How's it going you filthy nug-humpers!? Mark of the Assassin is the second content DLC for Dragon Age 2. Apart from five new dungeons/zones to explore, MotA features a brand new companion named Tallis; a female elf rogue/assassin that is just as customizable as your other companions, and can be romanced!
Release Date: 11/Oct/2011
Platforms: Pc, Xbox 360, PS3.
Price: $9.99 for PS3, 800 BW pts/ MS pts for PC and 360.
Total run time: 5 hours (Blood/Force Mage Hawke, Tallis, Anders, Varric).
Difficulty: Moderate (The only tough encounter I had was at the beginning. I ran a 3 mage team, with varric, and I had no time to prep, before being thrown into battle).
Accessibility: Act 2, statue in your library, near the "Legacy" statue. Must install v1.03 (the DLC can install it for you too)
Summary: Though you start off in Hightown, 95% of MotA takes place in Orlais, in one of their picturesque mountain regions (or as Tallis puts it, in the middle of nowhere). Sadly, I can't really say much without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't played it yet. Just know that this DLc is much better than Legacy in most aspects, and is definitely worth the $10. Visuals/Audio: If you've been reading my other articles, or at least have seen my "screenies", you know that I'm a sucker for cool lighting; and we're on no short supply of that in MotA! Due to the fact that this DLC requires you to update to v1.03, you can be assured that the old graphic problems in 1.01 and 1.02 are a thing of the past. Not a lot of new things in this department, seeing as we are still running on the same engine, and this is a DLC and not an expansion. There are a few noteworthy things though; the score is awesome. Like the scores in the previous games, this does nothing more than enhance the gaming experience. It doesn't get in the way, and it doesn't sound out of place. Another thing would be the abundance of cleavage on Tallis... Sure, this makes me sound like a perv, but you've got to admit that it's a nice distraction, once in a while. 8/10
Story: The story revolves around, you guessed it; Tallis! For once, we're not forced to shove our heads into Hawke's family history, in search of answers as to why he/she is just so god damned bland. Tallis enlists your help to relieve an Orlesian duke of an item that he has no business possessing. But wait a second! Why would The Champion of Kirkwall know an Orlesian duke? Well, one of the many perks of being a Champion, is the fact that nobility find you to be an irresistible curiosity, and they're more than willing to send you invites to private parties, and whatnot! So all you have to do is mosey on down to his shindig, having Tallis as your "plus one" (more like a "plus three" really). And in true Bioware fashion, you'll eventually end up having to do a bit of killing now and then...it's all good fun, really. 10/10
Gameplay: As all balanced games strive to do, MotA encounters span from piss-easy to bat-fuck insane (all depending on your difficulty setting). I for one found the first encounter hard, because I usually run with a three mage team, along with Varric; meaning, I need to have my passives up, in order to survive (I wasted 3 Mythral's Favors). Some encounters were quite challenging, but none of which that can't be remedied with good strats and a bit of micro, here and there. This DLC has less trap interation, more head-on battles (that require a bit of micro), and an actual stealth mission. All in all, I find this DLC to be a bit more entertaining that it's predecessor. 9.5/10
This DLC offers a few new pieces of gear to play with, a few of which are...
- One Mage armor set
- New weapons for all three classes
- One rogue jewelry/trinket set
- Jewelry upgrade for Varric
Lastly, there are quite a few cameo appearances from old favorites; after all, would a trip to Orlais be complete without seeing everyone's favorite bard?
Total Score: 9.17/10
Buy it, what's $10 for 5 solid hours of unbridled entertainment?
Coming from New York Comic Con, Capcom released a cool looking trailer to get everybody hyped for Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. No new gameplay footage, just a bunch of characters facing off and on pause. Oh and check out who Deadpool is against.
There are still some characters than needs revealing, but Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 will be out on November 15 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
October is finally here. Actually, its been here for a while now, but it really hit me when I picked up Dark Souls on October 4 and went MIA for a week because of it. Why is October and November so important? well because these are the months that have a huge number of triple A titles coming to us gamers. In production for a long time, but announced a year ago, these are the games to look out for, or you should consider to buy if you have those extra bucks lying around your house.
August and September was pretty big too with titles such as Deus Ex, Gears of War 3, Resistance 3, Dead Island, and a couple more hitting the shelves, but I think this month and the next beats that completely.
RAGE - Playstation 3, PC, Xbox 360
Release Date: October 4, 2011 (Out now)
If you want a new game that isn't a sequel or has a number after its title, here ya go. It's a First Person Shooter(FPS) title worth giving a shot. If you like the classic FPS games such as Doom, Quake, and the really old Wolfenstein 3D, this is going to be a winner for you. Well, because the creators of those series is the makers of Rage. It's been awhile since Id Software has come out and created an entirely new title and they worked on it for years. First announcement? in Quakecon 2007 as a tech demo for id Softwares new game engine id Tech 5.
Now, compared to the tech video four years ago, the game had huge changes which looked and feels better each time they showed it up until release. id Tech 5 is a pretty amazing game engine and is fairly new. Rage is the first game to be released using this tech and if your thinking the graphics looks amazing, its thanks to this new engine.
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world with mutants and thugs that roam the wasteland. The game is similar to Fallout and Borderlands and people have the confusion of what the game is thanks to this. It's similar to Fallout 3 and Borderlands because of the setting and its RPG elements, but it's not like those games. It's still an FPS at heart but borrowed some RPG elements to keep things interesting. There are no leveling and skills, but there is a currency system, inventory, and the ability to create and upgrade your weapons. Those are the RPG elements of Rage. The game looks like an open world but again its an FPS at heart, so it's not 'open' compared to Fallout 3 or Borderlands
Not everything went smooth during launch though. Because of it being a new game engine, the PC version witness a huge amount of issues like crashes, graphic glitches that frustrated a lot of gamers. Graphic card companies and id Software had to release an update to the cards drivers and patch up the game. Console versions had crashes and issues but not as severe as the PC version since they had to update their drivers too.
Game's already out around the world. I'd suggest PC gamers to get this game, but I think you should check if the coast is clear before grabbing a copy for yourself.
Should we consider it? - When we hear FPS, they're talking about Halo, Call of Duty, or Battlefield. FPS is really about the multiplayer aspect nowadays. I honestly miss FPS focused solely on the first player campaign. A lot will have the first impression of passing this game since it doesn't have a competitive multiplayer, but it does have multiplayer, just not the one you're expecting. They have car combat similar to Twisted Metal which I bet will be hard to swallow. The only FPS multiplayer they have is the co-op mode which is you and a friend survive waves of enemies. The shooting mechanic is the best in the genre and fans of the post-apocalyptic setting will appreciate how amazing the world of Rage looks. Rage is one of the best looking games out now. Don't get Rage because it reminded you of Fallout or Borderlands, buy it because you want an FPS focused on the single player campaign. In the end you never know, you might come out as a fan all of a sudden.
Dark Souls - Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: October 4(Out now)
This game is for gamers that WANT a challenge, and also to all those RPG junkies looking for a game that could grab 100 hours of your life. It's marketed as the hardest game you'll ever encounter in this generation, and It's true. Dark Souls' is an indirect sequel to From Software's Demon Souls. If you've played the first game, you have a big idea on what this game is all about. I've been playing it since last week and their not kidding with how hard this game wants you dead. You might think difficulty is a complete turn off, but for this game its the complete opposite. I've died 250+ times in my first play through, with 60+ hours spent, and while I was literally frustrated all throughout, I never had this much fun in an RPG in a long time, and I'm still going at it.
It has so many secrets, interesting bosses, and it's now an open world game. It's controls feel right and the customization of your character is deep. This game will not guide you to success, you'll have to figure it out on your own. The game literally is out to kill you, and the only help it gives you is pretty much those bonfires we're you can rest and do all your leveling. Working on my full review of the game so I won't say much about it. Instead, have a look at its latest trailer for the game.
Should we consider it? - It's really for those hardcore games. It might be too much for the casual since I don't think they want to spend their free time frustrated all night, unless they can take it. It's all about the challenge it brings at the same time it's pvp and co-op aspect is amazing. If you want a good story in your RPG that spends that much in-game time, look elsewhere. The story is there for the sake of just having one. but I'll say this - It may not have a story to 'wow' gamers, but its overall one of the best action RPG's you'll find in shelves today.
Batman: Arkham City - Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Release Date: October 18(NA), October 19(Aus), October 21(EU), PC version will be out a month after the console release.
Played the first game? great, you know what this sequel will bring then. If you don't, I suggest you pick up the first game and then get this game because this series will definitely be the best title based on a comic book character. Rocksteady just gets how Batman operates in the shadows, how he fights, and why he's just a badass character. The concept of this Batman game during the first game was just perfect, now their going all out with Batman: Arkham City by having a whole city as your playground instead of just an Asylum.
Voice acting is going to be amazing with Kevin Conroy(Batman) and Mark Hamill(Joker) on board. Fans of Batman and its animated shows know how big of a deal this is. The story is going to be just as dark as the first game, and the famous free flow combat system is back showing Batman take down 8 thugs all by himself with ease. It's engineered to being a stealth game and all the gadgets known in the first game will be present with of course new ones for Arkham City. You will also doing some detective work by finding special clues and information to find out specific tasks. They literally make you play as The Batman and show why he's considered "The World's Greatest Detective".
Should we consider it? - I believe anybody will have a blast playing as the Caped Crusader. Batman fans and fans of the first game are definitely looking out for this title. It's said to be quite a lengthy game and there will be challenge maps to test your skills in hand to hand combat. If you're not a fan of Batman, this game might just make you one.
New trailer to celebrate its release is already out for everybody to see.
Battlefield 3 - Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Release Date: October 25
Oh I can't wait. Pre-order is all set and I'm just waiting for October 25 to hit. Battlefield 3 needs no introduction. As much as games like this make their single player campaign interesting, this game is all about its multiplayer. Players will be able to assume any role in the battlefield. Be a medic, a pilot of a jet, a gunner in a tank, it's up to you and your squad on how you want to help your team earn that win. DICE is working on Battlefield 3 and it's now famous game engine with destructible enviroment fits absolutely well with Battlefield 3.
Played the open beta on my Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 and they made a grave mistake in releasing an old version of the game, not to mention there's no vehicles to try out. Gamers who tried the open beta is forced to compare Battlefield 3 with old Call of Duty games because it was all infantry battles. Battlefield is all about the whole package: Vehicle combat, air combat, infantry combat, all mixed up into one game. The open beta made people forget that and it's bugs and broken issues is unforgiving for a game to be released in a month.
Should we consider it? - If you want a multiplayer game that you can hope in with some friends, do a couple of games, have fun and call it a night then do it again the next day, this is perfect. This game has the full package: single player campaign, of course multiplayer, and a co-op mode campaign with a friend. FPS fans are going to have a kick out of this game and this game will be around for months to come until the next Battlefield comes around. It won't be a game you'll shelve after a month. With its many roles you can master and the number of unlocks to earn in this game, it will be in your console/pc for months. Multiplayer is said to have 9 maps on launch.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Playstation 3
Release date: November 1, 2011
Nathan Drake is back and is looking better than ever. I consider The Uncharted series a good reason to get a Playstation 3. It's not anymore about Gran Turismo, God of War, or even Final Fantasy. Uncharted is one of the best games to come out for the Playstation 3. Who would have thought a Tomb Raider-ish game with amazing story telling could be this successful. Action sequences from Uncharted feels like it comes straight out of a movie and the characters are instantly likable right from the start.
This is the third title in the series. All your famous characters are back and everybody(including me) is wondering if this third game can top Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog set the bar pretty damn high. If they managed to make Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception an even better game than the second, that will be an amazing feat. If you haven't played the first and second game, its fine. It's a sequel but has a completely different story in each game. Think of it as another episode of Uncharted. If you play Uncharted 3 and like it, you'll definitely get the other two games to get more Uncharted.
Should we consider it? - Definitely. If it will be at the same caliber as Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Your going to love it, and even the people watch you play will love it. It's going to be like watching an action movie. Also a complete package; Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will have Single Player, multiplayer, and co-op play. I was in the closed beta of Uncharted 3's beta and currently trying Uncharted 3's Subway multiplayer access and overall the multiplayer is pretty fun. Just like most multiplayer's nowadays, you can customize your character, pick your loadouts, perks, and even level up and unlock more stuff to use. If you have a Playstation 3, I suggest you ready some money for this game.
Rocksteady just released an official launch trailer in preparation of Batman: Arkham City's release this week. The trailer shows all those big baddies that Batman will have to face during Arkham City, and it's quite a handful.
I got to say, this trailer is a pretty badass video game trailer. Gave me goosebumps with all those characters in under 2 minutes. Batman Arkham City is due on Oct 18 in NA, Oct 19 in Aus, and Oct 21 for Europe. In the Philippines, hopefully we get it on the 18th. The game will be out on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 with the PC version following next month.
Square Enix just released a brand new trailer that's seven-minutes long. The trailer is similar to old trailers of Final Fantasy XIII(Emotional music incoming), and finally shows Snow, Hope, and the rest of the gang with new looks.
Thanks to IGN for the embedded video above, now we have a better understand on what is actually going on. They really can't catch a break since it looks like Lightning disappears minutes after the ending of the first game.
Not really sure what to say about this game. A story based on time travel? and the third character as a monster? Another risk to keep things fresh it seems. This sequel is pretty much the Final Fantasy XIII with Towns, exploration, etc.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be out early next year for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
Coming from New York Comic Con, Capcom released a cool looking trailer to get everybody hyped for Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. No new gameplay footage, just a bunch of characters facing off and on pause. Oh and check out who Deadpool is against.
October is finally here. Actually, its been here for a while now, but it really hit me when I picked up Dark Souls on October 4 and went MIA for a week because of it. Why is October and November so important? well because these are the months that have a huge number of triple A titles coming to us gamers. In production for a long time, but announced a year ago, these are the games to look out for, or you should consider to buy if you have those extra bucks lying around your house.
Rocksteady just released an official launch trailer in preparation of Batman: Arkham City's release this week. The trailer shows all those big baddies that Batman will have to face during Arkham City, and it's quite a handful.
Square Enix just released a brand new trailer that's seven-minutes long. The trailer is similar to old trailers of Final Fantasy XIII(Emotional music incoming), and finally shows Snow, Hope, and the rest of the gang with new looks.
