The game centers primarily around space-pirate Grayson Hunt and his brother-in-arms Ishi, as they attempt to escape from the ruined paradise resort world of Stygia. After warping out of deep space and coming upon the flagship of the General that betrayed them, The Ulysses, Grayson makes a drunken kamikaze attack on the ship, essentially punching the most advanced Warbird in the galaxy in the face. While his ship is nearly destroyed and goes plummeting onto the surface of a strange alien world, the Ulysses is also wrecked, and both ships crash a few miles apart. Grayson then attempts to not only exact his revenge on the general, but get himself and Ishi off the world as well.

The gameplay consists of lots of standard shooter fare with a ton of added kicks in the form of “skillshots”. These skillshots range from something as simple as a headshot (25 points) to something zanier, like kicking someone into electric cables (50 points) or shooting them in the groin, then blowing their head off as they writhe in pain (gleefully named “Mercy” and rewarding 100 points). There are a litany of over 100 skillshots, and every new weapon added into your arsenal further increases the number of creative ways you can destroy and maim those around you. A “leash”, which you discover fairly quickly in the game, is a module that attaches to your hand and displays both skillshot information and your ammo. It ties in with the various dead-drops you discover in the game. These dead-drops are where you cash in the points you make with your kills to unlock new weapons and ammo. In the context of the story, these were left here by a previous military campaign, and (in a delightfully Darwinian twist) were designed specifically so only the good soldiers would receive more ammo or better weapons.

There are a large number of set encounters: Big, crazy scripted battles where you are up against an unusual enemy or have a super powered weapon for a short amount of time. The game plays out nicely, moving at a breakneck pace from caves to trains to cliffs to villages to cities, propelling you through an amazing number of creative, vibrant, and stunning levels. This is one of the things I enjoyed the most as this is a departure from other shooters. Each level looks beautifully detailed, from the massive vistas near a gigantic dam, to the beautiful sci-fi skyscrapers, and crazy, The Fifth Element-headbutts-Bioshock design, to many of the more civilized parts of the city. The natural flora and fauna of Stygia are just as wide ranging and vivid, from electro-flies to huge man-eating Venus fly traps, and hilarious pods called Noms that, when kicked at an enemy, latch onto their heads and start chewing headcrab-style. That’s only a taste of the enemies you encounter on this murder paradise.

The game controls are tight and easy to pick up, and they at least use the matching buttons when giving you quick time events, such as shoot when you need to shoot in the sequence. One button activates the leash, and holding it down fires a “thumper” that launches all enemies caught in the area into the air, making them easy pickings. The artificial intelligence (AI) of your allies is competent enough, and invincible to the point where you usually don’t have to worry about them. The enemy AI is akin to Left 4 Dead, in which melee enemies swarm you, and regular shooter fare by using cover to advance into a confetti of bullets raining down on them.

The game is accompanied by a suitable soundtrack of loud, action movie fanfare, and squishy, gooey, gorey sounds whenever you land a good kill. The weapons have a great, loud kick to them and the charge shots that come with each weapon sound devastating and brutal. The dialogue is ridiculous and offensive, and delightfully colourful. The visuals mix perfectly with the audio, providing graphically sound and satisfying character models, level design, and effects. Explosions in particular look bright and powerful, streaming off like fireworks from their origin.

The multiplayer and “echo” segments, both of which involves replaying single player levels or edited maps, have some enjoyable times to be had, and it’ll keep your interest for a while as you attempt to get three stars on various challenges. But aside from that, it’s a straightforward multiplayer component, with the cooperative “Horde” mode (like swarm or wave cooperative modes in other shooters) adding a more diverse element.

Bulletstorm is raw and distilled fun for a mature audience. If you love cheesy sci-fi pulp and over-the-top machismo, mixed in with a vibrant, straightforward shooter, this is a game to add to your collection.

• December 22nd “Concussion from a smoke grenade” – 12x XP
- Concussion grenades added

• December 23rd “2 Flaming Bloodmounts” – 13x XP
- 2 Bloodmounts with flamethrowers appearing on every Horde wave.

• December 24th “3 Extra Clips” – 14x XP
- 3 extra clips of ammo in every weapon.

• December 25th “4 Frag Grenades” – 15x XP
- Every frag grenade pick-up now includes 4 grenades instead of the usual 2.

• December 26th “5 Torque Bow Tags” – 16x XP
- Many creatures who usually carry rifles in Horde mode will now carry torque bows.

• December 27th “6 Melee monsters” – 17x XP
- Horde waves will now entirely consist of melee creatures.

• December 28th “7 Sires a Storming” – 18x XP
- N/A (Most likely all Sire Horde waves though)

• December 29th “8 Old School Gears Heads” – 19x XP
- 4v4 Multiplayer Mode added

• December 30th “9 Boomers Booming” – 20x XP
- Boomer squads in every Horde wave.

• December 31st “10 Waves of Tickers” – 21x XP
- Tickers only in Horde

• January 1st “11 Wretches Wretching” – 22x XP
- Wretches with shotguns will make an appearance.

• January 2nd “Some of the Above” – 23x XP

This is a combination of concussion grenades, extra clips of ammo, extra frag grenades in each pickup, 4 vs 4 multiplayer mode, and Ticker horde waves.

Playing video games over the holidays does have certain advantages. This would be a great opportunity to both rank up and rack up some kills for that seemingly inconceivable 100,000 mark. Merry Gearsmas to all!

Such a scenario could occur when engaged with Epic Citadel, the iPhone app developed and published by Epic Games as an interactive demonstration of Unreal Engine 3 for Apple’s iPhone. The app – which I’m hesitant to call a game at this point, seeing as how it’s more-or-less a tech demo – drops you in the middle of a medieval citadel, completely rendered in gorgeous 3D graphics, and grants you the freedom to explore. The citadel is completely uninhabited, so there are no characters or creatures to interact with, but the citadel itself is beautiful and full of life.

The visual quality of the demo needs to be seen to be believed, a testament to the flexibility and power of UE3. The stone and rock textures found throughout the citadel benefit greatly from bump-mapping, enhancing them with a host of intricate details. Furthermore, the architecture makes use of normal mapped surfaces, which allow the engine to create details without having to render additional polygons. However, what really makes this demo come to life is the lighting.

Epic Citadel makes use of Unreal Engine 3’s built-in global illumination system, known as Unreal Lightmass, to provide realistic lighting and shadows, and with minimal hardware strain, to boot. The mid-day lighting found in the demo is on par with games such as Oblivion and Dragon Age: Origins, minus the blown out bloom effects used in both. The demo also makes use of real-time reflections, which blew me away the first time I saw them. Using the environment-mapping capabilities of the engine, the floor of the citadel’s cathedral reflects your surroundings in real-time. It’s jaw-dropping.

But as beautiful as it is, how does the demo control? Like most first-person games on the iPhone, Epic Citadel uses analog stick emulation, and as someone that typically hates that control scheme, I can tell you that it worked well. However, I still find that my thumbs obscure too much of the picture, which is even less excusable now that I have such gorgeous graphics to admire. Thankfully, Epic has included a means of navigating the environment that I found quite intuitive, and far less obscuring. If you tap a location on the screen, Epic Citadel will place an arrow marker at that location, near or far, and make your character walk there. While traveling to your destination, you can swipe the screen to the left or right to observe (and admire) your surroundings.

The Epic Citadel demo is very impressive, and a wonderful example of what Unreal Engine 3 is capable of on the iPhone. However, a tech demo is just that, a demo. What will ultimately determine the success of the engine is how developers choose to use it on this new platform. Epic themselves have already announced Project Sword, the codename for an Unreal Engine 3-powered role-playing game they are currently developing for the iPhone. Will it be enough to convince hardcore gamers that the iPhone is the portable platform to beat? We shall see. In the meantime, the citadel awaits!

So, without further ado, we’d like to announce the winners of our Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection Giveaway, which will give five lucky readers the chance to enjoy this event while playing on all 19 of the Gears of War 2 DLC maps. Our winners are:

InsaneBreakout

Wick

Ian790

maidenfan666

AddyRuffs

Congratulations! We will be contacting you via the email address supplied with your contest entry comment, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox. I’ll be doing my best to reach level 100 and earn my wings this weekend, so feel free to send me a friend request if you’d like to play. My Xbox LIVE gamertag is Ithilis. See you on the battlefield(s), Gears!

For those that haven’t caught wind of his zany plans, Rod will be awarding Gears of War 2 players with an experience points multiplier equal to the sum of his Twitter followers divided by 500. When he originally proposed the idea on Wednesday, July 14, he had 3000 followers. As of time of writing this article, he has 10,793, but chose to cap his campaign at 10,000 followers and a 20X experience points modifier. That’s a lot of XPs!

The Contest

To honour Rod’s crazy idea and his ongoing dedication to the Gears of War community, we’ve decided to award five lucky readers with Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection codes, giving them the chance to enjoy all 19 DLC maps while earning truckloads of XP!

To enter, simply tell us what excites you most about Epic’s upcoming Gears of War 3 by commenting on the article below. On the morning of Thursday, July 22, to coincide with the opening of the San Diego Comic Con, we’ll draw five names out of a hat and announce the winners. Remember: only Canadians need apply! You can still leave a comment if you’re not Canadian – as we’re always happy to hear and talk about Gears – you just won’t be eligible to win a prize.

For further rules and eligibility, please consult our official contest rules. Failure to comply with these rules will result in a merciless chainsawing. Canadian-style, of course.

Good luck!

To make the deal even sweeter, Epic Games intends to update the Unreal Development Kit regularly so that it offers the same features, technological enhancements, and tools used in the most current version of the Unreal Engine. Denis Dyack will be very pleased!

Furthermore, while noncommercial and educational use of the Development Kit is free of charge, Epic has established licensing terms for those wishing to use it for commercial purposes. These terms have been structured to make it easy for independent developers, start-up studios, or even seasoned industry professionals gain access to to the tools with a minimal financial barrier.

The Unreal Development Kit is currently for PC only, but upon further inquiry, we learned that developers interested in making games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms may request further information by emailing udklicensing@epicgames.com.

Canada’s on the verge of becoming a videogame development superpower (if we’re not seen as such already), and learning to use these tools may be the easiest way to get your foot in the door.

Shadow Complex plays like a 2D side-scroller, but is rendered in full 3D.  Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 (Gears of War, Unreal Tournament III) and featuring old-school level design, gameplay is centered on exploration and fast-paced combat.  Collect power-ups, overcome obstacles, thwart legions of enemies, and win the game!  The story’s based around a novel written by Orson Scott Card.  He wrote the insults in The Secret of Monkey Island, so we’ll see if this game can top that.

Chair was responsible for Undertow, another UE3 title, which was more multiplayer-biased but had an amazing style and impressive graphics, especially given the limitations XBLA titles had at the time.  With the blinders off, Shadow Complex looks like it’s trying to be the benchmark for Arcade releases on Xbox LIVE.

I have an impression I’m going to have a hard time putting this one down.  From what I’ve seen of the achievements, it looks like there are a few reasons to go back and give it another play-through.  Who else plans on joining Shadow Complex Club?

The sheer amount of content included in the Dark Corners add-on is impressive. Players that purchase the content will receive seven new multiplayer maps, bringing Gears of War 2’s total to an incredible twenty-nine, as well as a deleted campaign chapter entitled Road to Ruin.

GameNorth was given an opportunity to sit down with the new content, and despite being completely engrossed in the gameplay, managed to record some of our impressions. Here is what you can expect from the Dark Corners add-on (which is also included in the All Fronts collection) come July 28:

Multiplayer Maps:

Allfathers Garden

Set in the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders, Allfathers Garden is a large map filled with statues, pillars, and lush greenery. The vibrant green grass and mossy areas are a welcome departure from some of the more drab set pieces in the Gears of War universe, and make the level itself very pleasant to explore.

The level is a large rectangle with two main paths originating from the spawn points. The upper path features a Longshot on either end and a grenade spawn positioned between them. The lower path features a Torque Bow/Boomshot spawn point, and the hallway in the middle – which connects the upper and lower paths, leading to the grenades – features a Scorcher.

With two Longshots and a Torque Bow being used at the same time every other round, Allfathers Garden can create some very exciting gameplay situations. Fortunately, the level also features plenty of cover and hiding spots that will allow players to avoid getting killed by the long distance weapons. Due to its size and layout, expect Allfathers Garden to be a popular choice for Guardian mode, and favourite for anyone that loves a good Longshot duel. Additionally, with so many places to hide and take cover, Allfathers will likely be a hit in Wingman.

Highway

Deep in the Locust Hollow, Highway is large map that uses the Nexus setting and textures. Similar to the scene found in the campaign mode, Nexus features a Locust highway as a dynamic backdrop to the level, with squads of Locust and the occasional Brumak making an appearance.

The layout of the level may seem confusing at first, with two upper routes and one lower route available from the spawn point, but it’s actually quite simple. The upper routes lead to different areas of a large, open mezzanine that features a Mortar/Mulcher spawn in the middle, and the lower route leads to an open area with a grenade spawn and a set of parallel stairways that each lead up to a Longshot/Torque Bow spawn. The lower area also features a Boomshot/Scorcher spawn between another set of parallel stairs leading up to the middle of the mezzanine area.

The action in Highway can unfold in several different ways, depending on the routes chosen by each team. If both teams choose to remain on the lower area, a fast and furious skirmish will no doubt occur over the grenades and the Boomshot/Scorcher – which are in very close proximity – and the winner of the Longshot/Torque duel will wreak havoc on anyone below. The mezzanine is rather barren, only offering the Mortar/Mulcher way at the back, but offers great vantage points on the combat below. The size of the level and the relatively secure mezzanine area will make this level a popular choice for Guardian, and the furious action of the lower area will be attractive to fans of Execution and Warzone. And like Allfathers, having duelling Longshots/Torque Bows is always a great selling point.

Memorial

Set near the Eternal Flame, a Coalition tribute to fallen soldiers (and not the Bangels), Memorial is a cleaner, more pristine level than most. Visually, it shares a lot in common with Jacinto, a bright level with a civilized, Coalition influence, and is about the same size as well, if not larger.

The level features three possible routes from each spawn point: a lower route leading to the large courtyard that features the Eternal Flame memorial, a route leading up to an elevated area overlooking the courtyard, and another route that leads under the elevated area to another set of stairs at the back.

The courtyard features a Mortar spawn in the middle, hidden behind the Eternal Flame, and a grenade spawn just below the balcony of the elevated area. The elevated area offers a Longshot/Torque Bow spawn at the back, and the lower area features a Boomshot/Scorcher spawn where the hallways meet at the base of the stairs. There is a balcony directly overlooking the Boomshot/Scorcher spawn, making it a very risky endeavour, but whichever team secures the Boomshot and the Longshot/Torque will easily control the map from the elevated area. However, a well-placed volley from the Mortar in the courtyard could change everything in an instant. Like the other two large levels, Memorial will be great for Guardian, but its multiple routes should also make it fun for Annex and Submission.

Nowhere

Perhaps my favourite map of the newest additions, Nowhere is a very small level set in a barren refuelling station in the middle of the desert. The level is very bright and features several new textures and scenery, and periodic sandstorms can greatly reduce visibility.

Only a little larger than Raven Down from the original Gears of War, most of the action in Nowhere takes place at the centre of the map, in a small lot littered with abandoned cars and other random obstacles. Grenades can be found at the middle of the lot, and a Mortar/Mulcher can be found on top of an old diner that overlooks the entire level. On the opposite side of the lot from the diner are two abandoned shops with pistol spawns and windows that look out to the centre of the level. Between the two shops is a water tower behind which a Longshot/Torque Bow spawn can be found.

Nowhere plays very fast, and gives you little time before you encounter your enemy. The Mortar/Mulcher spawn and the Longshot/Torque spawn will be heavily contested, and the winner of either could easily dominate the level. With such fast-paced action, Nowhere is likely to be very popular on Execution and Warzone playlists, and will produce some very hectic Annex and King of the Hill matches.

Those that were quick enough to cash in their Microsoft Points and download the expansion pack, officially releasing on July 28, are able to play it. There has been no word if the multiplayer maps are accessible online, but they can be played locally, and the Road to Ruin deleted chapter is fully accessible.

The All Fronts add-on will be available on July 28 for 1600 Microsoft Points alongside the Dark Corners add-on, available for 1200 Microsoft Points.

For those lucky enough to download the pack, happy hunting!

“Karen Traviss has outdone herself once again,” said Rod Fergusson, executive producer, Epic Games. “Jacinto’s Remnant not only answers the question of what happens after the events of Gears 2, it also provides greater insight into the Gears of War universe and a deeper understanding of its characters. We hope players of the games and discerning readers alike will enjoy this ongoing tale of humanity’s fight for survival.”

Gears of War: Jacinto’s Remnant will be available on July 28, 2009, in a war-torn book store near you.

When playing Horde mode, players will now earn experience points when their team successfully completes a wave. Depending on the difficulty level, each successful wave completion will award players between 50 and 125 experience points. Due to the time investment required to play Horde, the amount of experience points earned per hour will be significantly lower than that of multiplayer, and rightly so, but repeatedly completing waves 1-9 could prove interesting. The amount of experience points awarded is as follows:

• 50 points per completed Casual wave.
• 75 points per completed Normal wave.
• 100 points per completed Hardcore wave.
• 125 points per completed Insane wave.

The other changes that caught my eye were the improvements made to the Smoke Grenades and their new cringe effect. Currently, the Smoke Grenades will only cause a player to cringe if they are standing still or walking when the grenade detonates. After Title Update 4, the Smoke Grenades will be a much more useful tool, causing players to:

• Drop the Boomshield, even if aiming while carrying it.
• Drop a heavy weapon, even if it is deployed.
• Cringe while roadie running.
• Cringe while in cover.

Personally, I like these Smoke Grenade changes. With the roll being the only remaining means of avoiding the cringe effect, players will be required to act evasively when defending a position. Furthermore, players can still avoid planted Smoke Grenades with a well-timed roll. The ability to knock the mortar out of the hands of an enemy is also welcome, and will be particularly useful on stages like Fuel Station.

For the full list of changes found in Title Update 4, head on over to Epic’s official Gears of War 2 forums.

“It’s been a quiet week and Joe and I are bored. So on a whim we’ve decided to give all players on the winning team of a Public Match a little sumthin’ sumthin’. And by that I mean 500 bonus experience points for winning.

Call us rogue, call us heroes, but hey just don’t actually call us.”

Oh, we won’t, Rod. We’ll be too busy chainsawing strangers in half. But how long will this magical experience point bonus remain in effect?

“..starting now (Friday) and ending when we get back into work on Monday. We’ll see how this feels and maybe we’ll keep it if we like it.”

We like it! We like it!

Unreal Tournament 3 became Unreal Tournament 3 Black with the introduction of the free downloadable Titan Pack add-on. The Titan Pack added loads of new content and enhancements to the game, including new levels, weapons, vehicles, characters, and the titular Titan Mutator.

With the upcoming release of patch 2.1, Unreal Tournament 3 Black will see further enhancements, such as gameplay tweaks, mod support enhancements, bug fixes, user interface improvements, and achievement progress for custom maps.

Pre-loading for the upcoming Unreal Tournament 3 Black free Steam weekend begins now.

While I have grown to love and appreciate the differences between the original Gears of War and Gears of War 2, there’s one change in Gears of War 2 that I wish Epic Games would reconsider – the nerfing of the Longshot Sniping Rifle.