Star Wars: The Old Republic weekend pass starts now

Bioware is giving curious gamers a treat this weekend. From Thursday, March 15th, 12:01AM CT / 5:01AM GMT to Monday, March 19th at 2:00AM CT / 7:00AM GMT, you get a free pass to Star Wars of The Old Republic.

It's not a full access to the game, but it sure gives enough meat to see if it's a game worth investing in. You get full access to all eight of the classes origin worlds and their faction worlds. You can also try out the pvp aspect of the game by joining the warzones provided. If your curious of pve play,  you will have access to two flashpoints(The dungeons in the game), The Esseles and The Black Talon. Sadly, your weekend can only make you reach up to level 15.

If you have anymore questions about this free weekend pass, check out the FAQ for more information and any restrictions. You can also head to the official site for more information about the game and the Weekend Pass.

I've tried the game in one of its beta testing weekends for a day, so wasn't able to experience much. Going to give it another shot this weekend to see how the game feels after it's release.  The weekend trial has started and the client is around 26GB so I suggest you start downloading.

Star Wars: The Old Republic was released last December and received a good reception to critics and has a steady population so far.

Diablo III dated for May 15... FINALLY

And I thought the day we get to put the release date of Diablo 3 in our calenders would never come, Blizzard FINALLY gives us a release date for this highly anticipated sequel to the loot fest that is Diablo 3. May 15 is the release date and digital pre-purchases are now available.

Thanks to Destructoid, they report that Diablo 3 will be available at retailers  in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. It'll also be available to Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, but digitally only via Battle.net.

With the cancellation of the PVP arena feature of Diablo 3, it was obviously the road block that kept devs from releasing the game.  Apparently the PVP wasn't coming out nicely so they crapped it for now and plans to release the PVP feature via patch when they got it all balanced out and ready.

Evil is back and thanks to this announcement, I now know what game I'm going for on May. I'm sure the whole world is begging for time to move faster to get their hands on this game. The wait is almost over!

Recent Buys: Episode 3 - The n00bt00b Cross Over

What's up guys, sorry I haven't been posting as much, been sick all week. To the point that I haven't gotten any real game time down (Only 6 minutes of GTA4? C'mon!). But before all this bad juju happened to my body I was able to pick up a copy of Street Fighter x Tekken on day 1 of it's release, this was also my first ever day 1 game purchase.

Street Fighter x Tekken is a fantastic game and I am loving every second of it so far. I find the Tekken characters more fun to use since they don't feel like Street Fighter characters nor do they feel like their original Tekken counterparts. My favorites so far are Asuka, King and Marduke.

I've also started a new series that I'm trying out called "The n00bt00b". What happens is when ever I get a hold of a game or try out one of the game modes, features, characters, vehicles, and the like that I have had no proper exposure to prior to the recording of the video. I will capture footage of it and clip together what I think are the highlights and mash them together. Street Fighter x Tekken was the first victim and my cousin was able to join me on my n00by adventure into this brand new fighting game from Capcom.

I've made The n00bt00b a playlist on our youtube channel so it'll be easy to find. Here is the "first episode".

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCY6Nc6Tz2k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIW6cNTL9bA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpjdzxx2q1E[/youtube]

PSN Spring Fever sale 2012

Spring is hitting the Playstation Network with a set of discounted items that might interest you. Spring Fever 2012 hits tomorrow and will provide discounts to specific franchises every week until April 2.

For the first week, Spring Fever will start off with the release of the  new exclusive PSN game Journey. The game was released early for PS Plus members, but now it will be available for all PSN users. Also, the first franchise that will be having the Spring Fever discount is the Call of Duty franchise. Call of Duty games like Black Ops, Modern warfare 2, World at War will have discounted map packs and full games.

The discounted items for the first week is not really what I'm looking for but they say that franchises like Final Fantasy and Tom Clancy will be featured in Spring Fever 2012 so be sure to check every week to see what's on a discount.

Spring Fever 2012 Week 1

SPRING FEVER NEW RELEASES:

3/13 – Journey: Enter the world of Journey, the third game from acclaimed indie developers thatgamecompany and presented by SCEA Santa Monica Studio.

• Available one week early to PS Plus subscribers – Includes an Exclusive Free Theme – One day left!
• Available to ALL PSN USERS starting tomorrow

3/20 – Rayman 3 HD: Rayman 3 HD takes Rayman on an epic journey through diverse worlds. This classic is remastered with HD and Trophy support.

• PlayStation Plus subscribers – 20% off

3/27 – Closure: In Closure’s dark and foreboding universe, the only things that exist are what you can see. Featuring 100 puzzles, an award-winning soundtrack and hand-drawn art.

• PlayStation Plus subscribers – 20% off

SPRING FEVER FRANCHISE SALE – THIS WEEK:

Call of Duty (3/13 – 3/19)

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• PS3 Game + Variety Map Pack Bundle (Reg. $29.99, Sale $20.99, PS Plus $14.69)
• PS3 Game (Reg. $19.99, Sale $13.99, PS Plus $9.79)
• Variety Map Pack (Reg. $9.99, Sale $6.99, PS Plus $4.89)

Call of Duty Classic

• PS3 Game (Reg. $14.99, Sale $10.49, PS Plus $7.34)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

• PS3 Game + 2 DLC Bundle (Reg. $59.99 (value), Sale $41.99, PS Plus $- $29.39)
• PS3 Game (Reg. $29.99, Sale $20.99, PS Plus  $14.69)
• Stimulus Package – (Reg. $14.99, Sale $10.49, PS Plus $7.34)
• Resurgence Pack – (Reg. $14.99, Sale $10.49, PS Plus $7.34)

Call of Duty: World at War

• Map Pack Bundle (Reg. $24.99, Sale $17.49, PS Plus $12.24)
• Map Pack 1 (Reg. $9.99, Sale $6.99, PS Plus $4.89)
• Map Pack 2 (Reg. $9.99, Sale $6.99, PS Plus $4.89)
• Map Pack 3 (Reg. $9.99, Sale $6.99, PS Plus $4.89)

Call of Duty: Black Ops

• PS3 Game (Reg. $49.99, Sale $39.99)

[Source: PS Blog US]

Review: Child of Eden (Xbox 360)

Child of Eden (Xbox 360) Review

When news broke that Tetsuya Mizuguchi was developing another mind-trip of a rhythm shooter, I was on-board right away. Mizuguchi, the genius behind Rez, Lumines, Meteos and Space Channel 5, is a master at combining powerful audio-visual experiences with intense gameplay. No one really knew what to expect from a game called Child of Eden. Then at E3 2010, Mizuguchi showcased the game with the Kinect sensor, surprising everyone with its amazing, abstract graphics, electronic/J-pop soundtrack and a game mechanic that seemed perfectly matched to Microsoft’s peripheral – using one’s hands to control two targeting reticules.

The prospect of controlling a shooting game with Kinect was a little daunting, but I was up for the challenge. After my aunt bought my little sister a Kinect for Christmas, I knew that as a fan of Q Games’ previous titles I simply had to get this game and try it out.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Right off the bat, Child of Eden drops you into a digital wonderland with a stylish live-action intro scene. Story-wise, the game is a prequel to the much-loved Rez, and your objective is to save Project Lumi from a virus attack so that it can create Eden, the AI whom your character must save in Rez. If you’ve never played Rez, I highly recommend the HD remake with extra content (Rez HD) to anyone interested in trying a rhythm-rail-shooter hybrid. It’s available for relatively cheap on XBLA, and if you enjoy Rez, you’re sure to love Child of Eden.

Be forewarned: this is not your average rail-shooter, although it’s easy to miss this fact if you’re not aware of the combo-chain system. If you’re playing it right, it’s a hybrid of rail shooter and rhythm game, rewarding players for releasing the lock-on attack along with the beats of the music. Only full-lock-ons (8 enemies) will build towards your combo, and the only way to lose your combo is to lock on to 8 enemies and release the lock on without hitting the beat. The basic principle is to stay on the beat, and build up your multiplier, which is easy enough since your shots always line up with the music, creating new samples that in turn add complexity to the soundtrack.

The controls are pretty simple. Interestingly, there’s an ongoing argument as to which is the better control scheme, the controller or the Kinect. With the controller you have more accuracy and the vibrating pulse actually helps a lot in keeping the beat, but your reticule moves slower than with Kinect, a disadvantage at some spots.

The left hand (RT/R2 on the controller) controls a pulsing violet laser called the ‘tracer’ and is needed to exterminate missiles, certain enemies and barriers. The right hand (A button) is the main weapon, a lock-on system very similar to the one in Rez. Lock-ons are released via wrist flicks, which can be subtle or exaggerated. Kinect has proven to be surprisingly responsive in its ability to detect wrist flicks, although after an hour or so in Child of Eden’s digital tunnels, your wrists and arms are guaranteed to be sore. Mastering the eight-lock combo system is essential to establishing chains in the game and getting your multiplier up, and the satisfying sounds you create from unleashing lock-on shots add greatly to the experience.

I’ve found that Kinect is a surprisingly solid control choice for the game, despite my reservations (the peripheral has some known lag issues, and is not always perfect). Kinect can be picky with regards to lighting despite the fact that it’s supposed to be infrared, and on some occasions I found my cursor doing things I didn’t want it to. On the whole, however, the Kinect feels like the definitive way to experience this game and I recommend it wholeheartedly. However, I’ve noticed that on the leaderboards, the controller scores are higher than the Kinect scores (they are in separate categories), so for competitive-level play I have to give it to the controller. Patience and memorization are key to improving one's score, as is a good sense of rhythm and timing. I am happy to report that anyone who enjoys climbing leaderboards will find lots of replay value here. Child of Eden is just as much a colorful acid trip and light show as it is a game.

Like many shooters before it, Child of Eden has a ‘bomb’ that can be used to exterminate enemies on-screen should they overwhelm the player. Hitting B or raising both arms in the air activates ‘euphoria’, which creates a trippy laser show that obliterates opponents. I rarely used euphoria, and using it takes some points off your score, but it can be very handy in situations where you find yourself overwhelmed by missiles.

Dreamlike Levels

The six archives in Child of Eden are so epic and differ from one another so greatly that at times it feels like you’re playing six different games. Everyone will have a favorite archive or two. It’s hard not to be taken on an emotional journey while playing the ‘Evolution’ archive, and I’ve taken a personal liking to the ‘Journey’ and ‘Hope’ archives, the latter an extra level with a down-tempo hip-hop beat that remains unbeaten by me despite multiple attempts. A quick glance at the leaderboards shows that not everyone has actually made it to the end of this monstrosity of a level, without a doubt the most difficult in the game.

With no multiplayer to speak of, the leaderboards and unlockables provide the majority of the game’s replay value. I’ve spent a few hours trying to whittle up my score in order to up my rank. Unfortunately there is no ability to save replays, but I find it completely understandable since the archives themselves are quite long – an average of ten minutes each.

It’s difficult to describe too much of what goes on without spoiling some of the game’s many surprises, but suffice it to say you will navigate a wide variety of locations and encounter translucent glowing serpents, missile-firing spaceships, neon fret-boards, a giant clock tower, massive flying whales, manta rays, a flaming phoenix, and enormous flowers, just to name a few of the sights you’ll see. The running boss from Rez also makes a return appearance, this time as two bosses. Not knowing what trippy sights and sounds are just around the corner is a huge part of the appeal of this game. In all seriousness, this is the final nail in the coffin of the ‘games are not art’ argument. Simply put, if this game isn’t art, then nothing is art. There’s enough awesome symbolism here to inspire a master’s thesis at an art institute.

The game flows effortlessly from one locale to the next, subdividing each archive into segments connected by portals that take you ever deeper down the rabbit hole that is Project Lumi. Mizoguchi has said that Child of Eden, like Rez, is an experiment in inducing synesthesia, a neurological state where stimulation in one of the senses creates involuntary experiences in another. This game gets you in ‘the zone’ very quickly, and before long you’ll be playing it on absolute instinct.

The differences between Rez and Child of Eden begin with the latter game’s two-weapon control scheme, longer archives and more layered audio. Rez by comparison is a much more minimalistic game, but not necessarily in a bad way. At times the archives in Child of Eden can be over-long and suffer from a feeling of being stretched out in order to either fit the songs or lengthen the experience, whereas Rez was a perfectly fluid shooter that had a reasonable difficulty with a few challenging spots, mainly during boss battles. By contrast, a few random sections in Eden can be frustrating and kill you quickly, yet most of the game is a total cakewalk. The demanding areas left me scratching my head, since dying really throws off the groove of the game and takes one out of the experience. The easy mode, Feel Eden, is too easy and does not include all the levels, while Hard mode is simply annoying, thanks to missile spam. Next time around, I would rather Mizoguchi either (a) make the entire game with a single difficulty curve, or (b) make the entire game easy with a more complex and less forgiving combo system.

My own opinion is that Eden’s ‘filler’ sections were put specifically to act as buffer breaks for Kinect users to rest their arms, but in all honesty the exhaustion of playing through a level multiple times outweighs the benefits of having rest periods within the levels themselves. It’s the difference between listening to one ten-minute song and two five-minute songs – you’re not always in the mood to play a ten-minute song, but two five-minute ones might be just the right amount.

Similarly to Rez, the multi-form bosses here provide many of the game’s best moments. I would be doing a disservice by describing the specific boss battles, but I think it’s enough to say that you won’t be disappointed.

With all that said, it’s difficult to compare the two games, because of the thematic and stylistic differences. I would say that Rez is a more focused shooter with a low-key dub soundtrack, whilst Child of Eden is more of an intense sensory experience, a viable alternative to going to a rave. If I had to recommend any game from the history of gaming to play in an altered state of consciousness, Child of Eden would be at the very top of my list.

Incredible audio-visual synthesis

This is the type of game that is just begging to be played in 1080p with a surround sound system. I bought an HDMI cable and hooked this up to a video projector with Kinect just to get the full experience. The way the colors pop out and the backgrounds sparkle and teem with life is a sight you don’t want to miss. It’s the closest you’ll get to a laser light show in your own living room, and the many extras including art galleries and visual effects that can enhance your experience go a long way towards extending the life of the game.

The soundtrack, by Mizoguchi’s own group Genki Rockets, is a mix of electronic, trance and J-pop. If you enjoyed their LP “Heavenly Star”, you’ll find a lot to like here, as the archives contain plenty of samples and remixed segments from the songs on that album. Every level has a different sound to it, although it’s not the kind of material you might expect to hear at a club. For the most part the music is actually quite low-key, allowing the sounds you create by ‘purifying’ enemies to lead the mix. Because it’s so difficult to describe how well all these great elements come together to create a unified experience, I strongly recommend viewing a few minutes of the game on YouTube in order to get a good sense of what to expect.

Another milestone in rhythm gaming

I feel that there is still so much to write about Child of Eden, but most of it is based on theory and has no place in a formal review. I do feel it’s important to get the word out there so that anyone with an interest in this mostly overlooked game might be inspired to give it a shot.

Just how much do I, personally, love this game? Three of my favorite types of games are hybrid games, rhythm games and rail shooters, so I might be a little biased when I say that Child of Eden is one of my top three of 2011, just behind Dark Souls and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. It’s not a game I’ve spent more than 20 hours on, but it’s been one of the more memorable games of my life.

However, as much as I wish I could give it a higher score, I have to acknowledge that Child of Eden is not a game for everyone. It’s short, for one, and most players will not have a chance to experience it on Kinect. It’s not as hardcore as most rail shooters (a pro at bullet hell games can ‘beat’ this in a weekend) and its rhythm elements are simple in theory but often difficult in execution, yet this isn’t the kind of game you play for any one reason.

The reason to play this game is that life is too short to miss out on new and exciting experiences. If you’ve ever been to a rave, a laser light show or an electronic concert and wanted to take that intense, euphoric feeling of sensory-induced connectedness home with you, by all means, let Child of Eden take you away.

Score: 90/100

Pros:

-        Unique hybrid rhythm/rail-shooter gameplay with fantastic bosses

-        Epic soundtrack and visuals

-        Trippy sensory experience like no other

Cons:

-        Relatively short

-        Random difficulty spikes in some archives can be distracting