RipTen Videogame Blog » Demi Adejuyigbe

inFamous 2 Gets a New trailer

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:55:21 +0000

Sony’s had a pretty busy day today, as their Gamescom press conference has been filled with more reveals and trailers than we ever could’ve hoped for. Hopping on that bandwagon is a new trailer for inFamous 2, where we get a bigger look at the action and destruction Cole causes in the game.

I’m loving the freeze-frame pan through the game, and I wish more trailers took such an approach. We’re bound to see more actual gameplay closer to the launch next year, but for now, trailers like this are actually pretty cool to see, and a great way to get people excited for the game. I know it’s worked for me.

Sony Announces New 160GB and 320GB PS3 Bundles

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:55:03 +0000

If you were on the fence about PS3 Move because you didn’t own a PS3 and didn’t want to shell out all the cash for what some people have compared to a high-definition Wii, then worry no more! Sony has announced two new PS3s-a 160GB PS3, as well as a 320GB PS3 bundle that comes with a controller, a Move controller, the PS3 EyeToy, and a copy of Sports Champions.

The 160GB PS3 is out now for $299 or 299 Euros, while the 320GB PS3 will drop September 19th for $399 or $349 Euros. While the 160GB bundle is great for those of you that don’t want to switch out the hard drive of another PS3 yourself, the 320GB looks to be quite the deal for anyone that wants to get in on Playstation Move this fall.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One Announced for PS3

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:34:56 +0000

If there is one Sony-exclusive property I absolutely love the most, it’s Ratchet and Clank. Since the first game came out for the PS2, I’ve played and loved almost every game in the series. That said, you can understand why I’m absolutely ecstatic that Insomniac and Sony are releasing Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One next Fall for the PS3.

All 4 One’s biggest feature seems to be the 4-player online and local co-op that it touts, along with having four simultaneously playable characters instead of the normal two. In addition to the eponymous duo of Ratchet & Clank, you’ll also get a chance to play as Captain Qwark and Dr. Nefarious, two characters anyone familiar with the series will know. While the game isn’t out for another year or so, I feel it’s only fair to start calling dibs on characters this very second.

That said, I call dibs on Qwark, and this is written proof that I did so *blows raspberry*.

Resistance 3 Announced for 2011 With A New Teaser Trailer

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:11:47 +0000

If you didn’t see Resistance 3 coming from a mile away, then you need to work on your skills of deduction. Sony and Insomniac would be stupid not to release a second sequel to the blockbuster hit from 2006. While I’ll be waiting with baited breath for a good look at the shooter, for now, Sony has dropped a live-action teaser trailer for the game at Gamescom. (Excuse the poor quality, as it was ripped straight from a feed of the show.)

The trailer doesn’t exactly give much information about the game, but it does give us a neat look at what a live-action Resistance film would look like. I like the gritty, 1950s feel the trailer gives off, but it just left me confused and angry and wanting actual news as to how this game will be different from its predecessors. But that’s not to say I’m not excited!

Resistance 3 drops for the PS3 sometime in 2011.

New Multiplayer Footage from Killzone 3

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:11:17 +0000

I’m glad we’re now getting good looks at Killzone 3, because it’s the one thing I’ll miss when I don’t have access to my PS3 in a month’s time. Sony just dropped a new look at the multiplayer from Killzone 3, which gives us a great impression of something kind-of-new being added to the multiplayer modes- vehicles!

I know some people were annoyed at the lack of transport in Killzone 2, but it looks as though Guerilla has not only added vehicles to the game, but made it so multiplayer matches aren’t heavily unbalanced with them. Of course, I can’t make any actual judgments until the game drops in February of next year, but that doesn’t mean I’m not absolutely pumped to see even more from it.

Giveaway: Win a Copy of Monday Night Combat for XBLA! [UPDATE]

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:07:34 +0000

Ever since it was announced, people have been calling Monday Night Combat “Team Fortress 2 with robots”, and while I’d venture to say it’s not much exactly like TF2, I’ve definitely been enjoying it as much as I enjoy TF2. And if you haven’t bought the game yet, Ripten’s giving you a chance to enjoy it too!

Our pals over at Uber Entertainment passed along a code for the game, and we’re passing it on to you! All you have to do for a shot at this code is to leave a comment below. Make sure you use your real email to leave the comment too, as we’re going to send the comment to that email if you win. One comment per person, but make sure you get your comment in before 11:59PM PST on Sunday, August 15th. If you’re still not sure whether or not you even want to play the game, stay tuned for our review of the game going up soon!

UPDATE: Congratulations, Waynehaz1337hax! Shoot me an email at demi [at] ripten.com to get your code!

Super Stardust Devs Announcing New Game at PAX

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:44:25 +0000

While I haven’t yet been able to make my way to the west coast for the annual Penny Arcade Expo, I hear it’s quite the shindig for anyone that loves rubbing elbows with the developers that make our industry great. It’s only going to get more exciting this year as Housemarque, the developers behind Super Stardust and the upcoming Dead Nation, are announcing a new game for PSN and XBLA at the expo this year.

Their latest game, Dead Nation, isn’t even out yet, but they’re already hard at work on a new game that they plan to announce in early September. Unfortunately, they haven’t given us any hints as to what it is, so your guess is as good as mine. I’m excited to see what they do announce, as I’ve gotten more play time out of Super Stardust HD than any other PSN title. Are you gonna be in attendance at PAX? What do you hope they announce? Sound off in le comments!

Buzz! Quiz Player for PS3 Leaked by ESRB

Demi Adejuyigbe — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:07:06 +0000

If you haven’t played Buzz!, you really should; it’s a great party game in the vein of Scene It! for the Playstation 2 and Playstation 3, and I’ve had tons of fun with it in the past. I’ll most likely have tons of fun with it in the future as well, as Sony is planning to release yet another game in the Buzz! franchise for the PS3. Or so says the ESRB.

While the description sounds just like every other Buzz! game, if you haven’t played any of the other Buzz! games, it might pique your interest-

This is a trivia game in which players compete to answer questions on a variety of topics, including sports, TV shows, movies, and music. Players can choose a character (e.g., cheerleader, super hero) and a sound effect that will be heard when attempting to answer questions. One sound choice sounds like a belch, and another is called “tequila.”

I wonder what this game will do that the previous PS3 Buzz games didn’t, but until Sony makes an official announcement (or we get more leaks) we’ll just have to wait for more information on this one. Yeah, don’t cry too much about it. [Joystiq]

Ripten Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Video Game

Demi Adejuyigbe — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:47:52 +0000

When the Scott Pilgrim movie was announced, I went back and read the series, which I personally found to be good, but not great. Then I caught the movie, and enjoyed it so much that I made the trip to a movie theatre 30 minutes away so I could see it again. And now, completing the Scott Pilgrim trifecta (“Every Pilgrim must reach the end of his journey…”) is a game of the same name, taking the Scott Pilgrim story and turning it into a side-scrolling beat-em-up. I’m not sure what I initially thought when I heard about the game, but the trailer definitely looked terrific.

Now that the game is out for the PS3 (Xbox 360 version drops on the 25th of the month) I grabbed a buddy and a copy of the game from PSN and dove into a re-imagining of a world I was already familiar with twice over. While the book and the film both stand on their own as good works, is the game a different story? How does Scott Pilgrim vs. The World stack up against Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Scott Pilgri- uh, well you know what I mean.

The game follows the titular Scott Pilgrim and/or his bandmates Steven Stills and Kim Pine, as well as his girlfriend Ramona Flowers. You have the choice to play as any of these characters with up to three other people as you battle a series of Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends. (As well as some other secondary characters Scott fights in the novel.) Chances are that you’ll most likely make an informed decision as to your character preference within using each of them for a few minutes. Rather than give you the play-by-play tutorial, starting the game immediately thrusts you into the action, giving you the option to check the “How to Play” section of your menu options.

The How To Play covers the basics of the game; what attributes you have, how certain attacks and skills work, but there are some things that you’ll have to figure out on your own. The game gives you three options of difficulty, but even the lowest difficulty, Average Joe, will seem a bit hard compared to every other brawler you’ve ever played. In case the RPG-esque statistic elements don’t make it clear, Scott Pilgrim isn’t exactly an easy game. But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun.

If there’s one thing that immediately stands out with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, it’s the incredible art style. Paul Robertson (of Pirate Baby’s Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 fame) really is a master of the pixel arts, and his art style is perfect for the game, as it would be for so many games. Ubisoft really tries to throw you into a wave of nostalgia, and Robertson’s art, combined with Anamanaguchi’s fantastic chiptune score, makes you feel as if you’re really young again, dumping quarters into the Simpsons Arcade machine at your local pizza parlor.

The gameplay isn’t original, and it doesn’t try to be. If you’ve played Castle Crashers, you’ll immediately get a feel for the game as everything it does, from allowing you to unleash combos on enemies, to leveling up and learning new powers, to having shops where you can spend the coins you get from fighting enemies is right out of the 2008 brawler. It’s clear that Scott Pilgrim is more of an homage to nerd culture more than anything else, and the game mixes in both subtle and blatant references to a long list of video games that are well known and revered.

While the book series and the film are both valid sources of the game’s backstory, the game draws heavily from the book series, despite not having any voices or real story in it. Moments from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s books will instantly be familiar to anyone that has read the series, and they’re borrowed well. Even moments that wouldn’t seem to have their place in a side scrolling beat-em-up make it into the game as stores, or fighting locales, or even just as animations that occur in a matter of seconds. It’s not a bonus or plus for the game, but it’s really nice to see that Ubisoft took the time to get the adaptation of the source material right, and to make it clear that this wasn’t another throwaway movie tie-in.

Scott Pilgrim is not without its faults, though. Not by a long shot. One thing that I can’t wrap my head around is the fact that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World features no online multiplayer whatsoever. I mean, I understand that this game is kind of a retro throwback to 80s/90s city street beat-em-ups, but this is 2010. We’ve got phones that shoot HD video, robots that can talk with their creators, and sandwiches with chicken replacing the bread- but we can’t get online play for a beat-em-up? Ubisoft, 2000 called- they’re ashamed of you.

Unfortunately, when you fight enemies, you’re bound to get knocked out at least once. And when you do, if you’re near the edge of the screen, then you’re fucked, because you won’t be able to see the countdown that leads to you losing a life. When this happens, you have to get one of your partners to revive you by rapidly pressing the circle button, but if you’re off the screen, then not only does your partner have no way of knowing when you’re down, but even if they know, they’ll have a hard time getting into the proper position to revive you. What’s worse is when both you and your partners get knocked out at the same time, you have no way of helping yourself get back on your feet, which is understandable given the type of game it is, but it’s still annoying.

Another problem the game has is that its playable characters are pretty damn unbalanced. That’s not to say that each of them has their pros or cons, but there’s no denying that certain characters have weaknesses that are pretty standard strengths for others. To be specific, choosing Kim Pine or Ramona Flowers as your character seems to result in a higher affinity for damage, or to put it simply, faster death. I wouldn’t be quick to jump to accusations of sexism, but anyone that wishes to play as either of the game’s female characters will have to get over the fact that they’ll probably be seeing that countdown screen pretty often.

I’m really just skimming the surface in recounting my gripes with the game, though- objects bounce off of everything, including the edge of the screen (even when there’s not a wall there) and they can hurt you, it’s way too easy to hurt your partners on accident, shop menus are sluggish and uninformative, it’s hard to pick up items casually, there seems to be no order to the difficulty of bosses, your inability to save multiple players’ characters to a single profile. (seriously, what the fuck Ubisoft?). The biggest disappointment with these issues is that it doesn’t make the game feel unfinished, it makes it feel as if Ubisoft intentionally put such things in the game, as if they thought it would improve the experience. It doesn’t. At all.

I pressed on it a little bit, but personally, my biggest annoyance with the game is how you can only save one players’s stats to any PSN user account. That means that if I want to play co-op with my four buddies, I better set up four PSN accounts, or else we’ll have to start over every time they want to jump back in. Maybe this will be fixed for the Xbox 360 version when it drops on the 25th, but on the PS3, it’s really a little stupid thing that ruined 11 levels of progress on a character the first time I ran through the game.

To make short of a long review, Scott Pilgrim is fun. While I enjoyed the time I spent with the game, my frustrations ended up overwhelming the modicum of enjoyment I had once I hit the final boss. Its retro style & music make for a great throwback to glorious days of old, but there are many gripes I had with the game that prevented it from truly standing out of the crowd. If you’re a big fan of the book, consider plunking down the $9.99 for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on the Playstation Network, but otherwise, the truth is that there are better games for the money.

The Rundown
+ Pretty much an homage to retro games
+ Large enemy variety
/ Faithful to the source material
- No online multiplayer
- Frustrating annoyances make it hard to accomplish tasks

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Video Game was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and was published by Ubisoft and Universal Studios for the Playstation Network. The game released in the United States on August 10th, 2010 with a retail price of $9.99. The game was purchased by the reviewer and was played until the final form of the last boss in two-player co-op on the “Average Joe” difficulty.

Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light Launching Without Online Co-Op

Demi Adejuyigbe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:33:13 +0000

I think the two Summer of Arcade games that I’m most excited about are Monday Night Combat and Lara Croft & The Guardian of Light. Getting a TF2-style shooter on XBLA seems like a terrific idea, but getting an isometric, online co-op enabled Lara Croft game seems too good to be true. Oh, did I say online co-op enabled? I meant “local and local only for a month enabled”. Just a typo- the keys are right next to each other and whatnot.

If you’re looking forward to blasting through Guardian of Light with a buddy online, then you’re going to have to wait until September 28th, coincidentally the same day the PS3 version launches. Crystal Dynamics plans to patch online co-operative play into the game that day, as it seems as though it won’t be ready for launch.

I’m conflicted on this news; on the one hand, not having to deal with a delay on the game is great, but I have a feeling that online co-op is what will make this game the most fun. I guess we’ll have to find out ourselves whether or not we’re willing to wait for a patch when the game launches on Xbox Live Arcade on August 18th. [Destructoid]

Split/Second DLC Coming Later This Month

Demi Adejuyigbe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:04:33 +0000

I rarely enjoy racing games nowadays, as it seems that the trend is making them more realistic than fun, but one of the few games that goes against this norm is Split/Second. Gavin loved the game in his review, which is why he is probably as excited as I am that we’re about to see DLC for the game.

Later this month, we’ll be getting three new packs of Split/Second content; the first pack is a bunch of designs for your vehicles, the second is the “High Octane” Supercar Pack which will bring new vehicles to the game, and the third is a free special edition car based on the original Ryback Cyclone. The packs will hit both Xbox Live and PSN this month, but we’ll also be seeing a major DLC pack with a new environment in September.

I’d love nothing more than to have more customization options and vehicles in Split/Second, but the only way I’ll jump on all of these is if the price is right. Is anyone excited for these? Sound off in the comments! [Split/Second Facebook]

Killzone 3 Public Beta Incoming?

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:44:12 +0000

If you’re like me, you can’t wait to get your hands on Killzone 3, and it looks like Guerrilla Games can’t wait to get it out. The Killzone 3 site was recently updated with a log-in screen for the beta of Killzone 3, but there’s no solid information about a beta otherwise.

Given that Sony is in Cologne next week, we’ll likely be seeing information about the beta sometime soon, but I don’t care about the info, I just want in on the game. Public, private, multiplayer, campaign- I want that beta yesterday. And if we get our hands on the game (and there’s no NDA) then you can be sure to see impressions on the site shortly after release.

Killzone 3 Beta Page (via VG247)

Quake Live gets Pro & Premium Subscriptions

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:04:08 +0000

If you frequently play Quake Live, but have been hankering from more from the browser-based shooter, then you’re in luck- id added two optional subscriptions that add features to the currently free-to-play game.

For $2 a month, you can get 20 exclusive maps, the Freeze Tag mode, exclusive awards, clan support, custom profile wallpaper, and the ability to store your match statistics for six months. For $4 a month, you can get all of those features, plus the ability to start your own server, specify a server location, determine the game mode, and invite people.

While I feel like most of these features should be standard in a shooter, for $4 a month, die-hard Quake Live fans won’t have much of a problem paying so little for some neat perks.

Opening Cinematic for Fable III

Demi Adejuyigbe — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:59:22 +0000

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people waiting with baited breath for more Fable news, then you’re in luck- Lionhead just put out the opening cinematic for Fable III, over two months ahead of the game’s release.

I can’t imagine that there’s anything spoiler-worthy in the cinematic, as it tells us absolutely nothing that should pertain to the game’s story. The cinematic features a chicken, escaping from a coop and running around, all while trying to survive. The cinematic looks great, though I’m not sure it’s any indication of how the game will look. If it is, then you should be pretty damn excited for Fable 3, which will hit the Xbox 360 on October 26th.

How to Unlock Zombies in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Demi Adejuyigbe — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:41:02 +0000

Well how about that- the game isn’t even out yet, and we’re already learning secrets about Ubisoft’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The awesome-looking beat ‘em up is actually a game being released alongside the film that is an adaptation of Bryan O’Malley’s comic book, and the film is being directed by Edgar Wright, who posted the above video on his blog, showing off the cheat code that you can punch in on the game’s title screen to unlock zombie enemies. Rad.

The code is DOWN, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, UP, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT if you’re wondering, and while I’m not sure whether or not the code will work on the Xbox 360 version once it’s released (On August 25th) but the code will work with the Playstation 3 version when it drops August 10th. I’m really excited for the game, as it’s been a while since I’ve played and enjoyed an original beat ‘em up game. Stay tuned for our review, as there’s no way I’m passing this up.

Plants Wage War on Zombies on Xbox Live Arcade September 8th

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:13:55 +0000

In case you didn’t already own Plants vs. Zombies on another platform (and if so, why the hell not?) or at least, on enough platforms (three and counting!) you’ll be pleased to know that PopCap will be dropping Plants vs. Zombies on Xbox Live next month, on September 8th.

You can pick the game up for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) which is, in my opinion, a fair price for such an awesome twist on the classic Tower Defense formula. The Xbox Live Arcade version will come with higher-resolution graphics, achievements, new co-operative modes, and mini-games. I don’t think I can justify dropping another $15 on a game I own three times over, but if you haven’t yet bought PvZ, now’s the perfect chance.

Legends & Killers DLC Hits Red Dead Redemption Next Week

Demi Adejuyigbe — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:29:20 +0000

While I haven’t yet finished Red Dead Redemption, I never even touched Red Dead Revolver. I didn’t really hear anything about the game before Red Dead Redemption was announced, and I never went back to play the original. As of August 10th, I probably won’t feel the need to, as Rockstar is bringing eight characters from Red Dead Revolver to Red Dead Redemption on both Xbox Live and Playstation Network.

The Legends & Killers DLC will hit PSN for $9.99 and Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft space bucks next week, bringing a new projectile weapon, the Tomahawk, nine new map locations, and the eight aforementioned characters from Red Dead Revolver. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal for $10. I’ll certainly be dropping down the cash for it next week, but if you’re not convinced, you can check below for some screenshots from Legends & Killers.

[nggallery id=154]

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Coming to PSP November 2nd

Demi Adejuyigbe — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:05:19 +0000

Those of you waiting for news on the newest entry to the God of War franchise will have to wait no longer, as Sony is announcing today that Ghost of Sparta, the sequel to 2008′s incredible Chains of Olympus, will hit the PSP on November 2nd, right in time for you to put it on your Christmas wishlists.

You’ll also get a metric ton of bonuses if you pre-order the game as well; you’ll get a soundtrack, PSP & PS3 themes, a Kratos avatar for PSN, a Legionnaire Skin for Ghost of Sparta, and a Game Directors Documentary, which is a discussion between devs that have worked on the God of War franchise- devs like David Jaffe, Cory Barlog, and Dan Jan. You’ll also be able to pick up a Ghost of Sparta PSP bundle if you don’t own a PSP. For $199.99, you’ll get a black/red PSP-3000, Ghost of Sparta, a download code for Chains of Olympus, Kick-Ass on UMD, and a 2GB memory stick.

While I currently don’t own a PSP, there’s very little chance anyone who does would have any reason to pass this game up. It looks fantastic, and if it’s anything like the first PSP title in the God of War franchise, then it will be a blockbuster hit.

Junkboy’s Pixelated Demakes Make For Incredible Fan-Art

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:44:19 +0000

Despite the heavy focus a lot of gamers tend to put on graphics in this day and age, I will always stand by the idea that games can be fun and enjoyable without having flashy, realistic, “next-gen” graphics. Way of the Pixel member & pixel artist Junkboy can probably back me up on this too, as he has created over twenty pixelated video game “demake” pieces that support such an idea.

While he says these were all made for the Swedish publication LEVEL, and that many were rushed, they all look incredible. Many of them even look like games that I would prefer to play over their original iterations. The only one whose original game I can’t figure out is the racing game, though I want to say it’s Blur. In any case, Junkboy is a terrific pixel artist, and you can see more of his art over at the Way of the Pixel forums.

Check the gallery to see all of the pixel art. Which one is your favorite? It’d be too easy for me to give it to Sunset Riders, because I have super fond memories with that game, but I think the LittleBigPlanet one is my favorite. Tell us yours in the comments!

[nggallery id=153]

Thor: The Video Game Is A Thing That Exists

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:35:12 +0000

In a move that surprises absolutely nobody, Marvel and Sega are planning to release a Thor video game to coincide with the release of the film in Summer of 2011. While I have no information on the game besides the trailer to go on, if Iron Man & other comic-to-movie video games are any indication, this game won’t be so great.

The above trailer, released to Marvel’s YouTube account, doesn’t show off anything from the game itself, aside from a shot of Thor standing above a cliff. We also get to see Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, with some lighting flashes in the background. Game of the Year 2011, I’m sure. Kenneth Branagh’s Thor is coming to theatres next year, on May 6th, 2011, and the game should release around the same time. If you haven’t seen the trailer for the film from Comic-Con this past week, it’s embedded below- Enjoy!