The free to play model is becoming increasingly popular with online gaming especially with MMORPGs. Perfect World Entertainment has another up and coming free to play online game with Blacklight: Retribution. Currently in it's closed beta, phase Blacklight: Retribution looks like a game that FPS fans should keep an eye out for.

In Blacklight: Retribution you are able to develop your own classes, and customize your weapons. If you want a heavily armored sniper, or a light and nimble machine gunner those are just two of the many options available. There is a dynamic feel to the gameplay and no match should play out the same.

With the addition of weapon depots as you capture territories and kill other players you are able to turn the tide of battle. At the weapon depot you are able to upgrade to powerful weapons such as a railgun, man a heavy suit, or call down an airstrike.  Blacklight: Retribution is shaping up pretty nicely and should be ready for release soon.  In the meantime be sure to head over to the official site for more information and to sign up for the closed beta.

 Deus Ex: Human Revolution has you playing as Adam Jensen a mechanically augmented human that didn't ask for this.  The game has a heavy focus on rewarding players for stealth and exploration.  Experimentation is also encouraged and made apparent by the different ways you can play the game and accomplish objectives.  Here are some tips that will help you to augment your gameplay.

Use the environment to your advantage

• You can use movable objects (boxes, vending machines, dumpsters, etc.) to block off  enemy AI.  e.g. Putting a vending machine in a doorway will prevent guards from entering.

• When picking up boxes or crates sometimes you will find hidden items under them.  Especially pick up moveable objects that are up against a wall to look for alternate paths through vents or a breakable wall.

•  You can use movable objects as weapons and throw them at enemies.  Throwing a crate or vending machine can knock out or at least knock down a guard.  Some barrels you find are explosive or filled with gas that you can use to knockout or kill guards. Throwing objects also can create a distraction for guards to investigate.

• You can stack objects on top of each other to help you advance higher or over a wall.  Also stacking objects together can help provide good cover to stay out of sight from guards or help provide cover from fire.

• If you don't yet have heavy lifting some movable objects can be destroyed.  Similarly most doors can be destroyed instead of hacking them.

• With heavy lifting you can pick up turrets and move them out of the way facing a wall so they aren't a threat or throw them.  Also if you hack the turret you can carry it around and use it to mow down the enemies.

Stealth

• You can shoot security a camera to destroy it, just be sure to use a silenced weapon and if guards are near they may be alerted.  

•  You can use the stun gun to temporarily disable a camera, turret, and robots.

• Cloaking is very useful when you're going for a stealth run.  Cloaking can help you get past difficult parts without being seen.  When cloaking you won't be detected by lasers.  Shooting while cloaking won't break invisibility.

• Closing the doors cuts down the noise level dramatically.  Just be aware that guards can hear you opening and closing doors if they are close.

• Dragging bodies can be very useful.  You can drag bodies out of sight even inside vents so the other guards won't be alerted.  

•  You can drag an unconscious body in the patrol path of another guard while he's not looking then find a good spot to hide.  When the guard on patrol sees the body he will go off the patrol path to the body.  When he crouches down to wake the other guard you can sneak behind him and take him out too or use the tranquilizer rifle from a distance.

• Throwing a box or shooting a silenced bullet against the ground or a wall near a guard will make him go off patrol to investigate it.  Making it easier to take him out or sneak by him.

• If you have a group of enemies close together as long as you are out of sight you can use the tranquilizer rifle on one and also do the same to the others while they try to wake up their friends.

• Guards turn off lasers just by walking by them, take advantage of that.  Even if you drag an unconscious body near the lasers it will cut them off.

Hacking

• The hacking augmentations are very useful and it's recommended you pick up a few early in the game. 

• Sometimes when hacking you can capture the red tracker node to complete the hack and get bonus experience points or money.  There is also a glitch you can use to exploit that for infinite experience points or money.  The computer in Jensen's office is the best one for xp.

• Hacking alarm terminals can be useful as a backup in case the guards have gone hostile.  Some guards will go for the alarm terminal and be confused there for a while why it isn't working and that time you can easily take them out.

• You are able to look around the area while you are hacking if you need to check if the coast is clear.

• If all else fails you can always use an automatic hacking device.

Boss tips and strategies **WARNING SPOILERS**

• Typoon is a great boss killer and it helps you clear rooms

• Mines and grenades work well on most of the bosses

• The stun gun and gas grenades/canisters work on most of the bosses and give you time to either retreat or offload on them.

• The first boss can be dealt with easily by throwing the gas canister right in front of you at the start to stun him then unload on him with your most powerful weapons.  You can also use the explosive barrels in the area if you'd like and even his own grenades that he throws will kill him eventually.

• The second boss is easier if you have the armor augmentation that makes you immune to EMP.  You can also use the stun gun on her or shoot the terminals against the wall to stun her while you offload with Typoon or a powerful weapon.

• The third boss is a lot easier if you choose to NOT get the new chip implant from the limb clinic the second time you go to China.  You can even take him out in one punch after he jumps a wall just do your melee attack.

**END BOSS SPOILERS**

General Tips and Strategies

• Mines can be disabled by carefully walking up to them and picking them up.

• Search for walls you can break even if you don't have the augmentation where you can punch through them you can still blow them up.  You usually find some useful items or alternate paths.

• The AI fires at the last place that they saw you.  Keeping that in mind as long as you stay hidden you can move safely to another location and get the jump on them (cloaking helps).

• You are rewarded greatly by exploring in this game search for alternate paths and make sure to get the Icarus landing, higher jumping, heavy lifting, and the punch through wall augmentations to help you explore everywhere.

• Make sure to buy 2 praxis kits each time you visit the limb clinic of a new area.  When you go back to the areas a second time you are able to buy 2 more.

• The best tip I can give you is to save and save often.  The game lets you save anytime and anywhere you want, make sure to take advantage of that.

• Don't be afraid to try out something different, you might be surprised with the results.  The game is designed for multiple ways of doing things and multiple playthrough. Have fun with it!

I  hope you enjoyed reading these tips to help augment your gameplay in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.  Be sure to post your tips and tricks in the comments below, I'm sure there are lots that weren't mentioned.  Check back on GamersGameplay for more tips, tricks, strategies and reviews!

August is here the middle of the summer, it's hot outside, and the dry season for gaming. You may be wondering if there are any upcoming games that could be your summer salvation. Worry not my friend because today I have a list for you highlighting some of the best games of August. These games will help keep you nice and cool indoors and will quench your gamer thirst.

Bleach: Soul Resurreccion
Platform: PS3
Release Date: 8/3
Publisher: NIS America




The latest video game iteration of the popular anime series Bleach has finally been released on current gen consoles in glorious HD.  Bleach: Soul Resureccion is a hack n' slash game with loads of fan service.  If you're a fan of the anime Bleach and/or a fan of the hack n' slash style of the Dynasty Warriors series you owe it to yourself to check this game out.  If you're still on the fence or need more information check out our Bleach: Soul Resurreccion review


Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Platform: Xbox LIVE
Release Date: 8/3
Publisher: Fuelcell Games





Interesting name for an interesting game.  Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a visually stunning game with exploration elements reminiscent of Metroid's style of gameplay.  The game also features boss fights, power ups, and a multiplayer mode.


El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 8/16
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment



El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is one of the lesser hyped titles this year. It's combination of being visually unique and a "God of War" style combat will hopefully merge into a great game. Below is a new trailer that shows off it's art style, gameplay, and story. The demo is available on the PSN and Xbox LIVE if any gamer is curious to see what this title will have to offer.




No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise
Platform: PS3
Release Date: 8/16
Publisher: Konami







PS3 owners finally get to experience No More Heroes which was previously a Wii exclusive.  You play as Travis Touchdown an anti-hero otaku assassin that wields a beam sword as a weapon.  The game being very stylish over the top makes no apologies, it just has fun with it's insanity, and because of that is very fun to play.  The PS3 version has some extra features including: HD graphics, move support, gameplay improvements, and new modes.


Age of Empires Online
Platform: PC
Release Date: 8/16
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios





The Age of Empires series are traditionally historical real-time strategy games.  Although they aren't entirely historically accurate they are always a lot of fun.  Age of Empires Online will play similarly to previous titles with the addition of a persistent online world.  A blending of RTS with MMO shapes a unique gameplay experience.
 


From Dust
Platform: PC, Xbox LIVE, PSN
Release Date: 8/17
Publisher: Ubisoft




From Dust has been described by Ubisoft as the spiritual heir to Populous.  The game is structured as a series of missions where you must protect and lead your tribe to survive and prosper against the elements of nature.  Thankfully you are able to manipulate aspects of the environment such as shaping the land or moving water.  From Dust has already been released on Xbox LIVE and will be available on PS3 sometime later this year.





Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 8/23
Publisher: Square Enix





Deus Ex: Human Revolution is one of the most anticipated titles of the year.  The game is a mixture of first and third person shooter with RPG elements.  You have the freedom to play the game multiple ways.  You can go all out guns blazing, take a more stealthy approach, or any combination of the two.     


Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 8/23
Publisher: Capcom




The classic fighter returns with a HD remake.  It features an online mode that was not available in previous releases, a new tournament mode, hundreds of challenges, YouTube uploading in-game, and extra unlocks.


Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
Platform: 3DS
Release Date: 8/23
Publisher: Atlus Co.




Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked is a 3DS enhanced port of the DS version of the game.  This deep RPG has been praised for it's combat system and branching story.  Overclocked adds improvements over the original release with voiced dialogue for the main characters in the game and a new epilogue chapter titled The 8th Day.




BloodRayne: Betrayal
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 8/30
Publisher: Majesco Games






BloodRayne: Betrayal is a downloadable 2D side scrolling hack and slash adventure game with 15 stages to enjoy.  You play as Rayne a dhampir (half human, half vampire) who is as deadly as she is sexy.  This game has also been announced to be released on Xbox LIVE, but not until October 5th.





Bodycount
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 8/30
Publisher: Codemasters






Bodycount is a FPS developed by the same team that developed Black and is considered a spiritual successor to it.  One of best things that set this game apart from other FPS titles is that nearly everything in the environment is destructible.  It also includes what you would expect from these titles TDM, Co-op, and a shotgun.



Madden NFL 12
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Wii
Release Date: 8/30
Publisher: EA Sports






 Madden 2012 was close to being delayed due to the NFL lockout, but now that issue has been resolved and fans can rejoice. With a revised tackling system and a better management system, this could be one of EA's best Madden releases in awhile. Hopefully online play won't be too hard to manage with the inclusion of EA's Season Pass being available.

Tropico 4
Platform: PC
Release Date: 8/30
Publisher: Kalypso




Take control as El Presidente the lovable dictator of the banana republic island.  Tropico 4 like previous titles is a city building and political simulation game.  The series has a very loyal fan base that have been highly anticipating this games release. 


August has a nice variety of upcoming games that will make just about any type of gamer happy.  Post in the comments below some of your most anticipated releases for August.  As the games are released check back on GamersGameplay for the reviews. Hope you enjoyed the Games of August be sure to check back soon for the upcoming games of September!

Batman: Arkham Asylum was one of the biggest games of 2009, but the Collector's Edition of the game left much to be desired. The plastic batarang that was irremovable from the cheap stand was a bit of a low blow to Batman fans, and the rest of the contents were "meh" at best. Don't get me wrong, I still treasure it, along with the fancy box it came in. Even still, I can't help but hope they do a little better for the $99.99 price tag next try.

With Arkham City on the way, many people have been waiting to see if the Collector's Edition will indeed be worth the price of admission. Well folks, the wait is over and details have finally been released about what Batman lovers can get for a hundred bucks!

In this amazing box, you'll get:

• A Batman statue from Kotobukiya
• The Batman: Gotham Knights movie
• An Arkham City Artbook
• An album containing music from the game
• Exclusive early access to in-game content including The Iceberg Lounge challenge map, and an alternate skin for the Dark Knight himself.
• And of course, your very own copy of Batman: Arkham City

All in all, it seems like a big improvement over the last installments collector's edition. Whether people feel the need to spend an extra $40 for this extra stuff is up to the individual, but I for one know that I'll have a sweet Batman statue sitting on my game shelf on October 18.

 Batman Arkham Asylum was not only the best Batman game, it is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the "Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever". Batman Arkham City is setting out to top the first game. Check out 10 minutes of gameplay footage that shows Catwoman and Batman in action:



In Batman Arkham City You are able to traverse around an open world city that is five times larger than Arkham Asylum. The combat system more is dynamic with new attacks, counters, and gadgets at your disposal. There is also 15 hours worth of optional side missions that you can complete.  Batman Arkham City is one of the most anticipated games of this year.  It will be released on October 18th for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Rusty Hearts is an upcoming free to play multiplayer hack 'n' slash dungeon-crawler.  Currently they are accepting applications into the closed beta which will be starting soon.  If you're interested in applying head over to the official website: http://rustyhearts.perfectworld.com/

If you don't get accepted into the beta and need a key I have 1 extra to spare.  I'll give out a beta key to the person that comments first below this post and asks for the key.  If I come across any extra keys I'll be sure to hand them out as well in order of posting below this article.

If you've seen a trailer for Total War: Shogun 2 then you can tell it has some nicely detailed graphics.  Having hundreds of high res units fighting each other at once with a detailed environment, and weather effects can run havoc on a PC.  If you were wondering what the system requirements are for Total War: Shogun 2 you're in luck.  SEGA announced the required and recommended PC specs for it.

 Minimum Specs (Required for playing Total War: Shogun 2):

-       2 GHz Intel Dual Core processor / 2.6 GHz Intel Single Core processor , or AMD equivalent (with SSE2)
-       1GB RAM (XP), 2GB RAM (Vista / Windows7)
-       256 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card (shader model 3)
-       1024x768 minimum screen resolution
-       20GB free hard disk space

Recommended Specs (Recommended for optimum game play of Total War: Shogun 2):

-       2nd Generation Intel® Core™i5 processor (or greater), or AMD equivalent
-       2GB RAM (XP), 4GB RAM (Vista / Windows7)
-       AMD Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series graphics cards or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
-       1280x1024 minimum screen resolution
-       20GB free hard disk space

The system requirements are pretty reasonable considering the scope of the game.  Most computers should be able to run it;  I have a 5 year old computer that could run it off of the minimum specs.  If you have a nice computer running it on the recommended and above you're in for a treat.  The graphics for this game are very impressive on high settings.  Check out this gameplay footage:



Total War: Shogun 2 has a release date for March 15, 2011.  I'll be doing a preview of the game as it gets closer to release, and possibly a review if I get a request for it.

First quarter 2011 is going to be an exciting time for us gamers.  A lot of the most anticipated titles for 2011 are coming out the first quarter.  Since there are so many great games coming out in that short amount of time, I'll break it down for you month by month.  That will give some breathing room to fully appreciate each title, and give you a glance at games you might have missed.  So lets get started with the best games coming out January 2011 in order of release date.

Venetica
Platforms: PC, 360, PS3
Release Date: 1-4-2011
Publisher: Atari




Venetica has already been released in Europe in 2009 and overall has gotten some high praise from critics.  Most of them that did mark points off did so because of glitches that were patched later.  Others were disappointed because they were expecting the game to be something it's not.  For it's US release it's definitely flying under the radar, with no advertising or information on it.  It's worth checking out if you are interested in a light action RPG with a good story.  It's also nice that the game is being released with a lower price point $29.99 for PC and $39.99 for 360/PS3.



Lost in Shadow
Platform: Wii
Release Date: 1-4-2011
Publisher: Hudson Soft


Lost in Shadow is a 2D platform game with it's own unique style.  You play as a shadow of a boy traversing a large tower.  Being a shadow you're only able to interact with other shadows as you make your way through the game.  Thankfully you have a Spangle (a fairy like creature) to help you alter the light source moving the shadows around.  The game also has combat, puzzles, and some 3D elements to it.  If you have a Wii and are looking for something different it's worth a look.




Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation panties, Dood!
Platform: PSP
Release Date:  1-11-2011
Publisher: NIS America


Prinny 2 much like the first game is a 2D hack and slash platform game.  It's a spin off game from the Disgaea series, so if you're a fan of those games you'll be able to appreciate this one too.  With it's crazy humor it's not a game that takes itself seriously.  You play as a prinny (a demon exploding penguin) that serves Etna the current ruler of the underworld (just while Laharl sleeps).  Etna is in a fit of rage because someone stole her panties.  It's up to you and your 1,000 prinny buddies to get it back.  If you liked the first game you'll enjoy Prinny 2 even more.  It improves on the first game adding more of what you like and new features.


DC Universe Online
Platforms: PS3, PC
Release Date: 1-11-2011
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment


DC Universe Online is an action MMO set in the DC world.  If your a fan of DC comics, movies, or characters this game is for you.  The game is full of fanservice; being able to fight with or against your favorite super heroes and villains is every fans dream.  If your not a fan of DC, but enjoy action MMO's, you might want to check this one out too.



 Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded
Platform: DS
Release Date:  1-11-2011
Publisher: Square Enix



 Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded is a remake/port of the mobile phone game Kingdom Hearts Coded.  The story takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts 2, and is mainly episodic.  The story also ties in with the latest Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.  If you're a fan of the series and have a DS you're more than likely going to pick this one up.  If you're not a fan of the series and own a DS you should check into it.  Kingdom Hearts is a quality RPG series that mixes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix.


Mass Effect 2
Platform: PS3 (already released for 360/PC)
Release Date: 1-18-2011
Publisher: Electronic Arts


Mass Effect 2 is a sci-fi RPG action game that has received much praise and rave reviews. Although it didn't win the VGA's game of the year, I'm sure a lot of people consider this to be their GOTY.  If you're just getting into the series now would be a good time.  The PS3 version comes with an interactive comic that catches you up to speed from the events of the first game.  Even better, the decisions that you make in that comic help shape the events of the second game.  So if you haven't played the first game, no worries it'll be like you did.  The PS3 version also comes with all of the DLC for more bang for the buck.  Now PS3 owners can get ready for the highly anticipated Mass Effect 3 releasing Q4 2011.


LittleBigPlanet 2
Platform: PS3
Release Date: 1-18-2011
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment


The highly anticipated sequel to the innovative LittleBigPlanet series will be out in January.  Originally LBP2 had a release date of November 2010 and it got pushed back.  A lot of fans were disappointed hearing that news (myself included) but now the wait is almost over.  The game is shaping up really nicely going by the beta footage.  LBP2 has been called not a platform game, but a platform for games.  Just about any type of game you can think of is able to be created in LBP2.  Check out my Little Big Planet Beta Preview to see what I mean.

 Mindjack
Platforms: 360, PS3
Release Date: 1-18-2011
Publisher: Square Enix



Mindjack is a 3rd person sci-fi multiplayer shooter.  Much like Demon's Souls the single player and multiplayer experience are seamlessly mixed together.  In Mindjack your able to hack into someone's mind and take control of them.  Not just people either, your also able to hack into robots, animals with guns, and bosses.  If your interesting in finding out more, check out the Mindjack is like a Sci-Fi Demon's Souls article I did recently.

 Plants vs Zombies
 Platform: DS
Release Date: 1-18-2011
Publisher: PopCap games


Get ready to soil your plants!  Literally, because your plants are the only things keeping you safe from a zombie invasion.  This is a very fun and imaginative tower defense game of sorts that doesn't take itself too seriously.  Some of the craziest types of zombies you can imagine are in this game like: the zombie bobsled team, dolphin rider zombie, and pogo zombie.  This game has already been released previously on PC, iPhone, iPad, and Xbox Live.  Now you lucky DS owners get to have all the zombie fun you can handle this January. 

Dead Space 2
Platforms: PC, 360, PS3 
Release Date: 1-25-2011
Publisher: Electronic Arts



Dead Space 2 is a survival horror 3rd person shooter set in outer space.  The survival horror genre has been a bit stale lately.  Most of them now play more like action games, and aren't very scary.  The first Dead Space really surprised me and turned out to be a great game.  It had good atmosphere for a horror game, it kept me on edge.  I wasn't sure when or how many Necromorphs were going to jump out at me.  I got the chance to play the multiplayer in Dead Space 2, and it's a nice addition.  Being able to control the Necromorphs and stalking my prey was good fun.  If your looking for a survival horror game in January this is it.



Two Worlds 2
Platforms: PC, 360, PS3
Release Date: 1-25-2011
Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive



If your craving an open world fantasy RPG, and you just can't wait for Skyrim, you might want to check out Two Worlds 2.  I know what you might be thinking "no thanks, the first Two Worlds sucked".  You'd be right too, the consensus on the first Two Worlds wasn't so great.  Don't worry though Two Worlds 2 is looking much improved.  It's already been released in Europe and has gotten good reviews.  If you like these types of games you owe it to yourself to at least look into it, you may be surprised.  As soon as I'm able to get a demo of TW2 I'll post impressions, until then check out this video.   



Lord of Arcana
Platform: PSP
Release Date: 1-25-2011
Publisher: Square Enix




This game to me seems like a more crazy Square Enix version of Monster Hunter.  I got a chance to play the Japanese demo and I enjoyed it.  You can play online with up to 3 other players, and battle mythical beasts.  Your able to do flashy finishing blows and QTE during battle.  Your also able to fight and summon popular Square Enix monsters like Bahamut.  If your looking for a good action RPG for your PSP this January you might want to check this game out.


Sorcery for the PS3 Move is supposedly coming out in January as well.  I'll keep you updated on that, and any other big games coming out soon.  Well, that about does it for January.  I honestly don't know how I'm going to keep from going broke.  Especially when February and March aren't letting up on the amazing releases.    Be sure to check back next month for the upcoming games of February, it's even crazier than January.  What are some of your most anticipated games coming out in January?  Be sure to post them in the comments.

Many MMO's have come along since WoW in an attempt to compete with the beast, but they pretty much all have failed. Some of the bigger releases, such as Warhammer and AION may have managed to pull some players in their direction, but even then, a large portion of those people ended up going back to WoW after a couple months. It's a sad cycle, but compared to other MMO's, WoW just does too many things right. For now anyway.

Aside from Blade & Soul, there's another upcoming MMO that's been in the works for quite a few years now. Guild Wars 2. And yes, it looks AMAZING. Now some people may think "Psh, yeah right. Guild Wars 1 sucked!" I gave part 1 a shot, and I'll admit, I wasn't a huge fan of it. It was decent, but it just didn't hook me. Guild Wars 2, though, has me hooked already.

Combat looks awesome

First off, the combat in Guild Wars 2 looks like a blast! It's a mix between standard MMO controls with action game elements. Players can actually dodge! And no, I don't mean you have a chance to dodge, based on an invisible roll of the dice along with your dodge percentage. There's an actual button that lets you evade. To me, this is a HUGE step in the right direction for how these games should play. Along with that, there's no auto-attacking in Guild Wars 2. Your character will not attack unless you use a skill. Yeah, it'll be a bit less ezmode, sorry. Sadface.

There's five unique races to choose from when making a character. Sylvari are the elf-like, nature loving race. The Norn are proud, shape-shifting brutes. Charr are blood thirsty, dog men who wish to conquer. Asura; very small, magicians and alchemists. And of course, the standard humans.
 

Big Daddy? O_o

So far, four classes have been announced (Ranger, Elementalist, Warrior, and Necromancer), with another four yet to be revealed. Along with the combat requiring players to be more responsive than most MMO's, actually building your character will also require a lot of thought.

Your character will only be allowed to have ten skills equipped at a time. Of these ten, five of them will be preset, depending on both your class, and what weapon you have equipped. The other five, you pick yourself, according to your play style, and if it's going to be anything like Guild Wars 1, there will be plenty of skills to choose from. This feature alone makes customizing your character a lot more fun in my opinion. The possibilities will be endless, and even though I'm sure there will be "cookie-cutter" builds eventually, there will still be a ton of variety in the classes.

The Elementalist has a wide range of spells

Another change to the standard MMO formula is the questing system. From what I've read, quests are replaced by "dynamic events", which randomly happen as you're out and about in the world. Also, depending on how you respond to these events, NPC's will react to you in different ways. Help a farmer fight bandits off his land, and you'll be renowned to him as a hero. Turn your back on the situation, and... who knows? He might become a super-powered demon and try to kill you one day. A bit exaggerated, but you get the point. This system will add a lot to your overall experience as you level up, hopefully making it more fun, rather than a chore.

In the Blade & Soul Preview I did previously there wasn't much known about the game at that time.  With a promise from the developers that this years G-Star would show a playable demo I was excited.  G-Star this year exceeded my expectations.  A lot of questions were answered and I finally got to see some actual gameplay.  I could go into lots of detail about what makes this different from the average MMO.  I think though instead of me telling you about it, I should show you.  Here is the official Blade & Soul G-Star 2010 trailer!



One of the most exciting things about that trailer is that they announced the Assassin.  They seem to be exactly what you'd expect from an Assassin, they are very agile and sneaky.  The Assassin is able to use stealth to get the jump on the enemy and even set traps.

There was also a live demo shown with lots of gameplay footage.  Finally I got to see how the game actually plays and I was impressed overall.  You use your typical w a s d f keys to move and you double tap to dash.  Your able to run pretty fast and jump 20 feet in the air and glide down almost like your flying.  The game has an auto targeting system that will target the closet enemy for you.

There are lots of different attacks, abilities, and combos that you can do in the game.  That doesn't mean that you have to learn a lot of buttons or have a cluttered UI either.  The game has a branching skill system that dynamically changes based on the context of the skill you just used or the enemy.  There are a separate set of combos and skills for when the enemy is at a range, in the air, on the ground, or knocked down.  These videos showing you the different classes and their skills will show you what I mean:


I really like the way the combat is almost like a fighting or action game.  You're able to parry, counter, air combo, grab and throw your enemies.  So far they haven't shown any PVP only PVE footage.  They have mentioned that it will have PVP but haven't disclosed any details on it yet.  Watching PVE in an MMO is a bit boring to me so hopefully we'll see some PVP action soon.  I would have liked the combat to be a little bit quicker for my tastes.  It's already a lot faster than most MMO's out there, just a little bit more and I think it would be perfect.  To be fair the gameplay was for demoing purposes and it only showed PVE, also the game isn't completed yet. 

The game is looking pretty good though for not being completed, they still have more time to add features and more polish.  Unfortunately there hasn't been any word yet for when the beta starts or a release date.  The G-Star event is still going on through the weekend so I'll add updates to this if anything major happens.  I'll leave you with one more video showing off a demonstration of the game being played with the developer talking about it:


(It's a long video you can skip to 3:00 if you want, that's when the gameplay starts.  If a translated version gets posted I'll replace this one.)

So what did you think?  Blade & Soul is looking pretty good huh?  I really hope more MMOs start to go in a more action style of gameplay.  I think it will help to revitalize the genre.  Guild Wars 2 is also looking really good, check out the preview by Nightmarz

I never really was much a fan of racing games, mostly the serious ones anyway like Gran Turismo.  It probably has something to do with me not being into cars that much.  The way the cars handle is too realistic, which is great for simulation, but not so great for having fun.

Racing games like Burnout are my kind of racing game.  It's fast paced arcade style racing at it's best.  The game actually encourages you to crash into and take out other racers.  Sure you can race the clock and try to beat your best score, but you'd be missing out on the point.  It's way more fun and satisfying to take out other cars, enjoy the slow motion sweetness of it happening, and then finish in first.

Just like racing games I'm not really into realistic shooters either.  So if your like me and want your shooter to be over the top arcade style, then check out Bulletstorm.  It has been called by the developer People Can Fly "The Burnout of shooters".  It's also co-developed by Epic Games the creators of Unreal and Gears of War.

Bulletstorm plays a bit differently from your average shooter.  It's not just about the headshot, or going for the kill in this game.  Bulletstorm encourages you to kill creatively using your guns, tools, and the environment together to perform skill shots.  Skill shots are special kills that reward the player with points that they can use for upgrades to weapons and skills.     

You are able to kick enemies away, or grapple them to you.  That alone opens up lots of interesting combos that you can perform.  When you do a kick or grapple the game slows down for a moment to give you time to decide how you want to combo them.  And of course there are lots of environmental hazards placed conveniently around for you to activate or kick/grapple them into.  Skill shots are very satisfying when you pull off, each one has a unique name that pops up when you do it.

The guns seem really interesting as well.  There is your standard automatic riffle like in every shooter, but have you ever seen a 4-barrel shot gun before?  There is also the Flail gun that fires two grenades that are linked by a chain that can wrap around things.

You can have them wrapped around objects in the environment like a trash can that you can kick into a group of enemies that will explode.  Another funny thing you can do is wrap them around two enemies together and that skill shot is called a "Gang Bang".The last weapon that I saw was called the Bouncer which fires cannonballs that bounce around.  After it's fired you can kick the ball around into enemies, it looks really fun to use.


From the gameplay that I've seen and the trailers this game is looking to be really good.  It promises epic large scale boss fights for the singleplayer.  I'm not sure if it'll have co-op or not for the main campaign.  Bulletstorm will have multplayer, it's a bit different from what you might expect from a typical shooter.  There is no deathmatch or capture the flag.  Instead it's a cooperative mode where you fight hordes of enemies together. What makes it interesting is trying to get the best score possible doing combos together.  Bulletstorm has an offical release date of 2-22-11 for the PC, 360, and PS3.

COD at Wal-Mart is serious business

So I was wandering around Wal-Mart when I saw they had a camouflage tent out in front of the electronics department.  It was for the launch event for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops.  They were holding a tournament to see who is the best.  It's always good to see gamers coming together.  And nice to see that games are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.  The video game industry has grown significantly over the past couple of years.

And with that so has the budgets for developing games, new technologies, and sales have increased tremendously.  Especially for a game with the Call of Duty title easily will sell millions.  There has been tons of hype regarding  the newest COD game.  It has a very loyal following that don't mind picking up the newest COD game every year (even though sometimes it's just minor updates).  It's not as bad as the Madden games though, that can just basically be a roster update.

Dramatic reenactment of GameStop heist

The lines are always long at the midnight releases for those eager gamers that can't wait to get their hands on it.  There were even a couple of over zealous fans that robbed a GameStop at gun point.  Thankfully no one was hurt, but they got away with an estimated 100 copies.  That story was reported on many news sites including ABC news.  Even the fact that the game is being released was newsworthy for sites that aren't even gaming related.

I can't really say that I am a fan of the COD series.  I would much rather them hold launch events for the new Devil May Cry game, Tekken, or LittleBigPlanet.  I guess COD just isn't my type of game, I don't really "get it".  I can see that it is a polished game, and that it would be fun to play.  It just won't really hold my attention for too long.  I do enjoy shooters though I used to play a lot on the PC when they were big.  Games like Quake, Unreal Tournament, and Half-Life.  So I guess I like a bit more sci-fi in my shooters.

Games, guns, and red bull. What more do you need?

I'm hoping it continues to be a trend that launch events for games are getting bigger.  Local gaming tournaments are always fun to go to as well.  One thing that most gamers lack is a community.  A place to gather and game together.  To socialize outside of the internet and hang out.

Multi-player games are fun and certainly more popular than they have ever been.  But couch co-op is dying.  At least for the hardcore gamer.  The Wii, Kinect, and Move have tons of games for casual local multi-player games.  I would like to see more couch co-op games that cater to the hardcore.

I have a lot of fond memories getting together with friends growing up playing games like Goldeneye, or Twisted Metal.  There is an abundance of places you can go to get drunk or dance (bars and clubs)  but there really aren't many places you can go out to game.  I don't really mean arcades either but that is a step in the right direction.  I suppose they do have cyber cafes and that's kind of what I'm talking about.  There needs to be a place in every city where gamers can gather and game together.  A home away from home.  Maybe someday there will be such a place, until then I'll keep dreaming.

If you saw the title and read this hoping for some gameplay of COD: Black Ops I got you covered.  Here are some videos showing off the multi-player and customization: 

I've been keeping an eye on Blade & Soul since the first trailer I saw back in 2008.  I've been retired from playing MMO's for a few years now and didn't really have an interest in going back.  Word of Warcraft was the last one that I played hardcore and got burned out on it.


Blade & Soul might just be the one that gets me to play another MMORPG again.  I'm still a little leery it is a Korean MMO which are notorious for heavy grinding.  I'm hoping this one will be different.  Check out the gameplay videos below it looks like it plays like an action game.  The game producer Jae Hyun Bae says that it breaks a lot of the traditional MMO rules:

A nice scenery picture

A fantasy martial arts game inspired by Asian culture in artwork, mythology, and combat.  It definitively has a unique look and feel to it.  I really like the art style and the graphics they both look gorgeous.  It's not surprising with Hyung-tae Kim (Magna Carta) as the art director.  He uses a art style called manhwa you can think of it like Korean manga style drawing.  It's a very expressive style that exaggerates feminine and masculine features.

As of right now there are 4 announced classes: Blade Master, Destroyer, Kung-Fu Master, and Force Master.  Going by the class trailer (you can watch it below) it seems that there will be a summoner type class, as well as a ranged class that uses guns but they aren't confirmed yet.  They have also shown 4 types of races you can choose from: Jin, Kun, Gon, and Lyn.

Kick, punch, it's all in the mind

The combat in it looks brutal especially when you see the Destroyer or Kung-Fu Master in action.  As you would have guessed it they use brute force to annihilate their foes.  The Destroyer seems to be like a tanking class that can soak up tons of damage.  But that doesn't mean that they can't dish it out too.  They wield a huge two handed axe and aren't shy about using it.


The other two classes the Blade Master and Force Master have to use more finesse to destroy their foes.  That however doesn't make them weak .  The Blade Master seems to be more agile than the other classes and able to attack much quicker and do aerial combos.  They are also able to summon several floating swords that they can launch as projectiles at their foes.

Picture of Blade Masters swords

The Force Master is kinda like a traditional mage with a martial arts twist.  They can cast very powerful spells and don't have to stand still while they do it.  From firing smaller rapid energy balls to slower giant ones (think spirit bomb) they seem to be pretty deadly.  In one part of the trailer they grabbed a Kung-Fu Master that was leaping at them mid-air with a Darth Vader like force choke and flung them back.

I'm pretty excited about this one but I'm not fully convinced yet.  There hasn't been any real gameplay footage yet just trailers (although awesome ones).  That should change soon though later this month at G-Star 2010.

The developers have said they will be showing a playable demo so we'll finally get to see some real gameplay in action.  Be sure to check back afterwords for more impressions on the game and gameplay footage.  While we wait be sure to check out these trailers, you'll be glad you did:




Blade & Soul hopefully will be out sometime next year or at least start it's beta phase soon.  It's rumored that it's coming to PS3 but nothing is set in stone.  The developers have expressed interests in putting it on consoles and said it was possible.  We'll wait and see what G-Star holds this year.

UPDATE:

Here is are my impressions for Blade & Soul G-Star 2010