Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
Developer: A.C.R.O.N.Y.M Games
Publisher: Capcom
Price: $9.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
Category: Arcade Shooter
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone Ages 10 and older (Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes)
Release Date: March 5, 2008

One of the highlights of last years E3 for me was my trip to visit and interview the folks at Capcom about their upcoming games. I was jazzed about the upcoming Harvey Birdman game, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles looked like it was going to resurrect the arcade rail-shooter on the last platform I’d have expected and the Street Fighter II ultimate hand-drawn coolness edition was in the works. One of the titles that flew somewhat under the radar at the time was the Xbox Live! arcade game Rocketmen : Axis of Evil. I even wrote a quick preview of it during our E3 coverage.

Even the PR guy who politely showed me around did not have any clue what the game was based on so I guess he was surprised when I mentioned that the title was an interesting choice for a license built around a constructible card game where ship-to-ship combat was the main focus. Instead of the Star Control-like  melee I would have expected instead I was watching someone grind through a swarm of burly Martians in a Smash TV-like top down shooter.

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Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath
Developer: EA LA
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Price: $29.99
Platform: PC, Xbox 360 (June 2008)
Category: Real-Time Strategy
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Animated Blood, Mild Language, Violence)
Release Date: March 24, 2008

Command and Conquer or get the hell out of my way! The Tiberium wars may be over and the mysterious Kane returned but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a story left to tell. Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, the first expansion to last years popular C&C 3, does something not many expansions attempt – it fills in backstory and expands continuity for the Command & Conquer universe while attempting to hint at things to come.

I’ve always been a fan of C&C, way back to the days when it was a game based on Frank Herbert’s Dune series. (Yeah I’m that old.. Dune 2 was groundbreaking I recommend every fan of RTS games try and find a DosBox playable copy!) The series is all about fast build and rushing. There is a balls to the wall pace that many games of its ilk have tried to replicate with varied success, but aside from a few missteps along the road to C&C 3 the series is a perennial favorite.

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I come bearing a warning for anyone with an Xbox Live account. Do not, I repeat, do NOT under any circumstances purchase the newest XBLA title, Mr. Driller Online. Normally I might call this sort of article my “impressions” of a game. But due to the severe awfulness of Mr. Driller Online, I’m calling this a “Public Service Announcement.” I honestly feel that this sort of warning goes right up there with “Only you can prevent forest fires” and “This is your brain on drugs.” Some of you may think that piece of advice is fairly obvious, but I wish someone had warned me before I plopped down 800 Microsoft points for possibly the worst XBLA title I have ever experienced. Read on as I explain why Mr. Driller Online should only be sold under the counter in back alleys and dingy fast food places.

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Rainbow Six Vegas 2
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC (in April)
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Strong Language, Intense Violence)
Release Date: March 21, 2008

Someone once said “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” (and an advertising firm soon trademarked it). I doubt whoever said that was talking about terrorist cells and international conspiracies, but man those seem to flock to Sin City in the new Rainbow Six Vegas 2. This being the sequel to the smash hit Tom Clancy title, expectations are understandably high for this follow-up. Even more so since the team behind this game has said this is their final excursion, because they’re tired of working with Vegas. Well frankly their apathy shows through at times, particularly since this feels like the same old Rainbow Six Vegas, just with a few changes. But still, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. My full impressions after the break. Read the full article »

Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: SEGA
Price: $59.99
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Category: Action/Adventure, Psychological Horror
ESRB: “M” for Mature
Release Date: 3/12/2008

When I first heard that the folks over at Monolith were making a sequel to Condemned: Criminal Origins, I was both excited and leery at the same time, because let’s face it, sequels are not usually up to par with the original. Granted, the God of War titles seem to do justice to our favorite Spartan, but that cannot be said of the majority of sequels sitting on shelves. My initial disquiet over another offering of Ethan Thomas and the maimed world in which he resides seemed to mitigate slightly when I viewed the first set of screenshots from the game, and the more I saw, better I felt. The trailers looked great, the weapon selection was both pacifying and hilarious at the same time, and the overall ambiance the trailers portrayed finally allowed me to let my guard down completely for Condemned 2: Bloodshot. However, before I get too far ahead of myself, I would like to point out that while this was indeed a very fun and entertaining game, it was far from perfect. So far, to be quite honest, that afterwards when I had played through it a second time, I started to feel extremely let down.

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God of War: Chains of Olympus
Developer: Ready at Dawn Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Price: $49.99
Platform: PlayStation Portable
Category: Action/Adventure
ESRB: “M” for Mature
Release Date: 3/04/2008

Kratos the Spartan has a really bad life. Sure he’s a marauding, enemy eviscerating unstoppable war machine all by himself; but it’s got to suck to be “the cleaner” for the Olympian Gods.

Chains of Olympus is the first title in the God of War series to grace Sony’s portable gaming system the PSP but the game actually serves not as a continuation of the Playstation 2 series, but as a prequel that details his existence pre-God of War as he moves from battlefield to battlefield cleaning up after the messes made by his deific masters.

You push Kratos through hordes of foes all the while whipping your trademark Blades of Chaos – a gift from patron god Ares – and popping their cherries until they sprout fountains of red, green and white orbs. Fans of the series will find nothing unexpected here and while this game was obviously created to take advantage of the handheld’s graphics and controls it does not alter the gameplay into one that is more conducive to pick-up and put-down play. This is a good thing though because once I started playing I found myself glued to the PSP and tethered to my power outlet lest my battery die on me mid blood orgy. Chains of Olympus feels like a God of War game through and through.
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Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Developer: SquareEnix
Publisher: SquareEnix
Price: $49.99
Platform: Wii
Category: Action/Adventure, FP/RPG
ESRB: “T” for Teen
Release Date: 2/19/2008

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors takes place in a town that lies at the foot of Avalonia Castle. There, a young man enjoys a peaceful life with his lecherous father until his sixteenth birthday approaches and he must take the Walk of the Worthy. This is a trial of strength, which all young Avalonian males must undergo upon coming of age. As the main character, you will need to put all of your training in the ways of the sword into practice if you are to pass the test, and take your rightful place amongst Avalonia’s warriors. Sounds like your typical RPG doesn’t it? Unfortunately the storyline is the only thing typical about Dragon Quest Swords.

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Turok
Developer: Propaganda Games
Publisher: Touchstone
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Category: FPS
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language)
Release Date: February 5

Fighting dinosaurs might not be the most original concept anymore – it’s been a long time since the first Turok game saw the light of day. So it seems only fair to expect the surrounding game elements in Turok to compensate for that and help differentiate the game from the extremely bloated FPS market. And yet everything about the game screams, “Generic!” and manages to only surprise you with how it manages to be derivative in every fashion imaginable.

Perhaps its unoriginality could be forgiven if technical flaws didn’t further hinder the game, but the combination really manages to ruin any fun that might be had. And it’s really a shame, because there’s definitely a fun game under Turok’s skin.

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Army of Two
Developer: EA Montreal
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Category: Action
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood, Strong Language, Intense Violence)
Release Date: March 4, 2008

Before I really get into talking about Army of Two, I think it’s only fair to point out that I love co-op games. As such, the news that this game would be built around a co-op campaign was very exciting to me. If I had the time back that I’ve spent playing co-op games like Vietcong, I could probably retire on it. I’d also like to mention that I ended up getting Army of Two for the PlayStation 3. I had actually intended to pick the game up for Xbox 360 so I could play online with a friend of mine; however, the news that we’d both have to have a Gold account to play online ended that fantasy fairly quickly. Instead, I went with the PS3 version for the free online play.

Right out of the box, I got a good vibe from Army of Two. The game starts you and your partner (AI controlled if you’re playing alone) off in basic training. Basic is the keyword here, as you receive a quick run-through of the skills you need to survive, and you’re whisked away to your first mission.

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Lost: Via Domus
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Category: Adventure
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Violence)
Release Date: February 26, 2008

I am a complete sucker when it comes to video games based on my favorite TV shows. It’s for that reason that I’ve suffered through both The Sopranos: Road to Respect and 24: The Game. So when I heard that there was going to be a game coming out based on Lost, I already knew I would be playing it. It didn’t matter how the developers approached the title or even if it were declared unanimously to be the worst video game adaptation ever, I’d still be drawn to it like a mosquito to a bug zapper. Thankfully, this is probably the best game based on a TV show that I have ever played. Of course, that’s not saying much. Full review after the break.

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