PlayStation LifeStyle » Anthony Severino

PlayStation Store Preview – May 22nd, 2012

Anthony Severino — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:25:23 +0000

This week, the PS3 is packed with new releases for download. Although, the majority of them are long-forgotten SEGA Genesis and Master System titles. Outside of those, Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock will drop onto the PlayStation Store, and so will the PlayStation Move centric, Sorcery.

This Week’s Highlight: Sorcery

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Sorcery Review

Anthony Severino — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:55 +0000

Ever since it’s debut at E3 2010, Sorcery has been by far, the most anticipated PlayStation Move game. And because good software has been hard to come by that solely features Sony’s motion controller, Sorcery has been looked to as what could be the Move’s first killer app. But is Sorcery‘s spell strong enough to make the PlayStation Move exciting again?

Like the scent of freshly baked cookies set aside on a stove-top to cool, there’s something heart-warming about Sorcery, its story, and the way it uses the PlayStation Move. What child hasn’t picked up a stick and pretended it was a magic wand? For the five or six hours Sorcery lasts, the kid in you will finally get its chance.

Sorcery is fun in an innocent type of way. It’s a nice break from pumping people full of bullets and tearing heads clean off their shoulders.

The way the PlayStation Move works in Sorcery is both a blessing and a curse. Flicking your wrist sends bolts of magic coursing through the air, and the bolt reacts according to the angle at which you flick. It’s accurate, and it feels, well, magical. It’s switching between spells where the Move stumbles over itself. While holding the Move button, different gestures activate different spells. But for some reason, even though the gestures are dissimilar enough, frustratingly, the wrong spell can be chosen. In the heat of the battle, it hampers the fluidity, forcing you to pause your thinking and perform the gesture to perfection.

If you curve your wrist ever so slightly during a flick, the magic bolt will curve, too. Such a cool thing to be only used once or twice during the entire playthrough. Instead, the majority of the time the game requires “button-mashing”—but since you don’t use buttons to shoot magic bolts, the button mashing looks more like you’re beating the PlayStation Move off your chest repeatedly in short, jerking bursts.

The main characters Finn, and Erline, an elf princess turned into a feline to avoid her nightmarish mother, are incessant whiners. Finn, belly aching about not being respected; Erline complaining about Finn being a novice taking on a task to great for him. Even after Finn has proven himself, it’s not until almost the very end of the game where he begins to be appreciated by the other supporting characters. Because of this, it’s hard for you, yourself, to ever take Finn more seriously than just a sorcerer’s apprentice.

As an apprentice, Finn starts off with very limited skills. And it’s not for a couple solid hours before you learn enough spells to feel like you have much of a variety at your disposal. When you finally do, fire and ice are only effective against certain types of enemies. Wind is nearly useless except for clearing away cobwebs or solving puzzles. Earth attack is so ho-hum and ineffective, that you’ll quickly forget it’s even there. It’s not until you gain the Lightning spell that you finally get some power, however, then, it’s too powerful. The one redeeming factor with spells, is that you can combine some of them in really cool ways—such as combining a whirlwind and flames to create a fire storm (below).

The game really does start off drab. The enemies, the lack of spells, even the environments make for a bland time. At about the game’s mid-way point, things start getting very interesting. It’s about that time when you begin using spells for puzzles, creating potions with alchemy, and discovering hidden treasure chests. For a couple hours, Sorcery starts to feel like it could transform into a great game. Just as soon as it does, though, it all comes crashing down in the last level or so. The end of the game doesn’t build to much of a climax, and the final boss battles lack excitement.

Combat is lacking throughout. As is the variety in enemies. Rarely do they require much strategy, and instead call for that “button-mash” fast, repetitive flicking to get the job done. The game never gets that difficult, either. The sparse moments that it does get tough, it is only so because it’s not clear how you’re supposed to approach an enemy.

Sorcery is packed with great opportunities, but none of them are fleshed all the way out to their potential. There are treasure chests hidden throughout your travels, however, most are hidden in plain sight. It negates any need for exploration, which would fit well within the game. The alchemy is incredibly clever, using the PlayStation Move to sprinkle, pour, grind, and mix ingredients into potions, which you must then shake and drink, all using realistic gestures. Again, though, with only eight ingredients, there’s not enough to it to make it a main attraction. Puzzles make an appearance, but offer no challenge…at all. You keep thinking, “there we go, this is going to be great”, but it never stacks up.

Even the glowing orb on the PlayStation Move isn’t used fully. It glows purple to match Finn’s wand, and it changes colors when you go to drink a potion. But why not have it change colors as you change spells. Each spell is based on an element, and is represented with a color. It makes no sense to me at all as to why it would change for a potion, but not the spells. It could have been a simple touch to bring the level of immersion up even just slightly.

And immersion is the goal with motion controls, right? But then you’re pulled right out of the immersion by having to press X to jump down onto a different platform. I just have to scratch my head. It’s really a shame, because at many points Sorcery is fun.

This review comes off very negative, but Sorcery isn’t all that bad (especially not when it’s priced at $40). Its biggest problem isn’t with what’s in the game, it’s more about what isn’t. Negativity takes up more of this text because one can’t help but see the obvious traces of unused potential—so many areas that could have been turned into memorable experiences and so many golden opportunities for greatness don’t deliver as fully as they could have. It’s truly saddening. Sorcery is like baking a cake, but with only a teaspoon of sugar, one egg, a pinch of flour, and a tablespoon of baking powder; all of the ingredients are there, but there’s not enough of each ingredient to make the magical game that PlayStation Move owners have been looking for.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score

+Turns the PlayStation Move into a magic wand.

+Fun adventure, full of innocence.

-Everything else in the game isn’t fully developed to potential.

Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Sneaking Onto PlayStation Vita

Anthony Severino — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:45:02 +0000

On last night’s episode of GTTV with Geoff Keighley, developer Sanzaru Games revealed that their PlayStation 3 title, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will be coming to the PlayStation Vita, as well.

The PlayStation Vita version is set to release alongside the PS3 version of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, and will feature cross-platform play, allowing users to play on their PS3′s, the pick up and play on the Vita on the go. So awesome.

In addition to last night’s reveal, Sony has release the game’s first trailer specifically for the PlayStation Vita. Check it out.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is scheduled for a Fall 2012 release. We’ll see more on both version at E3.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Director Hints at Vita Version

Anthony Severino — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:11:52 +0000

The PlayStation Vita is a undeniably a powerful handheld, capable of playing near PS3 quality ports of top PlayStation 3 titles. Just look at Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 or MLB 12: The Show. With E3 on the horizon, more upcoming PS3 games, like LittleBigPlanet Karting, or even the just announced PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale could be coming to the Vita as well.

In a recent interview with Digital Trends, PSASBR game director, Omar Kendall, said that a PlayStation Vita version of the game may be in the cards. While he doesn’t come straight out and say it, when asked if there was a chance we’d see a Vita version, he replied: “Maybe… Stay tuned.”

“Maybe” is always an uncertain answer, but the “stay tuned” sounds a lot more promising… almost as if he’s hinting at an impending E3 announcement.

We’ll know more on June 4th at 6:00PM, when Sony’s annual E3 press conference kicks off.

New Soul Sacrifice Screens Will Make You Bleed

Anthony Severino — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:04:32 +0000

Recently, the veil was lifted of Keiji Inafune’s new PlayStation Vita game, Soul Sacrifice. And while the early look at the game proved to be both interesting and stunning, these new screenshots will give you a better look at how the game might play.

Some details have been announced, but for the most part are still scarce. However, it appears that the baddies are enormous and frightening, and there is a whole lot of punching the ground going on. I’m sure we’ll find out even more come June 4th at Sony’s E3 press conference.

For now, though, feast your eyes on these delightful new Soul Sacrifice screenshots.

Play-Asia.Com Debuts PLAY-SELECT Youtube Show on Play-Asia TV

Anthony Severino — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:04:40 +0000

Our friends at Play-Asia.com, who have teamed up with PSLS to bring you some amazing contests including a free PlayStation Vita bundle, have launched an all-new show on their Youtube Channel, PLAY-SELECT.

PLAY-SELECT gives you all the hottest rumors and news from across the pond, focusing on the hottest Japanese and Asian games, all of which are able to be purchased and imported from Play-Asia.com. The debut episode features the Crystal White PlayStation Vita, new Resident Evil titles, and Shinji Mikami’s upcoming survival horror game, Zwei.

Check out the first episode below, but be sure to subscribe to Play-Asia TV on Youtube for more episodes of PLAY-SELECT.

PlayStation Store Preview – May 15th, 2012: Wake up, it’s 4am

Anthony Severino — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:16:57 +0000

This week, get ready to create and share some trippy tunes with PixelJunk 4am. Sonic speeds through with the second episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and there’s plenty more goodies for the PS3 and through PlayStation Plus. The Vita, however, is still stuck in a dry spell, but that will soon turn around when Resistance: Burning Skies releases in two weeks. See the rest of the upcoming Vita titles in our Coming Soon section.

This Week’s Highlight: PixelJunk 4am

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Assassin’s Creed III World Premiere “Outsider” Gameplay Trailer

Anthony Severino — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:58:56 +0000

I admit it, I was skeptical about the longevity of the Assassin’s Creed franchise after the last two games. While great games, I couldn’t imagine the series in other settings. When Assassin’s Creed III was revealed, and the setting was during the Revolutionary War in New England, it didn’t help my skepticism. But at PAX East, I witness the gameplay first-hand, and after that I was convinced: Assassin’s Creed III will be the best in the series… by far.

Now, Ubisoft has released the World Premiere gameplay trailer, and you too can see for yourselves.

There’s not much more I can say other than, wow, this trailer is seriously awesome. I can’t wait for October 30th, when Assassin’s Creed III releases.

What do you think? Don’t forget to pre-order Assassin’s Creed III.

BioShock Infinite Delayed to February 2013; Will Miss E3

Anthony Severino — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:09:36 +0000

BioShock Infinite was easily among the most anticipated games for this holiday season. However, this morning, Irrational Games has announced a delay to the game, pushing it out of the holiday season and into next year.

Ken Levine made the announcement this morning, giving BioShock Infinite a new February 23rd, 2013 release date, and issued this statement:

When we announced the release date of BioShock Infinite in March, we felt pretty good about the timing.
Since then, we’ve come to realize that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Therefore, to give our talented team the time they need, we’ve decided to move the game’s release to February 26, 2013. We wanted to let our loyal (and very patient!) fans know this as soon as possible.
I won’t kid you: BioShock Infinite is a very big game, and we’re doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter. We had a similar experience with the original BioShock, which was delayed several months as our original ship date drew near. Why? Because the Big Daddies weren’t the Big Daddies you’ve since come to know and love. Because Andrew Ryan’s golf club didn’t have exactly the right swing. Because Rapture needed one more coat of grimy Art Deco.
The same principle now applies to BioShock Infinite.
What does this mean for you? It means a bit more waiting, but more importantly, it means an even better BioShock Infinite. The great can be made greater, and we owe it to both ourselves and to you, our fans, to take this opportunity. Irrational Games is one of those rare developers lucky enough to ask the people who sign the checks: “Hey, can we have a few more of those checks?”
We are also going to hold off on showing BioShock Infinite at the big events of the summer, like E3 and Gamescom. That way, the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box. Preparing for these events takes time away from development, time we’re going to use instead to get the best version of Infinite into your hands in February.

While I’m sure that any game could use more polish, and it will indeed make BioShock Infinite a better game because of the added time, I can’t help but think this delay has more to do with the heavy competition from the annual Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed releases that generally dominate the holiday season.

Does this change your purchasing plans for Q4 2012? Let us know your thoughts below.

PS Vita Exclusive Soul Sacrifice Gets Teaser Trailer

Anthony Severino — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:09:00 +0000

The upcoming PlayStation Vita exclusive, Soul Sacrifice, will be revealed for the first time in just two days. To build anticipation for the impending unveiling, Sony Japan has released a teaser trailer.

From just mere snippets of the game, Soul Sacrifice appears to be a game that is worth picking up a PlayStation Vita for. Beautiful graphics? Check. Scary as hell monsters? Check. Some type of soul absorption? Check. Sounds AAA to me.

What we don’t know, is who is making the game. As of right now, it only says Sony Computer Entertainment, and Sony Japan Studio. However, don’t rule out a Demon’s Souls franchise spin-off, even though it doesn’t adorn the From Software logo anywhere. Sony could be hiding this for the big reveal. Remember, Demon’s Souls was originally published by Sony in Japan before being brought over to America by Atlus. Don’t get your hopes up either, though, as this is nothing more than speculation at this point.

For now, get pumped with this teaser trailer.

Thanks, Gino!

White PlayStation Vita Releasing in Japan This June; Limited Edition Coming Later

Anthony Severino — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:15:33 +0000

So it begins. Just like the PSP before it, the PlayStation Vita will be released in a variety of colors, styles, and bundles. For now, though, Japan will be getting a White PlayStation Vita, along with a White Limited Edition bundle.

The White PlayStation Vita that can be seen in the video below, will be releasing on June 28th in Japan. On August 30th, a Limited Edition Project Diva White PS Vita will launch alongside the game. At the moment, the “Crystal White PlayStation Vita” is only announced for Japan. However, given the release date of June 28th, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sony reveals the same model for release in the US at their annual E3 Press Conference.

Of course, PlayStation LifeStyle will be there live at the show, bringing you all of the E3 related announcements. Until then, feast your eyes on the video below:

Thanks, Gino!

PlayStation Store Preview – May 8th, 2012: Insanity is a Flower

Anthony Severino — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:19:14 +0000

This week the Vita is as barren as Starhawk‘s desert-style wastelands. Luckily, Datura releases on the PS3 this week, and it’s sure to send you on quite the trip. It’s an odd one, but give it a try if you have a PlayStation Move. Outside of that, PlayStation Plus is where it’s at.

This Week’s Highlights:

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PSN Review – Datura

Anthony Severino — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:01:26 +0000

Datura in the real world, is a genus of flowering plants known for its psychotropic toxins, often causing hallucinations, delirium, even death. A fitting title for the “game”, because after playing through it, I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.

I’m loosely calling it a game, because it’s more of an experience. And it’s an open, deeply psychological experience that’s completely up for interpretation. Even when you’re done with it, you may still not fully understand the series of events that have taken place, why they’re happening, or what they stand for. I’m still trying to make sense of it all my self.

At times, Datura‘s foggy, wooded landscape can be peaceful and serene. But underlying that beauty is pure insanity—just like the flower itself.

The games starts on a hospital gurney. It’s dark, but you can see electrodes on your chest with connecting wires leading to a heart monitor. Using the PlayStation Move, your hand reaches to remove the electrodes from you chest, tossing them to the side. The screen goes black, and you awaken in a misty forest, filled with white-barked trees, fallen leaves, insects, butterflies, and Datura moonflowers. It’s all very strange, but I assure you, that’s the least odd scene in the two hours it takes to complete Datura.

Datura can be played using the Dualshock 3, but it’s meant to be played using the PlayStation Move, as it’s more natural to mimic the hand’s movements. The entire game is played as this unattached floating hand, using realistic gestures to interact with the environment. It’s also meant to be played through to completion in one sitting in order to fully take in the experience.

But because the movements with the hand are done by making natural gestures with the Move, actual movement like walking and turning in place is frustratingly clunky. Visual cues are added in an attempt to simplify things, however, you still end up wasting too much time trying to get the game to do what you want it to. You do eventually get the hang of it, but by that time the game’s almost over. At least the second playthrough will be more fluid.

And play a second time you will. Each of the eight main events you encounter give you a choice—bad or good, represented by the insects or butterflies; or on your map by a black or a white circle. The choices you make effect the outcome, and therefore, how you interpret the experience.

Despite having this replayability, the two-hour length makes Datura a hard sell at $9.99. Still, I do recommend trying this unusual, unique psychological experience, if only to see what it’s all about and to try and figure out what I means to you—even if it is accompanied by overly frustrating, cumbersome controls.

Note: If you happen to own a Sony HMZ-T1 “wearable HDTV” headset and two PlayStation Move controllers, then Datura is a must-own. The combination of Datura, a PlayStation Move in one hand, and the other attached to the headset for precise head-tracking, creates a true virtual reality experience.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score

+\- What the fuck did I just play?

+ Unique, insane, beautiful, and thrilling.

- Controls get in the way of enjoyment.

PS3 Review – Starhawk

Anthony Severino — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:56 +0000

Starhawk, LightBox Interactive’s spiritual follow-up to the online-only PlayStation 3 exclusive Warhawk, is about to drop on Sony’s home console. But is it the worthy successor that fans have wanted?

Starhawk walks a very fine line of being a lot like Warhawk, and being completely different. The feel of the gameplay, the team-based strategy, and the vehicular combat closely resemble that of the early PS3 game, but a single-player mode, co-op, and a new build while you battle system make a world a difference in the end product.

The single-player story is told through the narration and actions of Emmett Graves, a contract Rifter who has been infected by Rift energy. His world’s economy revolves around the mining of this dangerous resource, and such, different factions fight to claim it for their own. It’s like the Gold Rush in early American ‘Wild West’, and the music and desert-like settings help to make for a Space Cowboy-type theme.

Emmett found out just how volatile the Rift can be, as an explosion of it infected and took the life of his brother. Like many others infected, Emmett glows the same teal blue color as the Rift itself. The only reason Emmett hasn’t turned into an Outlaw—a once-human lifeform overcome with this Rift infection—is because his comrade Cutter stopped the infection before it was too late. Other humans mining on the Frontier aren’t so lucky, and are turned into Outlaw “scabs”.

Unfortunately, the story is uninspired and disappointingly cookie cutter all the way through to the end. Even the big surprise is easily anticipated and almost expected. With Starhawk, though, the story in single-player is the last thing you should care about. Although it’s a hell of a lot of fun in and of itself, the real benefit single-player offers is that it acts as a four- to five-hour tutorial on how to properly strategize and utilize the game’s Build & Battle mechanic in multiplayer and co-op. Without it, multiplayer can easily become overwhelming.

Following Warhawk’s legacy, multiplayer acts as Starhawk’s main dish, and rightfully so—it’s where the action is. Given the wealth of vehicles and structures you can build using the Build & Battle system, no two multiplayer matches will ever be the same. Build & Battle works effortlessly at the press of a button. Once enough Rift energy is absorbed, simply press triangle to bring up the wheel of available choices—everything from standard, connectable walls, to Supply Bunkers and Turrets, to Tanks or the series’ mainstay “Hawks” (which are now transformable mech suits rather than just warplanes).

Don’t try to be a lone-wolf hero; it won’t work, and will have you doing more respawning than building. Although even respawning itself can be used to your advantage as a form of attack, as you enter the battlefield in a drop pod that can destroy enemy structures or even take out the opposition. The vehicles and structures you build drop out of the sky in a similar fashion, so be wary of placement so that you don’t drop an Outpost on yourself… which will kill you.

Constructing a balanced mix of defense, support, and offense is paramount to victory, and enjoyment. This heavily relies on your fellow teammate’s ability to plan accordingly, and be willing to work together toward a common goal; which make Starhawk the perfect game for serious clans. Knowing this, LightBox Interactive has added full clan support and a wide host of community features including an event calendar, leaderboards, in-game invites and friend’s lists, tournaments and more. There’s even an Android application incoming that lets users track their clan and Starhawk stats wherever they are.

In addition to the 32-player multiplayer’s Zones, Capture the Flag, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes, Starhawk offers a co-op ‘Prospector Mode’. Here, two players can team up to build a Rift-mining rig, which must be defended from an increasingly difficult onslaught of Outlaw scabs. Again, a strong balance of offense and defense is important here, but the action plays out more like that of the single-player mode than the multiplayer.

Regardless of what mode you’re playing, the action is intense, shooting is fast-paced, and the strategy is challenging and rewarding. Mastering and using each of the structures and vehicles available in Build & Battle takes practice, but pays off in spades once you get the hang of it. Playing the single-player campaign first before jumping into multiplayer can save you a world of grief.

As you play, you earn XP to unlock a variety of skills to give you an edge on the battlefield. Customization doesn’t end there—you can even alter the look of Razorbacks, Hawks and Sidewinders to add your personal (or clan’s) flair.
Environments, both in single or multiplayer are vast and expansive, giving off an intergalactic, but Western vibe. The graphics, though, are awful. After seeing what other PS3 games are capable of, Starhawk looks like an early PS3 title. During battle this isn’t that striking, but during some of the non-animated story sequences, character models are lacking detail. Enemies are, for the most part, very bland.

Cutscenes, however, are done in a motion-comic style and look excellent—very reminiscent of another PS3 exclusive, inFamous. In fact, a lot of Starhawk reminds me of inFamous: the action, the movement, the story is told split through action and narration, the absorbing of energy, and the way your comrade is constantly in your ear. Even the ending feels similar in ways. That’s not really a bad thing, because inFamous was a great game. But there is an unmistakable air of familiarity between what’s mentioned above and through the deep roots of Warhawk.

As a complete package, Starhawk isn’t a groundbreaking PS3 exclusive in the way that Uncharted or God of War is. It’s lacking in a few areas, keeping it short of greatness. But if you liked Warhawk, enjoy strategy in your multiplayer, or are thoroughly ingrained in a clan, then Starhawk will be welcome break from the norm. And even if those points aren’t your thing, although not quite a must-have, Starhawk is still worth trying—it’s a pleasant surprise.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score

+Build & Battle is innovative, fast, and offers a ton of strategy.

+Plenty of multiplayer-focused community features in tow.

-Graphics and tired story hamper the experience.

Next thatgamecompany Game To Be Announced This Year

Anthony Severino — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:42:47 +0000

thatgamecompany is revered for their artistic, emotion-driven game style, prevalent throughout all three of their PlayStation Network exclusives, Flower, flOw, and Journey. And although their next game may not be another PSN exclusive, it may be revealed soon – as in this year.

thatgamecompany’s Jenova Chen, while speaking with VG247, revealed that his company is in negotiations with “various partners” as to who will publish their next game; adding that a publisher should be determined within the next month.

It seems as though thatgamecompany, given their track record, will have an easy time negotiating a new deal – especially since they have yet another game to announce, Chen revealed.

In terms of when you’ll know about the next game, I think we intentionally announce our games very early. We announced Flower half a year after we launched Flow. We announced Journey half a year after we launched Flower. So hopefully within this year, you’ll hear from us about our next game.

After the release of the runaway success, Journey, some of the other founding members of thatgamecompany, including Kellee Santiago and Robin Hunicke, parted ways with the company.

Knowing the quality and direction thatgamecompany is capable of, their next game will be just as groundbreaking, whatever platform it may be on. Let’s just hope that Sony is able to keep them on the PlayStation brand.