gamenorth.ca » Trailer http://gamenorth.ca Home Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:25:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 New Screens for ‘Dragon Quest VI’ http://gamenorth.ca/2011/01/27/dragon-quest-6-screens/ http://gamenorth.ca/2011/01/27/dragon-quest-6-screens/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:51:11 +0000 Rebecca Quintana http://gamenorth.ca/?p=6446 Dragon Quest VI.]]> If you’re like me, then one thing you’re really looking forward to this year is Valentine’s Day.  And not because you want a bundle of roses or some candy in a heart-shaped box.  No, you’re hyped because that’s when Nintendo releases the long awaited (and never-before-released in the West) DS remake of Dragon Quest VI.

The new game, subtitled Realms of Revelation, is what you would typically expect from a Dragon Quest game. It will be interesting to see how this game is received in light of last year’s Dragon Quest IX, however.

If you’re in the US (or don’t mind ordering through Gamestop’s US website), you can pre-order the game and get a cute slime plushie.  Considering they didn’t have any pre-order bonus for the last game, this is a nice surprise for fans of the series.  Disappointingly, the Canadian listing doesn’t seem to include the bonus, but you’ll save on shipping.

Either way, you can bask in the glory of the new screenshots Nintendo has revealed, or check out the game’s trailer.  I know the trailer came out before Christmas, but if you’re a true fan, you can never watch a Dragon Quest trailer enough, can you?

[Source: Nintendo]

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2011/01/27/dragon-quest-6-screens/feed/ 2 ‘Metal Gear Solid: Rising’ gameplay trailer impressions http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/17/metal-gear-solid-rising-gameplay-trailer-impressions/ http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/17/metal-gear-solid-rising-gameplay-trailer-impressions/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:35:13 +0000 Jeremy Cole http://gamenorth.ca/?p=5047 Metal Gear Solid: Rising. ]]> Raiden is back, and he’s a whole lot more interesting than before. He was pretty badass in MGS4, but with no ability to play him (not even in a VR mission, a la the original Metal Gear Solid), I personally felt a little cheated out of the hot property that was his special brand of ninja goodness. Rising originally seemed like a cop out, with the only information on him being revealed in an image of his face on a website that was released months ago. I recall the day it was announced, because I sat with a pony-tailed, bespectacled friend of mine and tentatively waited for it to be unlocked, and then spent a fervent lunch period gushing over the contents – just a pair of portraits – and speculating on what it was about or what it meant.

That was then and this is now. The game has been revealed. Not just with classically well done cinematics, which would not have served to impress me very much, but with the desperately needed gameplay to confirm its legitimacy! The slicing action, which is very Afro Samurai or Samurai Jack, seems like it’s going to be satisfying in its integration into the world by not limiting you to chopping just foes in half, but the rest of the environment as well. He can collapse building supports (architecture or stationary construction) or props such as cars or fruit. Enemies are severed precisely where they are cut, and that makes slicing and dicing take on a whole new meaning. The fighting system is a made up Japanese word, which looks great brush-stroked across a screen, called Zan-Datsu. It revolves around “cutting at will”. However, control is maintained, allowing you to finesse the depth of a cut – allowing you to kill, simply maim or wound an enemy. This precision was demonstrated with the watermelon slicing at the conclusion of the trailer. Zan-Datsu may also extend to the implementation of stealth within this game, focusing on hunting and striking from vantage points or hiding spots. The possibility to hide vertically seems to be present based on the word of the developers on hand. Stealth movement is accelerated, moving past the slow toddling pace of earlier “wait and evade” designs. This game moving in this direction is similar to the way Splinter Cell: Conviction broke away from previously established norms for that franchise, by introducing fluid and dynamic stealth where a flow is created from cover to cover, enemy to enemy, and kill to kill.  Secondary weapons, items, and gadgets are said to be in the works, along with a game advancement mechanic of draining energy from the batteries you relinquish from dispatched synthetics to increase your own power.

The F.R.O.G. soldiers remain along with the P.M.C. (Private Military Company) ones. This game is set between MGS2 and MGS4, where at some point Raiden apparently gets the ORGANS ripped out of him. In particular, I was fascinated by the design of the male F.R.O.G. soldier, handling something like a gorilla with the iconic clawed feet. a machine gun was mounted on his long, heavy arms.  Slowly moving through the area, he brushed expended shells aside with his feet, implying that there was already a lengthy conflict here. I am interested to see any other diversions in the established aesthetic. The combat vest remains a centerpiece, featured on every combatant (save Raiden) – even on the more outlandish opponents like Mr. Gorilla. The hard points, bolted down armor, diagonal lines and jagged edges seem to lend more to the “Cut” theme of the trailer. I enjoy the placement of the bandage over his eye without knowing anything about the origin of the mark. The diagonal swipe of the fabric serves to break up the cold, hard symmetry of his design.

I originally scoffed at the idea of the white synthetic blood that made its debut when he was injured in the last game, but now I see why they chose that colour specifically. In the early concepts for Raiden – which I have deliciously laid out for me in a MGS2 artbook – Yoji Shinkawa, the conceptual designer, said that he wanted Raiden to symbolize purity or innocence. Colour-wise, that means he would be very close to pure white due to his whole life being spent in virtual reality. This showed itself in his hair. The white blood seemed to follow this aesthetic, not only showing the extent of his loss of humanity, but how deep the purity flowed. At the same time, this runs contrary to the battle experience that his synthetic body indicates. His armor does feature an interesting amount of orange to it in this iteration, something the previously monotone Raiden lacked. His eyes are also a predatory and feline orange. Perhaps this reflects his heightened predatory state before he became the “flawless” Raiden of MGS4? Or maybe this is a reference to the white/black/orange colour scheme of Grey Fox? Everything about him channels both the Cyborg Ninja, which was a beautiful expression of design and death all his own, and the long hair that made Raiden pop out in the screen. They kept the hair for two important reasons. First, if they closed off his head entirely it would make him seem to lose any humanity he had left, as the majority – if not all – of his human features are in his face. Sacrificing that would’ve been a step too far and I think the novelty of the design would have been lost. Secondly, the smooth, flowing nature of the hair provides an energetic and lightning-hot contrast with the cold hard lines of his armour. As he moves through the scene, his body moves and whips from side to side as he slashes, but all of the smooth flow of his hair helps to add a serious style to his movements. It almost reminds me of a brush traveling around a page. From a mechanic perspective, it also provides the player with a clear indication of his head the whole time, helping to maintain a spacial understanding that would be crucial during any rapid or confusing movement. Examples of this could be seen in Bayonetta, with her hot pink weapons, or Sam Fisher, with the glowing walkie-talkie and goggles. The way his hair  juts out from his head enclosure (when his helmet is down in MGS4) makes him seem like he’s wearing a sort of  intense tribal mask and the hair is the only piece of his humanity left in combat. He becomes a cold calculating animal, ripping everyone apart with ease that rivals the Cyborg Ninja, but with a distinct excess of mobility that the previous iterations lacked.

That mobility is what has me excited for this next game. I want to be able to leap onto walls and lie in wait for prey, then drop down and rip one apart, leaving the second to fumble with his gun as I run up to him in slow motion, sweeping out his legs and then slicing him in a hard diagonal across his body. It’s moments like that which make me excited for Rising, and also happy they’ve drawn the plot away from Snake, but left it in a fairly familiar, established setting.

One closing note: I think I speak for many of us when I say that during the battle with Vamp and Raiden, where Snake provided cover, I wasn’t the only person who had a friend play it through again, just so I could watch the badassery carrying on to the right of the screen. Making a whole game based on that?

Solid.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/17/metal-gear-solid-rising-gameplay-trailer-impressions/feed/ 0 E3 2010 – Creator of ‘Another World’ ready to take us to another world http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-creator-of-another-world-ready-to-take-us-to-another-world/ http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-creator-of-another-world-ready-to-take-us-to-another-world/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:43:44 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=5037 Project Dust, a spiritual heir to Populous.]]> Another World. If you like videogames and you haven’t played it, shame on you. Another World, known as Out of This World here in North America, was a brilliant, side-scrolling action-adventure game, designed and developed entirely by one man, Eric Chahi, back in 1991. To this day, it remains one of my favourite videogames of all time.

Knowing this, you could probably imagine my delight when I learned that Chahi, now working as a Creative Director for Ubisoft’s Montpellier studio, was working on a new game, tentatively titled Project Dust. Very little is known about the game at this time, but Chahi shared these words in a press release issued by Ubisoft at E3 2010.

“Project Dust is the spiritual heir to Populous. The game is set in an extreme version of Planet Earth where nature unleashes her power in a much more violent way than what we are used to. Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, volcanic eruptions are what the days are made of for the people of Dust. In this kind of God game, users will play with powers to manipulate the world around them. Ground, water, lava, fire, plants and trees – model the world like a child playing sand castles on the beach. With such powers, players will help their people resist, expand and migrate so they can accomplish their quest to find a safe place.”

In describing the technology used to make the game possible, Chahi said that players will be able to “manipulate ground, water, vegetation – breaching a lake open, digging craters, and flooding valleys.” The game will employ such effects through actual simulation, not just graphical visualization, utilizing realistic physics to drive a fully dynamic, ever-changing game world.

Project Dust may be quite a departure from Another World, and subsequent Chahi titles, such as Flashback and Heart of Darkness, but I’m excited nonetheless. Chahi has proven in each of his releases that he is capable of crafting imaginative and creative worlds, and creating gameplay that is both fun and addictive while maintaining a touch of simplicity. With the money and man-power of Ubisoft Montpellier behind him, Project Dust has the potential to be one of his best.

Check out the early build E3 trailer below.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-creator-of-another-world-ready-to-take-us-to-another-world/feed/ 1 E3 2010 – Microsoft announces Summer of Arcade 2010 http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-microsoft-announces-summer-of-arcade-2010/ http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-microsoft-announces-summer-of-arcade-2010/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:34:55 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=5023 Now that I’m back in school and living the poor and destitute life of a college student, I have very little time or money for gaming. However, thanks to the bite-sized digital delights available through the likes of Xbox LIVE Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and WiiWare, I have managed to maintain a shaky, yet enduring grasp on my sanity. The games are small enough that I don’t feel terrible when I neglect them for weeks at a time, and I can generally purchase them with the spare change found beneath the cushions of my couch. This is why one of the most exciting announcements to come out of E3 2010 so far for me was the return of Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade for the Xbox 360.

Scheduled for later this summer, Summer of Arcade 2010 will once again present gamers with a collection of five highly-anticipated Xbox LIVE Arcade titles over a period of five weeks. Summer of Arcade promotions of the past have brought us titles such as Castle Crashers, Geometry Wars 2, Braid, and Shadow Complex. What does Microsoft have in store for us this summer? Here’s the list:

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light showcases a new isometric cooperative adventure that aims to deliver instant, intense action and bite-sized puzzles which will fit perfectly into the coveted Summer of Arcade lineup.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane

Featuring all-new, over-the-top themed environments, rocket-powered speedboats, gorgeous visuals, and amazing dynamic water physics, Hydro Thunder Hurricane is the adrenaline dripping sequel fans have been waiting for.

Monday Night Combat

Monday Night Combat for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a class-based, third-person shooter, and the most popular lethal sport of the future! It blends intense combat, finishing moves, and gameshow-like challenges and rewards to produce an action experience unlike any other.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

In the vein of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the brilliantly-crafted Nintendo DS Castlevania titles, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a 2D, side-scrolling, multiplayer action-adventure for Xbox LIVE Arcade. Featuring a cast of characters from previous Castlevania titles, players can choose their favourite heroes and co-operate to defeat the forces of darkness.

LIMBO

An innovative and stylish side-scrolling adventure from independent developer PlayDead, LIMBO challenges gamers to explore and experiment in order to overcome the dangers of a mysterious and perilous environment. Gamers will be lost in the dark visuals and enchanting atmosphere of LIMBO.

Check out the Summer of Arcade 2010 trailer below.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/15/e3-2010-microsoft-announces-summer-of-arcade-2010/feed/ 1 ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ trailer impressions http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/08/deus-ex-human-revolution-trailer-impressions/ http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/08/deus-ex-human-revolution-trailer-impressions/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:18:16 +0000 Jeremy Cole http://gamenorth.ca/?p=4918 Deus Ex: Human Revolution.]]> I’ve played the original two games and I have just been incredibly excited by the new trailer. The artistic interpretation of the double city being fleshed out a little more and providing a tiny bit of backstory into the character of Adam Jensen was enlightening. The pre-rendered combat sequences were especially interesting, with Adam manipulating his augmented prosthetics with deadly capacity, drawing a blade (which seemed to emerge from both the top of the wrist and ahead of the elbow joint, moving back) or stretching his hand for gripping the helmet of an assailant and spinning him dramatically, breaking his neck.

Several key Deus Ex classics were present, including cloaking and the beautiful augmented iris glow. The colour palette was true to the Baroque inspired design, with many sepia and variant golden tones. The most vivid reference to the renaissance is the news reporter’s high frilled collar. The minigun attachment popping out reminded me of a similar weapon from Ghost In The Shell as well.

So now I have to ask: Does this look too Metal Gear Solid? Perhaps too clean for the dark, gritty art style of the Deus Ex universe? Maybe that is just the Japanese cinematic aesthetic shining through. Maybe those glasses can be equipped in game, leading to a detailed HUD or weapon interface, whereas without the glasses it’s just a clean vision mode – minimalist. From the conceptual art earlier released on Kotaku, this game seems to be heading to a very interesting place. Would the event where an enemy gets “hacked” and commits suicide be an available player skill? Imagine having to fight off viruses as you hacked into a computer, uploading and rerouting subroutines as you broke into a system, something like EDI in Mass Effect 2.

I would love to see some hand-to-hand combat in this game, which is something that the first ones lacked – possibly some Mirror’s Edge style spinning kicks or swings. The added mobility in this game would be very invigorating and enticing for me. I hope the blade is kept as a defense mechanism or freehand offensive weapon. It would be awesome if Adam’s jacket is kept for free-roam and removed only for missions, separating his design for combat and exploration.

This is just all me geeking out. I was raised on these games, and they’re what made me love this industry. I just wanna see them done right in this era of entertainment. What would you like to see in the new Deus Ex?

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

UPDATE: While the game has been confirmed to be in 1st person predominantly, there is a nice flavour of 3rd person in the newly integrated cover system (A la Rainbow Six: Las Vegas) and in sweet hand-to-hand takedowns. I have offically lost it with excitement for this game.  The character looks awesome, and I love the idea of pulling back for cinematic moments or conversation.

More on this as I find it.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] ]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2010/06/08/deus-ex-human-revolution-trailer-impressions/feed/ 5 ‘You wanna try me, guv?’ Meet Steve Fox of ‘Tekken 6′ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/you-wanna-try-me-guv-meet-steve-fox-of-tekken-6/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/you-wanna-try-me-guv-meet-steve-fox-of-tekken-6/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:44:32 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3834 Namco Bandai has launched a character popularity contest on the official Tekken 6 website to determine which Tekken 6 character will win the Iron Fist tournament of our hearts. Each character will get their own spotlight video in order to show off their moves and costumes, and fans that participate in the contest by voting will unlock exclusive Tekken 6 media and content on the official website.

Today’s five minutes of fame go to the British boxer and estranged son of Nina Williams, Steve Fox. Fox first appeared in Tekken 4 and has been punching faces (and feet) ever since. A feared foe in Tekken 5, Namco was forced to tone him down for the release of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. Will Tekken 6 be his return to glory? Will he ever get the chance to sit down for tea with his estranged, assassinating mother? We’ll find out this Fall! In the meantime, “you wanna try me, guv?”

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/you-wanna-try-me-guv-meet-steve-fox-of-tekken-6/feed/ 1 Latest ‘NHL 2K10′ trailer is full of razzle-dazzle, fancy footwork http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/latest-nhl-2k10-trailer-is-full-of-razzle-dazzle-fancy-footwork/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/latest-nhl-2k10-trailer-is-full-of-razzle-dazzle-fancy-footwork/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:41:48 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3830 NHL 2K10 trailer.]]> Another week, another NHL 2K10 trailer. While last week’s trailer revealed that Alexander Ovechkin’s famous laying down goal will be featured in the game, this week’s trailer shows a few other players from the NHL engaging in fancy footwork and impressive dekes. The animation looks smoother than that seen in NHL 2K9, and the player models retain a considerable amount of detail while the game is in motion, but some of the old 2K9 animations remain. Though, considering the amount of time I have spent playing NHL 2K9, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

Unfortunately, what the trailer doesn’t show is rival NHL10 cover athlete Patrick Kane getting arrested after assaulting a Buffalo cab driver. Shame!

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/10/latest-nhl-2k10-trailer-is-full-of-razzle-dazzle-fancy-footwork/feed/ 0 ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ demo lands on August 7, new trailer emerges from the Bat Cave http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/batman-arkham-asylum-demo-lands-on-august-7-new-trailer-emerges-from-the-bat-cave/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/batman-arkham-asylum-demo-lands-on-august-7-new-trailer-emerges-from-the-bat-cave/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:05:41 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3736 Where does he get those wonderful toys?]]> The August 25 release date of Batman: Arkham Asylum is fast approaching, and if you’re still on the fence about whether or not to step foot into Gotham City’s prison for the criminally insane, Eidos Interactive has announced that a demo for the game will be released on August 7 for the PC, PlayStation 3, and the Xbox 360.

The demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum opens with the Dark Knight and Commissioner Gordon delivering The Joker back into confinement at Arkham Asylum. Unfortunately, things soon fall apart as The Joker gains the upper hand and springs a trap, setting all of Arkham’s occupants on the Caped Crusader. The demo promises to offer fans a chance to experience the game’s FreeFlow combat system, the Invisible Predator stealth mechanics, and some of Batman’s famous detective work. Players will also be able to unlock character bios, as well as get a sneak peak at some of the infamous foes that Batman will encounter within the confines of Arkham Asylum.

To prepare you for the upcoming demo, Eidos Interactive have released a new Batman: Arkham Asylum trailer.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/batman-arkham-asylum-demo-lands-on-august-7-new-trailer-emerges-from-the-bat-cave/feed/ 0 See Ovechkin’s greatest goal, lamest celebration ever in latest ‘NHL 2K10′ trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/see-ovechkins-greatest-goal-lamest-celebration-ever-in-latest-nhl-2k10-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/see-ovechkins-greatest-goal-lamest-celebration-ever-in-latest-nhl-2k10-trailer/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:11:02 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3722 NHL2K10 trailer!]]> Hinted at in the last batch of screenshots, the latest trailer for NHL 2K10 shows us Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin’s famous laying down goal in digital form, followed by his notorious ‘my stick is too hot’ goal celebration. Splendid.

While the animation looks great, and the goal is certainly exciting, I don’t understand why 2K Sports would focus so much on implementing something that happened once in the history of the sport. Personally, I’d rather not see this kind of goal happen with any frequency in the game, and hope that such theatrics can toggled.

I may be in the minority here, but I think the face-washing, post-whistle shenanigans, and board play of NHL10 sound much more exciting because those things actually happen all the time in the real sport. But for those that can’t wait to do Ovechkin’s goal over and over, here it is in all its digital glory.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/08/04/see-ovechkins-greatest-goal-lamest-celebration-ever-in-latest-nhl-2k10-trailer/feed/ 1 ‘Risen’ trailer offers beautiful scenery, symphonic gothic metal http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/30/risen-trailer-offers-beautiful-scenery-symphonic-gothic-metal/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/30/risen-trailer-offers-beautiful-scenery-symphonic-gothic-metal/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:00:06 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3671 German developer Piranha Bytes have released the first official trailer for Risen, the spiritual successor to their Gothic franchise. Featuring the song Poet and the Pendulum by symphonic gothic metal band Nightwish, the trailer gives us a glimpse of the medieval tropical island upon which the story of Risen will unfold. Try not to headbutt your monitor when the music makes the transition from symphonic melody to melt-your-face gothic metal and the inevitable headbanging occurs.

Risen is scheduled for release this October for the PC and Xbox 360 platforms.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/30/risen-trailer-offers-beautiful-scenery-symphonic-gothic-metal/feed/ 0 ‘Borderlands’ gameplay reveal trailer: The RPG and FPS made a baby http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/24/borderlands-gameplay-reveal-trailer-the-rpg-and-fps-made-a-baby/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/24/borderlands-gameplay-reveal-trailer-the-rpg-and-fps-made-a-baby/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:57:01 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3537 Borderlands, and it's bloody glorious.]]> You’ve heard me rave about Borderlands before, and now 2K Games and developer Gearbox want you to know why with the reveal of the game’s very first gameplay trailer. Be warned: it’s not for the faint of heart! The trailer includes massive explosions, violent battles, levelling up, four player co-operative action, dancing robots, and 87 bazillion guns. It’s practically videogame pornography for role-playing and first-person shooter enthusiasts, and I almost feel dirty watching it alone in my office. Almost.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/24/borderlands-gameplay-reveal-trailer-the-rpg-and-fps-made-a-baby/feed/ 0 BioWare lifts the curtain on their ‘Mass Effect 2′ E3 footage http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/16/bioware-lifts-the-curtain-on-their-mass-effect-2-e3-footage/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/16/bioware-lifts-the-curtain-on-their-mass-effect-2-e3-footage/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:20:52 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3371 Prior to this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, BioWare sent us a video detailing the Mass Effect 2 footage that they would be showing behind closed doors during the event. With E3 now behind us, BioWare has decided to reveal that footage to the rest of the world.

In the following video, Project Director Casey Hudson and his team walk us through some elements of the sequel’s plot, as well as some new gameplay features. Amongst other features, new to Mass Effect 2 is a fully-realized space exploration system, complete with real-time fuel consumption and detailed planetary scans. As huge fan of Star Control II, I cannot tell you how excited I am to have such a similar exploration system appear in my favourite role-playing game franchise.

In addition to the exploration, BioWare previews the expanded dialogue interruption system, as well as the new cover system during combat. Furthermore, it is revealed that Mass Effect 2 will employ multiple endings, and that some endings may have shocking ramifications in future instalments of the franchise.

Stop reading and watch it already!

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/16/bioware-lifts-the-curtain-on-their-mass-effect-2-e3-footage/feed/ 0 Meet the villains of ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/14/meet-the-villains-of-batman-arkham-asylum/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/14/meet-the-villains-of-batman-arkham-asylum/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:47:43 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3309 Batman has one of the most intriguing rogues galleries of all comic superheroes, largely because like Batman himself, they don’t have superpowers, they’re just plain crazy. This makes them much less predictable than most villains and tends to give them more interesting and unique motives. However, in Batman: Arkham Asylum, their motives are quite simple: kill the Batman once and for all. In the latest trailer for the game, Eidos gives us a sneak peak at the villains awaiting Batman in the dark corridors of Gotham’s institution for the criminally insane.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/14/meet-the-villains-of-batman-arkham-asylum/feed/ 0 Take that, Sloth Mage! The epic battle unfolds in latest ‘Dragon Age: Origins’ gameplay trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/09/take-that-sloth-mage-the-epic-battle-unfolds-in-latest-dragon-age-origins-gameplay-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/09/take-that-sloth-mage-the-epic-battle-unfolds-in-latest-dragon-age-origins-gameplay-trailer/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:11:07 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3228 Yesterday, we brought you screenshots from BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins depicting a battle between the Grey Wardens and something called a Sloth Mage. Today, we bring you a gameplay video of that very same battle! Able to change into various forms, the Sloth Mage gives the Grey Wardens a great deal of trouble, and he sure doesn’t seem sloth-like in his agility. However, he does cast some spells. At least part of his name is accurate!

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/09/take-that-sloth-mage-the-epic-battle-unfolds-in-latest-dragon-age-origins-gameplay-trailer/feed/ 0 ‘Naruto Shippuden: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 3′ lets you invade Konoha Village via Wi-Fi http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/naruto-shippuden-clash-of-the-ninja-revolution-3-lets-you-invade-konoha-village-via-wi-fi/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/naruto-shippuden-clash-of-the-ninja-revolution-3-lets-you-invade-konoha-village-via-wi-fi/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:44:42 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3157 Aside from having the longest name ever, Naruto Shippuden: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 3 will also enable players to battle opponents over Wi-Fi, a first for the franchise. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, Naruto Shippuden 3 will feature more than 30 iconic characters from the Naruto Shippuden anime and manga series, complete with new looks and character-specific justsu moves, as well as over 40 three-dimensional environments to do battle in.

Naruto Shippuden: Clash of the Ninja Revolution 3 will be available this Fall exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, and will retail for only $39.99. In the meantime, check out this anime-tastic trailer!

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/naruto-shippuden-clash-of-the-ninja-revolution-3-lets-you-invade-konoha-village-via-wi-fi/feed/ 0 New ‘Dante’s Inferno’ trailer filled with ‘Divine Comedy’ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/new-dantes-inferno-trailer-filled-with-divine-comedy/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/new-dantes-inferno-trailer-filled-with-divine-comedy/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:13:40 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3152 Dante's Inferno.]]> I haven’t read Dante Alighieri’s classic The Divine Comedy in years, so I don’t actually recall if it was filled with third-person hack-and-slash action sequences, but someone at Electronic Arts developer Visceral Games seems to think it was.

Dante’s Inferno, which is scheduled to immolate our very souls sometime in 2010, will see players assume the role of Dante (not to be confused with the poet), who descends into Hell after returning home to find his beloved Beatrice murdered. With Lucifer seducing her soul into the underworld, Dante descends into the nine planes of Hell to rescue Beatrice, only to learn that he must first overcome his own demons and ultimately redeem himself.

Hell is tricky business folks, and I suggest you stay out of it! In the meantime, check out this trailer for Dante’s Inferno, fresh off the soul-burning presses.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/new-dantes-inferno-trailer-filled-with-divine-comedy/feed/ 0 ‘Battlefield 1943′ deploys on XBLA today, PSN tomorrow http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/battlefield-1943-deploys-on-xbla-today-psn-tomorrow/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/battlefield-1943-deploys-on-xbla-today-psn-tomorrow/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:52:24 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3145 Battlefield 1943!]]> The latest instalment of Electronic Arts’ Battlefield franchise, Battlefield 1943, has landed on Xbox LIVE Arcade today, and will form a beachhead on the PlayStation Network tomorrow. With the exception of a few server issues, the game has launched to a great deal of fanfare and praise, and according to a recent Message of the Day posting, DICE will be adding more servers very shortly. Curious about how the classic Battlefield 1942 gameplay will translate into ito its console-centric cousin? Check out the launch trailer from Electronic Arts and DICE.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/08/battlefield-1943-deploys-on-xbla-today-psn-tomorrow/feed/ 0 Get a two minute minor with this new ‘NHL 10′ gameplay trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/06/get-a-two-minute-minor-with-this-new-nhl-10-gameplay-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/06/get-a-two-minute-minor-with-this-new-nhl-10-gameplay-trailer/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:16:34 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3073 NHL10 hopes to build on the success of its predecessor.]]> Hoping to build upon the success of the award-winning NHL09, Electronic Arts have implemented over two-hundred gameplay refinements for the upcoming NHL10. Hoping to capture the realism of hockey, NHL10 will allow players to engage in all manner of unsportsmanlike activities after the whistle blows. Facewash another player when the referee isn’t looking, throw a delayed check, or even take a shot on net to get under the skin of the other team. In the following gameplay trailer, NHL10 Producer David Littman reveals these new gameplay enhancements plus more.

Wait, did I see a player wearing a visor during one of the new first-person perspective fights? Marc Savard just cancelled his pre-order.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/06/get-a-two-minute-minor-with-this-new-nhl-10-gameplay-trailer/feed/ 3 See Guybrush Threepwood in action in this trailer for ‘Tales of Monkey Island’ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/03/see-guybrush-threepwood-in-action-in-this-trailer-for-tales-of-monkey-island/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/03/see-guybrush-threepwood-in-action-in-this-trailer-for-tales-of-monkey-island/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:19:30 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=3019 With the first episode of Tales of Monkey Island sailing to the Wii and PCs early next week, LucasArts and developer Telltale have decided to give gamers a sneak peak at what to expect from the swashbuckling saga. In the first of five episodes, we join famed pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to rescue his wife Elaine from his arch-nemesis, LeChuck!


]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/07/03/see-guybrush-threepwood-in-action-in-this-trailer-for-tales-of-monkey-island/feed/ 0 Team ICO sends us the official ‘The Last Guardian’ trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/25/team-ico-sends-us-the-official-the-last-guardian-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/25/team-ico-sends-us-the-official-the-last-guardian-trailer/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:37:42 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2651 Ico series.]]> Unfortunately, the trailer for The Last Guardian was amongst many leaks that trickled out to the media prior to this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, stealing a great deal of thunder from Sony’s press conference. However, the trailer that Sony revealed at the show benefited from updated visuals and additional scenes. The trailer revealed further interaction between the protagonist character and his adorable gryphon-rat thing, as well as a glimpse of an encounter with some guards.

Opting to release the trailer on their own terms this time around, Sony has sent us the updated trailer for The Last Guardian in all its glory. Enjoy!

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/25/team-ico-sends-us-the-official-the-last-guardian-trailer/feed/ 0 Better late than never – ‘White Knight Chronicles’ E3 trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/24/better-late-than-never-white-knight-chronicles-e3-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/24/better-late-than-never-white-knight-chronicles-e3-trailer/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:33:17 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2582 Nobody’s perfect. We here at GameNorth come very close at times, but in the end, we’re only human. Well, except for Brad, who may very well be a robot. As humans (and a solitary robot), we’re prone to making mistake from time to time. Sometimes we press the X Button when we meant to press the A Button, and sometimes we forget to post video game media.

Such was the case with White Knight Chronicles and the trailer for the game that debuted at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. We watched it, we were impressed with it, we encoded it and even uploaded it, and then we completely forgot about it. Sorry, White Knight Chronicles fans!

Better late than never, and without further ado, here is the White Knight Chronicles trailer from E3. And if you want someone to blame, we say blame our robot.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/24/better-late-than-never-white-knight-chronicles-e3-trailer/feed/ 2 ‘Just Cause 2′ trailer makes us want to break out the popcorn http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/17/just-cause-2-trailer-makes-us-want-to-break-out-the-popcorn/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/17/just-cause-2-trailer-makes-us-want-to-break-out-the-popcorn/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:08:15 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2341 While it may not have been the blockbuster that they had hoped for, Swedish developer Avalanche Studios’ Just Cause had some good things going for it when it was released back in 2006. The environments were lush and expansive and the combat was over-the-top and fun. Unfortunately, the game suffered from many crippling bugs that prevented missions from being completed. Hoping to learn from their mistakes in the original game and build upon the overall experience, Avalanche Studios have announced Just Cause 2.

The following trailer shows Rico Rodriquez back in action and with an overhauled grappling hook to boot. The action looks fast and furious, the environments look huge, and the story seems as campy as ever.

Published by Eidos Interactive, Just Cause 2 is scheduled to free fall onto the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms later this year.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/17/just-cause-2-trailer-makes-us-want-to-break-out-the-popcorn/feed/ 0 See Lars and Alisa in action in the latest ‘Tekken 6′ trailer http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/see-lars-and-alisa-in-action-in-the-latest-tekken-6-trailer/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/see-lars-and-alisa-in-action-in-the-latest-tekken-6-trailer/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:20:00 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2255 Tekken 6.]]> When the Bloodline Rebellion expansion was introduced to Tekken 6 in the arcades, two new characters joined the already massive cast of fighters: Alisa Boskonovitch, the cybernetically enhanced daughter of Doctor Boskonovitch, and Lars Alexandersson, an unknown descendant of Heihachi Mishima. The console version of Tekken 6 will include all updates and changes introduced by the Bloodline Rebellion expansion, including these two new fighters. Take a look at them in action in this latest trailer from Namco Bandai:

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/see-lars-and-alisa-in-action-in-the-latest-tekken-6-trailer/feed/ 0 New ‘Mass Effect 2′ trailer is explosive, awesome http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/new-mass-effect-2-trailer-is-explosive-awesome/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/new-mass-effect-2-trailer-is-explosive-awesome/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:14:48 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2231 Commander Shepard is kicking butt and taking names in the latest trailer for BioWare’s Mass Effect 2. Seriously, he’s all out of bubblegum. Packing some new weaponry, the kind that kill you a thousand times when they hit, Shepard looks tougher, meaner and a little more anti-social in his new role as the first human Spectre. The trailer also gives us a glimpse of life aboard the Normandy, revealing that Joker still remains at the helm. Still voiced by Seth Green, I can’t wait to hear his sarcastic quips in Mass Effect 2.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/16/new-mass-effect-2-trailer-is-explosive-awesome/feed/ 0 ‘Fight Night Round 4′ puts you in the game, beats you up http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/15/fight-night-round-4-puts-you-in-the-game-beats-you-up/ http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/15/fight-night-round-4-puts-you-in-the-game-beats-you-up/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:32:52 +0000 Richard Mitchell http://gamenorth.ca/?p=2172 Putting gamers’ faces into a videogame is nothing new, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas did it, and well, so did the original Viva Pinata. However, Electronic Arts’ Fight Night Round 4 looks to revolutionize the concept with its absurdly high polygon counts and ease of use. Placing your face on your customized boxer can be done with any USB digital camera, no proprietary camera peripherals required. Additionally, EA will be providing a helpful utility on their website to aid users in framing and mapping their face properly.

Once in the game, your boxer will adopt your likeness and will remain fully customizable. Don’t like your nose? Make it smaller. Want to get rid of your unibrow? You can!

Fight Night Round 4 will also allow players to tailor their fight entrance to their liking, from the effects used while they approach the ring to their very own entrance theme. The game will allow players to choose any song found on their console, allowing the inevitable use of Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger.

In this video, Producer Mike Mahar walks us through the process.

]]> http://gamenorth.ca/2009/06/15/fight-night-round-4-puts-you-in-the-game-beats-you-up/feed/ 1