Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Adam Woolcott
Next Week on Rock Band 3: Culture Club, Loverboy, STP and more
It’s Friday, and that means the fine folks at Harmonix have announced the next batch of songs for Rock Band 3. Six new tracks are on the way, from a variety of music sources:
- Culture Club – “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”
- Faith No More – “From Out of Nowhere”
- Loverboy – “Working for the Weekend” X
- Phish – “Stash” X
- Phish – “Tweezer”
- Stone Temple Pilots – “Big Bang Baby” X
Certainly an eclectic mix of 80s synth-pop, 1990s alternative, and whatever you classify Faith No More as. Shame that “Jizzlobber” isn’t FNM’s selection, though. Anyway, the tunes will be out Tuesday for 160 Microsoft Points, 200 Wii Points, or $1.99 American dollars per track… the latter obviously depending on whether Sony gets PlayStation Network up and running by then. Also, the X next to the song means for an extra dollar, one can upgrade to Pro Mode for guitar and bass if they possess the necessary equipment.
Posted in News, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Rock Band 3
Shift 2: Unleashed Review: Getting the NFS Out
It might be difficult to believe, but Need For Speed began as a racing sim. While the franchise might be known for high-speed police chases, loose physics, cheesy stories, and the immortal Razor Callahan, the original game (for the 3DO, no less) was a realistic take on driving a car at high speeds. While EA attempted to return NFS to its roots once before – 2007’s Need For Speed: Pro Street was something that could be described as a racing sim – 2009’s Need For Speed: Shift was the first time they’d really tackled the genre in such a forceful manner. The result was a game that couldn’t quite hang with Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, but managed to carve a niche that wasn’t really around – a realistic racer that wasn’t bogged down in endless menus and needless complexities. It was something to build upon, and with Shift 2: Unleashed, they’re doing just that. (more…)
Bought Dragon Age II? Get Mass Effect 2 for PC free
It’s been out just about a month now, but Dragon Age II has apparently been a rousing success, because BioWare and EA are celebrating in a pretty big way. Between now and April 30, purchasers of Dragon Age II on any of the three platforms it released for can get a free PC download of one of 2010’s (and perhaps 2011 if you’re playing it on PS3 for the first time) best games, Mass Effect 2. There’s only one real downer to the party, however; the free download doesn’t include the Cerberus Network, which cuts off the free DLC that comes with purchased copies.
Getting it is a simple task – just visit BioWare’s Dragon Age portal, and follow the instructions. All you have to really do is make sure you’ve redeemed your Black Emporium “online pass” and you’ll be ready to adventure with Commander Shepard and company… for the great cost of zero dollars.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dragon Age II, Mass Effect 2
Dragon Age II Review: Defending Kirkwall Like a Hawke
Though it was greatly overshadowed by Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins was a high-quality return to BioWare’s days as purveyors of epic fantasy RPGs. It had all the qualities that one expects from the company: an epic plot, great characters & dialog, a huge quest that could be solved in numerous ways, and of course, awkward romances. Dragon Age II brings most of this back – just in a far more intimate, narrow setting. While many things about the game are basic refinements of the Dragon Age: Origins formula, the ultimate result is a game that seems like a reinvention of the franchise, similar to the changes from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2. The question, of course, is whether the risks taken in Dragon Age II have made for a great game… and hey, that’s what we’re here for. (more…)
Mass Effect 2 Review: Shepard’s Back and There’s Gonna Be Trouble
It was one of the best-reviewed games of 2010. It received many accolades and dozens of Game of the Year awards. Now… Mass Effect 2 is finally available on the PlayStation 3, one year after its initial release on the PC and Xbox 360. The late-releasing port is usually a wasted venture that appeals to a small subset of gamers who own just that platform, but BioWare has done everything it can to make it appealing to those who haven’t yet experienced the game. Whether it’s touching up the visuals (check), using it to demonstrate the engine that’ll be used in Mass Effect 3 (check), or including $20 worth of bonus content (check), Mass Effect 2 for PS3 is in many ways the prototypical “Game of the Year” re-release… only in this case it’s done specifically to satisfy PS3 owners that have been waiting an entire year to play one of 2010’s best games. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Mass Effect 2
Bejeweled Blitz Live Review: 60 Seconds of Fun, Over and Over Again
Bejeweled was one of the first breakout “casual” games, and has been a phenomenon for many years now, evolving into numerous forms. The madness spread to Facebook with Bejeweled Blitz, a fast-paced take on the formula that PopCap has established. Now, as part of Microsoft’s “House Party” campaign, Bejeweled Blitz has hit Xbox Live arcade in the form of Bejeweled Blitz Live, marking the second time the franchise has appeared on the platform. Not only does the XBLA version of Blitz bring all the addictive gameplay from the free-to-play Facebook edition, but it features the kind of gameplay options that one might expect from Xbox Live, along with a new “Twist” to the proceedings. Is that enough to make you pony up the 800 Microsoft Points when the game can be played for nothing? That’s the ten dollar question… since 800 Points equals ten dollars, and all. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360
Tagged Bejeweled Blitz Live
Yakuza 4 Hands-On Preview: Kazuma Returns, And He’s Brought Friends
Much to the shock of Yakuza fans, Sega has handled Yakuza 4 with a surprising amount of competence. Compared to Yakuza 3, where they engaged in almost a year’s worth of “will we bring the game over, or won’t we?” nonsense, they quickly announced a Western release of the sequel. Instead of getting weird, and cutting out the sort of content that worked just fine in the PlayStation 2 games, they announced the game would be localized without any silly “cultural cuts.” Instead of releasing the game on the same day as a long-awaited sequel in a popular franchise, they found a date where it could release in relative peace. It’s almost like they replaced the entire Yakuza team at Sega USA with smart people, and started to show the series some respect. Then, they released the demo… (more…)
Test Drive Unlimited 2 Review: A Modern-Day Fantasy Island
The original Test Drive Unlimited was a legitimate sleeper hit in the earliest days of the Xbox 360. Thanks to its combination of classic arcade-style racing, the stylish open world map of Oahu, and the introduction of Massively Open Online Racing (better known as M.O.O.R.), TDU garnered a loyal following. However, that was over four years ago, and for a while it seemed the Unlimited series would be a one-and-done. Thankfully, last year, Atari and Eden Games satisfied the demands of the followers by announcing Test Drive Unlimited 2… and now it’s here. Was it worth the wait? (more…)