» metal gear solid

Took me a while to get my hands on the demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum on PSN as I kept on getting error when trying to download it. So I finally managed to get it and I was excited, because this game might actually be a comic-movie-cartoon video game that will not disappoint, unlike the rest of the movie games (ahem….G.I. Joe anyone?). So is Batman: Arkham Asylum worth buying?

I have mix reactions actually because the demo is rather short, you can easily finish it within 15-20 minutes, if not shorter. Then again it is not a race and you are suppose to appreciate the game by walking around, flying around with your trusty grapple hook. And due to the length of the demo, I’m not sure if I will get bored of some of the features of this game or not. For one the combat system is….ok, animations are smooth but nothing amazing, in my opinion. You basically throw punches, counter your enemies and try to knock them down for good. While hanging upside down or using the glide kick to take out your enemies is fun, I have a feeling its just one of those “its fun while it lasts” kind of thing. On the rather positive side, I do like the fact that you have different choices to choose from for taking out your enemies.

The detective mode looks interesting as well, you get to check what weapon each person (friends and enemies) is carrying, their status, be it calm or nervous, check where you can fly up using the grapple hook or weak walls where you can blow it up using explosives. Again the demo is rather short so that’s all I got to see and experiment.

The graphics look amazingly detailed, from the textures of the asylum to the characters that you play and/or interact with, specially the main characters like Batman, Joker and Harley Quinn (her outfit is pretty detailed!) for example.

Honestly after playing the demo, although I’ve always been a Batman fan, I am really not sure if I should get this right at the release date. And there isn’t a multiplayer mode, which is understandable, this game is at best, a rental for me. Unless you are a fanatic and/or you absolutely loved the demo, I don’t think you should buy it right away, wait for a price drop in about 6 months time or look for a second hand on ebay. I wish the demo was longer, then I would have a better idea. Right now it feels like I’m one of those crooks and left hanging upside down by Batman.

I have been a Batman fan for as long as I can remember. There hasn’t been a single Batman related game released ever since PlayStation 3 and xBox 360 came out, as far as I can remember. But the wait is almost over because based on EBGames, Batman: Arkham Asylum will be released on June 9th, less than 3 months from now.

To me, after Metal Gear Solid, Batman: Arkham Asylum should be another action + stealth game worth buying. If you have spare change in your wallet, you should also consider getting the collector’s edition because it comes with so much goodies such as: (taken from EBGames)

- Waynetech Batarang Storage Box
- 12” In-Game Design Batarang (stand attached)
- Dr Young’s Journal (50 page full color character encyclopedia)
- 2 Sleeve DIGI-Pack Including:
     - Game
     - Behind the scenes 5 chapter series DVD, including:
     - Interviews with Mark Hammil and Kevin Conroy
- Exclusive Collector’s Edition Challenge Map DLC
- Manual

As you can see you get a lot more than what you would normally get from other collector’s edition games, for a price of $99.99. For once I am really tempted to get a collector’s edition game, I mean you get a Batarang! Notice it also comes with an exclusive DLC map? I can only guess there will be more DLC maps available in the future.

Less not forget the game also has some impressive graphics, got to love the highly detailed Batman cape, body armor and the awesome looking Batmobile. Anyway, enjoy this Challenge Room trailer from Gametrailers.

  

As promised, I bought these packs as my Christmas presents, well a bit too early but what the hell. I have purchased the two DLC packs for LittleBigPlanet – the Metal Gear Solid Premium Costume Pack and the Premium Level Pack. All I can say is its worth the money!

  

As you know there are 5 Story Levels as well as 1 Challenge Level along with 6 costumes and a lot of objects, stickers etc. The first level is basically an intro, you don’t really get to do anything but the scene is nicely done. The second level is where the fun begins because you will get to play with THE PAINTINATOR. I think that’s basically the meat of the level pack and also a break through for LittleBigPlanet because its the first real weapon for LBP. This level will have you practice on non moving targets then move on to the harder, moving objects and dodge away from bullets (huge green balls), not too hard there. A HP meter is also introduced which I find it very innovative, for LBP that is. An enemy will have a HP meter so you will keep shooting it until its meter is empty. Again HP is nothing new in the gaming world in general but it is for this game.

  

The third level is where the actual “story” starts and you will fight your way through this level then progress to fourth and finally the fifth level is the boss level where you will get to fight a Metal Gear which in my opinion, beautifully designed. Its weapons are insane too as it will try and kill you with machine gun, rockets, lasers and the huge laser gun.

  

Overall the 5 levels are pretty shot, about 30 minutes or so, but extremely fun, even better if you play with friends. The Challenge Level, your goal is to surive as long as you can while you blast away the laser cannons on the ceiling. Again pretty fun if you play with others.

  

The costumes are also very detailed and really do resemble the characters from Metal Gear Solid. I personally like Raiden but I think Screaming Mantis has the most detailed features of all costumes. It even has the two hanging dolls behind (see screenshot).

  

I’m not sure about other packs, but these two packs are a definite must for MSG fans as well as LBP fans! Get them now! Treat yourself two special Christmas presents BEFORE Christmas!

And I look forward to more new levels with weapons in the future.

Just when I thought there’s nothing special this month for my PS3, but PlayStation.Blog surprised me with news regarding two Metal Gear Solid Premium Packs available on the PlayStation Store on December 23rd. The Metal Gear Solid Premium Costume Pack will contain Snake’s costume, obviously, as well as costumes for Meryl Silverburgh, Screaming Mantis and Raiden. The costume pack goes for $5.99 or $1.99 each. I lied about getting the Street Fighter pack, but I AM pretty sure I will be getting this pack! I promise!

And that’s not all, there is also a Metal Gear Solid Premium Level Pack. This pack contains the Gurlokovich Soldier costume, plus 72 stickers, 12 materials, 10 decorations, 18 objects, 5 new Story Levels as well as 1 new Challenge Level. You would think wow that’s a lot of content, think again because there are more! You will also be getting (from PlayStation.Blog):

- 3 new background music tracks
- 1 new interactive music track
- 1 new Metal Gear Solid themed ‘sound object’
- New Plasma Ball ‘danger element’
- New Laser Sight ‘gadget’
- 12 new Trophies to unlock
- New functioning Searchlight lamp – for those special ‘exclamation mark’ moments
- …and finally, the piece de resistance…THE PAINTINATOR (and Paint Switch)

If you don’t want to purchase this level pack, you can still play this level by joining a host that has the level. Though you cannot obtain any items from the levels. Don’t be cheap and get it!

The best part is this level pack is only $5.99, consider the costume to be $0.99, you are paying $5.00 for 6 new levels along with tons of stickers, materials, objects, music tracks and my favorite of all, THE PAINTINATOR. This is pretty much the first “weapon” for LittleBigPlanet where you are actually holding something and shooting something from it, in this case paint. These levels and the THE PAINTINATOR will show what LittleBigPlanet can really do, the future is bright for this littlebiggame. (you read that right, littlebiggame)

I am really excited and looking forward to getting these two packs, guess these will be my Christmas presents.

And while we wait, please enjoy this beautifully done video of Metal Gear Solid x LittleBigPlanet levels, hands down to whoever designed this level.

Image source: PlayStation.Blog’s Photostream

IGN posted a very interesting article today regarding the possible release of Metal Gear Solid 4 for the XBox360. Quoted from Konami PR representative “We’re actively looking into a release for the Xbox 360.”. While I am not a fanboy for neither consoles, even if XBox360 supports Blu-Ray drive, therefore eliminating the need to swapping discs during different acts. How does Konami plan on removing all the PlayStation 3 and PSP references in the game? Are they going to keep them there which is rather a conflict of interest or replace with some other Microsoft devices? As far as I know microsoft doesn’t have a handheld to replace a PSP.

As you can see from the images below, Snake is controlling the MKII using a Playstation controller. And Sunny is holding a PSP while Hal “Otacon” Emmerich is talking about the PlayStation 3!

Only time will tell if the rumor is true or not.

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