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All Articles: E3 2015
See how ridiculously gory the new Doom is before its Spring 2016 release
I should probably stop calling it Doom 4… and that’s because Bethesda and id Software have finally blown the lid off their Doom reboot, which will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in Spring 2016. Doom is ridiculously fast and ridiculously gory, and you can see it for yourself in the new trailer embedded above. But this is just a small taste of what’s in store for the new Doom, as Bethesda also include about 20 minutes of gameplay during their E3 Press Conference earlier tonight.
We’ll have that for you soon, but for now, watch the trailer above and catch a glimpse of the Shotgun, the Super Shotgun, the Plasma Rifle, the Chaingun, the Chainsaw, Imps, Pinky, and gallons upon gallons of blood. If you look close, you’ll see a variety if “finishing moves” that are new to the franchise.
The new Doom will also include a game editor known as Doom SnapMap. With SnapMap, players will be able to fully customize their own maps or gameplay modes using a very extensive set of tools. Players will also be able to share these creations with the world.
Spring 2016 can’t come soon enough, but remember, if you pre-ordered Wolfenstein: The New Order, you’ll be able to join the upcoming Doom multiplayer beta.
Dishonored 2 debut trailer shows a return to the clockwork world of Corvo and Emily
Gamers flocked to Dishonored for its combination of stealth gameplay and a visually amazing steampunk aesthetic. After three long years, we’ll finally get to return to the world of Corvo Attano and Emily Kaldwin in Dishonored 2.
Taking place several years after the end of Dishonored, Princess Emily is all grown up and decides to join Corvo in his mission to help the people and stop the plague. Players will take control of both characters, who each have their own unique powers, weapons, and tools. In development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One at Arkane Studios, Dishonored 2 will be released in Spring 2016.
But first, the publisher used their E3 Press Conference to unveil the great-looking trailer embedded above. Take a look, it’s worth it.
Insert Quarter: Are the E3 Press Conferences a Waste of Time?
Insert Quarter is our showcase for some of the best and most interesting writing about video games on the Internet.
The first E3 Press Conference for 2015 will begin in just a few minutes. Bethesda’s first-ever presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo is sure to be amazing with gameplay reveals for Doom 4, Fallout 4, Dishonored 2, and probably a bunch of other stuff. We’ve got a new player in the AAA space and that’s exciting. But will Bethesda’s Press Conference (and Microsoft’s… and Sony’s… and Nintendo’s… and Square Enix’s… and EA’s… and Ubisoft’s…) be a huge waste of time? In between all the glitz and the horrible jokes, won’t there be precious little time actually devoted to games?
At least, that’s what Vice’s Dan Maher believes. He remembers the horrible gaffes (middle-aged executives that have no idea how to talk to regular people), the horrible lies (what Sony promised the PS3 could do) and the horrible people (Jamie Kennedy, good god, Jamie Kennedy). He makes the case that all this pomp and circumstance is more at home during a graduation ceremony than the showcase event for a multi-billion dollar industry:
It shouldn’t be difficult. The last time I checked, video gaming was still a festival of colour and noise and excitement and dakkadakkadakka-pweeeeeee-kaboom. Chuck them up on a screen bigger than your house, crank up the volume to unbearable, bar the doors. Done. And yet, somehow, what we inevitably end up with leaves the audience feeling like stakeholders at the world’s most extravagant board meeting.
The full article is available for your perusal at Vice.
Earthbound Beginnings (AKA Earthbound Zero AKA Mother) coming to Wii U eShop today
Stop the presses! The 2015 E3 Expo hasn’t even begun yet and Nintendo has already planted their flag in the ground and declared victory! At 9:00 PM tonight (Eastern Time), Nintendo will add Earthbound Beginnings to the Virtual Console section of the Wii U eShop.
If the NES game is unfamiliar to you, you might have seen it referenced over the years as Earthbound Zero or possibly as Mother, the title it was given in Japan. The important takeaway is that the game, which was released in 1989, is the predecessor to Earthbound, a beloved RPG that was released for the Super NES in 1995.
Nintendo never wanted to wait 25 years to release Earthbound Beginnings in North America, but the slow pace of game localization threw a wrench into their plans. The consolemaker began developing a version of the game for an English-speaking audience and planned to release it in 1991. But the launch was scrapped after the translation work hit a snag, which would have pushed the release of Earthbound Beginnings (then known as “Earth Bound“) past the launch date of the Super NES. Determined fans eventually discovered a prototype version of “Earth Bound” and made it available on the Internet for NES emulators a few years ago.
This is probably also a good time to mention that Mother 3 (AKA Earthbound 2) was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2006… only in Japan. Perhaps Earthbound Beginnings is Nintendo’s way of priming the pump for another major Earthbound announcement this Tuesday. Lucas, Earthbound 2’s main character, was even added to Super Smash Bros. For 3DS/Wii U today.
So… that was fun… bring on the rest of E3!
Posted in News, Wii U
Tagged E3 2015, Earthbound Beginnings
Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U: Ryu, Roy, Tourney Modes, YouTube Replays revealed
Nintendo’s big Pre-E3 showcase for the latest updates to Super Smash Bros. For Wii U/3DS may have leaked out a bit early, but it was still exciting to watch Game Director Masahiro Sakurai in the “New Content Approaching” video and to see all the announcements in the same place.
That said, all the rumors are true… Ryu (from Street Fighter II) and Roy (from Fire Emblem) will be added to both games as playable characters, joining the previously-announced Lucas (from Mother 3/Earthbound 2). Not only that, but Nintendo took special care with Ryu and included a variety of bonus features including custom attacks based on how long you hold the button down and the original button inputs for the Hadoken and the Shoryuken. All three characters are available to download now, along with new stages and new Mii Fighter costumes. I’ll let Nintendo handle the details…
Ryu
For 3DS: $5.99
For Wii U: $5.99
3DS + Wii U Bundle: $6.99
For the first time in Super Smash Bros. history, a character from the fighting game series Street Fighter joins the battle. Iconic character Ryu, whose look in the game is based on Street Fighter II, brings a new fighting style and feel to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. Ryu’s traditional Light, Medium and Heavy attacks can be used depending on whether players tap, press or hold the buttons. Classic Street Fighter moves like Hadoken and Shoryuken can be activated with just a one-button press, but players who enter the original button combinations from the Street Fighter series will perform the same actions with higher damage.Purchase includes the bonus Suzaku Castle stage from the Street Fighter series. This classic environment provides stable footing on the right side and a series of platforms on the left. It can also be played in Omega form, giving the stage a look and feel much like in the Street Fighter II original.
Roy
For 3DS: $3.99
For Wii U: $3.99
3DS + Wii U Bundle: $4.99
A fan-favorite from his last appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee for Nintendo GameCube, Roy from the Fire Emblem franchise returns to the series more powerful than ever before. Unlike Marth, Roy’s sword is stronger closer to the hilt, so he works better in close range. Roy also now has a Final Smash move in the form of a devastating sword blow.Lucas
For 3DS: $3.99
For Wii U: $3.99
3DS + Wii U Bundle: $4.99
As previously announced, Lucas is also available to purchase as a new downloadable character. Originating in the Japan-only Game Boy Advance RPG Mother 3, Lucas primarily uses lightning attacks to smash his opponents.New Mii Fighter Costumes
For 3DS (Each): $0.75
For Wii U (Each): $0.75
3DS + Wii U Bundle (Each): $1.15
For 3DS (All 8): $6.00
For Wii U (All 8): $6.00
3DS + Wii U Bundle (All 8): $9.20
Multiple video games and characters from the past and present are represented in a new set of Mii Fighter costumes now available through the new update. Two costumes from classic fighting game Virtua Fighter are based on the Akira and Jacky characters, with Akira even maintaining his blocky polygonal look from the original game. Tekken fighter Heihachi (and his amazing hair) serves as inspiration for one costume, with additional costumes based on Isabelle from Animal Crossing, MegaMan.EXE from Mega Man Battle Network, Zero from Mega Man X, the Inkling Girl and Boy and the Squid Hat from Splatoon also available.Dreamland (Stage)
For 3DS: $1.99
For Wii U: $1.99
3DS + Wii U Bundle: $2.99
Based on the first Dreamland stage from the original Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 64, this stage returns with a few tweaks.Miiverse (Stage)
For Wii U: Free
This new stage for Super Smash Bros. For Wii U features Miiverse posts created by players all over the world. During matches while connected to the Internet, players will see Miiverse posts appear that cheer specific fighters on from the background. These messages will be pulled from individual Miiverse communities that just opened for each Super Smash Bros. character.Everything Pack
For 3DS: $21.96
For Wii U: $21.96
3DS + Wii U Bundle: 29.16
Players who want every fighter, stage, outfit and accessory featured among today’s DLC releases can buy them all at once.
In addition to all of today’s downloadable content, Nintendo had a few other Smash-related announcement to make. In August, a free update will add Tourney Mode to the game on the 3DS and Wii U. According to Nintendo, “Community Tourneys let players compete for the highest points in a certain amount of time, while regular Tourneys have a specific set of rules and only happen at select times.” Tourney Mode will be followed by a second free update that will give Smash Bros. For Wii U players the chance to upload match replays to YouTube.
Finally, some new Amiibo figures are coming in September. The previously-announced Dr. Mario, Ganondorf, Bowser Jr., Zero Suit Samus, and Captain Olimar figures will be part of this wave. But fans will also be able to pick up Mii Fighter figures, as well as R.O.B., Mr. Game and Watch, and the Duck Hunt Dog. A Falco figure will also be available at a later date. And Amiibo figures based on Roy, Lucas, and Ryu are also in the works.
Is that enough Smash Bros. news for one day? Images of the newly announced Amiibo figures can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged E3 2015, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Leak reveals Platinum’s secret E3 2015 announcement is Transformers: Devastation
Thanks to Best Buy Canada, Platinum Games’s secret E3 2015 announcement is now a little less secret. According to the retailer, Platinum is teaming up with Activision to produce Transformers: Devastation, a cel-shaded brawler that takes place during the beloved “Generation 1” era of the cartoon franchise. If the listing is accurate, Activision is planning to release the game for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 6.
Players will get the chance to take control of five Autobots during the game: Optimus Prime, Bubblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, and Grimlock. Best of all, original voice actors Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Dan Gilvezan (Bubblebee), and Frank Welker (Megatron and Soundwave) will return to lend the story a sense of authenticity. Here’s what else fans can expect from the game:
Autobots face off against the Decepticons when Megatron discovers a way to harness the enormous power of plasma energy to cyberform Earth.
Face off against Megatron and battle it out with the Decepticons in Transformers: Devestation. Equipped with fast action capabilities, this game allows for instant robot to vehicle attacks, slam downs, counterattacks, and infinite combos for a unique master combat system. Five difficulty levels also deliver hours of intense gameplay.
Believe it or not, Transformers: Devastation will actually be the first time American audiences will get to control “Generation 1” characters in a video game. A handful of games based on the series have been created, but none have ever been released outside Japan. The most recent was Transformers, which was released for the PS2 in 2003.
You can relive the 80s with the first screenshots from Transformers: Devastation after the break. And don’t forget, the first gameplay trailer will be unveiled during IGN Live on Tuesday, June 16 at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time). (more…)
Electronic Arts will display a dozen games during E3 2015 Press Conference
Sports! Sports! Sports!
When you think of sports video games, you think of Electronic Arts (or, more specifically, EA Sports). The powerhouse publisher loves sports so much that they plan to feature five athletic adaptations (FIFA 16, Madden NFL 16, NBA Live 16, NHL 16, and Rory Mcllroy PGA Tour) at the 2015 E3 Expo. However, the company’s E3 Press Conference will have plenty of other non-sports games on display, including Star Wars: Battlefront, Need For Speed, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the world premiere of Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst. But wait… there’s still more. The publisher plans to showcase “a dozen” games during their Press Conference, which means an additional three games will be have to be announced on stage. That said, we have a pretty good idea what EA’s internal studios are working on…
- Visceral is developing another Star Wars game, possibly starring Han Solo.
- Criterion is experimenting with some kind of wild transportation game.
- PopCap is making a “bigger and bolder” Plants vs Zombies game for consoles.
- BioWare is developing a Mass Effect game with a “MASSIVE” single-player campaign.
- And DICE is hard at work on Battlefield 5, which will launch in Fall 2016.
It’s likely that all of these titles will get at least a cursory mention during EA’s E3 Press Conference. And you can watch the presentation in the comfort of your own home as EA plans to broadcast the Press Conference live at LiveToPlay.EA.com on Monday, June 15 at 4:00 PM (Eastern Time). More details about all of this year’s previously-announced titles can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2015, FIFA 16, Madden NFL 16, Mirror's Edge: Catalyst, NBA Live 16, Need For Speed, NHL 16, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: The Old Republic
Ratchet & Clank PS4 remake is actually a game based on a movie based on a game
Insomniac Games has been busy of late, debuting on the Xbox One last year with Sunset Overdrive, plugging a few iOS games this year, as well as developing Edge of Nowhere, the company’s exclusive game for the Oculus Rift. Yet, with such a full plate, Insomniac is returning to its roots with a new Ratchet & Clank game for the PS4.
Instead of producing a sequel to the modestly well-received PS3 title Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, Insomniac has chosen to get very meta, reworking the 2002 original for the PS4, but also adapting part of the upcoming animated feature film about the space-faring duo. Confused? So are we! The PlayStation Blog put it best: “Play the game, based on the movie, based on the game!”
But Ratchet & Clank is more than just a glossy version of the 2002 original game, and has been reworked to specifically tie-in with the film’s plot, which tells the story of Ratchet’s origins. In short, it is almost a brand new game with elements of the original, but with modern controls, sleek graphics, and more missions, planets, and bosses, thanks to the power of the PlayStation 4. You can see the only thing in motion in the E3 2015 trailer embedded above.
But let’s not forget the franchise’s focus on new weaponry, like the Pixelizer, which turns enemies into something out of Minecraft. Old favourites also return, from the Groovitron to Ratchet’s cybernetic bodyguard Mr. Zurkon. If you pre-order the game, you will also get The Bouncer, an exclusive weapon originally featured in Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando!
Ratchet & Clank will be available for the PS4 next Spring.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, Ratchet & Clank