borrow heavily from Gears of War, the story is full on plot holes and inconsistencies. Moreover, it does a great disservice to the original characters and stories of Resident Evil 2 and 3, which take place during the events of Operation Raccoon City. The game also veers away from the series by being less scary and more linear than earlier installments. Zombies are more of a nuisance than a source of terror. The greatest threat to survival is actually human enemies, which deflates the supernatural element that makes Resident Evil so compelling.

Kevin: As you can assume, I rank this as the worst of the Resident Evil games -- if you could even call it one from the franchise. The game play was nauseating and unoriginal due to the color scheme and recycled 3rd person multiplayer play control. The plot was thin and ridiculous to the characters motives, and only referenced the original games a few times. It was neat though to be in the places of Resident Evil 2 with a multiplayer setting. The zombies were not frightening like the other games. I almost felt like this game was add-on pack for SOCOM...made (and very poorly mind you) just because Call of Duty: Black Ops had their zombie level. This game would have been better if there was unique puzzle solving and item inventory for the various character class. I wish I could collect the city's items around me and use them, rather than find randomly placed "data" and kick stuffed raccoons to gain only a minuscule amount of experience points.  

Classic RE enemies make an appearance in ORC.

Nick: Poorly. I've not played many of the resident evil games but this is easily the worst I've played. 

Rob: I only have Resident Evil 5 under my belt, but I can definitively state that while RE5 was one of the best co-op experiences I ever had, ORC was certainly one of the worst. In addition to the issues already mentioned, the story is just not that interesting. The levels tend to be repetitive and the bosses lackluster. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I known more of the RE history and about the events that were taking place around us. RE5 was refreshing because it wasn’t just another shooter. It felt more like survival horror. I’ve been told that it was more action oriented than its predecessors, but for me it was different enough to be unique. ORC, to me, is just another shooter which happens to take place in the RE universe. I was disengaged throughout most of the game.


What did you like most about the game? What did you like least?

Evan: My favorite part about Raccoon City might have been the multiplayer, oddly enough. There are a few fun modes available, including one where members of Umbrella's special operations unit fight against Resident Evil heroes like Leon Kennedy. My least favorite part was the ending of the final chapter, which takes some liberties with the Resident Evil timeline and disrupts the cooperative nature of the game.

Lupo and Bertha take on government security forces.

Kevin: The aspects of the game I liked were from conventions already created in previous multiplayer survival games. These were, the ability to pick up different weapons during the gameplay, the ability to heal and revive your fellow teammates, the abundance of enemies varying in difficulty, and exploring or navigating though a complex map. The on screen map which displayed enemies was great, but not original. The Call of Duty games had it, so of course, why not this one too? What did I like the least? The plot and character motives, and the ending of the game, which didn't fit with everything that came before.

Lupo

Nick: A well integrated four player coop was the best part of the game, it was nice to different characters with different abilities that could help each other to form a cohesive team. The least enjoyable part was the story, it never really game together and was just a hodgepodge of different parts of resident evil lore not a complete story. 

Rob: As always, playing with my friends is usually what provides the most joy. However, I will say that ORC did provide me with more of an incentive to play the earlier Resident Evil games. Giving a taste of what is going on in RE2 and RE3 may have been intended to provoke nostalgia in players, but for me it motivated my desire to play those games firsthand. Hearing my friends chuckle over an in-joke or commenting on a particular event and how it relates to prior games certainly whetted my appetite for more RE and for that I am grateful to ORC. Without co-op, that wouldn’t have been possible as I would have just played through unaware of repercussions on the RE storyline. The cover system is what I liked the least. Running around trying to find suitable cover takes up way too much time in a fight and contributed to most of my deaths. It’s a clumsy system and it shows in the gameplay.


Favorite memory of ORC?

Evan: Unlike Left 4 Dead, which gave our group dozens of great memories, Raccoon City didn't produce many funny or memorable moments. I guess the best moments came when all four of us huddled around each other while one of us used a health spray so everyone could be healed at once. Seeing four highly-trained mercenaries in a circle ready to sing "Kumbaya" was pretty entertaining.

Kevin: I wish I had a favorite, but there weren't any. The only two ordinary memories that come to my mind were when we would gather close to use a spray health and thus "group heal". Two people would accidentally end up both using a spray when only one was necessary to heal us all. Rob would always say "I love you guys!" and someone would shout "Go Team!" or something just as ridiculous.

Operation Raccoon City features several multiplayer modes.

Nick: Kicking Evan and Rob's asses in a 2-on-1 multiplayer game. SUUUUCK IT. 

Rob: Unfortunately there were no real standout moments for me unlike in previous co-op games. It really seemed we were just playing to get through the game a lot of the time. The biggest laugh for me was actually during a cut-scene which was providing the mission brief for the next level. Exposition regarding an earlier RE game resulted in a twist in that game to be revealed. Not realizing at first the gravity of what I had just heard, I then listened as my friend (Evan) proceeded to frantically announce “Spoiler Alert! Rob, you didn’t hear that.” As also stated, standing around in a group healing also provided much needed comic relief. I do really love you guys!


What score would you give Operation Raccoon City?

Evan: Raccoon City has some fun multiplayer options and a bunch of good ideas, but the lazy, imprecise mechanics and bad storytelling ruin what could have been a really good game. Two stars for me.

Kevin: One star. The developers found an idea for a great game, and then failed to fully deliver it on all aspects. It doesn't get zero stars, as the graphics kept up with the system and gameplay.

Nick: Two stars. Great potential, poor execution.

Rob: Unfortunately ORC is an uninspired game, with uninteresting visuals and rough mechanics, that I never really felt provide an interesting and engaging experience. It had potential but it was mostly squandered away and the only real saving grace was the co-op. I’m going to go with two stars as a final score. If you’re a fan of RE, you may want to check it out, but you’re not missing much if you should decide to skip it.

E3: Best in Show

Every year, dozens of games are announced for the first time at E3, the biggest video game expo in the world. In 2013, with two new consoles launching from Microsoft and Sony, there was an especially large focus on new games and new IPs. Some of the games were rumored or open secrets -- I don't think Mario Kart 8 or Titanfall surprised anyone, for example -- and some were pleasant surprises -- Final Fantasy XV and Killer Instinct, among them. Overall, Nintendo had the highest number of exclusive games, but featured the lowest number of high-profile third-party games. What else is new?

Below is a list of the top five games of E3. These games appear on several different systems, including Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and PC. Enjoy!

#5
Titanfall

 

Announced for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, this multiplayer first-person shooter will launch in the first quarter of 2014. Built from the ground up by Respawn Entertainment, founded by former Call of Duty developers, Titanfall is a team-based shooter where players can play on foot or inside giant mechanical soldiers called "Titans." The lack of a single player mode is a big negative for Titanfall, but the gameplay footage at E3 was mighty impressive. Multiplayer matches will be populated with computer-controlled characters to allow human players to make more progress and die less often.

#4
Super Mario 3D World

A follow-up to the hugely successful 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, this title is due out in December of this year. Like the 3DS game, Mario 3D World will incorporate 2D platforming mechanics into a open 3D world, only this time four players can join the fun. The four players include Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad, the foursome from the North American release of Super Mario Bros. 2. A new item called the "Cat Suit," which allows players to run faster, climb walls, and perform unique attacks, will also make an appearance.

#3
Destiny

From the creators of Halo comes Destiny, a unique game that seems to be part first-person shooter, part action role-playing game, part MMO. If the gameplay footage is any indicator, Destiny will play a little like Borderlands: shooting mechanics, but RPG structure. Unlike a traditional MMO, not all players will be available to one another at all times. Instead, the game will match groups of players together during certain social events in the game's storyline. It's an incredible ambitious title from Bungie and Activision.

#2
Mario Kart 8

The show-stopper from the Nintendo Direct on Tuesday wasn't Super Mario or Zelda or even Metroid. It was Mario Kart. Returning from Mario Kart Wii are 12-player races and motorbikes. From Mario Kart 7 come underwater racing and hangliders. New to the series are anti-gravity sections where players can drive on walls and upside down on ceilings. Mario Kart 8 will launch in the spring of 2014, and will support up to 12 racers online.

#1
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

The number one game of E3 was, coincidentally, the first game shown. It's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the tenth game in the Metal Gear canon, and the first to boast an open-world structure. Storywise, the game is a continuation of the story started in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Apart from the open-world structure, The Phantom Pain will feature real-time weather and horseback riding. As always, this Metal Gear game will focus on stealth and tactical espionage.

Nintendo Direct at E3

Nintendo will present its Nintendo Direct event from E3 in about 90 minutes. In a break from previous tradition, Nintendo has decided to forgo a big-budget large-scale presentation in an auditorium at E3. Instead it will disseminate information about upcoming hardware and software via a series of small-scale presentations.

As always, I will keep this post updated as the Nintendo Direct goes on. The Direct can be viewed here.

Previous events:
Microsoft
Sony

• Satoru Iwata showed off a new trailer for the new title in the Pokemon series: Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. They will launch worldwide on October 12.
• Super Mario 3D World! For the first time in a 3D Mario game, there will multiplayer for up to four players. Playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach. Each character has unique abilities, much like the North American version of Super Mario Bros. 2. There is a new power-up called "cat Mario" that allows players to climb walls. The game is available in December.
• Mario Kart 8! Nintendo has implemented anti-gravity in the game, so racers can drive on walls and upside down. The game will launch in Spring 2014.
• Next up: Wii Party U, with 80 brand new mini-games. It will release in October. Wii Fit U will release in December.
• A new installment of the Art Academy series in under development for Wii U. One of the drawing tools from the game will be available on the eShop this summer for Miiverse artists.
• 2013 3rd party games include: Assassin's Creed IV, Batman: Arkham Origins, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Disney Infinity, Just Dance 2014, Rayman Legends, Disney's Planes, Shin Megami Tensei IV, Sonic: Lost World, and Watch Dogs.
• Iwata showed off new footage from The Wind Waker remake, as well as footage from The Wonderful 101. The Wind Waker will feature a new item called "Tingle Bottle," which allows players to send and receive messages in bottles from other Miiverse posters. There will be a cooperative multiplayer mode that supports five players in The Wonderful 101. Wind Waker arrives in October, Wonderful 101 arrives on September 15.
• New Donkey Kong game for Wii U! Two player simultaneous multi-player includes playable characters Donkey, Diddy, and Dixie. The game is called Donkey Kong Country: Jungle Freeze. It will be available in November.
• Bayonetta 2 will launch in 2014.
• The "large scale open world" game "X" by Monolith Soft will launch in 2014.
• The final trailer of the Direct was the new Smash Bros. game, available in 2014 for 3DS and Wii U. Mega Man joins the battle!

The entire presentation can be viewed here.

Sony Press Conference at E3

Tonight at 9:00 PM EST, Sony will deliver its E3 presentation. Like I did with the Microsoft press conference, I will update this post as the news rolls in. Highlights from the Microsoft event can be found here.

• After a 15 minute delay, it's time to start. Jack Tretton took the stage to talk Playstation Vita, "the best place to play outside the home." More than 85 titles will launch before the end of 2013, including Killzone Mercenary and Tearaway. There will be a new Vita bundle this summer with the first season of the new The Walking Dead game from Telltale.
• Next up: PS3. Tretton showed off gameplay footage of upcoming PS3 games The Last of Us, Puppeteer, Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Gran Turismo 6.
• Tretton next introduced footage for Batman: Arkham Origins, due on October 25. There will be exclusive DLC available only on Playstation. In addition, there will be an exclusive Grand Theft Auto V PS3 bundle available on September 17 for $299.
• Here comes PS4! Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, described PS4 as a "console of unparalleled power."

Andrew House showing off the new hardware.

• Next up: Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Entertainment. Lynton talked about movie and music services on the Playstation network.
• Here's a new IP exclusive to PS4 called The Order: 1886. Looks like an action horror game.
• Other PS4 games shown include Killzone: Shadow Fall, Driveclub, inFAMOUS: Second Son, and Knack. All but Second Son will be launch titles.
• Supergiant Games (Bastion) took the stage to show of Transistor, which will make its console debut on PS4.
• Sony announced many partnerships with independent developers, who will be able to self-publish their games on PS4. One of these games is a remake of the original Oddworld.
• As reported during the PS4 reveal event, Diablo 3 will make its console debut on PS3 and PS4.
• Final Fantasy XV (formerly Final Fantasy Versus XIII) and Kingdom Hearts 3 will come to PS4. Final Fantasy XIV will come to PS3 and PS4.
• Up next: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Watch Dogs, both multiplatform. Playstation owners will get an hour of exclusive content in Watch Dogs.
• Also shown was NBA 2K14, with a commercial featuring LeBron James.
• PS4 supports used games! Disc-based games do not need to be connected online to play! PS Plus memberships will carry over from PS3 to PS4.
• Jack Tretton introduced the world gameplay premiere of Destiny, the new game from Bungie (Halo series).
• Playstation's cloud-based service will go live in 2014. It will stream games via Gaikai.
• Playstation 4 will be available at $399 this holiday season.

Microsoft Press Conference at E3

Microsoft will give a 90-minute presentation today at E3 during which it promises to unveil new games and partnerships.

I'll keep this post updated as the news comes in.

• The first shot has been fired. A representative from Rare announced Kinect Sports Rivals, the newest title in the Kinect Sports series. It will include sporting events lke soccer, rock climbing, jet-ski racing, bowling, target shooting and tennis. Kinect Sports Rivals will launch with Xbox One this holiday.
•  The first demo of the official presentation is Metal Gear Solid V. Director Hideo Kojima arrived on state with Don Mattrick after the trailer to make a brief statement.
•  Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi unveiled a new Xbox 360 model available today. He also announced a new program for Xbox Live subscribers: two free downloadable games every month.
• Mehdi also introduced the massively-multiplayer title World of Tanks for Xbox 360. It was previously a PC exclusive.
•  The rest of the conference will be dedicated to Xbox One titles. The first is Ryse: Son of Rome, a big-budget action game set in ancient Rome. Ryse is an Xbox One exclusive.
• Here it is! The Rare "historic IP" is Killer Instinct.

The new Xbox 360 model

• Ted Price from Insomniac took the stage to introduce Sunset Overdrive.
• Microsoft teased footage of Forza Motorsport 5. A Turn 10 representative spoke about "drivatars," computer-controlled opponents that race with advanced artificial intelligence. 
• Minecraft will make an appearance on Xbox One.
• Remedy offered up new information on its Xbox One title Quantum Break, "the ultimate Remedy experience."
• Dave Mccarthy from Microsoft Studios took the stage to announce Project Spark, a game that allows players to create their own game worlds.
• For the new generation of Xbox One, Microsoft will eliminate its Microsoft Points system and replace it with real currency.
• Dead Rising 3 was just announced with a brand new hero! It will be released this holiday only on Xbox One.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will make an appearance on Xbox One.
• Battlefield 4: Second Assault (DLC map pack) will be a timed exclusive on Xbox One. 
• The new game from Black Tusk looks to be a sci-fi action game. Microsoft showed only a teaser trailer.
•  Bonnie Ross of 343 announced a new Halo game for Xbox One running at 60 frames per second.
• Xbox One will launch in November and will retail for $499.
• The last game of the presentation was Titanfall, a sci-fi first-person shooting game from Respawn, a studio formed from former Infinity Ward developers. It will arrive in Spring 2014.

Top 10 Most Wanted Smash Bros. Characters

During the Nintendo Direct broadcast Tuesday evening, the first trailer for Nintendo's new entry in the Super Smash Bros. series will be shown. As many of you know, Masahiro Sakurai and his team at Sora are the developing the game with help from Namco Bandai Games, including the main development team from the Tekken series. What this means for the series going forward is anyone's guess. But it does mean that a few Namco Bandai characters might join the fighting roster.

Last May, Lou and I came up with a ironic list of the top ten least wanted Smash Bros. characters. After all, who would want to run into battle as Waluigi or Slippy Toad? But with the worldwide reveal only 48 hours away, it seemed time for a serious list of the characters that might show up in the latest installment of Super Smash Bros.

What follows are ten characters that might end up on the new roster. It's my prediction (and my hope) that Nintendo, Sora, and Namco Bandai will shrink the overall roster, so these new challengers could potentially replace some of the retired fighters. Enjoy!

P.S. Mr. Sakurai, if you could find it in your heart to bring back Dr. Mario, that would be much appreciated.

10. Geno

A mysterious and powerful wooden doll, Geno made his first appearance in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as one of Mario's allies. Since his introduction in that game, he's accumulated something of a cult status. If Geno appeared in Smash Bros. he would be quick and powerful, but would take damage easily. His moves would include Geno Beam, Geno Whirl, and Geno Blast.

9. Ghirahim

 

One of the main antagonists in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Ghirahim would be a welcome addition to the Smash Bros. roster. Agile, powerful, and equipped with a sword, he would fit in with other characters like Link and Marth. Apart from his mastery with swords, Ghirahim could use in Smash Bros. the moves he employed in his fights with Link, such as teleport and throwing knives.

8. Lloyd Irving

Since Namco Bandai is working on the new Smash Bros. game, it's possible that the gaming company will lend one or more of its own characters to the roster. The ideal candidate would be Lloyd Irving, the main protagonist of Tales of Symphonia, which debuted on Gamecube in Japan in 2003. Lloyd's moveset from Symphonia, which includes Demon Fang, Sonic Thrust, and Sword Rain, could be borrowed wholesale for the upcoming Smash game.

7. Samurai Goroh

 

Samurai Goroh has actually already made an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a computer-controlled Assist trophy, but he deserves full billing as a playable character. Goroh is Captain Falcon's nemesis from the F-Zero series; he made his first appearance in a comic that came with the original SNES game. Goroh wields a katana and is surprisingly agile considering his large frame.

6. Chibiterasu

 

In a game filled with mortal gladiators, why not add a little divine inspiration? Enter Chibiterasu, son to the goddess Amaterasu who saved Nippon from darkness in Okami. Chibi is a hero in his own right, and his small frame and powerful "Celestial Brush" attacks would make him a unique character in Smash Bros. His standard attacks would come courtesy of the divine instrument on his back; his special attacks would include Power Slash, Cherry Bomb, and Inferno.

5.Bayonetta

A few years ago the idea of Bayonetta as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. would have been ludicrous, but in 2013 it's not so crazy after all. Bayonetta 2, which had been scrapped and left for dead by Sega, was revived by Nintendo. It's now a Wii U exclusive title. So maybe Sega and Platinum Games will lend the character to the Smash Bros. development team. Her awesome weapons, incredible combos, and demonic powers would make her a popular fighter.

4. Krystal

For most of her career as a video game character, Krystal has played a secondary role. She was mostly a damsel in distress in her premiere game, Star Fox Adventures, and then a playable character only in multiplayer in Star Fox Assault (pictured above). In Smash Bros. she could fight with a staff and with a sidearm, and use her telepathic abilities to disrupt other combatants. The danger with Krystal is making her another clone of Fox or Falco, so Sakurai and his team would need to be careful.

3. Bowser Jr.

There are already a bunch of Super Mario characters in Smash Bros.: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, to name a few. So why one more? Well, the series could use a few more light characters, like Pichu, Diddy Kong, and Young Link. Bowser Jr. fits the bill. He's short, quick, and devious. He could throw Koopa Shells, ride around in a personal Koopa Clown Car, and, of course, wipe out his opponents with the Bowser Shell from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

2. Zack & Wiki

As one of the best and most underrated Wii games of all time, Zack & Wiki deserve an encore. Making them a playable duo in Smash Bros. would provide just that. Zack, a would-be pirate, and Wiki, a mystical golden monkey, make a great twosome in Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure; they would make a great twosome going up against more famous characters like Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Kirby.

1. Little Mac

Like Goroh, Little Mac has already made an appearance in Smash Bros. as an assist trophy. But he deserves much more. He's been the main character in three Punch-Out!! games on three different systems, but he's never been given a shot as a playable fighter in Smash Bros. It's somewhat bewildering that Mac has been snubbed so many times. The character is owned by Nintendo, he's beloved by fans, and he's a boxer. Just add him in already.

 

Microsoft Explains Used Games, Always Online

Representatives from Microsoft today explained some of the controversies surrounding the gaming giant's newest console, Xbox One.

As far an online connectivity goes, "while a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend." In addition, games that use the cloud may require a connection.

So Xbox One doesn't need to be online at all times, but it does need to be connected often. Players can boot up their games offline for up to 24 hours on their "primary console" or one hour on a separate console, but "offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies."

Microsoft promised that it will enable consumers to give games to friends or trade them in at participating retailers, but "third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers."

In addition, "because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you’re not playing."

So what about used games? “We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games...your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you."

Microsoft went on to say that it designed Xbox One so that publishers can enable consumers to give disc-based games to friends, as long as two requirements are met: "you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once." Although Microsoft allows you to gift games to friends, it will not allow you to lend them to friends. "Loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners." 

What to Watch for at E3

The annual video game trade fair E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) starts less than one week from today. All the big hardware and software developers will be present to showcase their products, but not everyone is playing by the same rules or pushing the same products. Sony and Microsoft, on one hand, are launching new home consoles later this year. Nintendo, on the other hand, has decided to eschew a large-scale presentation entirely. What follows is a handy guide that covers what exactly to look for over the three days of E3 2013.

Microsoft

Real or fake?

Two weeks ago Microsoft unveiled its newest console, Xbox One, which will no doubt be the star of Microsoft's presentation. Expect Microsoft representatives to continue to tout One as "the all-in-one system for every living room," but also expect some game announcements and footage. In my opinion, the unveil was something of a misstep because Xbox One came off as a multimedia box that plays movies, music, and sports...and also some video games. Microsoft can do some damage control by showing off a few high-profile exclusive games. Expect to see new information about Halo, Forza, Fable, and some other unannounced games. One of those games could very well be a resurrected Rare IP. After Microsoft's press conference on May 21, Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer had this to say:

"Fans of Rare and Rare IP I think will be pleased with what we’re going to show at E3. We had a limited amount of time today and a lot of story to tell. But Rare remains an incredibly important part of our development capability…that historic IP that they’ve built I think can play a real important role on Xbox One."

Although I have no intention of purchasing an Xbox One until the Digital Rights Management (DRM) and "always online" questions are answered, the prospect of a resurrected Rare IP on Xbone is intriguing. Right now the three most likely contenders are Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, and Killer Instinct. If the image at right is real then the "historic IP" could be Banjo-Kazooie. Other games pictured include Forza 5, Fable IV, Dead Rising 3, Halo 5, Quantum Break, and Halo: Spartan Assault.

Nintendo

After an excellent launch, the Wii U has fallen into the cellar in terms of monthly hardware sales. The problem? No games. Apart from New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land, no Wii U software has captured the imagination of video game players. Expect that to change starting with E3. I fully expect Nintendo to "re-launch" the Wii U in the second half of 2013 with a huge line-up of popular games. Nintendo has already promised that the new 3D Mario and the latest installment of Mario Kart will be playable on the show floor; it also promised new information on Super Smash Bros. You should also expect new information on "Yarn Yoshi," The Wonderful 101, the Wind Waker remake, and Pikmin 3.

Don't expect this from Nintendo in 2013.

This year Nintendo chose not to rent out an auditorium space at E3 for a grand presentation. Instead, the Japanese gaming giant will show off its products through a number of smaller Nintendo Direct broadcasts. In addition, all of Nintendo's upcoming software, like Mario Kart and 3D Mario, will be available to press and attendees. Also, Nintendo plans to host several press-only hands-on events in order to allow members of the gaming media to experience the games first-hand. It's a risky move for sure, especially with Microsoft and Sony showing off brand new hardware, but it might pay off for Nintendo. It's certainly less expensive, and it focuses more on a bottom-up grassroots approach that might generate excitement among fans and the media. Finally, Nintendo will make some of its E3 software available to the public at over 100 Best Buy stores across the country.

The big question mark for Nintendo is the mysterious game from Retro Studios, the development team behind the Metroid Prime trilogy and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Somehow, against all odds, Nintendo and Retro have managed to keep the latest Retro game a secret. There have been plenty of rumors, however. Many "experts" expect a new Metroid game or possibly a reboot of Star Fox, Nintendo's sci-fi rail shooter. The latest rumor, courtesy of IGN, has the game as an entirely new IP. 

Sony

Sony has a lot of hardware to juggle at E3. Expect software footage and announcements for PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. Also expect Sony presenters to take some not-so-subtle shots at Microsoft. Sony wants to make sure its newest console, PS4, is seen as a gaming console first and a multimedia hub second.

Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4)

PS3 titles on display should include Beyond: Two Souls, Puppeteer, and Gran Turismo 6; PS4 titles should include Infamous: Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, and Driveclub; Vita titles should include Tearaway and Killzone: Mercenary. I'm hopeful The Last Guardian, which has been in development hell for four years, will make an appearance, either on PS3 or PS4.

PS4 should be the star of the show. I strongly believe Sony will unveil the actual hardware during its presentation (if you recall, Sony only showed off its controller during its PS4 press conference). The PS4's lead architect, Mark Cerny, recently claimed "The launch lineup for PlayStation 4 is going to be stronger than any prior PlayStation hardware." Now let's see Sony back that up.