วันอังคารที่ 14 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood Review Part1

The Good
* Authentic Western feel
* Exciting shoot-outs and gun duels
* Involving story
* Great voice acting
* Looks stunning.

The Bad
* Basic enemy AI
* Over too quickly.

Prequels are by definition concerned with looking at what has come beforehand, but Bound in Blood is anything but a backwards step. This game--a prequel to 2007's Call of Juarez--is a tense, riveting, and superb-looking first-person shooter that ditches the stealth elements that clogged up the original like molasses. Instead, it focuses on action-packed shoot-outs and set-piece moments that will make you feel like you've strapped on the six-shooters and stepped straight into the dusty, violent Wild West. And while it's over all too quickly (and filled with none-too-smart enemies), Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is sure to scratch the itchiest of trigger fingers.

The Wild West is back in our video review of Call of Juarez: Bound In Blood.

Comment on this video »
Watch this video in HD 540p

Flash Player 9 is required to watch this video.

The game's Western theme is presented with aplomb: it showcases an impressive world that bleeds with Wild West iconography. Bound in Blood is more spaghetti than Unforgiven--gun duels are preceded by intense bouts of staring, enemies will topple dramatically off high balconies when shot, and there is more than one large gunfight inside an abandoned church or saloon. The game's story touches on many well-known Western motifs, such as honor, betrayal, greed, faith, and even love, and while it doesn't tread any new ground, it does present a compelling narrative.

Set years before the first game, Bound in Blood follows the McCall brothers--Ray and Thomas--as they change from honorable Confederate deserters to amoral treasure hunters seeking a fabled fortune. If you played the first game, you know Ray as a religious fire-and-brimstone preacher, which is a stark contrast to the lustful, greedy, coldhearted Ray portrayed in Bound in Blood. It's one of the great pleasures of the game to see just how this transformation takes place, and while you'll probably see the ending from a mile away, it still packs a hefty emotional punch.

While Ray is a brutish type, his brother, Thomas, is more thoughtful (although just as violent), and you'll get to play as both in Bound in Blood. You could also play as two different characters in the first game, but while the two there were clearly delineated as action or stealth, this time around both characters are action-focused. Ray is more direct: he can duel-wield pistols, throw explosives, break down doors, and walk around with the occasional Gatling gun. Thomas is an expert with the rifle, is deadly with a bow, can use a lasso to reach high places, and can use knives for silent stealth kills. Ray is all about in-your-face confrontation, rushing in with both guns blazing and blowing up any obstacle. Thomas lets you play a more measured game, using the rifle's long sights to take enemies out from a distance. Each brother also gets his own special attack--called concentration mode--which slows down time to allow quick attacks on multiple targets. Though their attacks are performed differently--Ray's requires you to quickly move your targeting reticle over foes, while Thomas' has you flicking the right stick on the controller (or moving your mouse back and forth in the PC version) in order to replicate a gun's hammer--the effect is the same: mass carnage.

Apart from a few missions at the start and near the end of the game, you can choose to play as either Ray or Thomas throughout most of Bound in Blood. The two brothers stick close together for most of it, meaning that apart from a few instances where one brother has to take a different path, you'll see and do the same thing no matter which one you play as. How you play--aggressive as Ray or circumspect as Thomas--is different enough, however, to make it worthwhile to go through the game twice. This is a plus because of the brevity of Bound in Blood's single-player campaign. You'll likely finish it (including all side missions) in about seven hours on the first run.

The saloon's on fire! Time for a getaway.

However, those seven hours will be eventful, with gameplay flowing nicely between intense shoot-outs, large-scale set pieces, and intimate one-on-one gun duels. The available weapons for the many Bound in Blood shoot-outs are fairly limited compared to other shooters, although given the time period, that's hardly surprising. Both Ray and Thomas can use pistols, shotguns, and rifles, and there are several varieties of each that you can upgrade to as the game progresses. The large set pieces happen with good regularity and include using a cannon, blowing up a Union paddle steamer (don't worry, the Confederates get their due eventually), riding a raft through rapids while being pursued by angry Native Americans, using a cart-mounted Gatling gun to mow down enemies on horseback, and even fighting your way out of an ancient underground temple as it gets buried in sand. You'll also get plenty of time on horseback, although the horses can change direction on a dime and even quickly strafe, so they don't feel much like real animals when you're astride them

The gun duels are less hectic but just as tense. These one-on-one affairs act as boss fights, pitting you against an especially powerful enemy in an old-fashioned quick-draw fight to the death. The camera shifts down to a cinematic view low behind the player for these duels. You'll have to match your opponent's left and right steps to keep him in the centre of the screen, while keeping your hand close to your pistol. Duel controls are quite precise, and you'll never feel like they're preventing you from winning a quick draw. It's heart-in-the-mouth stuff most of the time, and you'll probably die plenty of times before you get the timing of a draw right.

credit : Gamespot

วันอังคารที่ 2 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2552

วันจันทร์ที่ 1 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2552

Left 4 Dead 2 E3 2009 Teaser Trailer [HQ]

Notable games showcases in E3 2009

2K Games:
* BioShock 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Borderlands (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
* Mafia II (PC, PS3, X360)

2K Sports:
* The Bigs 2 (X360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP)

Activision:
* Blur (PC, PS3, X360)
* DJ Hero (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360)
* Guitar Hero 5 (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360)
* Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
* Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Prototype (PC, PS3, X360)
* Singularity (PC, PS3, X360)
* Tony Hawk: Ride (PS3, X360, Wii)
* Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
* Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen -- Autobots (DS)
* Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen -- Decepticons (DS)
* Wolfenstein (PC, PS3, X360)

Akella:
* Disciples III: Renaissance (PC)

Atlus:
* Class of Heroes (PSP)
* Droplitz (PC, PS3, X360)
* Knights in the Nightmare (DS)
* Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent (PC)
* Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS)
* Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (PSP)
* Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament (PSP)

Capcom:
* Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (DS)
* Bionic Commando (PC)
* Dark Void (PC, PS3, X360)
* Dead Rising 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Fate/Unlimited Codes (PSP)
* Lost Planet 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (PSN, XBLA)
* Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace (DS)
* Mega Man Star Force 3: Red Joker (DS)
* Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP)
* Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (Wii)
* Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii)
* Spyborgs (Wii)
* Street Fighter IV (PC)
* Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars (Wii)

City Interactive:
* I Love Beauty: Hollywood Makeover (DS)
* Logic Machines (DS)
* Redneck Chicken Riot (Wii)
* Sushi Academy (DS)

Codemasters:
* Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PC, PS3, X360)

CompuExpert:
* Rise of Flight (PC)

Crave Entertainment:
* Monster Mayhem: Build and Battle (DS, Wii)
* Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection (PS3, X360)

DTP Entertainment:
* Black Mirror 2 (PC)
* Drakensang: The River of Time (PC)
* Ghost Pirates of Voojoo Island (PC)
* Venetica (PC, X360)

Data Design Interactive:
* Battle Rage 3D: The Robot Wars (Wii)
* Connie Talbot: Over the Rainbow (Wii)
* Farmyard Party: Featuring the Olympigs (Wii)
* Golf Training (Wii)
* Kids Sports: Crazy Mini Golf (Wii)

Deck 13:
* Strain (TBA)

Disney Interactive Studios:
* Hannah Montana: Rock Out the Show (PSP)
* Spectrobes: Origins (Wii)
* Split/Second (PC, PS3, X360)
* Toy Story Mania (Wii)
* Wizards of Waverly Place (Wii)

DreamCatcher Interactive:
* Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders (DS)
* Arcania (PC, X360)
* Prank Your Neighbor (DS)
* Spellforce Faith in Destiny (PC)
* The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft (Wii)
* The Legend of Kay (DS)
* Yoga Wii (Wii)

Eidos Interactive:
* Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC, PS3, X360)
* Just Cause 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Mini Ninjas (DS, PS3, Wii, X360)

Electonic Arts:
* Army of Two: The 40th Day (PS3, PSP, X360)
* Battlefield 1943 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Crysis 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
* Command & Conquer: Red Alert (iPhone)
* Brütal Legend (PS3, X360)
* Dante's Inferno (PS3, PSP, X360)
* Dead Space Extraction (Wii)
* Dragon Age: Origins (PC, X360, PS3)
* EA Sports Active (Wii)
* FIFA 10 (DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
* Fight Night Round 4 (PS3, X360)

Electonic Arts (con't):
* G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra -- The Game (Cell)
* Grand Slam Tennis (Wii)
* Littlest Pet Shop Online (Webgame)
* Madden NFL 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360, iPhone)
* Mass Effect 2 (PC, X360)
* Mass Effect Galaxy (iPhone)
* My Sims Agents (DS, Wii)
* Need for Speed: Nitro (DS, Wii)
* Need for Speed: Shift (PC, PS3, PSP, X360)
* NHL 10 (PS3, X360)
* Spore Hero (Wii)
* Spore Hero Arena (DS)
* The Saboteur (PC, PS3, X360)
* The Sims 3 (iPhone, PC)
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)

Frogster Interactive:
* Runes of Magic (PC)

Genius Products:
* Scratch: The Ultimate DJ (PS3, X360)

Ignition Entertainment:
* Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Wii)
* Nostalgia (DS)
* The King of Fighters XII (PS3, X360)

JoWood Productions:
* Painkiller: Resurrection (PC)

Just Flight:
* 757 Captain (PC)
* Air Hauler (PC)
* Traffic X (PC)
* Warbirds of WWII (PC)
* World Airports 3: North America (PC)

K2 Network Incorporated:
* OurWorld (PC)
* Taikodom (PC)
* Victory: The Age of Racing (PC)

KOEI:
* Monster Racers (DS)
* Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll (PS3)
* Warriors Orochi 2 (PSP)
* Warriors: Legends of Troy

Konami:
* Metal Gear Solid Rising (X360)
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, X360)
* Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii)
* Zephyr: Rise of the Elementals (PS3, Wii, X360)

MTV Games:
* The Beatles: Rock Band (PS3, Wii, X360)

Majesco:
* A Boy and His Blob (Wii)
* Flip's Twisted World (Wii)
* Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010 (Wii)
* Jillian Michaels' Pocket Trainer 2010 (DS)
* My Hero: Astronaut (DS)
* Our House: Party (Wii)
* Pizza Boy (Wii)

Marvelous Entertainment:
* Arc Rise Fantasia (Wii)
* Flower, Sun, and Rain (DS)
* Little King's Story (Wii)

Microsoft Game Studios:
* Halo 3: ODST (X360)
* Halo: Reach (X360)

NHN Games:
* Huxley: The Dystopia (PC)

Namco Bandai:
* Active Life: Extreme Challenge (Wii)
* Dead to Rights: Retribution (PS3, X360)
* Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny (PSP)
* Tekken 6 (PS3, PSP, X360)

Natsume:
* Adventures to Go (PSP)
* Afrika (PS3)
* Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii)
* Cheer We Go! (DS)
* Harvest Moon: Animal Parade (Wii)
* Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming (DS)
* Harvest Moon: My Little Shop (Wii)
* Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands (DS)
* Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream (Wii)
* Squishy Tank (DS)

Nintendo:
* The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)
* Wii Sports Resort (Wii)
* Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (DS)[6]

No Publisher Announced:
* City Life DS (DS)
* No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle (Wii)
* Scrabble Interactive: 2009 Edition (DS, Wii)
* So Blonde (DS, Wii)
* Summer Athletics 2009 (PC, PS2, Wii, X360)
* Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion (Arcade)
* The Grinder (Wii)

Paradox Interactive:
* East India Company (PC)
* Hearts of Iron III (PC)
* Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim (PC)
* Mount & Blade: Warband (PC)

Perfect World Entertainment:
* Ether Saga Online (PC)
* Jade Dynasty (PC)
* Perfect World (PC)
* Torchlight (PC)

Phantom EFX:
* Darkest of Days (PC, X360)

Realtime Worlds:
* APB (PC, X360)

SEGA:
* Aliens vs. Predator (PC, PS3, X360)
* Alpha Protocol (PC, PS3, X360)
* Bayonetta (PS3, X360)
* Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS, Wii)
* Planet 51 (DS, PS3, Wii, X360)
* Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (DS, PS3, Wii, X360)
* The Conduit (Wii)
* Vancouver 2010: The Official Videogame of the Winter Olympic Games (PC, PS3, X360)

Sony Computer Entertainment:
* Fat Princess (PS3)
* God of War III (PS3)
* Gran Turismo Mobile (PSP)
* Heavy Rain (PS3)
* inFamous (PS3)
* Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PS2, PSP)
* MAG (PS3)
* MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PS2, PSP)
* Pain! Sore Spots (PS3)
* PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe (PSP)
* PixelJunk Shooter (PS3)
* Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
* SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 (PSP)
* Singstar: Queen (PS2, PS3)
* Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
* White Knight Chronicles (PS3)

Sony Online Entertainment:
* DC Universe Online (PC, PS3)
* Free Realms (PC)
* Kung Fu Hustle (PC, PS3)
* Legends of Norrath (PC)
* PoxNora (PC)
* The Agency (PC, PS3)

SouthPeak Games:
* Dementium II (DS)
* Fast Food Panic (DS, Wii)
* My Baby 2 (DS)
* Section 8 (PC, X360)
* Sled Shred (Wii)
* Sushi Go Round (DS, Wii)

Square Enix:
* Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP)
* Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers (Wii)
* Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark Lord (Wii)
* Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (Wii)
* Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, X360)
* Front Mission Evolved (PC, PS3, X360)
* Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS)
* Nier (PS3, X360)
* Order of War (PC)
* Supreme Commander 2 (PC, X360)

THQ:
* All Star Cheer Squad 2 (Wii)
* Cars: Race-O-Rama (TBA)
* Darksiders: Wrath of War (PS3, X360)
* Homefront (PC, PS3, X360)
* MX vs. ATV Reflex (DS, PS3, PSP, X360)
* Marvel Super Hero Squad (DS, PS2, PSP, Wii)
* Red Faction: Guerrilla (PC, PS3, X360)
* SpongeBob's Truth or Square (DS, PSP, Wii, X360)
* UFC 2009 Undisputed (PS3, X360)

Teyon:
* 101 Minigolf World (DS)
* Ball Fighter (DS)
* Forsaken Patrol (PC, PS3, X360)
* Hubert the Teddy Bear: Holiday Island (PC, Wii)
* My Fitness (PC)
* Robot Rescue (DS)

Tomy Corporation:
* Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 (Wii)
* Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 (DS)
* Pangya: Fantasy Golf (PSP)

Trion World Network:
* Heroes of Telara (PC, PS3, PSP, X360)

Ubisoft:
* Assassin's Creed II (PC, PS3, PSP, X360, Wii)
* Imagine: Family Doctor (DS)
* Press Your Luck 2010 (DS, PSP, Wii)
* Rabbids Go Home (Wii)
* Red Steel 2 (Wii)
* Splinter Cell: Conviction (PC, X360)
* The Price is Right 2010 (DS, PC, Wii)

UserJoy Technologies:
* Adventure Generation Online (PC)
* Kingdom Heroes 2 (PC)
* Project Heroes (PC)

Vogster Entertainment:
* CrimeCraft (PC)
* Ragnarok Online DS (DS)
* Unbound Saga (PSP)

Warner Bros. Interactive:
* LEGO Rock Band (DS, PS3, X360)
* The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (DS, Wii)

Xseed Games:
* JU-ON: The Grudge (Wii)
* Ragnarok Online DS (DS)
* Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga (Wii)

cdv Software Entertainment:
* Divinity 2: Ego Draconis (PC, X360)

Electronic Entertainment Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly known as E3, is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). It is used by many video game developers to show off their upcoming games and game-related hardware. The new E3 Expo is run by International Data Group (IDG ) instead of by ESA.

E3 is invitation-only since 2007, reducing the number of attendees from 60,000 at E3 2006 to the 3,000-5,000 of E3 2007. A separate conference called the Entertainment for All Expo has been created to accommodate the public demand for a major, annual video game event, however it has not been able to replicate E3's success.

E3 was previously held in the third week of May of each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) in Los Angeles. In 2007, the convention was exceptionally held from July 11 to July 13 in Santa Monica, California. The ESA stated that the event reached a record attendance of 70,000 people in 2005.

E3 is widely regarded as the world's largest regular convention for video games. Video game companies generally spend more on their presentations for E3 than any other convention (including fancy decorations and pyrotechnics). Major video game critics often have a "best of E3" award session (similar to end-of-year award sessions), but only E3 consistently features such awards (for example, there is rarely a "Best of TGS" award session).

E3 2009 will remain at the LACC June 2nd-4th.