EA is going ahead without Tiger Woods for their upcoming PGA Tour game, and Microsoft wants the rumors about the Xbox One to stop getting out of hand, although they also want all your details on Xbox Live.
Black Friday is still a few weeks away, but that doesn't mean you can't find a good bargain early. The Steam Halloween sale while lacking the "must buy it all" allure you might get from Steam's summer and holiday sales, still offers a hefty discount on lots of quality titles.
The reduced prices on (mostly) horror-themed games are in effect from now until November 1, so you have time to judge how much you can spend now versus how much you need to save for the coming weeks of sales and big name releases.
I've battled robots, supervillains, and henchmen beyond number through the streets of New York, through the halls of Asgard, under the sea, on the deck of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and in space. And I'm only moments away from foiling Doctor Doom's nefarious, world-threatening plans, whatever they may be. Lego Marvel Super Heroes has arrived, transforming the Marvel universe into a Lego playground bursting with wit and diversity.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes starts with a standard comic book plot and runs with it. In the game's opening cutscene, Doctor Doom has destroyed the Silver Surfer's surfboard and hired every available supervillain to gather the board's cosmic brick components in order to create his Doom Ray of Doom. The plot has various super teams, such as the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four--as well as solo heroes--working to recover the cosmic bricks while various villains swoop in to stop them.
Just three of the 150 characters you can unlock in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. The game revels in the cheesiness and over-the-top attitude that characterize Marvel comics. The playful writing has the characters bouncing jokes off each other, and skilled voice actors chew up the scenery with every snarl. A series of background jokes--such as Nick Fury evoking the 2012 Avengers movie by asking about lunch, and a nearby S.H.I.E.L.D. agent quickly producing a takeout shawarma menu--rewards a keen eye and comic book knowledge. Upon finishing a level, you see Lego workers sweep up the damage you've caused, while Agent Coulson amusingly offers coffee and snacks to those around him.
The Lego games have always found ways to sing new songs to a familiar rhythm. You enter a level, smash or blast everything around you, snag the Lego pips that rain down, and perform superpowers and assemble machines that allow you to enter the next area. You've tapped your feet to this gameplay beat before, but Lego Marvel Super Heroes keeps things snappy, barely giving you time to breathe before ushering you to the next heroic task. The Marvel connection is a delightful complement to the spirited pace from the very beginning; the first characters you play with are Iron Man and the Hulk, and the first level involves smashing everything within New York's Grand Central Station.
What better way to fight evil than Howard the Duck with a rocket launcher? Unlocking new playable characters is another returning joy, thanks to the varied array of superpowers at your disposal. You can dive into a group of enemies as Wolverine and claw through everything in front of you, or harness Jean Grey's significant powers and hurl opponents into each other like human bowling pins. Either way, your slain opponents explode into dozens of tiny Lego blocks that serve as the game's primary currency. Each major character offers a different kind of gameplay mechanic, making it fun to jump into the battle and take down groups of enemies--even if your character of choice is Howard the Duck toting a powerful rocket launcher.
Your first campaign runthrough is only the starter course: you unlock loads of characters and content that make Lego Marvel Super Heroes worth returning to. Dizzying numbers of characters, locations, vehicles, and landmarks you've loved from the Marvel world have been translated into Lego form, and once you discover the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, you may explore New York as any character you've unlocked and take on missions as you see fit. The game's Free Play mode taps into the compulsive need to unearth every secret and unlock every door by encouraging you to replay levels as different characters, thus gaining access to areas previously closed off.
Inviting graphics, surging music, and great interactions between characters make for breezy entertainment.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes looks and sounds lovely, but its presentation quirks often prove distracting. Certain characters repeat the same lines of dialogue ad infinitum, which can get tiresome; there are only so many times you can hear Tony Stark proudly describe himself as "Tony Stark...genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" before it gets old. The frame rate occasionally drops, particularly upon entering co-op mode, and a small black box occasionally appeared in the air over my characters' heads towards the end of the game. At one point, my character would respawn directly next to his still-present corpse, while a boss fight against Red Skull had me wandering around the room for several minutes looking for scenery to smash before I realized I had encountered a bug and had to restart the level.
In spite of such troubles, inviting visuals, surging music, and hilarious character interactions make for breezy entertainment. Weird moments, such as accidentally turning Mr. Fantastic into a tea kettle, and Iron Man doing the robot, further widen the smile you're sure to be wearing on your face. It's moments like these, along with taking down a suit of flying Hulkbuster armor via the House Party protocol from Iron Man 3--wherein half a dozen Iron Man suits soar in to pound on your opponent--that keep you coming back for more. Whether you're looking for a way to take down the Juggernaut or working to help a random citizen in Free Play mode, Lego Marvel Super Heroes is all sorts of web-slinging, shield-flinging, Hulk-smashing fun.
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:39:58 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/football-manager-2014-review/1900-6415508/ <p style="">Football Manager 2013 represented somewhat of an overhaul in focus for the long-running series. With the addition of Classic mode, developer Sports Interactive committed itself to providing a streamlined version of the game in the hope of attracting players not exclusively consisting of sport nerds and statisticians. While a number of worthwhile improvements were made to last year's more exhaustive traditional game, it was clear that Classic mode was the priority.</p><p style="">This season, however, things are different. Classic mode has seen a variety of upgrades, but the fully featured side of the game is where the real changes have taken place. Not only do many of the new additions and alterations make for the most absorbing (and time-consuming) entry in the franchise's history, but they also make it the most challenging.</p><p style="">Sports nerds rejoice.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355353" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355353"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg"></a><figcaption>Getting the tactics right, even against weaker opposition, is vital.</figcaption></figure><p style="">In previous years it was possible (with the best teams, at least) to make a few signings, define your tactics, and fly through a season at a rate of eight to 10 games per hour. With minor interaction along the way, you could finish a season top of the league playing in this way. FM14 makes that kind of passive play impossible by forcing you to constantly adapt and stay attuned to the actions of the opposition.</p><p style="">That need to focus more closely than ever on the actions of your rival managers is most obviously felt on match day. Your opposite number is now much more likely to make tactical changes (both subtle and major) as the game plays out, meaning the intricate 3-5-2 formation that worked so brilliantly in the first half could suddenly find itself ineffective.</p><blockquote data-align="center" data-size="large"><p style="">Handling players in the wrong way can have an enormous effect on their morale.</p></blockquote><p style="">This has a dramatic effect on gameplay. Not only do you need to be ready to adapt over the course of 90 minutes, but you need to understand the abilities of your players in more detail than ever in order to make those adaptations in a way they can execute and understand. In short: if you don't know how to make the best use of the talent at your disposal, you can bet the opposition will know best how to exploit them.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355355" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355355"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg"></a><figcaption>While more difficult than ever, success is still there for the determined.</figcaption></figure><p style="">When faced with an evenly matched opponent, the difference between winning and losing can come down to the individual instructions you've given a single player. Giving the right instructions involves not only knowing your own player, but knowing the opposing players he is likely to encounter most frequently on the pitch. Keeping track of this for a squad of 25 or more prima donnas is no easy task, and the manager who spends the most time getting to know his players and figuring out how they can work together will see the greatest success. To do this most effectively, you need to spend more time seeing your team play. It's no wonder, then, that Sports Interactive has spent time putting together a much-improved 3D match engine that actually makes viewing games enjoyable.</p><p style="">The added emphasis on team cohesion means new signings are frequently more difficult than ever before to assimilate into your starting lineup. While swapping out Demba Ba for Robert Lewandowski may seem obvious on paper, it can be more difficult than expected to change the way the rest of the team plays in order to make Lewandowski effective. The advice is to think twice before deciding to rebuild your team in the transfer window.</p><p style="">However, the added tactical depth means that winning trophies is more satisfying than it has ever been. It's certainly still possible to brush aside weaker teams without delving too much into the nitty-gritty of tactics and individual player instructions, but to win silverware, you eventually have to beat top-quality teams, and that requires a lot of effort on your part. In symmetry with the added depth of elements that impact player performance, backroom interactions are also more wide reaching and diverse. Personalities are much more distinguishable, requiring you to frequently take very different approaches to similar scenarios. The likes of Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic require a very gentle and ego-massaging approach, while more stable pros such as Steven Gerrard or Vincent Kompany can be relied upon to not get too flustered no matter how dire things may seem.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355359" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355359"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg"></a><figcaption>You have the option of conducting transfer negotiations in real time, a genuine time saver.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Handling players in the wrong way can have an enormous effect on their morale, which, in turn, can hamper their playing performance and/or disrupt the dressing room. As a last resort, influential members of the squad can even be asked to try to calm down unstable teammates--although it's debatable whether it's worth the risk of looking like you're delegating a problem that you should be taking ownership of. If it comes to the point where a player does need to be sold and a replacement found, you'll be glad to hear that transfer negotiations are significantly improved and feel more realistic. In a similar manner to contract negotiations, transfer deals can be worked out in real time--you propose a fee to a club, and said club immediately replies positively, negatively, or with a figure that it thinks is more realistic.</p><blockquote data-align="right"><p style="">Like the beautiful game itself, and to use a well-worn cliche, FM14 is a game of two halves.</p></blockquote><p style="">During transfer windows, this can save an incredible amount of in-game time since you no longer have to wait days or weeks for a club to respond to your interest. As you can imagine, this is particularly helpful when the transfer window is nearing its end and you're still looking to fill a key position. If a team appears unwilling to part with a specific player, a slew of new clauses and extracurricular incentives can be proposed to convince them to alter their stance.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355364" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355364"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg"></a><figcaption>Classic mode's Match Plan option lets you instantly resolve any game.</figcaption></figure><p style="">One of the most beneficial features for both parties is the option to immediately loan a player back to the selling club. This works particularly well when signing young players. English midfielder Ross Barkley and Brazilian ace Doria are great young players, but if you're managing Barcelona, it's unlikely they'll get enough game time to enable them to reach their potential. Loaning them back to their previous club as part of the transfer deal allows you to get them onto your books and gets them first-team playing time. It's a win-win.</p><p style="">Transfer interactions, along with most other matters of running the club, can now be performed from within your inbox--reducing the number of screens you need to scroll through (and memorise) to perform basic tasks. For purists, the option to open each specific item in its own screen does still exist. Without a doubt, the full Football Manager experience offered this year is the most exhaustive and most difficult to date.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355366" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355366"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg"></a><figcaption>Tasks can now be completed without leaving your news item inbox.</figcaption></figure><p style="">If you're not the most dedicated Football Manager player, don't worry, you haven't been left out. Classic mode has been improved in a number of key ways that expand on and improve the experience without making it more complex. Last year, Classic mode limited you to three countries per saved game, whereas this time around you can load in as many leagues as you like--the benefit being that with more tournaments to win, it's easier to seek out new challenges as your career progresses. A Match Plan menu has also been added, allowing you to give your team a set of basic instructions prior to kickoff and then simply click an instant resolve to get a result. It works a treat if you're in a hurry but want (read: need) to squeeze in a couple more fixtures before shutting the game down.</p><p style="">Like the beautiful game itself, and to use a well-worn cliche, FM14 is a game of two halves. The full game is for those with actual dreams (faded or otherwise) of being a football manager, while Classic mode is aimed at those with a more active social life and a desire for instant gratification. Whereas last year's game was the beginning of this dual-focus outlook, this season it feels fully realised thanks to the further depth and complexity added to the core experience. Not so long ago, Football Manager represented an impenetrable proposition to anyone who didn't know the difference between a False 9 and an Engache. That time is a thing of the past. Kudos to Sports Interactive for delivering a much more inclusive game, but without so much as hinting at compromising the experience for veterans.</p> Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/football-manager-2014-review/1900-6415508/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-october-28-november-2-battlefield-4/1100-6415799/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2308071" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2308071"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">First-person shooter <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a> hits the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this week.</p><p style="">The game will feature missions that take place across the world in destinations such as Azerbaijan, Shanghai, and Singapore. In one chapter, players will rescue VIPs, among them a CIA field operative known as Laszlo W Kovic.</p><p style="">Kovic is the focus of an <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-novel-in-the-works/1100-6411569/" data-ref-id="1100-6411569">upcoming Battlefield novel</a> that provides the backstory for the CIA operative and the larger Battlefield 4 fiction.</p><p style="">Developer DICE revealed the<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-minimum-and-recommended-specs-revealed/1100-6414256/" data-ref-id="1100-6414256"> minimum and recommended specifications for the PC</a> version of the game last month. Battlefield 4 is also coming to next-generation consoles the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as launch titles for those platforms in November.</p><p style="">Yearning for a pirate's life? <a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> is ready to set sail in Australian retail this week.</p><p style="">Set in the 1650s and onwards, players assume the role of Edward Kenway, a British pirate who serves in the Assassin Order. The game will feature an open world with naval and land exploration. The hunting system from <a href="/assassins-creed-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed III</a> will also make a return, with players able to hunt on land and in water.</p><p style="">Ubisoft has released a new core Assassin's Creed game every year since 2009. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag launches on October 31 and has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-toronto-collaborating-on-next-assassins-creed/1100-6406105/" data-ref-id="1100-6406105">confirmed a follow-up Assassin's Creed game</a>.</p><p style="">For more details on games out this week in Australia, check the list below.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415769" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415769/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><b>October 31, 2013</b></p><p style=""><a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> (360, PS3)</p><p style=""><a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a> (360, PS3, PC)</p><p style=""><a href="/wwe-2k14/" data-ref-id="false">WWE 2K14</a> (360, PS3)</p> Sun, 27 Oct 2013 22:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-october-28-november-2-battlefield-4/1100-6415799/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/new-releases-assassin-s-creed-iv-black-flag-battle/2300-6415768/ This week on New Releases, we talk about Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, WWE 2K14, Sonic: Lost World and Football Manager 2014. Sun, 27 Oct 2013 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/new-releases-assassin-s-creed-iv-black-flag-battle/2300-6415768/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:39:58 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/football-manager-2014-review/1900-6415508/ <p style="">Football Manager 2013 represented somewhat of an overhaul in focus for the long-running series. With the addition of Classic mode, developer Sports Interactive committed itself to providing a streamlined version of the game in the hope of attracting players not exclusively consisting of sport nerds and statisticians. While a number of worthwhile improvements were made to last year's more exhaustive traditional game, it was clear that Classic mode was the priority.</p><p style="">This season, however, things are different. Classic mode has seen a variety of upgrades, but the fully featured side of the game is where the real changes have taken place. Not only do many of the new additions and alterations make for the most absorbing (and time-consuming) entry in the franchise's history, but they also make it the most challenging.</p><p style="">Sports nerds rejoice.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355353" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355353"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/416/4161502/2355353-0001.jpg"></a><figcaption>Getting the tactics right, even against weaker opposition, is vital.</figcaption></figure><p style="">In previous years it was possible (with the best teams, at least) to make a few signings, define your tactics, and fly through a season at a rate of eight to 10 games per hour. With minor interaction along the way, you could finish a season top of the league playing in this way. FM14 makes that kind of passive play impossible by forcing you to constantly adapt and stay attuned to the actions of the opposition.</p><p style="">That need to focus more closely than ever on the actions of your rival managers is most obviously felt on match day. Your opposite number is now much more likely to make tactical changes (both subtle and major) as the game plays out, meaning the intricate 3-5-2 formation that worked so brilliantly in the first half could suddenly find itself ineffective.</p><blockquote data-align="center" data-size="large"><p style="">Handling players in the wrong way can have an enormous effect on their morale.</p></blockquote><p style="">This has a dramatic effect on gameplay. Not only do you need to be ready to adapt over the course of 90 minutes, but you need to understand the abilities of your players in more detail than ever in order to make those adaptations in a way they can execute and understand. In short: if you don't know how to make the best use of the talent at your disposal, you can bet the opposition will know best how to exploit them.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355355" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355355"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/416/4161502/2355355-0002.jpg"></a><figcaption>While more difficult than ever, success is still there for the determined.</figcaption></figure><p style="">When faced with an evenly matched opponent, the difference between winning and losing can come down to the individual instructions you've given a single player. Giving the right instructions involves not only knowing your own player, but knowing the opposing players he is likely to encounter most frequently on the pitch. Keeping track of this for a squad of 25 or more prima donnas is no easy task, and the manager who spends the most time getting to know his players and figuring out how they can work together will see the greatest success. To do this most effectively, you need to spend more time seeing your team play. It's no wonder, then, that Sports Interactive has spent time putting together a much-improved 3D match engine that actually makes viewing games enjoyable.</p><p style="">The added emphasis on team cohesion means new signings are frequently more difficult than ever before to assimilate into your starting lineup. While swapping out Demba Ba for Robert Lewandowski may seem obvious on paper, it can be more difficult than expected to change the way the rest of the team plays in order to make Lewandowski effective. The advice is to think twice before deciding to rebuild your team in the transfer window.</p><p style="">However, the added tactical depth means that winning trophies is more satisfying than it has ever been. It's certainly still possible to brush aside weaker teams without delving too much into the nitty-gritty of tactics and individual player instructions, but to win silverware, you eventually have to beat top-quality teams, and that requires a lot of effort on your part. In symmetry with the added depth of elements that impact player performance, backroom interactions are also more wide reaching and diverse. Personalities are much more distinguishable, requiring you to frequently take very different approaches to similar scenarios. The likes of Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic require a very gentle and ego-massaging approach, while more stable pros such as Steven Gerrard or Vincent Kompany can be relied upon to not get too flustered no matter how dire things may seem.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355359" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355359"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/416/4161502/2355359-0004.jpg"></a><figcaption>You have the option of conducting transfer negotiations in real time, a genuine time saver.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Handling players in the wrong way can have an enormous effect on their morale, which, in turn, can hamper their playing performance and/or disrupt the dressing room. As a last resort, influential members of the squad can even be asked to try to calm down unstable teammates--although it's debatable whether it's worth the risk of looking like you're delegating a problem that you should be taking ownership of. If it comes to the point where a player does need to be sold and a replacement found, you'll be glad to hear that transfer negotiations are significantly improved and feel more realistic. In a similar manner to contract negotiations, transfer deals can be worked out in real time--you propose a fee to a club, and said club immediately replies positively, negatively, or with a figure that it thinks is more realistic.</p><blockquote data-align="right"><p style="">Like the beautiful game itself, and to use a well-worn cliche, FM14 is a game of two halves.</p></blockquote><p style="">During transfer windows, this can save an incredible amount of in-game time since you no longer have to wait days or weeks for a club to respond to your interest. As you can imagine, this is particularly helpful when the transfer window is nearing its end and you're still looking to fill a key position. If a team appears unwilling to part with a specific player, a slew of new clauses and extracurricular incentives can be proposed to convince them to alter their stance.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355364" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355364"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/416/4161502/2355364-0005.jpg"></a><figcaption>Classic mode's Match Plan option lets you instantly resolve any game.</figcaption></figure><p style="">One of the most beneficial features for both parties is the option to immediately loan a player back to the selling club. This works particularly well when signing young players. English midfielder Ross Barkley and Brazilian ace Doria are great young players, but if you're managing Barcelona, it's unlikely they'll get enough game time to enable them to reach their potential. Loaning them back to their previous club as part of the transfer deal allows you to get them onto your books and gets them first-team playing time. It's a win-win.</p><p style="">Transfer interactions, along with most other matters of running the club, can now be performed from within your inbox--reducing the number of screens you need to scroll through (and memorise) to perform basic tasks. For purists, the option to open each specific item in its own screen does still exist. Without a doubt, the full Football Manager experience offered this year is the most exhaustive and most difficult to date.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355366" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2355366"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/416/4161502/2355366-0006.jpg"></a><figcaption>Tasks can now be completed without leaving your news item inbox.</figcaption></figure><p style="">If you're not the most dedicated Football Manager player, don't worry, you haven't been left out. Classic mode has been improved in a number of key ways that expand on and improve the experience without making it more complex. Last year, Classic mode limited you to three countries per saved game, whereas this time around you can load in as many leagues as you like--the benefit being that with more tournaments to win, it's easier to seek out new challenges as your career progresses. A Match Plan menu has also been added, allowing you to give your team a set of basic instructions prior to kickoff and then simply click an instant resolve to get a result. It works a treat if you're in a hurry but want (read: need) to squeeze in a couple more fixtures before shutting the game down.</p><p style="">Like the beautiful game itself, and to use a well-worn cliche, FM14 is a game of two halves. The full game is for those with actual dreams (faded or otherwise) of being a football manager, while Classic mode is aimed at those with a more active social life and a desire for instant gratification. Whereas last year's game was the beginning of this dual-focus outlook, this season it feels fully realised thanks to the further depth and complexity added to the core experience. Not so long ago, Football Manager represented an impenetrable proposition to anyone who didn't know the difference between a False 9 and an Engache. That time is a thing of the past. Kudos to Sports Interactive for delivering a much more inclusive game, but without so much as hinting at compromising the experience for veterans.</p> Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/football-manager-2014-review/1900-6415508/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-october-28-november-2-battlefield-4/1100-6415799/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2308071" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2308071"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/mig/8/0/7/1/2308071-677383_20131001_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">First-person shooter <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a> hits the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this week.</p><p style="">The game will feature missions that take place across the world in destinations such as Azerbaijan, Shanghai, and Singapore. In one chapter, players will rescue VIPs, among them a CIA field operative known as Laszlo W Kovic.</p><p style="">Kovic is the focus of an <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-novel-in-the-works/1100-6411569/" data-ref-id="1100-6411569">upcoming Battlefield novel</a> that provides the backstory for the CIA operative and the larger Battlefield 4 fiction.</p><p style="">Developer DICE revealed the<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-minimum-and-recommended-specs-revealed/1100-6414256/" data-ref-id="1100-6414256"> minimum and recommended specifications for the PC</a> version of the game last month. Battlefield 4 is also coming to next-generation consoles the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as launch titles for those platforms in November.</p><p style="">Yearning for a pirate's life? <a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> is ready to set sail in Australian retail this week.</p><p style="">Set in the 1650s and onwards, players assume the role of Edward Kenway, a British pirate who serves in the Assassin Order. The game will feature an open world with naval and land exploration. The hunting system from <a href="/assassins-creed-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed III</a> will also make a return, with players able to hunt on land and in water.</p><p style="">Ubisoft has released a new core Assassin's Creed game every year since 2009. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag launches on October 31 and has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-toronto-collaborating-on-next-assassins-creed/1100-6406105/" data-ref-id="1100-6406105">confirmed a follow-up Assassin's Creed game</a>.</p><p style="">For more details on games out this week in Australia, check the list below.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415769" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415769/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><b>October 31, 2013</b></p><p style=""><a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> (360, PS3)</p><p style=""><a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a> (360, PS3, PC)</p><p style=""><a href="/wwe-2k14/" data-ref-id="false">WWE 2K14</a> (360, PS3)</p> Sun, 27 Oct 2013 22:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-october-28-november-2-battlefield-4/1100-6415799/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/new-releases-assassin-s-creed-iv-black-flag-battle/2300-6415768/ This week on New Releases, we talk about Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, WWE 2K14, Sonic: Lost World and Football Manager 2014. Sun, 27 Oct 2013 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/new-releases-assassin-s-creed-iv-black-flag-battle/2300-6415768/
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should, in theory, be amazing. The recent pair of Batman games from Rocksteady Studios are the best featuring the caped crusader in years, if not decades, and mixing the constants of the Arkham games with a bit of Metroid-inspired design sounds like a winning formula. The prequel to Arkham Asylum, set after the console version of Arkham Origins, pits Batman against three familiar faces: Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. Each villain has taken control of a section of the Blackgate prison, amassing small armies along the way. Of course, only Batman can quell the uprising, but not without a little help from Catwoman, whose inside info is the key to identifying important locations within Blackgate. After the two penetrate the front lines, you're off to the races, free to tackle the three sections of the prison in any order you wish.
Blackgate does have a lot in common with its older siblings, but everything is presented in 2.5D rather than full 3D. Despite the change in perspective, close-quarters combat remains fluid and simple; relentlessly attack enemies, and press the counter button when a warning icon flashes above their heads. It's a straightforward dance that's effortlessly strung together in a simple but satisfying way. You aren't controlling every facet of the action, but you are performing complex combo attacks and acrobatic takedowns with ease. Occasionally, advanced enemies with weapons or increased defenses appear, and you may have to stun them with your cape or leap over them to attack from behind, but overt button prompts make it easy to keep things moving right along.
Solomon Grundy wants love, too! Unfortunately, it's not all good news. One of the few problems with combat occurs when you're dealing with a variety of enemy types. Quite often, fights take place on two planes, but you don't have control over which plane you're fighting on. Instead, Batman attacks the closest enemy regardless of whether the opponent is in the foreground or background. Following the simple attack and counter formula works well enough when against common enemies, but that which makes multi-plane combat easy, however, breaks any attempt at strategy when fighting complex enemies. Stunning one enemy, only to attack a different enemy on another plane by accident, for example, is an all-too-common occurrence.
As you might expect, you eventually encounter well-known villains from the Batman series, and these boss fights come in two flavors. Mid-boss encounters, such as Bronze Tiger and Solomon Grundy, largely stick to the pattern of counter and attack found in typical fights, but the three big bosses are puzzle oriented in nature. These somewhat complex scenarios typically have strict conditions for success and extreme punishments for failure. A single misstep against Black Mask or the Penguin leads to near-instant death. Tackling these puzzles requires a trial-and-error approach, which doesn't work well with near-instant deathblows. Worst of all, you have to wait through an extended loading screen and start over a room or two before the boss fight. Until you know exactly what to do, it takes longer to get back into a boss fight than it does to fail.
When you aren't fending off clowns and thugs, you spend the majority of your time exploring the prison depths in search of the villainous trio. A sprawling map, filled with hidden passages, dangerous obstacles, and encrypted security panels, represents each of the game's three sections. Catwoman points you in the right direction, but once you're inside, you have to rely on the map and Batman's detective vision to find your way around. Entering detective mode by tapping the Vita's touchscreen reveals an X-ray-like representation of your surroundings. Perches, enemies, and other common elements are highlighted to stand out, and you can analyze each object's properties by touching them for a few seconds. It's important to search the screen for hidden objects that weren't immediately recognized in detective mode, and it's the most common way to not only discover solutions to environmental puzzles, but also the locations of secret rooms and items.
I don't know about you, but I prefer maps that don't keep track of where I've been. With mostly enjoyable combat and the discovery-driven model of exploration, Blackgate looks great on paper. However, the implementation of the latter feels rushed and chaotic, often leading to frustration with the level design, and most critically, the map. This is, for the most part, a side-scrolling experience, but you're often driven into an air duct in the background, around a corner, or onto an elevator, deviating away from the typical side-on perspective. This shouldn't be a problem, but thanks to the top-down map, and a constantly-shifting relationship with your surroundings, it is.
The map is, by far, the most frustrating element of Blackgate, because it fails to provide the kind helpful information you'd expect to find. In a multistory environment with complex webs of air ducts, grapnel points, and hidden rooms, a map that fails to indicate what floor you're on is next to useless. Quite often, you're told to go to a specific room, but even if it appears that you're within the boundary of said room according to the map, you may in fact be floors and a complicated journey away. You may even need to come from an entirely different entrance to the building, but you won't figure any of this out until you spend lots of time analyzing every inch of your environment, chasing trails that lead to dead ends, and eventually stumble upon a hidden path that doubles back to the goal, albeit a floor above where you started. Then, nine times out of 10, when you finally make it to the goal, you have to head to yet another far-away location to briefly interact with an object to restore power to a generator, disable a security device, or something similar.
Essentially, your journey is as follows: make your way from point A to point B, fight some enemies, head to point C to interact with an object, then return to point B to fight a boss. This pattern is common, and it's also frustrating, due in no small part to weak pathfinding and an utterly confusing map.
Prepare to analyze everything in sight, constantly. When you've grown tired of the typical mission, you have plenty of opportunities to seek out hidden objects, represented by a question mark on the map. Most of these are out of reach until you've acquired the proper tools: the batarang, line launcher, gel launcher, and batclaw. All of these tools are used to interact with objects and, with the exception of the line launcher, act as variations on the same principle: impact another object and apply some kind of force upon it. With the line launcher, you can create zip lines that allow you to fly across the environment, and even use it as a tightrope to reach areas overhead. Since Batman can't jump, the line launcher and the starting grapnel gun are your only means of vertical movement.
The Metroid-inspired world design, where tools are the key to reaching certain areas, is a welcome element, but the rewards for your explorative efforts are deflating. Most of the time, the items you find are one component of a four- or five-part object. It's a disappointing experience after struggling with the inadequate map and the need to endlessly analyze your environment. If you could analyze your environment while on the move, maybe the process wouldn't feel like such a chore, but as it is, you have to stand still to scrutinize your surroundings. In all, you spend far too much time stopping and starting, when all you want to do is solve puzzles, fight, and grapnel your way through the world.
And this is the major conflict within Blackgate's design. When you're making forward progress, interacting with your environment, and occasionally fighting, it's a simple but enjoyable gameplay experience, but once you're forced to wrestle with the map while backtracking, and attempt to collect enough pieces to assemble a new batsuit, things start to fall apart, and Blackgate becomes a slow and frustrating slog. There is a New Game Plus option to explore after beating the game, in case you want to tackle the main villains in a different order, but there are too many frustrating elements to make that an attractive option. The first few hours of Blackgate provide an exciting glimpse of what might have been a great game, but it slowly falls apart, hour by hour, villain by villain.
In spite of the fact that it was "Unofficial Batman Week" around the GameSpot offices last week (MANvsGAME's Jason Love ran a marathon livestream session of the three console Batman games, Batman t-shirts abounded and a small canine in a Batman costume wandering around…), the Marvel universe has my attention at the moment. Lego Marvel Super Heroes has arrived.
And it shipped with a free Loki keychain.
You can't argue with a free Loki keychain.
While a full review is in progress for Monday, I've been playing the game for the past couple of days and having a great time, TT Games having lovingly crafted a sumptuous meal for Lego and Marvel fans alike. With roughly 150 characters to unlock and play as--including side characters such as Aunt May, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson and pop culture tropes such as Howard the Duck (who comes equipped with a rocket launcher)--there appears to be something for everyone here.
This, and the pleasure of exploration, make for the joy of this game. Granted, this isn't the brainiest title you'll pick up this year, nor will it be regarded as subtle or nuanced (the game's relatively simple plot centers around preventing Doctor Doom and cohorts from collecting cosmic bricks to build Doom's Doom Ray of Doom), there's an undeniable joy in what can be called the "Lego Formula." In the Lego Formula, you'll readily jump into the level, smash or blast everything destructible around you, battle your enemies, see what Lego pieces can be picked up, what machines can be assembled or what superpowers can be used to solve the on-screen puzzles and move on from there. Yes, it's an established method and the Lego franchise has long done this, but you're fully immersed in the Lego-ized Marvel universe as you do this, unlocking more and more content in the process, and it's still as rewarding as it ever was.
Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book.
Where Lego Marvel Super Heroes truly shines is in its warmth and attention to detail. The game's humor is light, playful and genuinely fun, the writers reveling in the implied cheesiness of the comic book genre and the super hero characters therein and hamming up the dialogue to make the cutscenes enjoyable. Background jokes such as Lego workers trying to sweep up the destruction from the last level's epic battle, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson constantly bringing Nick Fury and other heroes snacks and the Hulk growing frustrated with a computer that he winds up smashing, keep the mood where it needs to be. Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book (such as the Helicarrier, Asteroid M, downtown Manhattan, etc.), there's usually a Lego version of it that catches your attention and proves fun to explore.
It's been fun to see the Lego games grow over the last decade and Lego Marvel Super Heroes is no exception. Improved modeling, lighting and details make the game visually inviting, responsive controls make the simple act of moving around enjoyable and improvements in the combat engine have turned what seemed to be two Lego figures slap-fighting in the early Lego games into a genuine fight between the two characters being shown on screen.
Unfortunately, a few glitches have interrupted my fun. A small, unexplained black square briefly appeared above my characters' heads towards the end of the game and a graphical glitch showed both the dead and alive versions of the Thing on screen simultaneously, the protocol calling for a dead character to explode in a shower of Lego bricks, disappear and come back again a moment later.
Between the visceral joy of pounding your opponents into dozens of exploding Legos, unlocking every character you can and taking down a set of flying Hulkbuster armor via the Iron Man 3 "House Party" protocol (wherein half a dozen Iron Man suits fly in to assist you), there's always something fun to do in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. This is the blend of Lego and the Marvel universe you've been waiting for, a joyously geeky concoction worthy of your attention.
I'll have the full review come Monday.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Lego version of Carnage to unlock and frighten a metropolitan populace with…
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http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 26 Oct 2013 00:39:06 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/developer-tips-for-success-at-batman-arkham-origin/2300-6415771/ Splash Damage Creative Director Alastair Cornish gives MANvsGAME host Jayson Love some tips for success during a multiplayer session of Batman: Arkham Origins. Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/developer-tips-for-success-at-batman-arkham-origin/2300-6415771/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-in-progress-lego-marvel-super-heroes/1100-6415794/ <p style="">In spite of the fact that it was "Unofficial Batman Week" around the GameSpot offices last week (MANvsGAME's Jason Love ran a marathon livestream session of the three console Batman games, Batman t-shirts abounded and a small canine in a Batman costume wandering around…), the Marvel universe has my attention at the moment. Lego Marvel Super Heroes has arrived.</p><p style="">And it shipped with a free Loki keychain.</p><p style="">You can't argue with a free Loki keychain.</p><p style="">While a full review is in progress for Monday, I've been playing the game for the past couple of days and having a great time, TT Games having lovingly crafted a sumptuous meal for Lego and Marvel fans alike. With roughly 150 characters to unlock and play as--including side characters such as Aunt May, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson and pop culture tropes such as Howard the Duck (who comes equipped with a rocket launcher)--there appears to be something for everyone here.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351055" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351055"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">This, and the pleasure of exploration, make for the joy of this game. Granted, this isn't the brainiest title you'll pick up this year, nor will it be regarded as subtle or nuanced (the game's relatively simple plot centers around preventing Doctor Doom and cohorts from collecting cosmic bricks to build Doom's Doom Ray of Doom), there's an undeniable joy in what can be called the "Lego Formula." In the Lego Formula, you'll readily jump into the level, smash or blast everything destructible around you, battle your enemies, see what Lego pieces can be picked up, what machines can be assembled or what superpowers can be used to solve the on-screen puzzles and move on from there. Yes, it's an established method and the Lego franchise has long done this, but you're fully immersed in the Lego-ized Marvel universe as you do this, unlocking more and more content in the process, and it's still as rewarding as it ever was.</p><blockquote data-align="center"><p style="">Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book.</p></blockquote><p style="">Where Lego Marvel Super Heroes truly shines is in its warmth and attention to detail. The game's humor is light, playful and genuinely fun, the writers reveling in the implied cheesiness of the comic book genre and the super hero characters therein and hamming up the dialogue to make the cutscenes enjoyable. Background jokes such as Lego workers trying to sweep up the destruction from the last level's epic battle, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson constantly bringing Nick Fury and other heroes snacks and the Hulk growing frustrated with a computer that he winds up smashing, keep the mood where it needs to be. Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book (such as the Helicarrier, Asteroid M, downtown Manhattan, etc.), there's usually a Lego version of it that catches your attention and proves fun to explore.</p><p style="">It's been fun to see the Lego games grow over the last decade and Lego Marvel Super Heroes is no exception. Improved modeling, lighting and details make the game visually inviting, responsive controls make the simple act of moving around enjoyable and improvements in the combat engine have turned what seemed to be two Lego figures slap-fighting in the early Lego games into a genuine fight between the two characters being shown on screen.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351054" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351054"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, a few glitches have interrupted my fun. A small, unexplained black square briefly appeared above my characters' heads towards the end of the game and a graphical glitch showed both the dead and alive versions of the Thing on screen simultaneously, the protocol calling for a dead character to explode in a shower of Lego bricks, disappear and come back again a moment later.</p><p style="">Between the visceral joy of pounding your opponents into dozens of exploding Legos, unlocking every character you can and taking down a set of flying Hulkbuster armor via the Iron Man 3 "House Party" protocol (wherein half a dozen Iron Man suits fly in to assist you), there's always something fun to do in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. This is the blend of Lego and the Marvel universe you've been waiting for, a joyously geeky concoction worthy of your attention.</p><p style="">I'll have the full review come Monday.</p><p style="">Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Lego version of Carnage to unlock and frighten a metropolitan populace with…</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-in-progress-lego-marvel-super-heroes/1100-6415794/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ <p style="">Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should, in theory, be amazing. The recent pair of Batman games from Rocksteady Studios are the best featuring the caped crusader in years, if not decades, and mixing the constants of the Arkham games with a bit of Metroid-inspired design sounds like a winning formula. The prequel to Arkham Asylum, set after the console version of Arkham Origins, pits Batman against three familiar faces: Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. Each villain has taken control of a section of the Blackgate prison, amassing small armies along the way. Of course, only Batman can quell the uprising, but not without a little help from Catwoman, whose inside info is the key to identifying important locations within Blackgate. After the two penetrate the front lines, you're off to the races, free to tackle the three sections of the prison in any order you wish.</p><p style="">Blackgate does have a lot in common with its older siblings, but everything is presented in 2.5D rather than full 3D. Despite the change in perspective, close-quarters combat remains fluid and simple; relentlessly attack enemies, and press the counter button when a warning icon flashes above their heads. It's a straightforward dance that's effortlessly strung together in a simple but satisfying way. You aren't controlling every facet of the action, but you are performing complex combo attacks and acrobatic takedowns with ease. Occasionally, advanced enemies with weapons or increased defenses appear, and you may have to stun them with your cape or leap over them to attack from behind, but overt button prompts make it easy to keep things moving right along.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg"></a><figcaption>Solomon Grundy wants love, too!</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, it's not all good news. One of the few problems with combat occurs when you're dealing with a variety of enemy types. Quite often, fights take place on two planes, but you don't have control over which plane you're fighting on. Instead, Batman attacks the closest enemy regardless of whether the opponent is in the foreground or background. Following the simple attack and counter formula works well enough when against common enemies, but that which makes multi-plane combat easy, however, breaks any attempt at strategy when fighting complex enemies. Stunning one enemy, only to attack a different enemy on another plane by accident, for example, is an all-too-common occurrence.</p><p style="">As you might expect, you eventually encounter well-known villains from the Batman series, and these boss fights come in two flavors. Mid-boss encounters, such as Bronze Tiger and Solomon Grundy, largely stick to the pattern of counter and attack found in typical fights, but the three big bosses are puzzle oriented in nature. These somewhat complex scenarios typically have strict conditions for success and extreme punishments for failure. A single misstep against Black Mask or the Penguin leads to near-instant death. Tackling these puzzles requires a trial-and-error approach, which doesn't work well with near-instant deathblows. Worst of all, you have to wait through an extended loading screen and start over a room or two before the boss fight. Until you know exactly what to do, it takes longer to get back into a boss fight than it does to fail.</p><p style="">When you aren't fending off clowns and thugs, you spend the majority of your time exploring the prison depths in search of the villainous trio. A sprawling map, filled with hidden passages, dangerous obstacles, and encrypted security panels, represents each of the game's three sections. Catwoman points you in the right direction, but once you're inside, you have to rely on the map and Batman's detective vision to find your way around. Entering detective mode by tapping the Vita's touchscreen reveals an X-ray-like representation of your surroundings. Perches, enemies, and other common elements are highlighted to stand out, and you can analyze each object's properties by touching them for a few seconds. It's important to search the screen for hidden objects that weren't immediately recognized in detective mode, and it's the most common way to not only discover solutions to environmental puzzles, but also the locations of secret rooms and items.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg"></a><figcaption>I don't know about you, but I prefer maps that don't keep track of where I've been.</figcaption></figure><p style="">With mostly enjoyable combat and the discovery-driven model of exploration, Blackgate looks great on paper. However, the implementation of the latter feels rushed and chaotic, often leading to frustration with the level design, and most critically, the map. This is, for the most part, a side-scrolling experience, but you're often driven into an air duct in the background, around a corner, or onto an elevator, deviating away from the typical side-on perspective. This shouldn't be a problem, but thanks to the top-down map, and a constantly-shifting relationship with your surroundings, it is.</p><p style="">The map is, by far, the most frustrating element of Blackgate, because it fails to provide the kind helpful information you'd expect to find. In a multistory environment with complex webs of air ducts, grapnel points, and hidden rooms, a map that fails to indicate what floor you're on is next to useless. Quite often, you're told to go to a specific room, but even if it appears that you're within the boundary of said room according to the map, you may in fact be floors and a complicated journey away. You may even need to come from an entirely different entrance to the building, but you won't figure any of this out until you spend lots of time analyzing every inch of your environment, chasing trails that lead to dead ends, and eventually stumble upon a hidden path that doubles back to the goal, albeit a floor above where you started. Then, nine times out of 10, when you finally make it to the goal, you have to head to yet another far-away location to briefly interact with an object to restore power to a generator, disable a security device, or something similar.</p><p style="">Essentially, your journey is as follows: make your way from point A to point B, fight some enemies, head to point C to interact with an object, then return to point B to fight a boss. This pattern is common, and it's also frustrating, due in no small part to weak pathfinding and an utterly confusing map.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg"></a><figcaption>Prepare to analyze everything in sight, constantly.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">When you've grown tired of the typical mission, you have plenty of opportunities to seek out hidden objects, represented by a question mark on the map. Most of these are out of reach until you've acquired the proper tools: the batarang, line launcher, gel launcher, and batclaw. All of these tools are used to interact with objects and, with the exception of the line launcher, act as variations on the same principle: impact another object and apply some kind of force upon it. With the line launcher, you can create zip lines that allow you to fly across the environment, and even use it as a tightrope to reach areas overhead. Since Batman can't jump, the line launcher and the starting grapnel gun are your only means of vertical movement.</p><p style="">The Metroid-inspired world design, where tools are the key to reaching certain areas, is a welcome element, but the rewards for your explorative efforts are deflating. Most of the time, the items you find are one component of a four- or five-part object. It's a disappointing experience after struggling with the inadequate map and the need to endlessly analyze your environment. If you could analyze your environment while on the move, maybe the process wouldn't feel like such a chore, but as it is, you have to stand still to scrutinize your surroundings. In all, you spend far too much time stopping and starting, when all you want to do is solve puzzles, fight, and grapnel your way through the world.</p><p style="">And this is the major conflict within Blackgate's design. When you're making forward progress, interacting with your environment, and occasionally fighting, it's a simple but enjoyable gameplay experience, but once you're forced to wrestle with the map while backtracking, and attempt to collect enough pieces to assemble a new batsuit, things start to fall apart, and Blackgate becomes a slow and frustrating slog. There is a New Game Plus option to explore after beating the game, in case you want to tackle the main villains in a different order, but there are too many frustrating elements to make that an attractive option. The first few hours of Blackgate provide an exciting glimpse of what might have been a great game, but it slowly falls apart, hour by hour, villain by villain.</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 26 Oct 2013 00:39:06 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/developer-tips-for-success-at-batman-arkham-origin/2300-6415771/ Splash Damage Creative Director Alastair Cornish gives MANvsGAME host Jayson Love some tips for success during a multiplayer session of Batman: Arkham Origins. Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/developer-tips-for-success-at-batman-arkham-origin/2300-6415771/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-in-progress-lego-marvel-super-heroes/1100-6415794/ <p style="">In spite of the fact that it was "Unofficial Batman Week" around the GameSpot offices last week (MANvsGAME's Jason Love ran a marathon livestream session of the three console Batman games, Batman t-shirts abounded and a small canine in a Batman costume wandering around…), the Marvel universe has my attention at the moment. Lego Marvel Super Heroes has arrived.</p><p style="">And it shipped with a free Loki keychain.</p><p style="">You can't argue with a free Loki keychain.</p><p style="">While a full review is in progress for Monday, I've been playing the game for the past couple of days and having a great time, TT Games having lovingly crafted a sumptuous meal for Lego and Marvel fans alike. With roughly 150 characters to unlock and play as--including side characters such as Aunt May, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson and pop culture tropes such as Howard the Duck (who comes equipped with a rocket launcher)--there appears to be something for everyone here.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351055" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351055"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2351055-legomarvellaunch_003.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">This, and the pleasure of exploration, make for the joy of this game. Granted, this isn't the brainiest title you'll pick up this year, nor will it be regarded as subtle or nuanced (the game's relatively simple plot centers around preventing Doctor Doom and cohorts from collecting cosmic bricks to build Doom's Doom Ray of Doom), there's an undeniable joy in what can be called the "Lego Formula." In the Lego Formula, you'll readily jump into the level, smash or blast everything destructible around you, battle your enemies, see what Lego pieces can be picked up, what machines can be assembled or what superpowers can be used to solve the on-screen puzzles and move on from there. Yes, it's an established method and the Lego franchise has long done this, but you're fully immersed in the Lego-ized Marvel universe as you do this, unlocking more and more content in the process, and it's still as rewarding as it ever was.</p><blockquote data-align="center"><p style="">Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book.</p></blockquote><p style="">Where Lego Marvel Super Heroes truly shines is in its warmth and attention to detail. The game's humor is light, playful and genuinely fun, the writers reveling in the implied cheesiness of the comic book genre and the super hero characters therein and hamming up the dialogue to make the cutscenes enjoyable. Background jokes such as Lego workers trying to sweep up the destruction from the last level's epic battle, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson constantly bringing Nick Fury and other heroes snacks and the Hulk growing frustrated with a computer that he winds up smashing, keep the mood where it needs to be. Superb attention to detail shows what a Lego variant of a Marvel world can truly be and for every landmark, location or item that you ever loved in a Marvel movie or comic book (such as the Helicarrier, Asteroid M, downtown Manhattan, etc.), there's usually a Lego version of it that catches your attention and proves fun to explore.</p><p style="">It's been fun to see the Lego games grow over the last decade and Lego Marvel Super Heroes is no exception. Improved modeling, lighting and details make the game visually inviting, responsive controls make the simple act of moving around enjoyable and improvements in the combat engine have turned what seemed to be two Lego figures slap-fighting in the early Lego games into a genuine fight between the two characters being shown on screen.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351054" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2351054"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2351054-legomarvellaunch_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, a few glitches have interrupted my fun. A small, unexplained black square briefly appeared above my characters' heads towards the end of the game and a graphical glitch showed both the dead and alive versions of the Thing on screen simultaneously, the protocol calling for a dead character to explode in a shower of Lego bricks, disappear and come back again a moment later.</p><p style="">Between the visceral joy of pounding your opponents into dozens of exploding Legos, unlocking every character you can and taking down a set of flying Hulkbuster armor via the Iron Man 3 "House Party" protocol (wherein half a dozen Iron Man suits fly in to assist you), there's always something fun to do in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. This is the blend of Lego and the Marvel universe you've been waiting for, a joyously geeky concoction worthy of your attention.</p><p style="">I'll have the full review come Monday.</p><p style="">Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Lego version of Carnage to unlock and frighten a metropolitan populace with…</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-in-progress-lego-marvel-super-heroes/1100-6415794/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ <p style="">Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should, in theory, be amazing. The recent pair of Batman games from Rocksteady Studios are the best featuring the caped crusader in years, if not decades, and mixing the constants of the Arkham games with a bit of Metroid-inspired design sounds like a winning formula. The prequel to Arkham Asylum, set after the console version of Arkham Origins, pits Batman against three familiar faces: Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. Each villain has taken control of a section of the Blackgate prison, amassing small armies along the way. Of course, only Batman can quell the uprising, but not without a little help from Catwoman, whose inside info is the key to identifying important locations within Blackgate. After the two penetrate the front lines, you're off to the races, free to tackle the three sections of the prison in any order you wish.</p><p style="">Blackgate does have a lot in common with its older siblings, but everything is presented in 2.5D rather than full 3D. Despite the change in perspective, close-quarters combat remains fluid and simple; relentlessly attack enemies, and press the counter button when a warning icon flashes above their heads. It's a straightforward dance that's effortlessly strung together in a simple but satisfying way. You aren't controlling every facet of the action, but you are performing complex combo attacks and acrobatic takedowns with ease. Occasionally, advanced enemies with weapons or increased defenses appear, and you may have to stun them with your cape or leap over them to attack from behind, but overt button prompts make it easy to keep things moving right along.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg"></a><figcaption>Solomon Grundy wants love, too!</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, it's not all good news. One of the few problems with combat occurs when you're dealing with a variety of enemy types. Quite often, fights take place on two planes, but you don't have control over which plane you're fighting on. Instead, Batman attacks the closest enemy regardless of whether the opponent is in the foreground or background. Following the simple attack and counter formula works well enough when against common enemies, but that which makes multi-plane combat easy, however, breaks any attempt at strategy when fighting complex enemies. Stunning one enemy, only to attack a different enemy on another plane by accident, for example, is an all-too-common occurrence.</p><p style="">As you might expect, you eventually encounter well-known villains from the Batman series, and these boss fights come in two flavors. Mid-boss encounters, such as Bronze Tiger and Solomon Grundy, largely stick to the pattern of counter and attack found in typical fights, but the three big bosses are puzzle oriented in nature. These somewhat complex scenarios typically have strict conditions for success and extreme punishments for failure. A single misstep against Black Mask or the Penguin leads to near-instant death. Tackling these puzzles requires a trial-and-error approach, which doesn't work well with near-instant deathblows. Worst of all, you have to wait through an extended loading screen and start over a room or two before the boss fight. Until you know exactly what to do, it takes longer to get back into a boss fight than it does to fail.</p><p style="">When you aren't fending off clowns and thugs, you spend the majority of your time exploring the prison depths in search of the villainous trio. A sprawling map, filled with hidden passages, dangerous obstacles, and encrypted security panels, represents each of the game's three sections. Catwoman points you in the right direction, but once you're inside, you have to rely on the map and Batman's detective vision to find your way around. Entering detective mode by tapping the Vita's touchscreen reveals an X-ray-like representation of your surroundings. Perches, enemies, and other common elements are highlighted to stand out, and you can analyze each object's properties by touching them for a few seconds. It's important to search the screen for hidden objects that weren't immediately recognized in detective mode, and it's the most common way to not only discover solutions to environmental puzzles, but also the locations of secret rooms and items.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg"></a><figcaption>I don't know about you, but I prefer maps that don't keep track of where I've been.</figcaption></figure><p style="">With mostly enjoyable combat and the discovery-driven model of exploration, Blackgate looks great on paper. However, the implementation of the latter feels rushed and chaotic, often leading to frustration with the level design, and most critically, the map. This is, for the most part, a side-scrolling experience, but you're often driven into an air duct in the background, around a corner, or onto an elevator, deviating away from the typical side-on perspective. This shouldn't be a problem, but thanks to the top-down map, and a constantly-shifting relationship with your surroundings, it is.</p><p style="">The map is, by far, the most frustrating element of Blackgate, because it fails to provide the kind helpful information you'd expect to find. In a multistory environment with complex webs of air ducts, grapnel points, and hidden rooms, a map that fails to indicate what floor you're on is next to useless. Quite often, you're told to go to a specific room, but even if it appears that you're within the boundary of said room according to the map, you may in fact be floors and a complicated journey away. You may even need to come from an entirely different entrance to the building, but you won't figure any of this out until you spend lots of time analyzing every inch of your environment, chasing trails that lead to dead ends, and eventually stumble upon a hidden path that doubles back to the goal, albeit a floor above where you started. Then, nine times out of 10, when you finally make it to the goal, you have to head to yet another far-away location to briefly interact with an object to restore power to a generator, disable a security device, or something similar.</p><p style="">Essentially, your journey is as follows: make your way from point A to point B, fight some enemies, head to point C to interact with an object, then return to point B to fight a boss. This pattern is common, and it's also frustrating, due in no small part to weak pathfinding and an utterly confusing map.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg"></a><figcaption>Prepare to analyze everything in sight, constantly.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">When you've grown tired of the typical mission, you have plenty of opportunities to seek out hidden objects, represented by a question mark on the map. Most of these are out of reach until you've acquired the proper tools: the batarang, line launcher, gel launcher, and batclaw. All of these tools are used to interact with objects and, with the exception of the line launcher, act as variations on the same principle: impact another object and apply some kind of force upon it. With the line launcher, you can create zip lines that allow you to fly across the environment, and even use it as a tightrope to reach areas overhead. Since Batman can't jump, the line launcher and the starting grapnel gun are your only means of vertical movement.</p><p style="">The Metroid-inspired world design, where tools are the key to reaching certain areas, is a welcome element, but the rewards for your explorative efforts are deflating. Most of the time, the items you find are one component of a four- or five-part object. It's a disappointing experience after struggling with the inadequate map and the need to endlessly analyze your environment. If you could analyze your environment while on the move, maybe the process wouldn't feel like such a chore, but as it is, you have to stand still to scrutinize your surroundings. In all, you spend far too much time stopping and starting, when all you want to do is solve puzzles, fight, and grapnel your way through the world.</p><p style="">And this is the major conflict within Blackgate's design. When you're making forward progress, interacting with your environment, and occasionally fighting, it's a simple but enjoyable gameplay experience, but once you're forced to wrestle with the map while backtracking, and attempt to collect enough pieces to assemble a new batsuit, things start to fall apart, and Blackgate becomes a slow and frustrating slog. There is a New Game Plus option to explore after beating the game, in case you want to tackle the main villains in a different order, but there are too many frustrating elements to make that an attractive option. The first few hours of Blackgate provide an exciting glimpse of what might have been a great game, but it slowly falls apart, hour by hour, villain by villain.</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:38:41 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ <p style="">Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should, in theory, be amazing. The recent pair of Batman games from Rocksteady Studios are the best featuring the caped crusader in years, if not decades, and mixing the constants of the Arkham games with a bit of Metroid-inspired design sounds like a winning formula. The prequel to Arkham Asylum, set after the console version of Arkham Origins, pits Batman against three familiar faces: Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. Each villain has taken control of a section of the Blackgate prison, amassing small armies along the way. Of course, only Batman can quell the uprising, but not without a little help from Catwoman, whose inside info is the key to identifying important locations within Blackgate. After the two penetrate the front lines, you're off to the races, free to tackle the three sections of the prison in any order you wish.</p><p style="">Blackgate does have a lot in common with its older siblings, but everything is presented in 2.5D rather than full 3D. Despite the change in perspective, close-quarters combat remains fluid and simple; relentlessly attack enemies, and press the counter button when a warning icon flashes above their heads. It's a straightforward dance that's effortlessly strung together in a simple but satisfying way. You aren't controlling every facet of the action, but you are performing complex combo attacks and acrobatic takedowns with ease. Occasionally, advanced enemies with weapons or increased defenses appear, and you may have to stun them with your cape or leap over them to attack from behind, but overt button prompts make it easy to keep things moving right along.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg"></a><figcaption>Solomon Grundy wants love, too!</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, it's not all good news. One of the few problems with combat occurs when you're dealing with a variety of enemy types. Quite often, fights take place on two planes, but you don't have control over which plane you're fighting on. Instead, Batman attacks the closest enemy regardless of whether the opponent is in the foreground or background. Following the simple attack and counter formula works well enough when against common enemies, but that which makes multi-plane combat easy, however, breaks any attempt at strategy when fighting complex enemies. Stunning one enemy, only to attack a different enemy on another plane by accident, for example, is an all-too-common occurrence.</p><p style="">As you might expect, you eventually encounter well-known villains from the Batman series, and these boss fights come in two flavors. Mid-boss encounters, such as Bronze Tiger and Solomon Grundy, largely stick to the pattern of counter and attack found in typical fights, but the three big bosses are puzzle oriented in nature. These somewhat complex scenarios typically have strict conditions for success and extreme punishments for failure. A single misstep against Black Mask or the Penguin leads to near-instant death. Tackling these puzzles requires a trial-and-error approach, which doesn't work well with near-instant deathblows. Worst of all, you have to wait through an extended loading screen and start over a room or two before the boss fight. Until you know exactly what to do, it takes longer to get back into a boss fight than it does to fail.</p><p style="">When you aren't fending off clowns and thugs, you spend the majority of your time exploring the prison depths in search of the villainous trio. A sprawling map, filled with hidden passages, dangerous obstacles, and encrypted security panels, represents each of the game's three sections. Catwoman points you in the right direction, but once you're inside, you have to rely on the map and Batman's detective vision to find your way around. Entering detective mode by tapping the Vita's touchscreen reveals an X-ray-like representation of your surroundings. Perches, enemies, and other common elements are highlighted to stand out, and you can analyze each object's properties by touching them for a few seconds. It's important to search the screen for hidden objects that weren't immediately recognized in detective mode, and it's the most common way to not only discover solutions to environmental puzzles, but also the locations of secret rooms and items.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg"></a><figcaption>I don't know about you, but I prefer maps that don't keep track of where I've been.</figcaption></figure><p style="">With mostly enjoyable combat and the discovery-driven model of exploration, Blackgate looks great on paper. However, the implementation of the latter feels rushed and chaotic, often leading to frustration with the level design, and most critically, the map. This is, for the most part, a side-scrolling experience, but you're often driven into an air duct in the background, around a corner, or onto an elevator, deviating away from the typical side-on perspective. This shouldn't be a problem, but thanks to the top-down map, and a constantly-shifting relationship with your surroundings, it is.</p><p style="">The map is, by far, the most frustrating element of Blackgate, because it fails to provide the kind helpful information you'd expect to find. In a multistory environment with complex webs of air ducts, grapnel points, and hidden rooms, a map that fails to indicate what floor you're on is next to useless. Quite often, you're told to go to a specific room, but even if it appears that you're within the boundary of said room according to the map, you may in fact be floors and a complicated journey away. You may even need to come from an entirely different entrance to the building, but you won't figure any of this out until you spend lots of time analyzing every inch of your environment, chasing trails that lead to dead ends, and eventually stumble upon a hidden path that doubles back to the goal, albeit a floor above where you started. Then, nine times out of 10, when you finally make it to the goal, you have to head to yet another far-away location to briefly interact with an object to restore power to a generator, disable a security device, or something similar.</p><p style="">Essentially, your journey is as follows: make your way from point A to point B, fight some enemies, head to point C to interact with an object, then return to point B to fight a boss. This pattern is common, and it's also frustrating, due in no small part to weak pathfinding and an utterly confusing map.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg"></a><figcaption>Prepare to analyze everything in sight, constantly.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">When you've grown tired of the typical mission, you have plenty of opportunities to seek out hidden objects, represented by a question mark on the map. Most of these are out of reach until you've acquired the proper tools: the batarang, line launcher, gel launcher, and batclaw. All of these tools are used to interact with objects and, with the exception of the line launcher, act as variations on the same principle: impact another object and apply some kind of force upon it. With the line launcher, you can create zip lines that allow you to fly across the environment, and even use it as a tightrope to reach areas overhead. Since Batman can't jump, the line launcher and the starting grapnel gun are your only means of vertical movement.</p><p style="">The Metroid-inspired world design, where tools are the key to reaching certain areas, is a welcome element, but the rewards for your explorative efforts are deflating. Most of the time, the items you find are one component of a four- or five-part object. It's a disappointing experience after struggling with the inadequate map and the need to endlessly analyze your environment. If you could analyze your environment while on the move, maybe the process wouldn't feel like such a chore, but as it is, you have to stand still to scrutinize your surroundings. In all, you spend far too much time stopping and starting, when all you want to do is solve puzzles, fight, and grapnel your way through the world.</p><p style="">And this is the major conflict within Blackgate's design. When you're making forward progress, interacting with your environment, and occasionally fighting, it's a simple but enjoyable gameplay experience, but once you're forced to wrestle with the map while backtracking, and attempt to collect enough pieces to assemble a new batsuit, things start to fall apart, and Blackgate becomes a slow and frustrating slog. There is a New Game Plus option to explore after beating the game, in case you want to tackle the main villains in a different order, but there are too many frustrating elements to make that an attractive option. The first few hours of Blackgate provide an exciting glimpse of what might have been a great game, but it slowly falls apart, hour by hour, villain by villain.</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gran-turismo-6-ps3-bundle-coming-to-brazil/1100-6415776/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354443" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354443"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Today during the Brazil Game Show, Sony announced a special <a href="/gran-turismo-6/" data-ref-id="false">Gran Turismo 6</a> PlayStation 3 bundle, to be released in Brazil and the rest of Latin America later this year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The bundle features Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna on its packaging. Sony will also roll out various online updates after launch focused around the driver.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The announcement of the PS3 bundle is part of a broader relationship between PlayStation and the <a href="http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ingles/home/index.asp" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Ayrton Senna Institute</a>, a charitable organization founded after Senna's death in 1994.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Gran Turismo 6 will be released exclusively for PS3 on December 6. The special bundle has not been announced for regions outside of Latin America.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">For more on Gran Turismo 6, check out <a href="/gran-turismo-6/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6408391" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6408391/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Thu, 24 Oct 2013 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gran-turismo-6-ps3-bundle-coming-to-brazil/1100-6415776/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/solstice-arena-stunning-victory-crushing-defeat-ga/2300-6415736/ A hero finds comfort in cold death. Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/solstice-arena-stunning-victory-crushing-defeat-ga/2300-6415736/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:38:41 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ <p style="">Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should, in theory, be amazing. The recent pair of Batman games from Rocksteady Studios are the best featuring the caped crusader in years, if not decades, and mixing the constants of the Arkham games with a bit of Metroid-inspired design sounds like a winning formula. The prequel to Arkham Asylum, set after the console version of Arkham Origins, pits Batman against three familiar faces: Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. Each villain has taken control of a section of the Blackgate prison, amassing small armies along the way. Of course, only Batman can quell the uprising, but not without a little help from Catwoman, whose inside info is the key to identifying important locations within Blackgate. After the two penetrate the front lines, you're off to the races, free to tackle the three sections of the prison in any order you wish.</p><p style="">Blackgate does have a lot in common with its older siblings, but everything is presented in 2.5D rather than full 3D. Despite the change in perspective, close-quarters combat remains fluid and simple; relentlessly attack enemies, and press the counter button when a warning icon flashes above their heads. It's a straightforward dance that's effortlessly strung together in a simple but satisfying way. You aren't controlling every facet of the action, but you are performing complex combo attacks and acrobatic takedowns with ease. Occasionally, advanced enemies with weapons or increased defenses appear, and you may have to stun them with your cape or leap over them to attack from behind, but overt button prompts make it easy to keep things moving right along.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354400"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354400-2013-10-22-153735.jpg"></a><figcaption>Solomon Grundy wants love, too!</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Unfortunately, it's not all good news. One of the few problems with combat occurs when you're dealing with a variety of enemy types. Quite often, fights take place on two planes, but you don't have control over which plane you're fighting on. Instead, Batman attacks the closest enemy regardless of whether the opponent is in the foreground or background. Following the simple attack and counter formula works well enough when against common enemies, but that which makes multi-plane combat easy, however, breaks any attempt at strategy when fighting complex enemies. Stunning one enemy, only to attack a different enemy on another plane by accident, for example, is an all-too-common occurrence.</p><p style="">As you might expect, you eventually encounter well-known villains from the Batman series, and these boss fights come in two flavors. Mid-boss encounters, such as Bronze Tiger and Solomon Grundy, largely stick to the pattern of counter and attack found in typical fights, but the three big bosses are puzzle oriented in nature. These somewhat complex scenarios typically have strict conditions for success and extreme punishments for failure. A single misstep against Black Mask or the Penguin leads to near-instant death. Tackling these puzzles requires a trial-and-error approach, which doesn't work well with near-instant deathblows. Worst of all, you have to wait through an extended loading screen and start over a room or two before the boss fight. Until you know exactly what to do, it takes longer to get back into a boss fight than it does to fail.</p><p style="">When you aren't fending off clowns and thugs, you spend the majority of your time exploring the prison depths in search of the villainous trio. A sprawling map, filled with hidden passages, dangerous obstacles, and encrypted security panels, represents each of the game's three sections. Catwoman points you in the right direction, but once you're inside, you have to rely on the map and Batman's detective vision to find your way around. Entering detective mode by tapping the Vita's touchscreen reveals an X-ray-like representation of your surroundings. Perches, enemies, and other common elements are highlighted to stand out, and you can analyze each object's properties by touching them for a few seconds. It's important to search the screen for hidden objects that weren't immediately recognized in detective mode, and it's the most common way to not only discover solutions to environmental puzzles, but also the locations of secret rooms and items.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354402"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1406/14063904/2354402-2013-10-22-204254.jpg"></a><figcaption>I don't know about you, but I prefer maps that don't keep track of where I've been.</figcaption></figure><p style="">With mostly enjoyable combat and the discovery-driven model of exploration, Blackgate looks great on paper. However, the implementation of the latter feels rushed and chaotic, often leading to frustration with the level design, and most critically, the map. This is, for the most part, a side-scrolling experience, but you're often driven into an air duct in the background, around a corner, or onto an elevator, deviating away from the typical side-on perspective. This shouldn't be a problem, but thanks to the top-down map, and a constantly-shifting relationship with your surroundings, it is.</p><p style="">The map is, by far, the most frustrating element of Blackgate, because it fails to provide the kind helpful information you'd expect to find. In a multistory environment with complex webs of air ducts, grapnel points, and hidden rooms, a map that fails to indicate what floor you're on is next to useless. Quite often, you're told to go to a specific room, but even if it appears that you're within the boundary of said room according to the map, you may in fact be floors and a complicated journey away. You may even need to come from an entirely different entrance to the building, but you won't figure any of this out until you spend lots of time analyzing every inch of your environment, chasing trails that lead to dead ends, and eventually stumble upon a hidden path that doubles back to the goal, albeit a floor above where you started. Then, nine times out of 10, when you finally make it to the goal, you have to head to yet another far-away location to briefly interact with an object to restore power to a generator, disable a security device, or something similar.</p><p style="">Essentially, your journey is as follows: make your way from point A to point B, fight some enemies, head to point C to interact with an object, then return to point B to fight a boss. This pattern is common, and it's also frustrating, due in no small part to weak pathfinding and an utterly confusing map.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354405"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1406/14063904/2354405-2013-10-22-203454.jpg"></a><figcaption>Prepare to analyze everything in sight, constantly.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">When you've grown tired of the typical mission, you have plenty of opportunities to seek out hidden objects, represented by a question mark on the map. Most of these are out of reach until you've acquired the proper tools: the batarang, line launcher, gel launcher, and batclaw. All of these tools are used to interact with objects and, with the exception of the line launcher, act as variations on the same principle: impact another object and apply some kind of force upon it. With the line launcher, you can create zip lines that allow you to fly across the environment, and even use it as a tightrope to reach areas overhead. Since Batman can't jump, the line launcher and the starting grapnel gun are your only means of vertical movement.</p><p style="">The Metroid-inspired world design, where tools are the key to reaching certain areas, is a welcome element, but the rewards for your explorative efforts are deflating. Most of the time, the items you find are one component of a four- or five-part object. It's a disappointing experience after struggling with the inadequate map and the need to endlessly analyze your environment. If you could analyze your environment while on the move, maybe the process wouldn't feel like such a chore, but as it is, you have to stand still to scrutinize your surroundings. In all, you spend far too much time stopping and starting, when all you want to do is solve puzzles, fight, and grapnel your way through the world.</p><p style="">And this is the major conflict within Blackgate's design. When you're making forward progress, interacting with your environment, and occasionally fighting, it's a simple but enjoyable gameplay experience, but once you're forced to wrestle with the map while backtracking, and attempt to collect enough pieces to assemble a new batsuit, things start to fall apart, and Blackgate becomes a slow and frustrating slog. There is a New Game Plus option to explore after beating the game, in case you want to tackle the main villains in a different order, but there are too many frustrating elements to make that an attractive option. The first few hours of Blackgate provide an exciting glimpse of what might have been a great game, but it slowly falls apart, hour by hour, villain by villain.</p> Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-arkham-origins-blackgate-review/1900-6415507/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gran-turismo-6-ps3-bundle-coming-to-brazil/1100-6415776/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354443" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2354443"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2354443-gt6bundle.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Today during the Brazil Game Show, Sony announced a special <a href="/gran-turismo-6/" data-ref-id="false">Gran Turismo 6</a> PlayStation 3 bundle, to be released in Brazil and the rest of Latin America later this year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The bundle features Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna on its packaging. Sony will also roll out various online updates after launch focused around the driver.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The announcement of the PS3 bundle is part of a broader relationship between PlayStation and the <a href="http://senna.globo.com/institutoayrtonsenna/ingles/home/index.asp" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Ayrton Senna Institute</a>, a charitable organization founded after Senna's death in 1994.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Gran Turismo 6 will be released exclusively for PS3 on December 6. The special bundle has not been announced for regions outside of Latin America.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">For more on Gran Turismo 6, check out <a href="/gran-turismo-6/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6408391" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6408391/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Thu, 24 Oct 2013 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gran-turismo-6-ps3-bundle-coming-to-brazil/1100-6415776/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/solstice-arena-stunning-victory-crushing-defeat-ga/2300-6415736/ A hero finds comfort in cold death. Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/solstice-arena-stunning-victory-crushing-defeat-ga/2300-6415736/
