Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is considered one of the sleeper hits of last year. The game struck a good middle-ground between hack-and-slash and third-person shooting. It received its first DLC add-on back in October, which added survival-based co-op to the game. If you are craving for more Space Marine, THQ will quench your thirst next week when the second DLC pack, dubbed Dreadnought, hits the PlayStation Store.

Dreadnought will add a new mode for multiplayer, Dreadnought Assault, which requires players to take control of  specific locations on a map. The mode then rewards them with a player-controlled Dreadnought armed with Assault Cannon/Auto Cannon, a Meltagun and a Power Fist/Power Claw.

Relic Vice President of Global Brand Management Jim Huntley provided the following comment regarding the upcoming DLC:

Fans of Space Marine have been asking for vehicles for a while so we are delighted to be bringing the iconic Dreadnought and Chaos Dreadnought to consoles for the first time in this DLC content

The pack will also include three new multiplayer maps — Dome Mechanicus, Desolation and Chem Refinery — as well as new trophies. Relic is not done there, though. It will give all players, regardless whether they purchase the DLC or not, a new multiplayer mode, Capture and Control Mode, for no extra cost.

Unlike the first DLC pack, this one will not be free, instead it will set you back $9.99 when it releases on January 25.

[Source]

© magpie4life for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

The twitterverse was on fire today with a rumor from IGDA mobile SIG head Kevin Dent, who claimed that publisher THQ dropped its entire 2014 games lineup and has put itself up for sale to “Asian firms” in an attempt to increase value. The publisher has now officially denied the rumor.

Dent has also added:

Word is spreading that THQ has returned IP to Disney AFTER paying the advance, with no refund.

THQ later responded to the claims, which included suggestions that the MMO Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millenium Online had been cancelled:

THQ has not cancelled its 2014 line-up, and has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO. As part of the ongoing review of our business, we have made decisions to ensure that the company is strategically addressing the most attractive markets. As we have previously announced, we have dramatically reduced our commitment to the kids’ boxed games sector which leads to a significantly more focused release schedule moving forward. Our slate for calendar 2012 and beyond is focused on high-quality core games and continues to build our digital platform and business. We are excited for our pipeline of original and high-quality content along with our relationships with some of the best talent in the industry.

Additionally, we are thrilled with the great performance of Saints Row: The Third, which on a like for like period in North America has tripled in sell-through from Saints Row 2. In addition, WWE ’12’s worldwide sell-through sales are up almost 40% year-over-year for the same sales period with fewer platforms. According to NPD, for the month of December and the 2011 year, THQ was the #5 publisher overall, #4 third party, with reported sell through growing over 18% in a market that was down almost 6%. And coming up next, we have two great titles for the first half of the year including UFC Undisputed 3 and Darksiders 2.

Although the rumor now seems to be false, the reasoning behind it probably stemmed from the publisher’s poor 2011. The company closed five different studios and made various staff cuts due to lackluster sales for some of their games, while the uDraw Game Tablet failed to capture much of an audience on HD consoles, causing the development team to be sacked.

[Via]

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Under some jazzy violin music, we can see the current champions in each weight class as well as some fighters who may have been question marks, such as retirees Chuck Liddell and much more recently, Brock Lesnar. Also included were fighters from the recent WEC absorption and Strikeforce acquisition, such as Ben Henderson and Dan Henderson (no relation). In all, 150 fighters will appear in the game. At this time, it’s not clear whether Strikeforce fighters who have not fought in the UFC, such as Gilbert Melendez or Luke Rockholt, will make it into the game. The game is confirmed to contain all current UFC weight classes, including the newly added 145-pound and 135-pound divisions.

Click here to view the embedded video.

© Knifefight for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Are you ready for some more nonsensical things to do in Saints Row: The Third? Well, you are in luck folks as The Third will get its first major downloadable content next week titled “GenkiBowl VII”.

THQ announced today that the DLC pack will cost $7 off of PSN store, but for those who purchased the season pass, it will be free. This is the first of three DLC packs promised to be included in the pass.

In ”GenkiBowl VII”, players will get a chance to compete in classic sporting events such as Sad Panda Skyblazing, Angry Tiger’s Apocalypse Genki, Sexy Kitten Yarngasm, and Super Ethical PR Opportunity from January 17th. Based on the names of the competitions alone, this DLC already has the promise to be a messy spectacle. On top of that, the pack will also contain new outfits and vehicles.

Are you up for more madness in Saints Row: The Third? If you are still unsure about it, check out the trailer below:

© magpie4life for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

What would you say if I told you that the team behind Neverwinter Nights 2 and Knights of the Old Republic II are working on a South Park role-playing game? Well, it’s true, as Trey Parker and Matt Stone are working together with Obsidian Entertainment and THQ to deliver something that only dreams could imagine, or nightmares if you’re a parent. It might sound like a wild idea, but the partnership has been said to be a work of genius, and who wouldn’t like to play an RPG that throws in some humor?

The first ever screenshots of South Park: The Game have been released by THQ. Check them out for yourself below:

There’s definitely a sense that this is a genuine South Park game, and is it just me or does the gameplay look like it might play similar to Castle Crashers? The game is said to have some strong RPG elements, and there will be a strong presence of story to tie it all together. Even better, Trey Parker and Matt Stone will be voicing all of the characters in addition to writing the script, meaning that if you’re a fan of the show, you’re sure to at least enjoy the presentation of the game.

So the question is, will this just be another cash cow on a well-known IP, or will it be done right? South Park has a limited audience, but THQ and Obsidian don’t kid around. What do you think? Post your opinion in the comments below.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The Warhammer universe is known for having a devoted group of fans with its several iconic races and brutal lore, but Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine had a relatively quiet launch back in September. For those that did have the opportunity to play the game, there’s something special on the horizon.

In typical holiday fashion, THQ teased an upcoming addition to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine with the following Twitter post:

We have a big metal surprise coming to @SpaceMarine in January – Merry Christmas from Relic!

So what could it be? If you’re a Warhammer fan you’ll recognize the monstrous dreadnoughts Space Marines routinely employ to blow Ork and Chaos alike into smithereens, making it pretty clear the DLC will include dreadnoughts:

Just look at the size of that thing! How could you not want to jump into a giant mechanical beast seething with fury and an arsenal that could level a small country? Well, maybe if it comes in the form of an expensive DLC pack, but that is yet to be announced. Stay tuned to find out whether or not this will be downloadable for free, and what else it’ll entail.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

The Smackdown Vs. Raw series has become a yearly purchase for many wrestling fans out there, resulting in hours upon hours spent creating various superstars/divas and playing online in matches and tournaments. Throw in a compelling storyline that is included with the Road To Wrestlemania mode and you have yourself an a game that is any wrestling fan’s dream. This year looks to be no different, as THQ has completely overhauled the game itself, even going so far as to rebrand it simply as WWE ’12 this year. The game boasts the slogan of “Bigger, Badder, Better”, and it is time to see if it lives up to this bold statement.

The roster is massive – over 60 wrestlers are available to choose from, ranging from divas to current stars. The game has several “old school wrestlers” that many will appreciate being included in the game. These include such stars like Vader and my personal favorite Brock Lesnar (who is now with UFC). This is hands down one of the best rosters available in a wrestling game, ever. THQ really went the extra mile here, and it  shows. The total number of wrestlers will be expanded upon with future DLC, so there is no telling what else THQ has up their sleeves for wrestling fans with WWE ’12. A few have already been revealed including Batista and Mick Foley.

Road To Wrestlemania has had a huge overhaul. It now features a much longer, more in-depth story centering around the three wrestlers Sheamus, Triple H, and custom character Jacob Cass. Each of these stories are all connected to one another in some way, and should be played accordingly for the total experience.

Of the three storylines, each offers a different appeal to fans. Sheamus is considered the “Villain” storyline. Upon completion of that story you will be able to take on the role of the King of Kings with the “Outsider” story with Triple H. Then players will be able to experience a much more customized experience by taking on the role of Jacob Cass and the “Hero” storyline. This will allow you to use a created superstar under the name of Jacob Cass, who just won WWE’s talent scouting NXT and is now trying to make a name for himself. Each story is completely different in its own right, yet they are all connected. Despite these being good, they’re not great, and don’t give any reason to play them more than one time. The inclusion of an unknown Jacob Cass is a strange move – why not just let fans create a character from scratch? Surely fans would get behind their own character and likeness more than they ever could a random nobody.

Players looking for a quick matchup against computer or a friend need to check out the exhibition mode. This throws you into a match of your choice with whomever you want to play as. There are more choices besides just the roster, the game features over 40 different match types, ranging from Championship Scramble to Hell in a Cell.

Making a return this year is the WWE Universe mode, and it has been improved on a lot from when it made its debut last year. This mode still acts as a career mode for a specific superstar or several you would like to control, but now things such as brands themselves can be edited. This allows you to create other brands such as the FCW, or even bring back ECW or WCW.

One of the most popular aspects of the previous Smackdown Vs. Raw games is the creation aspects of the game, and WWE ’12 builds upon the already strong foundation. Many of the favorites have made a return and been improved upon, and there have been a few additions that are more than welcomed, most notably the custom entrance video and custom arena.

The ever popular Create a Superstar, Create an Entrance, Create a Finisher, and Create a Move-set have made a return, there haven’t been any huge changes other than a much smoother/quicker experience and the addition of more options to choose from when you are customizing your superstar/diva. Create a Story has also made a return for players that are looking to create an in-depth storyline to experience or share with fellow players via online.

There are new creation modes, such as the long-requested Create an Entrance Movie. Once entering this mode you must choose an initial theme for the video to be based on, and there are over 25 to choose from. These videos are pre-made videos and typically add in your superstar, chosen colors, logos, fonts, etc. at given points of the video. After choosing the theme you must choose the theme color, then have the option to add in text and logos as well. This is a great new addition that has been long awaited for this series, and it works great to add that personal aspect to your created wrestler’s entrance movie.

Create an Arena is the other huge addition to the huge list of things you can fully customization in WWE ’12. In this mode you can control the ring mat, ropes, posts, apron, turnbuckles, outside mats, barricade, name plates, and even the broadcast tables. With this level of detail available in a custom arena you should be able to create anything you can think of.

The Online mode has once again made a return in this year’s game and it works a lot like last year. Here you can set up matches against opponents, as well as hop in a Royal Rumble (which is a ton of fun). You are also able to view your info, which shows all of your stats from participating in online matches. Visiting the WWE Shop allows you to purchase any in-game content you would like to use, such as individual items or things like Fan Axxess, which gains you access to multiple DLC for WWE ’12. One of the best features of this mode is definitely the WWE Community Creations area. Here you can upload your creations as well as download other user’s content if they have chosen to upload it. This includes everything from the Creation area of the game.

The actual in-game mechanics are another thing that have been overhauled.The loading is extremely fast now and there is no stuttering within the menus of the game. The game’s controls are completely different from previous installments. The moves are all fluid and tie into one another, and everything transitions from one move to the next smoothly – that is if you take the time to master the new controls. Wrestlers feel unique from one another, thanks to the adrenaline system. This takes into account a wrestler’s size, therefore allowing them to move at different speeds. For example, Evan Bourne will be able to utilize some evasive tactics with the amount of speed that he has over Mark Henry.

The new Breaking Point submission system is a nice touch. It allows for you to fill up a meter after you have targeted specific limbs (yes you can target specific limbs while in matches) during a submission hold. If the meter happens to become full then your opponent will tap out – but if they deplete the meter then they will reverse your hold, resulting in damage to you.

The game looks fantastic. Wrestlers look exactly like their real life counterparts, all the way down to the way they move. Time and effort was spent on capturing the environment of what a WWE event is like.

WWE ’12 is one of the best wrestling games made, period. Each year THQ tops the previous performance – but this year they’ve really improved the creation and storyline elements to where the rebranding of the game feels appropriate. The game isn’t without missteps, however. There’s always WWE ’13 for THQ to fix ‘em.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Huge roster and tons of customization across creation modes. + Gameplay has been changed to resemble what is seen at WWE events. - Who the hell is Jacob Cass?

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© Joseph Peterson for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Saints Row has always lived in the shadow of the Grand Theft Auto series. But with GTA IV decidedly more serious than previous entries, and GTA V having only just been announced, now seems like a perfect time to unleash a mayhem-happy game. Can Saints Row: The Third step in for Grand Theft Auto? Let’s find out.

The answer is a resounding “f*ck yes!” From your very first mission where you rob a bank using gigantic heads of the character Johnny Gat to tuning your character in the Initiation Station, it is very clear Volition, Inc. had over-the-top fun in mind when creating this game. That first mission involves robbing a heavily-armed bank, and by the end of it you’ve already killed hundreds of SWAT and Syndicate (your main rival gang/organization) members. Hell, this game is kill-heavy even for Grand Theft Auto. There are cutscenes for major missions and points in the story, which are genuinely entertaining. You start as the leader of the Saints, who at this point are a globally-recognized brand including your own energy drink and merchandise. Before long, you find yourself at war with the Syndicate, a multinational conglomerate. They knock you down a peg by emptying your bank accounts and offing a fellow member. But, this is Saints Row! So within only a few missions you’re back on top, with a penthouse to boot.

That penthouse overlooks the new virtual playground known as Steelport. It’s a massive, sprawling city that feels alive and dirty. Travel time can be a while by car, but of course there are other ways to travel, namely through the air. Jets, helicopters and more are unlocked as the story progresses, and you quickly find yourself in possession of an array of devastating, upgradeable weapons that would make any military blush. You earn cash through pretty much everything you do – killing people, completing missions, and especially from owning property. Every piece of real estate that you own, be it an apartment building or retail store, adds to your hourly wage. A nice bonus comes in the form of discounts on items when you own a particular store. However, this hourly income is not automatically transferred to your available cash. While that may sound annoying, it’s nice to think you are out of cash and cannot afford a new ability or weapon only to realize you have 15 grand waiting on you to transfer to your bank account via your cell phone.

Speaking of cell phones, remember how annoying the one in Grand Theft Auto IV was? How times have changed. The cell phone in Saints Row: The Third feels like an Android smartphone, and is quick and snappy. Using that to transfer your hourly income, set a waypoint, call for backup, upgrade your abilities, or any of the other numerous options available to you is a breeze. You also initiate all main missions, with only the occasional incoming call to you for a side mission, which you can easily ignore. No relationship management here either. The way cell phones have evolved in real life is reflected here, and in a good way.

Within the world of SRTT are three competing gangs besides the Saints: the Deckers, Morningstar, and Luchadores. Each have their own looks, weapons and cars that they use against you. This adds another indicator to keep track of – notoriety with each gang, represented by stars on the top portion of your HUD’s map. If you kill a gang member expect resistance to arrive shortly. Police have their own separate notoriety level for you, represented by shield icons on the bottom of the same map. This system makes sense, since now you can’t just kill a gang member, leave the area and not be pursued by his or her cohorts. Their gang will take notice, and they will be out for revenge. This makes going on rampages infinitely more entertaining, as gangs will really ramp up their defenses utilizing snipers, RPGs, helicopters, and more heavy firepower. The only way to clear your notoriety quickly is to visit a building that you own, which isn’t too much to ask, especially once you amass a real estate empire.

Beyond building a collection of estates, you also get to level your character up in numerous ways. Nearly everything you do results in earning respect. Many of these actions can be repeated in quick succession to build up a multiplier for the amount of respect you will receive when the combo is done. Whether that’s killing gang members, consecutive headshots, two-wheeling a car, or narrowly avoiding a nasty crash in an aircraft, you are constantly rewarded for being a badass. This is further enhanced with the “Awesome button,” which in its normal state is sprint. Combine this with jumping, hijacking a vehicle or tackling a person, and your actions are done with much more zaniness than usual. For example, if carjacking, it makes your character smash through a passing vehicle’s windshield or windows, kick the driver out from their seat, and take control. It doesn’t really get old, and is in fact quicker than the old, now boring way of hijacking vehicles.

The entire time you play this game, SRTT never takes itself very seriously. Some of the radio stations are actually pretty funny, including an announcer who scolds you for wasting your time playing a video game. There are commercials for movies and other things that are just plain absurd. Weapons are over-the-top, such as a gigantic dildo that can be used as a beating stick and a vehicle that sucks people up and uses them as ammo for a cannon. There are also a ton of side jobs to do, including one of the most bizarre and hilarious game shows you are likely to see. Oh, and you can do all of this in the nude if you so choose. Though with character customization this in-depth and the option to upload your creations to the community, why would you?

I cannot even imagine the number of possibilities available in SRTT when talking about customization. You can choose every part of your clothing, tattoos, accessories, and more, or simply choose a pre-made outfit if you are style-challenged or lazy. You can also upgrade and customize practically every part of any vehicle. The best part is that no matter what happens to your car out there in the wild world of SRTT, you can always respawn an identical clone from any of your strongholds. This is no doubt great news for those of you who struggle with driving, though the handling in this game is pretty serviceable and not hard to get the hang of. But if you thought you could only customize yourself and vehicles, you are in for a surprise. You can also customize your gang’s appearance and even your strongholds themselves!

A few issues do poke their way through in SRTT, though they are small ones. Occasionally, the physics in the game will go crazy, and what should have been a simple carjacking kills you inexplicably, though it’s still hilarious. Mission checkpoints can sometimes be hard to get to, and your homies’ AI could have used some fine tuning. Selecting weapons also takes some getting used to. Enemies feel a little overpowered in the beginning of the game, but perhaps this is to get you to explore the city and take on some of the many side missions and jobs offered to you in order to level up and acquire new abilities. Unfortunately, there is day-one DLC which is always disappointing to see.

Although Saints Row: The Third may be compared to Grand Theft Auto, as has indeed been done in this very review, a lot of that may be due to nostalgia over what GTA used to stand for. SRTT is a game that begs to be held to a different standard – that of no-holds barred, explosive, offensive, vulgar, hilarious fun. It never takes itself too seriously, and while there is a plot, you are entertained by it and not necessarily engrossed in it like in GTA IV and its expansions. This is a game you boot up when you just want to have fun causing as much mayhem as possible in almost any way you can think of. Throw in online co-op and multiple game modes (including one involving prostitutes that you have to see to believe), and you have countless of hours of fun at your disposal. Strap it on!

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Absolute freedom to do whatever you want. + Over-the-top world, scenarios and weapons are incredibly entertaining. + Multiple game modes and online co-op add to replayability.

© Paulmichael Contreras for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Hot off the heels of announcing Brock Lesnar as a character in the game, THQ announced another big name superstar to join WWE ’12.

Batista, also known as The Animal, will be available as a downloadable character for the game, unlike Brock Lesnar who will be available from the get go. THQ has not announced any date or price, but since he is not included in the first DLC pack, WWE fans might have to wait a little bit longer to play as the six-time World Wrestling Champion.

Click here to view the embedded video.

WWE 12 releases on November 22, 2011. With the inclusion of The Rock, Brock Lesnar and now Batista, are you guys still excited for the series?

© magpie4life for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

There are plenty of over-the-top and crazy games out there, but none look as insane as the upcoming Saints Row: The Third. THQ have released countless videos so far proving this point, but this is their craziest by far.

The latest trailer for Saints Row: The Third shows tons of melee combat, from DDT to dropkicks through windshields. Also, this time around it is just not the guys that get to have all the fun, the ladies get in on the butt whooping. Oh, and did we mention they’re in the nude?

Check out the full trailer below:

Saints Row: The Third looks poised to really try and push the envelope in every way, check it out for yourself when it hits store shelves next week.

© Adam Wolfe for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Gamers usually clamor for release date, nagging developers until their requests are answered. Unfortunately, it seems that most of the times these initial release dates are seldom right, with bugs, gameplay changes or business decisions pushing back the game. Helping to send home that fact, THQ has announced a new release date for UFC Undisputed 3.

During an investor call, CEO Brian Farrell revealed the new release date as February 14th, 2012. The original release was supposed to be sometime in January, so they didn’t miss their predictions by that much, but it still is releasing a few weeks later.

With more than four months until the release, hopefully this will be the last change, but look on the bright side, even if you don’t have a date for Valentines day, you’ll still have someone to curl up on the mat with.

© Adam Wolfe for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

If you’ve ever felt the world can be an oppressive to your true personality with its laws, social rules and stigmas, and all too realistic physics, then Saints Row: The Third might be the place for you.

Saints Row: The Third is gearing up to release next month in the midst of a slew of AAA highly anticipated games, and it’s clear that Volition doesn’t want their latest bout of ridiculous gaming to be lost in the chaos. After releasing an ad a couple days ago parodying the intense adverts of Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 Volition has released yet another follow up ad, but this time live action people and their Saints Row counterparts causing mayhem and destruction.

I know I can’t go a day in the city without wanting to whip out a set of giant fists and punch cars to the other side of the road, and it’s been made clear there’s plenty of other mischief to be had that would get me arrested in real life. Besides that, it’s been years since we’ve seen a new full on Grand Theft Auto release, and Saints Row has made it clear they’re ready to replace it. Will you be jumping into Steelport and creating your own member of the Saints when Saints Row: The Third releases November 15th?

© BigWoopMagazine for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The Warhammer 40K world has gone strong ever since it was first introduced as a tabletop wargame back in 1987. Warhammer has since been successfully converted into video games with Fire Warrior and Dawn of War, but the most recent addition to the franchise, Space Marine, is the first to allow players to take control of a single Space Marine. With this new point of view, does this game do justice to the Warhammer 40K world, and does it do enough to make it stand out in the crowded month of September?

Space Marine takes place in space, as humans are being pushed to their breaking point by, not only orks, but also insurgents. You play as Captain Titus, a veteran ultramarine, who is out to defend Imperium Forge World Graia from an ork invasion. You must fight your way through all kinds of orks, to collect a power source, then save the day, and then kill some more orks – that is really as deep as the story gets. It’s sad to see such a bland and boring take on a universe that is deep and filled with tons of lore. The cast of characters do very little to help in this aspect, as you have the rookie soldier who obeys every order, the grizzled veteran, and the betrayer. All of these characters display very little personality and don’t do anything in the story to make themselves memorable.

As one of the Ultramarines, you are one badass warrior who has been put through all sorts of genetic engineering and relentless training. This is clear in the game, as your character is able to mow down wave after wave of enemies without breaking a sweat. Your character also moves rather well for a guy having all kinds of armor on his body, but still feels rather clunky at times, especially when trying to dodge with a roll.

In combat, you have the option of four different weapons and a melee attack. The gun’s range is a bit standard with a pistol, sniper, rifle, and grenade launcher, but as you progress through the story, you unlock some new and cool variations on these weapons. The melee weapon can be a chainsword, axe, or hammer, though with the hammer you are limited to that and the pistol/rifle. Space Marine does a great job of allowing you to quickly switch between the gun in your right hand and the melee weapon in your left hand, allowing for seamless transition in battle. The move set for the melee weapons is incredibly shallow, as with three clicks of the melee button, you have unleashed all your attacks, with a little variation thrown in there when you tap the stun button, then perform an execution attack. These execution attacks come in handy, as they are one of only two ways to heal yourself, with the other being melee fury attacks. These fury attacks are performed after killing enough orks, where you then can unleash your fury, causing melee to do more damage and slowing down time when you zoom in with your ranged weapons.

There are multiple kinds of enemies to fight in the game, with some shooting at you with ranged weapons and others rushing at you full force. Battles can sometimes become very hectic as waves of enemies will charge at you, all while snipers are shooting down at you. These fights are made even more intense by the fact there is nowhere to hide, meaning you have to push forward at all times. Enough variation is used in the enemies rushing at you, that you have to sometimes pay close attention to what type of enemies are in each rush, but, with so many enemies comes a lot of repetition. Enter door, fight off two waves, exit to another area, enter another door, fight waves of enemies, exit to another area… and repeat. This is the game for you in a nutshell, with a couple of cool missions where you are taking down flying enemies or flying around on a jetpack and stomping down on them. Yes, the heart of the game is just kill everything, hence all the waves of enemies, but a bit more variety wouldn’t have killed anyone – or maybe it would have..

There is absolutely no life or personality given to the Imperium Forge World Graia. As you walk through the level you can clearly see a battle has happened, yet at the same time, you never really feel like you are in the middle of some huge war. Level design is extremely bland and there is absolutely zero exploration or alternate paths, leaving you to walk down a carefully dug out path. This is made even worse in some levels as you walk to a room, take an elevator, walk to another room, take another elevator, and… well, I think you know the rest. Couple this weak aspect of the game together with the lackluster story and characters, and you are left with just the combat, which does a serviceable job in trying to save this game from mediocrity.

The game’s online multiplayer, which allows players to choose from three different classes and take part in smaller sized battles, only has two modes – capture the point and team deathmatch. There is an extremely limited choice of maps, but you can customize your marines, so score one point there. The biggest issue with this multiplayer is that, if you are playing it on the PlayStation 3, then you aren’t playing it. I know that sounds confusing but as of now, it is almost impossible to get into a game on the PS3, with wait times going up to 45 minutes just for matchmaking to find you a game. I do find the lack of a horde type mode rather interesting, as the single player forces you to take on loads of forces, yet the multiplayer wants you to work as a small squad against another small squad. The game also lacks any kind of co-op option for the campaign, which might have spiced up what was a rather boring experience.

When the dust settles, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a game that should do enough to make fans of the series and bloodthirsty vampires happy, however it doesn’t bring enough to the table to make it stand out against the myriad of shooters on the market. The online trouble, coupled with the lack of spice in the campaign, leads to a very average game that drags on for a few hours too long. If you are in the mood for a weekend rental filled with plenty of blood and action that attempts to move you forward at all times, Space Marine will be a good choice, just don’t expect anything more than an average game.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Combat Switches Smoothly Between Melee and Weapon - Dry Presentation Hurts Overall Experience - Poor Level Design and Repetitive Fights Don’t Help Campaign.

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© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us

In Saints Row: The Third the Saints are about to make all kinds of new enemies, as shown by a new trailer depicting their battles with a cyber criminal who suffers from a slight god complex.

Volition has made it readily apparent that they intend to push the bar by making Saints Row: The Third over the top in every way possible, whether that’s through the use of phallic weaponry or obnoxious pedestrian launching vehicles, they don’t plan on holding anything back. It seems that by introducing new enemies they’ve also found an opportunity to explore new visual aesthetics, when the Saints are forced to enter a virtual world to battle new opponents. Enter the Deckers, a group of cyber criminals who have wiped out the Saints bank account, which results in the Saints seeking retribution through a bit of hacking of their own. Unfortunately for the Saints, that also means going up against hacker genius Matt Miller, who has declared himself godlike within his own virtual world.

There’s no doubt that Volition has drawn inspiration from other games and sources of media, so it’s not too surprising that I can’t help but think of another recent movie and game while watching that video. Regardless, Saints Row: The Third is shaping up to be the most ridiculous entry in the series yet, and that can only be a good thing for fans of the franchise. Saints Row: The Third is currently slated to release on November 15th in North America and on November 18th in Europe.

© BigWoopMagazine for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

Speaking at Cloud Gaming USA in San Jose, THQ CEO Brian Farrell spoke about the different opportunities that cloud gaming could present and what cloud gaming could mean for THQ. He went on to explain how this new online business model would benefit not only game makers, but consumers too.

According to GI.biz, Brian predicted that future consoles with be disK-less, and that this “will result in a lower cost for the hardware manufacturer, which will result in a lower cost to consumers and therefore a lower entry point, thus driving more mass market adoption.” He continued by saying that this model would save game developers and publishers money, as there would be “no physical goods cost for game makers. No inventory, no markdowns, and all the money spent by the consumer would go to the developer or publisher.”

Brian continues, stating that:

The box, ship and done model is transitioning to observe, measure, and modify. This is a games as a service model where direct consumer feedback allows the ability to operate in this always on, always connected environment.

We intend to create an online digital ecosystem with the consumer that keeps them interested for almost a year, perhaps even longer. And we expect most of our large console games going forward will extend the base experience with DLC packs. Things like online in-game storage, and consumables and other online items that will go on for at least a year post-release.

With services like OnLive and Steam doing rather well, could cloud gaming really be the future of consoles? Let us know in the comments what you think.

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us