Ultra Combo News Report 03.08.10: Portal 2 Confirmed, Mafia II and Red Dead Redemption Get Pushed Back and More!
Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 03.08.2010
Plus, the Quick Hits, the Gaming Babe and iPad Release Date!
It's Monday and that can only mean one thing: The Ultra Combo News Report is here! First of all I want to say that the Nintendo DS is indeed awesome and that I need to get one soon. I borrowed one from a friend and after beating Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney I am now hooked on Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and the Trauma Center games. Plus, there are so many awesome RPG's in that little console that I have to get one, I NEED one! Besides that I just received my pre-ordered copy of Battlefield Bad Company 2 and I have to say that it is better than Modern Warfare 2. Sure, Modern Warfare has a better single player campaign, but the multiplayer mode is a lot more strategic in Battlefield. I am going to do a full review of the game later this week, but for now I have to praise the improvements not only in the multiplayer aspect, but also the single-player mode. Modern Warfare 2 ‘s single player is still better, but this time Bad Company's story was more entertaining, action-packed and full of thrills than the first game. I really enjoyed my time with the single-player mode, which is something I can't say for the first game. But enough about that and let's hit the news!
Portal 2 Coming Q4 2010!
One of the most innovative games I have ever played is Portal. Well, PC and Xbox 360 gamers are in for a treat as Portal 2 has been revealed to be in development with a 4th Quarter 2010 release. The sequel will be longer than the 4-Hour original if Game Informer is to be believed. According to GI the game will be a "full-fledged sequel with new gameplay mechanics, storyline and some surprising new twists". The Portal 2 product page also briefly listed Portal 2 as having "single and multiplayer coop modes" although that information has now been taken down.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: Portal 2 is coming! That is all the world needs to know! Really, I was pleasantly surprised when, of all the games that came with The Orange Box, it was Portal that I kept playing over and over and over. The mixture of comedy, intricate puzzle solving and highly cerebral thrills was too much to pass up. Plus, it was unique from everything else out there. It seems PS3 gamers are being left out of the fun this time, but that does little to kill my enthusiasm for the sequel.
Sony Patents Demos That Erode
In another interesting Sony tech patents, the company has patented demos that "erode" over time, taking away certain gameplay elements or shortening the experience. The idea is to allow developers to create demos that feature a lot of content and over time the content is taken away, forcing the player to buy the full game to continue. This could be beneficial for gamers since they could provide us with a lot more content than they do now and then just gradually take it away, allowing us to sample a larger piece of the game.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: This is a fantastic idea! Now we could get access to full games or almost full games and play them to "sample" them and then the content is slowly taken away to make sure we don't "sample" them too much! But seriously, this could give us access to a lot more content than we get in demos, which can only be a positive. Most demos are too short to provide us a real sense of how the full game's experience is going to be and with larger demos this could potentially lure more players to buy the games.
iPad Release Date Set
For those in the market for an iPad, don't despair! The device will go on sale on April 3, 2010, the same week Nintendo unleashes the DSi XL. The iPad will be sold in three models: a 16 GB model for $499, 32 GB for $599 and 64 GB for $699. The 3G and Wi-Fi models will arrive later in the month, but will be more expensive at $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64 GB model. AT & T will offer two methods for data: $15 for 250MB and $30 for unlimited data.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: How stupidly insane are those prices! With that kind of money you could purchase a brand new laptop that does a ton more stuff than the iPad will. I really don't know if this is a big mistake by Apple or if somehow people are going to be brainwashed into buying a giant iPod for a ridiculous price. For those that somehow want to purchase this thing the only sound advice I can give you is to ask as many questions as possible before buying. Remember, this thing has no USB ports, no way to replace the battery or hard drive by yourself and costs as much if not more than some really good laptops that have all these functionalities and more. Plus, the size is big, meaning it is not really a replacement for an iPod or iPhone, which costs much less. Seriously, does anyone really want this?
SOCOM 4 In Development
For those who criticized the job did by the developers who handled SOCOM Confrontation, your wishes have been granted. Having finished work on MAG, SOCOM's original developers, Zipper Interactive, are getting their hands back on the SOCOM franchise with the recently revealed SOCOM 4. The game will feature the trademark 32-Player multiplayer action of the franchise with a brand new single player campaign that takes place in Southeast Asia and features a six-hour time limit. Sony promised that a new teaser trailer will be made available later this week.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: SOCOM Confrontation was filled with so many bugs (search SOCOM Confrontation Bugs in youtube to see dozens of montage videos) that I am glad the franchise is back in the capable hands of the original developers. I am going to keep my eyes wide open for this game, because I always liked the SOCOM franchise and I feel it brings a level of squad-based, realistic tactical multiplayer action that is unique on the PS3 and I think the only game that matches it is America's Army on the PC.
Lara Croft Goes Digital
Lara Croft is leaving Tomb Raider for an arcade-style download only game. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will see everyone's favorite adventurer star in an action-packed, arcade style shooter that takes place from an isometric perspective and offers fixed camera angles. The game will also offer cooperative action. There is no release date or platforms announced for this game.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: I am going to give this game a chance, but honestly, as someone who has played every Tomb Raider game under the sun, I feel a bit disappointed. It feels like a quick cash-in and that you could replace Lara with anyone and still get the same feeling. Right now I am not too optimistic, but I am a fan of the franchise and thus, I will give it a go once it comes out.
Mafia II, Red Dead Redemption Delayed
Two more delays coming, this time from Rockstar. Red Dead Redemption has been pushed back from April 27 to May 18, while Mafia II, originally scheduled for release in the first half of 2010, has been pushed back to the August-October period.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: I hate game delays, but it seems these where justified. Amidst reports of employees getting overworked and a letter made public by the wife of a Rockstar employee in which she claims her husband was being overworked and placed on unsafe working conditions Rockstar had to do something to save their hide delaying some of their games seems to be the right thing to do. Sometimes we, the gamers, get pissed off at game delays and cancellations without knowing the truth behind the move and the fact that the people working on the games are human beings. If the letter is to be believed, the employees were forced to work 7 days a week on 16-18 hour days and that is insane!
The Quick Hits:
- Blur is getting an official release date of May 25th.
- Analysts claim that Sony will unleash a phone/PSP hybrid to compete with the iPhone at E3.
- If you liked Shaun White Snowboarding, well, Shaun White Skateboarding is in development and will be out by the holidays.
- Apparently Microsoft is planning an Xbox 360 bundle that includes Halo 3: ODST and Forza 3 for the holidays.
Finish Him!
In celebration of her new game, Lara Croft licks a lollypop!
Until next week folks! Once again, comments and questions are welcomed and please, suggest a gaming babe for next week!
