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Konami takes the Castlevania series in a bold, new direction as European Product Planning team unites with Mercury Steam and Kojima Productions to deliver an epic fantasy adventure!

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has used the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) event in Los Angeles to premiere the first footage of a brand new Castlevania title: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Developed by Madrid-based Mercury Steam, the game also marks a ‘dream’ development collaboration with Konami’s lauded Kojima Productions studio, led by Hideo Kojima.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will be released in 2010 for PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360 and will open a new era for the Castlevania mythology. Konami has worked to take the long-running series in brave new directions with a fresh and radical re-imagining, and the result is an epic tale of love and loss that befits the series.

Shown previously as Lords of Shadow in summer 2008 with a short teaser, Konami has kept under wraps its intention to radically take the Castlevania myth in a bold new direction until now. Konami has used E3 to showcase what it considers one of its most ambitious and innovative titles to date and reveal how it will present Castlevania to a wider audience of players hungry for genre-defining entertainment.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow takes place at the end of days. The Earth’s alliance with the Heavens has been threatened by a dark and malevolent force – the mysterious Lords of Shadow – darkness reigns the world. Across this shattered land, the souls of the dead wander unable to find peace, whilst creatures of evil roam free wreaking chaos and death upon the living.

Gabriel is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who protect and defend the innocent against the supernatural. His beloved wife was brutally murdered by the evil forces of darkness and her soul trapped for eternity. Neither living nor dead she realises the horrific truth of what is at stake and guides Gabriel to his destiny – and hopefully salvation for the world… but at what cost?

Thus, Gabriel must travel the destroyed world, defeating the evil tyrants in order to use their powers to bring balance back to the world. Armed with the versatile Combat Cross™ – the world’s last hope must encounter the three factions of the Lords of Shadow and end their unholy rule.

Mercury Steam has created a rich, open game world that traverses snowy mountain ranges, Gothic castles, and undead-strewn wastelands in a devastated Southern Europe during the Middle Ages. The production is being overseen by the European Product Planning office with advice and support from Kojima Productions. This multi-cultural dream collaboration will move the Castlevania brand to a whole new level, with rich storytelling, innovative gameplay and state-of-the-art technical elements brought together to form a revolutionary new direction for a modern 3D fantasy action epic.

Konami is premiering Castlevania: Lords of Shadow with a stunning trailer detailing the expansive nature of the game and its unique combat elements. It will also introduce the game’s stunning voice acting cast, with Gabriel voiced by Robert Carlyle (28 Weeks Later, Trainspotting, The Full Monty), and Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: Next Generation) as the mysterious Zobek. Natasha McElhone (The Other Boleyn Girl, Californication, The Truman Show) and Jason Isaacs (Black Hawk Down, The Patriot, Harry Potter series) round off the talent.

“Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will take the Castlevania series into brave, uncharted territories, and is a breath-taking adventure that boasts stunning aesthetics, deep and challenging game play, and a truly inspirational voice cast to deliver the games dramatic depth”, commented Dave Cox, Producer on the title and Head of Product Planning for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “We are also delighted to be working with Kojima Productions who have supported the development of the game and our intended goals with their keen vision and expertise,” he added. “This is a world’s first! A dream team up between a western development studio and one of Japan’s most revered and innovative creators”.

“We at Mercury Steam are pushing the envelope of today’s technology. Our goal is to create an incredible piece that will answer many people’s hopes and desires of what a next generation Castlevania game should be.” Said Enric Alvarez, Studio Head at Mercury Steam.

“Kojima Productions had learned the differences of western development teams and Japanese studios” added Ken Imaizumi, Senior Producer of Kojima Productions. “Mercury Steam is definitely one of the most talented studios in the world. We quickly agreed that we should work together and exchange ideas and knowhow across the board. We have full trust that the next generation Castlevania experience will deliver a high quality intense experience worthy of the Kojima Productions name and we are proud that this title will mark a new global direction for Konami as a company dedicated to breaking new ground in digital entertainment.”

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will be released for PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010.

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KEY FEATURES:

• Power-ups that Shock Your Socks off – Drivers will collect and use addictive and intense Power-ups throughout each race, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost speed with Nitros, drop mines and even generate defensive shields to fend off other racers. Players can use each Power-up independently on the fly, or stack three of the same and combo them strategically to multiply the effect on the competition.

• Racing for All Gamers – Blur moves beyond traditional racers by taking genre staples, including licensed cars, photo-realistic graphics and real-world locations and combining them with gameplay designed completely to focus on ‘fun’, featuring intuitive pick-up-and-play controls, a unique and innovative social network style user interface, intense Power-ups, and races where players are always in the pack challenging for the lead from beginning to end. Blur is for all types of gamers, regardless of experience or skill level.

• Social Network Interface – Blur’s new, innovative social network user interface is designed to evolve dynamically as players compete in different races, make new friends, rivals and fans, and connect with other racers both in game and in real life. Gamers interact with one another through messaging, trading opinions, challenges and images, and learn what’s going on in the Blur world, including locating where and when the next big races are happening, rallying their fans for support, and taking up challenges designed to suit their favorite racing style.

• It Wouldn’t Be Racing Without Multiplayer – Blur offers gamers a new kind of racing experience that allows them to race with friends and as part of a network of players in high intensity competition and fun. The game supports competitive and cooperative gameplay, including team and objective based race events, and also features 4 player split-screen for playing with friends from the comfort of the couch. Blur also introduces Custom Groups – where anyone can create unique multiplayer modes based on their favorite ways to play the game. These new modes are then shared through Blur’s social network, expanding the game in ways only limited by the gaming community’s creativity.

• Real-World Cars and Locations – Blur features over 50 licensed cars to drive as players race through visually stunning tracks set in real-world locations ranging from L.A. and San Francisco to the streets of Hackney, UK, to the treacherous roads of Barcelona and all the way to Japan. As players progress through the game’s story, they’ll be able to unlock and purchase multiple versions of the cars, each paying homage to different racing cultures, including Rat, Drift, Smooth and Tuner, and each with their own specific performance pros and cons.

• Cinematic Destruction Meets Photo-Realism – CAUTION! – Racers may experience insane collisions featuring loads of damage and destruction, with panels crumpling on photo-realistic cars as they flip and roll down the track.

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.

Developer: Bizarre Creations

Release Date: Fall 2009

Platforms: Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows®.

SRP: $59.99 – Xbox 360

ESRB Rating: “RP” (Rating Pending – expected E10+)

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You play as Will, a pilot based out of Nassau, Bahamas, who takes a job from a former lover, Ava, in 1938. While flying through the Bermuda Triangle, you witness a UFO when a freak storm erupts that transports you to another dimension controlled by a race of beings called the Watchers. These aliens claim that the Earth is theirs and that humans are nothing more than a slave race for them. Shortly after crashing, you lose track of Ava and spend the rest of the 14 levels trying to find her, help the shipwrecked humans fight for their lives and stave off an alien invasion of Earth.

Dark Void is your typical third person shooter. Find bad guys and shoot them. The main difference from other games of the genre is the flight mechanics of the jetpack that you receive shortly after losing Ava. Instead of platforming by jumping, you have to use the jetpack to fly around the massive levels. Flying can be a bit tricky and does take a bit of getting used to, but the challenge comes from the “vertical fights.” There are parts where you have to control Will through a series of ledges while fighting the Watchers. Basically, you hang from a ledge while firing your weapons up or down toward the enemy depending on your point of view. While a great idea, which caused a lot of talk last year, there weren’t enough segments in the game that this type of fighting could really cause a WOW factor.

While progressing through the three episodes you meet allies such as Nikola Tesla, a scientist, and Atem, native of Dark Void. They give you information about where you are and what needs to be done to not only protect to inhabitants of the Void, but also Earth itself. As you play, you will pick up six upgradable weapons. Each weapons and the jetpack can be upgrade three levels to increase damage, range, power, etc. The best gun is a Watcher grenade launcher, which can usually kill with one shot, but you will most likely end up using the Watchers rifle due to better odds of ammo drops.

Also, be on the lookout for the 57 journals of survivors spread out over the levels. These journals tell the story of Dark Void’s inhabitants and survivors such as Amelia Earhart. Collecting the journals gives you a sense of story and an achievement, but other than that, they are useless.

If you are looking for a game that will give you a lot of gamerscore in a short playthrough then consider picking up Dark Void. You will seriously finish this highly anticipated game in less than 7 hours, but at least you’ll have fun for those few hours.

ESRB Rating: Teen
Avg. playtime: 7 hours
One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 805
Replay value: moderate
Multiplayer: no

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KEY FEATURES:

• Rock to the Beat – Band Hero includes the most fun music that brings friends and family of all ages together to sing, play guitar, or drum to a wide variety of today’s chart topping hits and most recognizable anthems. The game features an explosive on-disc set list of more than 65 tracks from the hottest new bands and classic artists, including Maroon 5, Jesse McCartney, Go-Go’s, The Turtles and Janet Jackson.
• Let’s Get this Party Started! – Novice and expert players alike will find it easier than ever to jump in and jam out with friends and family thanks to Band Hero’s Party Play mode. Party Play inserts players straight into the action from the start-up menu with the press of a button allowing them to join in, drop out, or switch personal options at any time without fear of failing the song or interrupting the jam session.
• Put The Band Together Your Way – In Band Hero gamers are free to create the experience they want by tailoring their band to suit their style. People can play alone or select any combination of multiple vocalists, bassists, drummers or guitarists to create their own band and rock with, in Band Hero.
• Step Up to the Challenge – A little competition never hurt anyone! Band Hero’s RockFest mode is a collection of challenges at varying difficulties designed for up to four players locally and up to eight players online. RockFest challenges include:

◦                                  Momentum – Song difficulty level changes with player performance.

◦                                  Elimination – Each song is divided into segments, after each segment, the player with the lowest score will be eliminated from the game.

◦                                  Do or Die – Missing any three notes for a song section temporarily knocks players out of the game and keeps them from scoring.

◦                                  Streakers – Players are awarded points whenever their current note streak is a multiple of 10.

◦                                  Perfectionist – Points will be awarded to the player who hits the highest percentage of notes in each section of a song.

◦                                  Pro Face Off – Head-to-head battle where players all play the same song on the same difficulty with the same instrument.

• Live In the Moment – Capturing the essence of being in a big-named band and nailing those memorable sections of popular songs is what Band Hero’s Band Moments is all about. Hitting all the notes in a special section earns bands bonus multipliers and creates the ultimate sense of accomplishment as the crowd screams for more.
• The Ultimate Jukebox – Further expanding upon the hours of nonstop on-disc entertainment in Band Hero, is the ability for fans to play Guitar Hero® World Tour’s downloadable content in the game, utilizing all of the upgrades and features in Band Hero*.
• Sing Any Way You Want – A classic karaoke mode where up-to four players can showcase their vocal chops, Sing-Along allows players to perform any song from the entire set list, without worrying about scores or failing out.
• Make and Share Music – Band Hero features the innovative GHTM Studio and GHTunessm first introduced in Guitar Hero World Tour. Produce hits in the redesigned music studio with improved editing tools, new guitar samples and mix patterns, or budding musicians can head over to GH™Jam and rock out with more than 400 easy-to-use music patterns for any instrument to create recordings that can be refined in GHMix 2.0. Up to 50 songs can be uploaded to GHTunes giving players the chance to share what could be the next breakout hit!
• Rock With Your Wii – Multiple exclusive game modes for Nintendo fans will let living room rock stars interact with their music and friends like never before.

• Band Hero on the Nintendo Wii features an entirely unique Wii/DS connectivity ability that lets more then just the band call the shots. While players and their bands are rocking away with Band Hero (Wii version), family and friends who own DS and DSI’s can update and change the band’s set list on the fly giving them the ability to experience the performance they want.
• In Mii Freestyle Mode, gamers can rock any way they want with their custom Miis for a unique experience that connects players to the music and adds another layer of personalization to the game. Players can jam with the Guitar Hero controllers and create their own note tracks on the fly utilizing multiple music genres or simply rock out using the Wii remote and Nunchuk to “air drum.” The new Mii Freestyle Stage Manager allows DS players in the audience to get in on the action by controlling lightshows, changing cameras and even igniting pyrotechnics! And, for the first time, fans will be able to capture videos of their Mii rocking out and share them with other Wii owners.
• Nintendo DS fans can experience the life of a band roadie thanks to the brand new Roadie Battle mode. Up to two DS players can connect with two Band Hero Wii guitar players for an intense competition. While the guitar players rock out on stage, the DS players frantically navigate their virtual roadie from one side of the stage to the other trying to sabotage opponents’ equipment while repairing any damage to their own.
• For owners of both Band Hero (Wii version) and Band Hero on the Nintendo DS Lite connecting the two games wirelessly will unlock extra gameplay and content. Band Hero Wii players can download dozens of Fan Request challenges directly into their Nintendo DS Lite’s Band Hero career. Completing these Fan Request challenges will unlock awards and exclusive characters that are playable within both Band Hero games.

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc./RedOctane

Developer: Neversoft Entertainment

Release Date: November 2009

ESRB Rating: “E10+” (Everyone 10+ – Lyrics and Mild Suggestive Themes)

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Guitar Hero continues to re-define the music and gaming experience this Fall with the release of Guitar Hero 5. Featuring the best variety and biggest rock stars of today combined with classic rock anthems, Guitar Hero 5 is the latest installment of the world’s most popular music game. For the first time ever, players can customize the make-up of their band by rocking with any combination of instruments in-game: whether it be two guitars and two drums, or three guitars and a microphone, any combination is possible, allowing players to experience music their own way. Brand new, innovative, easy-to-use gameplay modes like Party Play and RockFest put fun, competition and control at center stage as fans tailor the Guitar Hero experience to match their personal style and interests. For extended hours of entertainment, downloadable content from Guitar Hero® World Tour will be compatible with the game and will automatically be updated to include all of the upgrades and enhancements of Guitar Hero 5.*

Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to-date comprised of master tracks from 85 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts including; Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut.

“Guitar Hero is the music platform for today because it celebrates the social nature of music and brings fans closer to the music and artists they love while allowing them to share and discover music with their friends, family and online communities,” said Dan Rosensweig, president and chief executive officer of Guitar Hero.

Among the first-time-ever features of Guitar Hero 5 are: Party Play, where players can jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly; RockFest, a comprehensive competitive experience available featuring five new head-to-head modes playable online or in your living room; and the ability to play the entire set-list from the first time the game is turned on.

Guitar Hero 5 refines the player experience, enhances the art style and redesigns core features such as GHMusic StudioSM, making it the most accessible, fun-to-play and authentic experience for seasoned music gamers as well as first-time players. New innovations such as Band Moments, where bands are rewarded for hitting special note streams together and song challenges where gamers are tasked to play through a song a specific way, add a new competitive layer of excitement and accomplishment to the music rhythm genre.

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Developer

ESRB Rating Mature

Average Playtime 20 hours

Gamerscore 1000

Downloadable Content (None as of February, 20, 2010)

Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., today announced it will publish N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This sequel, based on the all-action combat game Ninety-Nine Nights, will pick up the story where the original left off and take it to all new heights.

Set on a ravaged world, N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights invites the player to take on all comers in a series of spectacular battles. Players can enjoy the story from five different perspectives – including humans, elves and goblins – and are pitted against wave after wave of adversaries in the ultimate ‘last man standing’ free-for-all. Each of the species is given a specific back-story, which unfolds as the game progresses, while the various races also bring unique skills and abilities to the battle field.

At its heart, N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights is a vast combat title, with hundreds of enemy creatures on screen simultaneously. As the camera picks over the action, the player can use a wealth of easily effected combo attacks to carve a path through the enemy, and also use whatever weapons and items come to hand. At the end of each skirmish, players will then face a ‘Titanic Boss Battle’ against the champion of their current adversary, with players forced to move quickly and locate the well-hidden weak spots of these seemingly unstoppable behemoths.

N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights also has a stunning two-player co-op online mode, wherein player’s team up against the oncoming hordes, working together to expand their combo range to take out more enemy assailants at once. This two-player mode features online ranking boards detailing the most effective pairings across the globe.

N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights will be released in Spring 2010 and available for Xbox 360.

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Bioshock 2 takes us back to the undersea city of Rapture ten years after the end of the first game. You play as a Big Daddy in search of his Little Sister, but not just any Big Daddy. You are the first ever created somehow brought back to life. As the original person to assume the role of the gigantic protector of the Little Sisters, progressing though the 8 massive levels of the game you come to realize that not only is there so much more to who you are, but that the main antagonist, Sofia Lamb, is also not what she seems. Lamb has been kidnapping young girls for years to supplement the aging Little Sister population. You’re ties to her and the Little Sister that you have come in search of becomes apparent as you play through the game.

2K Games spent the last few years expanding on the already spectacular city under the ocean. While none of Bioshock 2 takes place in the locations of the original Bioshock, the developers have done a great job carrying over the feel of the first game. The art deco environments look spectacular even through the entire city is in disarray. Whether you are walking around the slums of Pauper Drop or the supposed glamour of Fontaine Futuristics, you can’t help but wonder how Rapture would have looked in its glory days.

Not only were there new locations created for the sequel, but new enemies as well. All four of the Splicers are back as well as the Big Daddies. They have amped up a bit more on ADAM over the ten years making the Splicers a bit more formidable especially the Spider Splicers. Three new and very powerful enemies make their debut: Brute Splicers, Alpha Series, and Big Sisters. Brute Splicers are tanks with massive physical strength, the Alpha Series are the new Big Daddies without Little Sisters to worry about, and the Big Sisters are very powerful and fast opponents, which will attack without mercy.

The gameplay for Bioshock 2 is pretty much the same as the first game: instructions are given to you over the radio by allies for you to follow and separate exploration of the levels. Many of the missions given to you by your ally, Sinclair, have you disabling transmitters, defeating enemies, or simply finding ways to bypass obstacles. You will also hear from the little sister who is all grown up, Eleanor, on some objectives.

Taking over the role of a Big Daddy also gives you the abilities that gave many players so much trouble while fighting against the Big Daddies in the first Bioshock. You start with a drill and quickly earn the rivet gun. By the end of the game, you will also have a rocket launcher, machine gun, spear gun, and shotgun to choose from for fighting off the Splicers. The Power to the People stations makes a return appearance from the first Bioshock to enable up to 14 upgrades to your weapons. Each weapon can be upgraded up to three times. However, this time there are not enough stations to upgrade every weapon so you have to be wise about how you use the upgrades.

Researching and hacking are back as well. Instead of a one-shot film camera, you get a video camera to capture the bad guys in action to increase your damage against them and earn tonics. Hacking ammo, vending and health machines will ensure that you do not blow through the money you find too fast. Thankfully, the hacking mini game has changed. All you have to do is press a button when a moving needle passes over a green or blue section on a bar. Land on the white and you’ll get a shock losing some health; land on the red and an alarm will go off alerting security drones.

This wouldn’t be a Bioshock game without Plasmids. Those fantastic powers with names like Telekinesis, Incinerate, Winter Blast, Electro Bolt, Scout, and Decoy are back and as powerful as ever. Using Winter Blast to freeze and enemy before bashing his head in or Incinerate to fry off some health will help you fight your way through the game. While you don’t have to have every of the 11 Plasmid in order to advance through the levels, make sure Telekinesis, Incinerate, Winter Blast and Electro Bolt are in your inventory. They help immensely.

You can purchase and upgrade Plasmids with ADAM at the Gatherer Garden machines. ADAM can be obtained by either saving or harvesting the Little Sisters you encounter. However, there is a new twist: since you are Big Daddy, you can adopt the Little Sisters after you defeat the other Big Daddy protecting them. This way they can harvest ADAM from the dead for you. After they are finished, you’ll have the choice of saving the Little Sister or harvesting them. Be aware that whatever your choice is after you take care of the Little Sisters in each level you will have to face a Big Sister. Make sure you stuck up on ammo before she arrives.

Moral choices play a larger role this time around then they did in the last game. How you treat the Little Sisters and the “bosses” will influence how much ADAM you get and the ending. Remember that your decisions will influence Eleanor as well. She becomes instrumental at the end of the game.

The major difference between Bioshock 2 and Bioshock is the inclusion of multiplayer. There are 10 levels taken from the first Bioshock like Arcadia and the Medical Pavilion in which you can play Survival of the Fittest (deathmatch), Capture the Sister (capture the flag), ADAM Grab 9kill of the hill), and a few other play modes. The entire multiplayer experience is set in a time period before the fall of Rapture. You are a Splicer who tests the Plasmids and weapons you’ll earn as you level up on other Splicers and Big Daddies.

While you are originally a Splicer, you can find a suit that will turn you into a Big Daddy in most of the matches. You can also hack machines for ammo and eve as well as booby-trap them against other players. One of the more innovative aspects of the multiplayer is researching opponents that have been killed. After researching them, you gain a damage increase against them. This could mean the difference during a head-to-head fight.

I liked my return trip to Rapture. Being a Big Daddy was fun. The story was solid, but not as memorable as the first Bioshock. The environment, while gorgeous, wasn’t as shocking as the first time, but that may be because I was ready for it. Those who have not player Bioshock will probably get more from Bioshock 2, but overall I think it was a solid and fun, if not slightly predictable, sequel.

ESRB Rating: Mature          Avg. playtime: Story -10 hours          One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 760

Replay value: Story –Moderate; Multiplayer -High          Multiplayer: Yes

-Tim Fischer
Managing Editor
Gamertag: porkroll1711

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Bayonetta is a stylish action game made by SEGA and Hideki Kamiya. The main story surrounds a witch with powers that are extraordinary.  The enemies in the game are angelic and since you character is a witch, well you kind of see where this is going to go. The game itself is an all out action title with hordes of enemies to fight. There are many outlandish finishing moves which are graceful and awe-inspiring. This game has a pace and speed to it that you have to experience; we strongly recommend that you download the demo and try the game. This game is like Devil May Cry with a little Ninja Giaiden and some Afro Samurai mixed in. There is a commonality between these games that you can understand the similarities.  All in all Bayonetta is a good investment and I would recommend the game.

The combat mechanics and game play are stylish and immersive. Kamiya and his development team should be honored for this great game and their contributions to the industry.

The design and game graphics are very immersive and captivating. This game pushes the upper limits of the XBOX 360 and would be a great addition to any game collection. The audio and sound effects could have been thought out a little better. We think that the sound design for this game could have been more relevant to the genre.

The Bayonetta story is about the balance between lightness and darkness.  Long ago there were two clans, the lumen sages and the umbra witches. These two groups balanced out the light and darkness respectivly. The lumen aligned with the god of Paradiso and controlled the power of light. The Umbra channel their power from the demons of inferno, they watched over the power of the darkness.  There was a time when both clans had respect for each other, but a tragic event caused the two clans to enter into a war. At the end of this war the only one left standing was the Umbra witch: Bayonetta.

One of the most interesting things aspect of the story is how the two clans are portrayed. The Umbra witches are not intrinsically evil as much as they are important for the balance and order of the universe.  Basically, the synopsis of the game is it is about Bayonetta killing angelic hordes and legions. However, the feel of doing such things doesn’t make you feel evil or diabolical. This is what the life purpose of Bayonetta.

After playing through the game you will come to the conclusion that she is one of the coolest female characters.  The game highlights her sexuality at every opportunity possible moment.  There are some areas of the story that certainly do leave room for improvement, like the plot. The story is kind of all over the place and at times it feels like a loose translation from some Japanese manga story versus a well crafted interconnected sequence of storylines. Other games like Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect have a much better conceived storyline and perspective.

The combat system is that of any typical action game. The face buttons control punch, kick and fire.  The right trigger button controls causes Bayonetta to dodge in any direction. This is seriously an important feature to master when playing the game.

Learning the timing to dodge attacks is important. This will help your survivability and overall mastery of the game.  There is a feature called witch time and it is implemented very well. It enables the user of witch time to move Bayonetta at incredible speeds while your enemy is trapped in a sluggish modality.

Bayonetta also has some nasty tricks up her sleeve.  The witch can equip weapons on her hands and feet as well giving her a propensity for maximum damage. There are awesome weapons to discover going through this game like the, demonic katana, clawed gauntlets and ice skates. The glow from the katana is cool and the overall flexibility of the game is a joy to play. There are a mega amount of combos and at first they might seem overwhelming. It does take a few rounds of gameplay to settle on what would for your style of playing. Just pounding one button will work, however, not at the advanced levels.  My favorite types of attacks are the Torture attacks. Depending on the type of angle you use these kinds of attacks on will result in many different outcomes.  I also like summoning a Guillotine and pulverizing angelic opponents (just kidding, god forgive me).

The replayability of this game is very high as you earn halos to buy items and weapons at the ingame shop called “Gates of Hell”. There is plenty to buy in Bayonetta from the dealer Rodin, he is the demonic arms dealer. There are restorative lollipops and battle accessories that make sense of the combination moves in the game.

There is a far share of boss battles in the game as well. All of which are most entertaining. Bayonetta will not only face bosses that are her own size, but she’ll also go up against “Cardinal Virtues”, agents of Paradiso. These are agents that represent the most powerful extensions of divine will and authority.  These showdowns are not only entertaining, but also demonstrate Bayonetta’s amazing finishing moves. In some of these moves she summons the demons from inferno to end the battle. These climax events are similar to the attacks employed on lesser angles, but they occur on a much grander scale.

<Spoilers!!!!!!!*************************************************************>

It is very much worthwhile to point out that the final climatic moments of the game are very well worth all of the necessary achievement whoring.  I have played thousand of video games and I truly found the end boss battle extraordinary. By the closing sequences if you are not a advocate then you need a personality transplant.

I enjoyed my time with Bayonetta and would recommend the game to anyone who liked Devil may Cry, Ninja Giaden and or Dead Space.

Key Game Features:

• String together deadly combos and special attacks to bring down angelic enemies, including small minions and gigantic behemoths
• Rely on Scarborough Fair, a collection of four enchanted guns, plus shotguns, bazookas and fiery claws
• Retrieve a variety of other weapons from fallen enemies
• Fill up the Magic gauge and unleash your powers to banish enemies to hell
• Use linked combo attacks and Bayonetta‘s hair to call demonic forces to your aid in battle
• Transform into a panther, bat or other life form depending on the circumstances
• Employ the Iron Maiden, Guillotine and other gruesome devices to finish off monstrous foes
• For 1 player

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The Bible’s Book of Revelations tells the story of the end of the modern world brought forth by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse with the breaking of seven seals, which then leads to a holy war between Heaven and Hell. Sounds like the making of a great video game.

Vigil Games has taken this prophecy and given it a twist: What if all but the last seal were broken and one of the Four Horsemen was blamed for the resulting war? Welcome to Darksiders. Human population 0.

You play as the character War, one of the Four Horsemen, who enforces the edicts of the Charred Counsel, a neutral body that pretty much sets the rules between Heaven and Hell. When the apocalypse occurs on Earth, angles and demons are fighting in the streets before War arrives without being summoned. This leads to the annihilation of the human race at the hands of one called the Destroyer.

After War returns to the Counsel he is blamed for the destruction and stripped of most of his power. He is then sent back to Earth a century later to avenge the premature war and the destruction of civilization. The Watcher, a sprite bonded to War by the Counsel, is sent with him to ensure that he follows the order. He also acts as a guide when you do not know exactly what to do next.

As you progress through the story you come to realize that things are not as they seem. Finding out who the Destroyer is and how to stop him is not necessarily as straight forward as you think. This is Heaven and Hell we are talking about. Things can not be taken at face value.

Darksiders is an action/adventure game (with some puzzle thrown in for good measure) in the same vein as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (exploration of different connect lands) and Devil May Cry (combo moves and purchasable upgrades). You progress though the levels earning back your strength and power by finding chests which contain items, defeating boss characters and using Volgrim, a vendor of items that can be purchased with the souls of defeated enemies and by selling 27 artifacts that are scattered throughout the world.

War can acquire powers through Volgrim. These four wrath abilities can be upgraded through Volgrim for a price. Blade geyser (ring of swords), immolation (fire) and affliction (poison) are all great for crowd control. The Forth wrath ability, stoneskin, increases durability and offensive damage.

Being that War is a being of rage and vengeance, he does come equipped with the means to smite his enemies. Chaoseater is War’s sword and only weapon at the start, but you can buy a scythe from Volgrim and find the Tremor Gauntlet while playing. All three weapons’ power can be increased up to four levels simple by using them to strike enemies. There are also enhancements that can be assigned to each weapon giving War abilities such as increased damage, more souls per kill, increased armor, and other talents.

Also be on the lookout for equipment that you will need to progress though the levels. There are a total of six pieces of gear that you will need to find. Two, the crossblade and Mercy, are weapons. The other four, the Abyssal Chain, Voidwalker, Earthcaller, and the Mask of Shadows, either help you to progress through levels or see objects that were hidden before. With every new piece of equipment you find you are going to want to go back to previous levels to see how the new ability helps you find chests.

Overall the game is what I would consider average. The story which is compelling at first, turns into the predictable “It’s all for the greater good” scenario, but if what you are looking for is a solid action game to occupy you for about 15 hours give Darksiders a shot.

ESRB Rating: Mature       Avg. playtime: 15-20 hours       One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 810       Replay value: Low       Multiplayer: No

-Tim Fischer

Managing Editor

Gamertag: porkroll1711

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