All posts by Brendan Griffiths

Features, Platforms, PS Vita

PS Vita Version 3 – Third time lucky?

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Have you recently heard rumblings a new version of the PS Vita handheld could be in the works? While only a few diagrams have appeared, the validity of which are highly questionable, it got me thinking that maybe a third version of the Vita could be third time lucky for Sony. Here’s how they could turn things around.

Of course, the Vita’s ‘success’ so far is a divisive topic. Gamers expecting a handheld that pumped out AAA titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss on a regular basis feel understandably short-changed as Sony and third-party developers never really supported the Vita with any true ambition. Continue reading PS Vita Version 3 – Third time lucky? →

Features, PC, Platforms, PS4, Xbox One

Why Rocksteady quitting Batman after Arkham Knight is the right choice

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Don’t take that title as a slur on Rocksteady’s excellent work on the Arkham series of Batman games, or as an ill-judged prediction that Arkham Knight is going to be anything other than brilliant. Far from it. Batman: Arkham Knight could be the crowning achievement of the trilogy, the realisation of years of hard work and the culmination of efforts and ideas that were finally allowed to exist as gaming hardware caught up to Rocksteady’s lofty ambitions.

So why so keen to see them let the Dark Knight go after June 23rd (well, after the inevitable expansion packs at least)? Rocksteady have proved themselves to be an excellent studio and it would be cruel to tie them to making one franchise over and over again. Let’s see them and Batman go out on a high, before ideas become stale and before the studio becomes fatigued trying to come up with fresh ideas in order to better their own impossibly high bench marks. They’ve been working on Arkham games nonstop since 2007! Continue reading Why Rocksteady quitting Batman after Arkham Knight is the right choice →

News

Star Wars: Battlefront trailer shows gorgeous ‘in-engine’ footage

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It’s been a great day for Star Wars fans as many of us had breakfast while hitting repeat on the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, and now we have the first proper trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront. It looks like we’ll get to play the game before the new movie too as EA announced a November 20th release date in the UK and November 17th in US for the game PS4, Xbox one and PC.

If you’ve missed out on earlier details on Star Wars: Battlefront, we’ll catch you up before you watch the trailer below. Up to 40 players will do battle as two teams across famous environments of the original Star Wars trilogy. Players will be able to switch between first and third-person perspectives while on foot or when controlling vehicles. Oh yes, those iconic vehicles like AT-ATs, X-Wings, speeder bikes and more are back and set to be ridiculous amounts of fun. There will also be hero/villain gameplay opportunities where players will get to control legendary characters like Darth Vadar and walk around the Battlefield with almost godlike powers.

Sounds almost perfect, but we’re a little disappointed that there will be no space battles (local atmosphere aerial battles are still a thing). Being able to go from the battlefield to space in one fight would have been great though, and we were kind of expecting it as a next-gen feature to be honest. DICE General Manager Patrick Bach told IGN: “The core of Star Wars battles — the Endors, the Hoths, et cetera — you want to take that to perfection. You want to do it right. Space is hard, right? Not from a [development] perspective, but from a logistical perspective. Is that fun? For us it doesn’t make sense to create a battle above you if you’re fighting other players who are not there to fight. Our focus is to do planetary battles.” We’re not entirely sold on that excuse, but given how poorly DICE’s choppers handle in Battlefield 3 and 4, we might be better off. Anyway, aren’t you the best for reading through all this first? Enjoy the trailer!

Continue reading Star Wars: Battlefront trailer shows gorgeous ‘in-engine’ footage →

News

Ultra Street Fighter IV dated and priced for PS4 release

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Sony have just posted on their US blog, that they’re ‘aiming’ for a May 26th release date for Ultra Street Fighter IV on PS4 in the US and Europe. Fingers crossed they make the date as we’re pretty pumped for a new version of Street Fighter IV.

You’d think that after multiple re-releases, we’d be burnt out on Capcom’s series, but no. This new version will contain all of the extra costume DLC, all the extra characters and all stages released from every version of SFIV. Better yet, this version will also include five new characters and six new stages. The input lag noticed by some players of Ultra SFIVC on PS3 has also been fixed. The Omega Mode where all the character balances are nerfed will also make an appearance. Best of all though is the price. Continue reading Ultra Street Fighter IV dated and priced for PS4 release →

Features, Platforms, PS4

Cheap PS4 Hard Drive Upgrade Guide

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Looking for cheap PS4 hard drive deals is incredibly daunting. I’ve just spent hours browsing through loads of different sites and whittling through scores of drives to ensure these are the best prices and that the drives are compatible with a PS4 console. If you feel like browsing yourself, or double checking any deals below, here are some important specs you’ll want to ensure a hard drive has. If it’s not listed, try to contact the seller or don’t bother. Continue reading Cheap PS4 Hard Drive Upgrade Guide →

First Person Shooters, PC, Platforms, PlayStation 3, PS4, Reviews, Xbox One

Tower of Guns (Review) – Run n’ Gun Fun

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Tower of Guns Review | Run n' Gun Fun

The roguelike genre has been spreading through the videogame genres over recent years in everything from RPGs to platformers, but now we have one for the FPS genre too. And it’s an absolute delight for anyone that remembers shooters before aiming down the sights was a thing.

The graphics-style may appear dated, but for the most part the controls are incredibly smooth and the twitch-handling is a fond throwback to older shooters; the responsive controls are fantastically fluid as you strafe enemies or nip between the hail of slow but thick storms of enemy fire. It has to be said though, there’s some awful slowdown in the larger rooms when they try to pack in too many enemies at once. It’s not a regular thing though. Continue reading Tower of Guns (Review) – Run n’ Gun Fun →

News

Attack on Titan gameplay footage breaches the wall

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Attack on Titan is one of the most popular new names in manga/anime right now and we’re rather excited about the new game. But also a bit nervous as the complex action could be a tough test for the 3DS to handle. For those of you that haven’t seen the anime (it’s on UK Netflix, so get it sorted), it features humans taking on huge Titan enemies that keep breaching city walls to nom all the humans. Using your ODM (Omni-directional Mobility) Gear you use wired hooks to fly around a level in a manner not a million miles away from Spider-Man.

It’s not clear how much control you’ll have in the final game over movement, but it would seem that the critical strikes are QTE’s with timed strikes required via timing circles indicating the best time to hit the button. If players are given manual control over movement, we hope the camera is up to the job, as anyone that has seen the show will attest, the Scout Titan killers move very quickly and change direction to dizzying effect. 4-player co-op will be included with online and local options, which sounds fantastic if we’re honest and the game seems to be shaping up way better than we imagined. Continue reading Attack on Titan gameplay footage breaches the wall →

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Godzilla gameplay trailer hits downtown

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Want to see what Godzilla looks like on PS4? Then you’re in the right place as we have a new gameplay trailer, showing off multiple monsters going at it from Godzilla’s long movie history. You might not know it from the trailer, but this is a full-priced release coming to PS3 and PS4 in July. Call me skeptical, but if we questioned whether Evovle was worth £40, Godzilla is certainly facing a uphill struggle. That said, if this summer is anything like last year, we’ll be desperate for any new game. There, and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to say anything nice.

Stay tuned to Dealspwn.com as Jon went to a preview day at Bandai Namco recently and got his mitts on it.  Take a look at the trailer below and see the King of Monsters in action. Continue reading Godzilla gameplay trailer hits downtown →

Features, PC, Platforms, PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

These 5 fun games will cure your Bloodborne rage

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As much as we’re enjoying Bloodborne here at Dealspwn, there comes a time when we need a break. From Software’s game is extremely punishing as you know and it’s good sometimes to step back and play something else for a while to chill out and remember that not every game makes your blood boil or punishes slight slipups by snatching away all your progress from the last hour. So here’s a list of therapeutic games to play when the red mist builds up too much and you fear for your DualShock 4’s safety. Continue reading These 5 fun games will cure your Bloodborne rage →

News

Bloodborne has already sold 1 million copies

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Bloodborne Review | Hunt. Die. Learn. Grow.

Sony have just confirmed that as of April 5th, Bloodborne has sold over one million copies. This is the number sold worldwide and marks a huge success for the Sony/From Software partnership as fans of the Dark Souls series, and probably a fair few new fans, have flocked to the game since its release just a few short weeks ago.

Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios said: “Bloodborne was a new challenge for us, and our goal was to create a title that took full advantage of the power of PS4.” And also: “I am thrilled that so many users have been enjoying the extremely rich and detailed world, beautiful melancholic atmosphere and palpable tension of Bloodborne. [Sony] will continue to bring exciting software titles that offer entertainment experiences only possible on PS4.” Continue reading Bloodborne has already sold 1 million copies →

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Destiny: House of Wolves debut trailer is live

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Destiny fans can finally see the new House of Wolves expansion DLC in action thanks to a new trailer that’s just hit the net. Bungie and Activision are going head-to-head with The Witcher III though with a May 19th release date.

With Bungie’s DLC being of seriously questionable value so far, it seems nuts to go up against a game that gamers have been chomping at the bit for. The Witcher III is set to offer 200 hours of missions no less. While House of Wolves will cost £19.99 (also a part of the Season Pass) and possibly last a night or two -aside from repeating farming and grinding, naturally. Unless you already own the Season Pass, we’d say wait for the reviews to see if Bungie learned from their past mistakes with The Dark Below. Continue reading Destiny: House of Wolves debut trailer is live →

Action, Horror, Platforms, PS4, Reviews, RPG

Bloodborne (Review) – Hunt. Die. Learn. Grow.

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Bloodborne Review | Hunt. Die. Learn. Grow.

Weeks after my first night in Yharnam, it’s time for a verdict on my adventures in Bloodborne. Well, a number for the experience so far at least. Fresh tales about From Software’s new title are appearing online every day. This is a game that nobody can really claim to have mastered yet. Secrets are still being unearthed, much of the lore has yet to be agreed and rumours whisper through the net about everything from werewolf modes to hidden boss fights.

One thing’s for sure though, Sony has done very well for themselves by nailing Bloodborne down as a PS4 exclusive. As enjoyable as Infamous, DriveClub (eventually) and Killzone were, they never rode such a continuous wave of hype after release. Bloodborne’s appeal won’t be a surprise to fans of From Software’s Demon’s Souls or the Dark Souls series, but what is surprising, is that it’s pulling in people who aren’t fans of the Souls games. People like me. Continue reading Bloodborne (Review) – Hunt. Die. Learn. Grow. →

Features, Previews

Lego Dimensions: how the magic of Lego could dethrone Skylanders

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Lego Dimensions has just been announced, finally confirming the rumours that Warner Bros Interactive were getting in on the toys-to-life genre that has flourished in recent years with the likes of Skylanders, Disney Infinity and more recently, Amiibos.

As adult gamers, we’re often quite cynical about this burgeoning genre, as it often seems like an exploitative cash grab designed to prey upon the pester power of kids on their parents. Or as we’ve seen with the Amiibos, honing in on your most loyal fans with toys that add very little to a gaming experience and even worse, releasing limited numbers of some of them, making fans snap them up even sooner, before the eBay merchants get them all. Worse yet, most of these toys add nothing to a game that couldn’t have just been DLC. Continue reading Lego Dimensions: how the magic of Lego could dethrone Skylanders →

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Lego Dimensions officially announced as Skylanders rival: check out the reveal trailer

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Following a timely leak earlier today, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment have officially announced Lego Dimensions (perhaps a little earlier than they intended).

It will function much like Skylanders or Disney Infinity, with players able to buy NFC-chipped official Minifigures and playsets that can transfer characters into a tie-in videogame via a LEGO Portal peripheral.

A familiar idea, but LEGO Dimensions is set to bring an entirely new… dimension… to the traditional NFC experience since we’ll actually be able to play with articulated minifigures that are compatible with the LEGO sets we already own, as opposed to just collecting static figurines. Not to mention mixing together characters from loads of famous franchises too.

Continue reading Lego Dimensions officially announced as Skylanders rival: check out the reveal trailer →

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Mario Kart 200cc comparison trailer has all the speed

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Mario Kart 8 has been feeling the need for speed for a while now. So we’re delighted to hear that Nintendo is bringing back the 200cc motors. This new comparison video shows how fast they are compared to the 150cc vehicles, which are currently the fastest rides in Mario Kart 8.

Yes, Nintendo. So much yes. The 150cc karts feel a little slow to be honest, but this injection of speed should see us knocking a third off our best lap times and we can’t wait for the new motors to land as a FREE update on April 23rd. On the same day a new paid DLC bundle will be available with two new characters and eight new tracks. Consider us tempted.

If you have any GameCube controllers you want to use on your Wii U for Mario Kart 8 or Super Smash Bros, be sure to pick up this cheap Gamecube to Wii U controller adapter for £9.99. Check out the new trailer below. Continue reading Mario Kart 200cc comparison trailer has all the speed →

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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided official reveal trailer

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Well folks, after a rather clumsy ‘reveal’ from Square Enix, where details leaked out during the rather boring multi-day Twitch broadcast, we have the first trailer for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Now, wouldn’t that have just been easier rather than whatever was happening with Twitch, where everyone guessed it was going to be a new Deus Ex title anyway?

To be honest, we’re still massively excited as we were beginning to fear it might be another mobile/tablet game rather than a PC and new-gen console title. Although, a Kane & Lynch match-three game would have been bad-ass. Anyways, enough chit-chat, let’s take a look at what Adam Jensen is getting up to and when you’re done, be sure to read Jon’s newest article What we want from Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – better graphics are just the start. Continue reading Deus Ex: Mankind Divided official reveal trailer →

PC, Platforms, PS4, Racers, Reviews, Xbox One

Ride (Review) – More than a fair weather rider

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Ride Review - More than a fair weather rider

Bikers get a seriously rough deal for video gaming thrills. The late 80s and 90s teased us all into getting bikes when we grew up with classics like Road Rash and Super Hang On and then the genre just up and died. Sure there have been Moto GP titles and a smattering of MX titles, but the genre’s glory days have long gone. And booting people on Vespas into oncoming traffic is generally frowned upon in real life.

The last decent pair of wheels seen on PlayStation was the free bikes DLC in Burnout: Paradise. With Road Rash seemingly presumably dead in a desert ditch somewhere, we’ve had to look elsewhere for two-wheeled fun. Milestone (of recent WRC and Moto GP fame) are taking another swing at the sim-side of the genre, something akin to Riding Spirits. We’re not quite ready to call this the Gran Turismo of bikes either though. Continue reading Ride (Review) – More than a fair weather rider →

Features

Save yourself some time and ignore Square-Enix’s #cantkillprogress Twitch reveal (for now)

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Square Enix are currently ‘revealing’ their new game, which we don’t even have a name for, via an interactive broadcast on Twitch. We say interactive (well, they’re saying it), but there is no clue as to how to interact with it.

The video began by showing a man strapped to a chair and being interrogated by someone with an Eastern European voice. The man in the chair was being asked what music he preferred, Folk or Classical. Throughout, voting text appeared on the screen, perhaps to encourage Twitch viewers to vote themselves. Continue reading Save yourself some time and ignore Square-Enix’s #cantkillprogress Twitch reveal (for now) →

Features, Platforms, PS4

Bloodborne makes my blood boil. So why do I play it?

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Playing Bloodborne pisses me off. A lot. It makes me want a cigarette despite giving them up over a decade ago. So why has it pulled me in more than any game has in a long time and I’m still playing it every chance I get?

Bloodborne feels like strange new territory to me. Sure I played the original Demon’s Souls and while appreciating what it was trying to do, I just never jelled with it, so I never bothered with Dark Souls either. So what the hell is going on here? Let’s see why on earth I’m doing this to myself. Continue reading Bloodborne makes my blood boil. So why do I play it? →

First Person Shooters, PC, Platforms, PS4, Reviews, Xbox One

Battlefield: Hardline (Review) – Campaign brings home the bacon

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Battlefield: Hardline Review - Campaign brings home the bacon

Visceral games had a daunting task on their hands when they were given the reigns for the latest Battlefield game. But rather than attempt another military shooter, they’ve come up with a fresh angle for the series’ single player campaign and the online multiplayer by infusing a cops and robbers vibe.

We’ll start with the campaign, as it’s always nice to get a feel for the guns before hopping online. That said, DICE’s last two campaigns in Battlefield 3 and 4 have been terrible, you’d barely know that the same team were behind the excellent Battlefield: Bad Company games. Visceral know their way around a campaign though, having developed the excellent Dead Space series. Continue reading Battlefield: Hardline (Review) – Campaign brings home the bacon →