The Ultra Combo News Report 02.01.10: God of War 3 Release Date, Episodes from Liberty City Going Multi-Console and More!

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 02.01.2010

Plus, a new After Burner, Heavy Rain release date and demo details and the weekly gaming babe!


It's Monday and that can only mean one thing: The Ultra Combo News Report is here! This week I have a ton of good news for you with confirmed release dates for a bunch of highly anticipated titles. As for my week in gaming, well, I have been playing TEW 2010 almost exclusively. I mean, I still have to finish God of War 2 and Brutal Legend, but I can't take my eyes away from Adam Ryland's latest sim. It has become an addiction, in the Civilization IV way: Just one more turn. Next thing I know its 2am and I have to get up early the next day. That reminds me, I better wrap up this report quick: Those PPV's don't book themselves!

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God of War III Coming March 16th!

March 16th. For God of War fans that's the day to call in sick for work. God of War III will be released on March 16th, 2009 in both, the $59.99 regular version and the $99.99 Pandora's Box Edition. The Pandora's Box Edition features a retrospective of the series, the series soundtrack and a series of heavy metal tracks inspired by the game, an art book and access to downloadable content, all of that wrapped on a Pandora's Box lookalike packaging. The game promises to end the current story arc about Kratos wanting revenge on the Gods and seeing the fall of Olympus. Mounting enemies and combat on top of the moving giants known as Titans are among the new features o f the game. Sony also confirmed that it will be dropping the price of God of War Collection to $29.99. Featuring the first two God of War games updated with 720p graphics and trophy support, in addition to a playable demo of God of War III, God of War Collection is a great value for $30.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


The Beatdown:: I have to admit that I never played the first two games until God of War Collection came out. Now I am anticipating God of War III with jaded enthusiasm. There is something about God of War that no other series has been able to replicate. The brutal action, the gory and satisfying kills, the frustrating platforming segments (I hated the Path of Hades!) and the unique bad-ass that is Kratos. Having played the demo, I can't wait for GoW III. The graphics are superb and the action is as good as ever. Mark your calendars!

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Episodes from Liberty City Coming to PS3, PC

The wait was long and cruel. But now the exclusivity period is over and Take-Two has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City will be coming to the Playstation 3 and PC in March. Like their 360 counterparts, PS3 and PC gamers will be able to buy both episodes in one retail disc or buy them individually from the Playstation Network and Games for Windows Live respectively. Episodes from Liberty City features the highly acclaimed Lost and the Damned and Ballad of Gay Tony episodes that were added to Grand Theft Auto IV last year. The price for the retail disc will be $39.99 or you can buy them individually for $19.99 from the PSN and Games for Windows Live on March 30th, 2010.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


The Beatdown: Finally! Now I have one question: did the $50 million Microsoft paid to make them a "timed exclusive" really affect the PS3 at all? I mean, yeah, we had to wait over a year for The Lost and The Damned and a few months for Ballad of Gay Tony, but in the grand scheme of things, we are still getting that content and just in time, as the PS3's momentum started to rise. I think gamers are smart now, they realize that "exclusivity" is an overrated term nowadays and that third party games will find themselves on every console (unless you are this generation's extremely high-selling bastard child, the Wii) at some point. In my opinion, I had to wait a year for this downloadable content, but along the way I had a blast with a ton of killer exclusives like Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2. As a matter of fact, by making me wait a year I am less likely to purchase the add-on content because my interest in GTA IV is dead already.

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Heavy Rain Demo, Release Date Set

Ok, this is turning into a bit of a Sony lovefest, but hey, they are the ones making news. Heavy Rain has gone gold and is on target to be released on February 23, 2010. A demo will be available on the Playstation Network on February 11th. The game follows the mystery of the Origami Killer and eschews typical gaming conventions in favor of a cinematic approach.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]

The Beatdown: I think I have already stated my feelings on what Heavy Rain will become (a critical darling, a commercial disaster) but at least we are getting a demo and who knows? This might become the first Quantic Dream developed game that turns out to be a huge seller. I think that Heavy Rain will benefit a lot from the access to the demo. One thing Indigo Prophecy didn't have (Quantic Dream's other critically acclaimed game that was a poor seller) was accessibility. Players who were afraid to try something new had no options, they either, purchased the game or passed on it entirely. However, having access to a free demo will benefit the game, as prospective buyers that are undecided can try it first and then decide if the game is for them or not. My interest in this game is minimal, outside of a little curiosity, but I will try the demo.

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Third Expansion for Borderlands Detailed

The third Borderlands expansion finally has a name. The Secret Army of General Knoxx will focus on giving players brand new weapons to play with and will feature quests for players between levels 34 and 50. Taking information from screens, it seems players will have access to a brand new vehicle: a six-wheeled off-road truck. Also the screens seem to indicate that General Knoxx is a part of the Crimson Lance, the nasty corporate army featured in the later levels of the original game. Prepare to engage heavily armed Lance troopers with thick armor and nasty weapons, backed up by what looks like full-blown mechs. There is still no release date set for this new expansion pack.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]

The Beatdown: I have yet to pick up Borderlands, but the more I hear about it, the more I want to get it. This new expansion will raise the level cap again and add a new weapons and enemies. The alluring combination of a first-person shooter with Diablo-style looting is really appealing to me and the only reason I have not purchased this game is because I have a huge backload of stuff I want to finish first. Kudos to the development team for continuing to support the game.

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FIFA Online Coming to the USA

A free to play, micro-transaction supported online version of FIFA Soccer is coming to America and Europe. European gamers can head over to the game's website and sign on for a limited beta of the game that will run from now until June. This beta has a capacity for 20,000 players. In June EA hopes to open the beta to hundreds of thousands of gamers. The English version of FIFA Online will be available in June, with EA hoping to release subsequent versions in other languages across the USA and Europe in the months that follow. FIFA Online will feature 30 leagues, 500 teams and 15,000 players, with game modes that include the 2010 FIFA World Cup Tournament and League Play. Gamers will be able to build their team by acquiring or training players, upgrading skills and buying in game items or apparel. Players can earn the in-game currency by playing or purchase those funds using real life money.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]

The Beatdown: I am not much of an online sports player, mainly because my connection sucks , but I can see the potential here. This is not the only online game that will follow this model, EA has already lined up a Tiger Woods PGA Tour equivalent and I am sure that the rest of the EA Sports franchises will follow. I think that the key to success will be the balance between those players that use real life funds and those who don't. If they manage to keep a certain balance in which players with real life money don't feel overpowered, they will be successful. Remember, there are other ways to pay for the servers and such besides micro-transactions, like online advertisements and such. Dynamic billboards and signs in the stadiums that EA can sell or rent for advertisement purposes, real-life gear for the players those companies can give to EA in exchange for advertising their brand, even brand exclusivity deals and such. The potential is there; let's see if it translates into a great game.

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After Burner Climax Coming to XBLA, PSN

The After Burner franchise was one of the premier arcade games during the 16-bit era, but it has been largely forgotten. Sega is trying to remedy that by porting over the last arcade version of After Burner, After Burner Climax, to XBLA and PSN this spring. The rarely seen 2006 arcade game was developed by Sega AM2, the same developer behind such classics as Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop and Space Harrier. The game retains the series trademark arcade roots and introduces the new "Climax" mechanic that allows the player to slow down time in order to get better missile locks. The game features 3 planes and 20 branching stages to blast through. No release date is set for the game at this time.
In other After Burner news, 2007's PSP exclusive After Burner: Black Falcon will be released on the PSN as well, so players using the PSP Go (I am so sorry for you guys!) can download this decently reviewed shooter. Black Falcon takes flight on the PSN on February 4.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]

The Beatdown: Well, I sure have some fond memories of After Burner, but I guess picking up Climax is a matter of pricing for me. Arcade games are usually short games and paying $15 or more for this game would be a stretch. If they price it at $9.99 or less, I would gladly pick it up. I think that ever since Ace Combat became a 360 exclusive (for now) there is a lack of decent dog-fighting games on the PS3 and After Burner might provide a few hours of fun for those that need their fix. On the 360 it will be a different challenge seeing that Ace Combat is there. Hopefully this means Sega is considering bringing other classics from their arcade roots into PSN and XBLA.

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The Quick Hits

- In hopes of boosting the sales of their baseball franchise, 2K is offering one million dollars to the first player that pitches a perfect game in MLB2K10. Considering the arcade-style homerfest that many 2K9 games became, that one is not going to be easy.

- The "adventure novel" Disgaea Infinite will be hitting PSP's in North America this May.

- Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata echoed my thoughts when he told the New York Times that the iPad is just a bigger iPod Touch and that he doesn't believe it will be able to topple the Nintendo DS.

- Sony had such a good holiday season that the expectations for the October-December period are larger than estimated. Sony expected to make around $826 million in profits, but that figure is closer to $1.1 billion!'

- Sony expects to have "around 10 games" ready for launch with the motion controller.

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Finish Him!


Ivy Valentine Wins

Until next week folks! Remember to check out The 10th Hour, which I have taken over from JDL and all of your favorite 411mania columns. Because it is impossible to have one column that doesn't mention it, here it is: TARGET TERROR! Wow, I am sooooo funny *rolls eyes*.