So I found this baby submitted by one of the users on GameTrailers.com. Although its rather short, less than two minutes, and the quality is obviously “cam-quality”. It looks like a chase scene at the beginning and then turns into a fierce gun fight. It does look like watching a movie! Man I cannot wait for this game, about two more months people! TWO more months! Let’s cross our fingers that it won’t get delayed!
[update]For some reason the embedded code doesn’t work, here is the direct link.
So I had a chance to play the demo for Mini Ninjas tonight for the PlayStation 3. My first impression of this game was “wow, this game is colorful!”, not to the point where its photo realistic but high definition cartoon art style. Not only that, the music and the environment combine really give that “zen” and oriental feel.
Personally I don’t think this game is for me, I feel that this game is aimed towards the younger crowd. Mini Ninjas puts you in a team of ninjas, you will be able to switch among 3 initially. And as you progress through the game, you will unlock (rescue?) the others with each ninja has his/her advantages.
Although I mostly won’t buy this game, Mini Ninjas certain has a lot of interesting features like having you to hold down “X” and shake your controller to collect fruits and honey from trees and bushes. You will also be opening doors with this action which makes the game more engaging because you are not just mashing buttons. You will have a few scrolls at your disposal as well, one of them being the Spirit Form where you can take on the form of an animal. You can attack your enemies if you take on the boar or a bear by running into them.
You can also fish in the ever virbrant river for sushi, which obviously is for bring your health back up. You have the option to swim (very slow) through your way or you can sit in your huge round hat and paddle across. Both have a timer so you can only be swimming for a limited time, although most likely you won’t run out of time, at least based on the demo. Too bad you can’t experience what I call it snow-hatting, where you will be sliding snowy slopes in your hat which I saw at the end of the demo.
If you are looking for some “zen” and/or casual third person action game with mini (chibi) characters. Mini Ninjas should not disappoint you. Although this game isn’t really for me, I highly recommend this for the younger crowd, as in younger than 20 (yes I’m old!).
Mini Ninjas will be released on September 8th 2009.
So as of first week of September, those of you looking for a PS3 will be able to yourselves the long-awaited PS3 Slim. The PS3 slim is packed with a 120 gb hard-drive disk, runs much more efficiently and consumes less power. That’s not all, Sony has also announced and confirmed yet another long-awaited “rumor” of $100 price cut effective now (or as of tomorrow depending on where you live). The price cut also applies to current models as well, with the 80GB being $299 and 160GB for $399.
While the slim version obviously give you a better bang for the buck but I personally prefer the original version because of its piano black finish, so no regret for me there! Besides I couldn’t have waited for 2 years anyway. But this is perfect time for those wanting one. For the price of $299, you get yourself a Blu-ray player, a next-gen gaming console with built-in wireless connection. The PlayStation 3 is ready to go unlike Xbox 360 where you have to add this and buy that, but let’s not go there. This should hopefully boost the overall PS3 sales and close up the gap among the other two consoles.
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.
Ahhhh….the classic point and click game, Machinarium is not just another piont and click game. I’m very impressed with its grunge-ish artistic styling as well as the sadness-like music. This once again proves to show crazy graphics, not that I have a problem with, do not necessary guarantee you a killer game. I seriously have not seen this type of games for the longest time, I think the last point and click adventure game was Syberia, another great game with machines as the theme. Another great adventage of not having crazy Crysis-like graphics is many people can run this game without crazy high-end computers. Definitely a plus!
Unfortunately this is only available for the PC, which baffles my mind. I know its probably not going to be a $59.99 game (I hope not) but at least release it as a downloadable game on PSN and Xbox LIVE.
I have my eyes on this one either way.
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One of the most anticipated games of 2009, Modern Warfare 2, will be out on November 10th. Man I have been waiting for the sequel to one of the best first person shooter games to date for both offline and online multiplayer (logged over 30 days worth of hours so far). I have extremely high expectation for Modern Warfare 2 with another great storyline as well as new weapons and strategies.
Based on the trailer just released recently, you can know customize your killstreak loadouts, one of them being able to pilot the AC-130 Gunship! I can’t imagine what other new additions we are getting, perkwise. And finally, I can only assume there will be co-op game plays as well as the ultra-fun zombie survival shoot out. I missed it for World at War because I am not into World War era anymore and I certainly don’t want to miss it again. Its gonna be different killing those undead using modern weapons. Imagine using the Gunship on them!
For now we can only dream……
This isn’t really “news” since its more than a week old, 10 days to be exact. But this is actually a good way for those that pay their bills with credit cards. Based on cnet.com, you can sign up for a PlayStation Visa card with no-annual-fee (even I want one just for the sake of it being a PlayStation Visa card). Then go into SonyStyle.com and grab yourself an 80GB PlayStation 3 for the original price of $399. In a few weeks, Sony will reimburse you with $100 credit which knocks your PS3 down to $299 instead. And for those who regularly pay their bills using credits, this will be perfect for you. Within a six month period, you can get another $100 reimbursement for every $1500 spent on the PlayStation Visa card, looks like you can only do it twice judging from the original source.
I think this is a pretty good and legit way to get a good deal for a new PlayStation 3, those that pay their mortgage, car lease/finance etc can take this opportunity and get themselves a PlayStation 3 for $99 (plus tax of course). I would but I don’t have a mortgage yet, I’ve paid off my car awhile ago unfortunately and most importantly I’ve already got my 40GB PS3.
Source: cnet.com
Although I was and still am disappointed by how it is so easy to short your drive controller board. I have to give them credits for fixing it and sending it back within a week (its probably an easy fix for the technicians anyway but still). The fix cost me $190.97 Canadians by the way.
[update] Almost forgot, I scratched the top of the cover leaving a pretty obvious scar on it before I sent it out (man I was twice as upset!) and they were nice enough to replace it for me as well! 
My saved data is still there as well, another small thanks (I backed up my data just incase). But I had to set up the video output and internet connection, nothing major.
Hopefully that’s the end of that and I can peacefully play my favorite Call of Duty 4 without crashing THEN frying my Blu-Ray controller board again.
FINGERS CROSSED!
And finally I am ready for the upcoming games like Bayonetta and Modern Warfare 2.
