Joystiq

Review: LEGO Batman

David Craddock — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews

I won't lie to you: I'm a huge Batman fan. A Bat-freak, you might say. From collecting comics and watching The Animated Series ad infinitum to camping out for tickets to the midnight showing of new Bat-films (barring the Joel Schumacher travesties), if it's Batman, I'll give it a shot.

So great is my Batman fanaticism that I purposely skipped LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures in order to maintain my anticipation for LEGO Batman. The two properties may seem unrelated, but the truth is, I knew full well that despite all the Batman lore that Traveler's Tales would no doubt cram into a Gotham built brick by LEGO brick, taking in too much of the LEGO action game formula would kill Batman's fun factor quicker than a whiff of the Joker's deadly gas. As I predicted, LEGO Batman is immense fun -- if you can look past the LEGO formula's reoccurring flaws that should have been fixed after the first LEGO Star Wars.

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Review: LEGO Batman originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: RACE Pro

David Craddock — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST

To say that Sweden-based developer SimBin is kind of good at creating simulation racers would be akin to saying that Shigeru Miyamoto has marginally influenced the direction of video games. Racing, quite frankly, is SimBin's forte. With almost as many accolades as Mario Andretti has championship wins, SimBin has truly mastered the PC as their platform of choice on which to create realistic racing simulations.

That's all well and good, but how will such a thorough level of authenticity transfer over to the Xbox 360, a device with fixed hardware and eight buttons of input? SimBin's answer comes in the form of RACE Pro, a simulation racer developed specifically for the Xbox 360, and one we took for a test drive at a recent Atari press event.

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Hands-on: RACE Pro originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Fanboy hands-on: Dragon Ball Origins

David Craddock — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

The Namco Bandai Games-developed Dragon Ball: Origins for the Nintendo DS attempts to shed light on the origin of Goku, Dragon Ball's prolific spikey-haired protagonist. Controlling Goku is simple: tap the screen with the stylus, and Goku will set out in that direction at a walk or a run depending on the distance between him and your chosen spot. Tapping and holding the stylus will cause Goku to keep moving as you drag your pointer across the screen.

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DS Fanboy hands-on: Dragon Ball Origins originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Alone in the Dark pg2

David Craddock — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hands-on

For those who could look past inventory inconveniences and control calamities, hunting down and burning roots was almost unanimously considered Alone in the Dark's most laborious and boring chore. If you count yourself among that woeful bunch, consider your problem mostly solved. A cutscene followed by a quick tutorial at the end of Episode 3 instructs players on exactly how to dispose of the roots, which are now found throughout the game instead of scattered across one lengthy location. Best of all, only 50 percent of the roots need be extinguished instead of the Xbox 360's 75 percent.

Our demonstration ended with a massive explosion (several of them, actually) as Emile loaded a scene in Episode 6 that will be exclusive to the PS3 version of Alone in the Dark. Edward stood in an abandoned subway tunnel. A train, rusted and cold from disuse, lay before him. The machine was functional, but the last car dangled over the edge of a dark pit, preventing the car from moving. Tossing an explosive on the linking gear solved that problem while simultaneously creating another: the present of a huge beast rearing up from the hole, obviously perturbed due to his slumber being disturbed.

Edward turned and ran back through the car, punching a panel that caused the door to slide open. As he stepped through, the beast brought a giant claw smashing down onto the last car. Ruined, the hunk of metal fell disconnected and was left behind as the subway car sped onward -- but the beast continued to pursue.

Edward can slow the creature by turning and tossing an explosive, but Emile turned off the television before the monster's true weakness could be discovered. He replaced the controller, turned to us, and said, "We love this game. We spent a lot of time working on it, and it's too bad that many flaws caused it to be unplayable for many players."

Will Xbox 360 owners still jaded over their broken copy of the game ever receive restitution? Emile hinted that a patch was possible, but for now, PS3 owners can boast that they will soon have access to what Eden Studios feels is the true version of Alone in the Dark when it releases later this fall.

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Hands-on: Alone in the Dark pg2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Alone in the Dark

David Craddock — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hands-on

During a recent Atari-sponsored hands-on event, Alone in the Dark designer Emile Morel licked his lips, opened his mouth, and closed it. He smiled and leaned back in his chair, spread his hands, then let them drop into his lap. "When the Alone in the Dark released in June, we were... we were kind of disappointed by some of the reviews," he finally said with a laugh.

"Disappointed" does appropriately articulate the feeling of many critics and consumers toward developer Eden Studios' action-horror title. Plagued by cumbersome controls, a camera that didn't believe in personal space, confusing inventory management, and treating the slaughter of enemies as a chore instead of a delight, Eden is approaching the PS3 release of Alone in the Dark as a second chance, an opportunity to show gamers that they care enough about their product to correct what was indisputably a painful release.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Alone in the Dark originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: PlayStation Home pg2

David Craddock — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hands-on

Up next was the Game Space, a sprawling rec hall with pool tables, a bowling alley, and arcade games tucked away in a side area. Flashing screens and bleep-bloop sound effects washed over us like a snake charmer's song, giving an amused Jack no choice but to show off the hole-in-the-wall throwback to the glory days of the 1980s. Original content will comprise arcade games in Home, though we can't help wondering if PSN demos might make their way into the cabinets eventually, which would make for a fun way to experience new software.

Jack and the Home crew anticipate that Game Spaces will become crowded, which will provide a din of merriment that will make many smile, yet cause agitation in those waiting in queues for their turn at pool tables or video games. The solution: to create instances when a space reaches its capacity. Players intent on meeting up with friends should coordinate meetings ahead of time via PSN messaging. For impromptu gatherings, players can send invites that will transport friends immediately to their current Game Space.

Tuckered out from our socializing, Jack again called forth his PSP navigation system and took us to his apartment. Jack's pad obviously isn't used too often: bare hardwood floor, three white sofas. Two windows were all that coated Jack's spars walls, though the large ovular skylight was impressive.

Stepping out onto his balcony, Jack gifted us with a view that he claimed was only possible on the PS3's hardware. The sea spread out before us like an undulating carpet of blue and green. Dozens of boats were tied to a dock that caressed the sea like a wooden finger. Seagulls frolicked along a sandy path bordered by rocks.

Would every apartment have such scenery? Perhaps, but even better views might be had by those who choose to purchase premium homes and apartments, which can be acquired at realtor stores located within Home's shopping mall, along with hundreds of other gadgets and knickknacks. Whether your default apartment or a private vista, all of your living spaces will be yours and yours alone. Other players will only be able to visit with an explicit invite from you, so if you have something private to discuss with a friend but don't want anyone overhearing your words, simply invite them back to your place to conduct the discussion.

Conceding that his apartment was indeed a colossal bore, Jack opened his virtual guide and showed us a plethora of shopping options: wallpaper, tables, chairs, accessories... all of those and more are available in both free and purchasable variations, and can be used to decorate one's apartment exactly to one's liking via color schemes, exact placement, and other customization options. A haphazard stack of benches shoved against one wall was, according to Jack, his attempt to build a set of bleachers, which he claimed one beta tester had done to great success.

Unleashing your inner home decorating beast and playing a rousing game of bowling is fun, sure, but what about the real games? Enter the game launcher, a tool that allows one boot up a game directly from within Home. Using the copy of Warhawk currently residing in his PS3 as an example, Jack invoked the launcher and, without launching the game, tweaked all available Warhawk options.

Post-customization, Jack selected Create, which prompted a bubble advertising his desire to play Warhawk to appear above his head. Any interested players can simply walk up to Jack, press X, take a gander at his configuration, and press another button when they're ready to play. Once Jack has assembled a party to his liking, he can launch the game, play, and then return Home.

Our last stop was a tavern decorated in a jungle theme. Sunlight seeped from cracks in the wooden walls. A bar lined with red-cushioned stools occupied a far corner, and a jukebox hummed quietly in the back of the room. Where were we? Looking around revealed a poster of Drake, titular protagonist of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, hanging over the bar. This, Jack said, was a custom game space, which could potentially exist for every available PS3 game. Custom game spaces exist for people interested in a particular game to meet, hang out, discuss the game, and explore secrets, such as three doors in the tavern that couldn't be opened without special codes.

Even more than providing a virtual social area with pool, bowling, and apartments, Jack closed our meeting by asserting Home's primary function: to extend a game beyond the edge of its optical disc. Will the development team be successful in this ambitious goal? We'll find out when the free-of-charge PlayStation Home releases in the fourth quarter of 2008.

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Browse PS3 Fanboy's PlayStation Home galleries:

Gallery: Home 'Virtual Events' Space

Gallery: Home - Features

Gallery: Home - Living

Gallery: Home - Public Areas

Preview: PlayStation Home pg2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 Fanboy preview: PlayStation Home

David Craddock — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hands-on

It's Friday night, and if you don't mind us saying so, you're looking rather snazzy: spiked hair, blue jeans, black hoodie, and brand new sneakers. Your cell phone rings. You pick it up, greet your friend, and tell him that you'll be there in a few and to meet up by the pool table in the back corner. You disconnect and slip your phone into a jacket pocket, but instead of grabbing your keys and heading out the door, you hop into your favorite chair, grab your DualShock controller and power up the PS3.

A couple of button presses and analog stick flicks later finds you in the local Game Space of PlayStation Home. An avatar waves as he notices you approaching the pool table. "What's up?" appears above his head. "Not much, Jeff. Where are the others?" you reply, just as the rest of your gang -- Mike from across the country in Ohio, and Andrew who's currently teaching in Japan -- run over to the table. Greetings and the prerequisite smack talk are exchanged before you finally pick up a stick, challenge Jeff to a game, and catch up with Andrew as Jeff breaks -- quite poorly, too.

The camaraderie between gamers, the ability to meet up with friends for some evening fun despite all of you being dozens, hundreds, or thousands of miles apart... that, according to SCEA's Jack Buser, is what PlayStation Home is all about. With hundreds of free and purchasable customization options, meeting areas, and activities, Home promises to be both a social network where people can hang, and a way to exponentially expand your PS3 gaming experience. We recently met up with Home director Jack Buser and received a guided tour of Home's more notable features. Join us, won't you?

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PS3 Fanboy preview: PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Fanboy @ EA Summer Showcase: Nerf N-Strike

David Craddock — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: Features

For manyof today's youth, nothing is more thrilling than gathering a group of friends, going into the woods, and hunting each other down with every conceivable type of NERF gun available. Whether playing capture-the-flag, Dart Tag, or NERF Fort, kids love to bust foam caps using their NERF turrets, blasters, crossbows and what have you.

Okay, confession time: most of us here at Nintendo Wii Fanboy are in our 20s, and we can't get enough (e-NERF?) NERF, either. Many adults boast vast collections of NERF guns, claiming that they're all "for the kids" and that they only use them when they're joining young Billy and Bobby on a friendly neighborhood NERF hunt.

According to a thirty-something EA representative manning the NERF N-Strike booth at the EA Summer Showcase here, N-Strike is being marketed to kids between the ages of eight and 12. But the grin plastered onto his face as he hefted the hybrid NERF gun / Wii casing spoke louder than words; the appeal of NERF defies age demographics.

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Wii Fanboy @ EA Summer Showcase: Nerf N-Strike originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Fanboy @ EA Summer Showcase: Boogie Superstar

David Craddock — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:44:00 EST

Filed under: Features

Gang wars and drive-bys are a thing of the past. In the modern world, anyone who's hip knows that disputes of all kinds are settled with dance-offs, grueling exhibitions designed to showcase swank clothing, swanker moves, and swankiest of all, the reward of shouting "You got served!" when you emerge victorious.

Yeah, dance-offs are awesome, but they're not always a vehicle with which to end long-running feuds. Sometimes, dance-offs can be used as friendly competition. If you're a pre-teen girl eager to groove with your girlfriends at the next big sleepover, EA's Boogie SuperStar should cure your craving to dance the night away.

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Wii Fanboy @ EA Summer Showcase: Boogie Superstar originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X3F Review: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

David Craddock — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

History teaches that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (or "The Gandh" to his pals) was an influential spiritual and political leader of India, a man whose pacifist ways solved many political problems. According to textbooks, kissing babies, implementing civil disobedience for causes such as poverty, and being an all-around nice guy were Gandhi's favorite hobbies.

That's what history says. So there I was in 2024 A.D., trying to bring the Greeks to greatness while mostly minding my own business, and Gandhi decides to show his dark side. Let's be allies, he said. We'll share technologies, he said. Family barbecues, he said. Next thing I know, Gandhi and his lackeys have Sparta, my main science city, completely surrounded by tanks and bombers, the Americans took back New Orleans by overcoming my tank with a catapult (it was a really, really big rock) and Cleopatra decides to stab me in the back by taking the 1200 gold I paid her to attack the Indians for 10 turns and signing a peace treaty with The Gandh after only five turns!

All of that, and why? Because my trigger finger was slick with sweat and accidentally nuked India? Big deal! I said I was sorry!

If there's a video game that better demonstrates the medium's potential for non-authorial storytelling better than Sid Meier's Civilization, I've yet to play it. Rewriting history to my design always proves more fun than decapitating zombies or battling any number of demons. For years, the appeal of Sid Meier's "One more turn!" opus has been enjoyed primarily by PC gamers with ten-plus hours to kill if they want to experience a complete campaign.

Probably to the chagrin of significant others across the globe, Firaxis Games released Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution in early July, a Civ developed specifically for consoles that, while not as deep an experience as any PC version of Civilization, is more than enough to captivate couch-bound gamers looking for something more involved than the never-ending stream of FPS titles.

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X3F Review: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X3F Impressions: Deer Hunter Tournament

David Craddock — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Click to enlarge

Donnie Clay crawled as quietly as possible through thick lines of vegetation. He paused as his head broke free of the brush. In front of him was a jumble of hoof tracks that criss-crossed in every direction. Smiling, Donnie pressed a button on his Xbox 360 controller. "There's a tracking system in Deer Hunter Tournament," he said. "If you find deer tracks and aren't quite sure what they are, you can press a button which will orient you to the track."

Now set on the proper course, the producer of publisher Atari's Deer Hunter Tournament rose to his feet and continued to creep quietly forward. His high-caliber rifle, gripped in gloved fists, was equipped with a thermal scope.

A tracking system, and a scope capable of reading heat temperatures? Yes, Bambi appeared to be doomed -- so long as Donnie was able to claim him faster than legions of other eager hunters.

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X3F Impressions: Deer Hunter Tournament originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X3F Impressions: Smash Court Tennis 3

David Craddock — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Click to enlarge

No one likes riding in the middle of a car's backseat area. You're sandwiched in, crushed from one side and into the other regardless of which way the driver has to turn, and worst of all, the position is often associated with a derogatory term for the female dog.

If you're cunning, though, the role of middle-backseat passenger can be used to harness the strengths of both your fellow rear passengers for your own good. Forge a temporary alliance during one turn so that you and one passenger crush the other against his door. Then, on an opposite turn, revoke the ceasefire and cause much harm to your former ally.

Namco Bandai's Smash Court Tennis 3 makes similar use of its middle position against its two primary competitors, SEGA's Virtua Tennis 3 and 2K Sports's Top Spin 3. "You've got Virtua Tennis at the arcade end of the spectrum, and you've got Top Spin at the Simulation end," explained Smash Court Tennis 3 producer David Geudelekian during a recent preview event. "Smash Court Tennis very intelligently tows the middle ground. You can jump right into the game and [within] 30 seconds, you can play an arcade-style match: lots of powerups, sensitive aim. But there's also a really deep experience if you want more of a simulation."

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X3F Impressions: Smash Court Tennis 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Fanboy Preview: N+

David Craddock — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Features

My eyes glazed as I stared at my Nintendo DS Lite which cased the finished build of N+. N, my titular ninja avatar, braced his body as he slid halfway down a wall before springing away, using his momentum to snatch three gold coins dangling in midair. I firmly pressed d-pad left, causing him to again shimmy down the wall slowly, carefully, before again leaping for a nearby ledge. Unfortunately, my momentum wasn't enough in this instance. Though little more than a plump stick figure, I had a vision of poor N desperately straining for the tip of the ledge that was at least (at least) a good six feet away before plummeting, plummeting, plummeting -- and eventually exploding in a shower of square-shaped shards as he cratered into the ground.

I grumbled, but the fault was wholly mine, not the acrobatic N's.

"You've got what the indie scene will call the best platforming engine in Flash, ever," said David Geudelekian, producer of Metanet Software's N+. "What N did really well was it presented this incredible platformer with 1000 levels, it was crazy difficult. N the ninja was this lithe, acrobatic guy with all the things developers had learned from other platformers. You can wall jump, you can press along the wall as you're falling to slow your descent. Because it's a full-featured physics engine, momentum can kill you, but if you use a ramp's natural curvature, you might be able to catapult yourself across the level."

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DS Fanboy Preview: N+ originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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