Earlier this afternoon, I had the opportunity to sit down and play Capcom’s latest spinoff in the Resident Evil series. Capcom has partnered with SOCOM Confrontation developer Slant Six Games to push the series in an entirely new direction with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.  Together, they have created the franchise’s first third-person team-based shooter and it looks like it’s shaping up to be something special.

The game follows the Umbrella Security Service (USS) through the Raccoon City Incident – previously seen from the perspective of Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield in Resident Evil 2 and Jill Valentine in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Operation Raccoon City features three-way competitive multiplayer between US Spec Ops, Umbrella security forces, and the infected threat of zombies and Bio-Organic Weapons. While at the Capcom booth I had the chance to sit down for a fifteen-minute single-player demo.

Hit the jump for my impressions.

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Gamer Limit went hands on with Star Fox 64 3D on the Nintendo 3DS. There were three levels to choose from for this demo, essentially easy, medium and hard. We chose the middle, Meteo level. First impressions equate to the original Nintendo 64 title, just a little more sharp and a little more enjoyable.

The gameplay ports very well to the handheld device. The default button layout makes for almost the same experience fans had with the original game, with the circle pad just as responsive as the joystick. The depth of field with 3D offers an immersion that seems perfect for the game. Especially for the Meteo level, with humongous space rocks and bots  flying in and out of the screen, it all at once reminds fans why the game was so exciting on the 64, and how 3D can contribute to a new experience if done right.

For the most part it’s right. For the most part.

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This is part one of a four part, in-depth study of what makes a great game. Reader be forewarned, there be spoilers afoot.

If you’ve read the reviews for Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, you already have a sense for how fantastic the game is. Boot up the app on your iPhone or iPad (the iPad version is definitely recommended), and you arguably get one of the best games to have come out of this generation. I say this regardless of the platform.

However, few know how complete and transcendental the gaming experience S:S&S EP delivers. We aim to lay it all out. For those of you who have never heard of this game, and those of you who don’t own an iOS device, we also aim to let you know why you should still take note.

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Japan has a myriad of head scratching attractions that are borderline appalling. Yet, strangely enough, they draw a certain following that seems to flourish in Japanese society: Maid Cafes, Gyaru Mamas, Snack Bars, Karaoke, Cat Cafes, influence of sex fetishes, etc.

If none of those things send you straight to Google Search, then get ready for Purikura – The video game industry’s answer for the female market. But wait! Is it a video game or nothing more than a photo booth?

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The premise is simple: you go to a bar and see a bunch of people playing this cow abduction game on the big screen. They’re using their iPhones, iPads and Androids as controllers, pressing on the screen to abduct, tilting their phones to move. You connect via your mobile device and you’re next in line. Consider it the 2.0 version of putting your quarter up.

Cow Snatchers was just one of several games demoed at D2S Games’ underground event last week. However, the event wasn’t really meant to demo their games more than it was showcase their platform, which is all about playing games socially without the likes of Facebook. As D2S chief visionary officer Donna Bonifield put it, “it’s all about taking people away from Facebook and into face time.” In fact, this event was more about redefining what a social game is. Read more… »

Not your typical fanboys, Ahruon and Orkimedes are the brain trust behind a lovely game called Card Saga Wars. What makes this game (and thus these two individuals) so special is that it lets you pit characters like Master Chief and Samus against one another in card art style battle. The concept of crossover battles is nothing original, but, judging by the gameplay videos that have surfaced thus far, they have gone through great pains to make things just right.

Of course you want to see more. Why would I even ask that question?

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One of the most difficult things about being a gamer is seeing Japanese releases of our favorite series or most anticipated titles in Japan months before it ever hits foreign markets: i.e. US, UK, and AUS. The other difficulty is knowing that sometimes our favorite titles will never reach foreign soil.  It’s a sad fact and facing those difficulties is something we’ve all had to confront at least once in our lifetime.

But wait! For those who are not deterred by cultural boundaries and language barriers, you can be one of the select few in this world that have had the opportunity to play the unobtainable.  But before you delve further, I have to tell you that I’d be lying if I’d said I have the answer to all your problems; I don’t. But with a little work and dedication, anyone can turn a daunting obstacle into a rewarding experience. Read more… »

Mobile. Social. A couple of words thrown around when you hear the mainstream talk about the future of gaming. It has people seeing Facebook as the new blue, the iOS as the new engine that drives the culture. Understandably, this has hardcore console and PC gamers seeing red and their voices roaring. The good fellows over at Kotaku frame a good bit of this argument well.

We’re seeing legends like John Romero (Doom, Quake) and Brian Reynolds (Civilization II, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri) switching sides to develop the next line of cutesy Ville-games on the social network. Yet, we’re also seeing the core striving with the likes Bulletstorm and the soon to be released L.A. Noire. With tunnel vision, these are the only sides you can pick from. You’re either a  traditional console/PC gamer, or you’re on the ‘Avant-guard’ of gaming’s social and mobile invasion. That’s rather confining, if you think about it. Gaming can do so much more. This is where Gamification comes in.

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You can buy food and water with money. Food and water are good things because they keep you alive. Or, you can buy video games. Video games are a good thing, too, in our opinion.

Although, when you’ve popped that disc in, it’s close to heartbreak and hand wringing when you find your $60 have been wasted on unbearable gameplay, horrendous graphics and a wet-paper-thin storyline. It has become common practice to take the game back to GameStop (or now Best Buy) to get your money back. What’s even more aggravating, however, is the knowledge that you’re only getting a fraction of what you paid, yet they’re going to turn around and sell it at near-new prices.

Gamestaq feels your pain. Instead of sticking it to you, they only charge a $1-2 stipend, letting you pocket the money made on the sale (a good thing, we’ve established). All is well until you dig a little deeper to find that there is a perpetual dark cloud hovering over this re-sale oasis.

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During the Games Developers Conference in downtown San Francisco this past Wednesday THQ partnered with GameStop to promote their upcoming game Homefront. The game has become quite well known in the gaming community for its fantastic viral marketing campaign.

Because Homefront is set in the near-future where the United States is invaded by North Korea, THQ hosted a mock rally against  the North Korean government, culminating in the release of ten thousand red balloons. While the stunt garnered THQ with quite a bit of attention for their upcoming title, it wasn’t as positive as they may have liked. San Francisco residents soon began complaining about the flurry of trash polluting their city and public waters.

Hit the jump for a full assessment of the situation and its potential environmental consequences.

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The free handouts, the big reveals, the hands-on demos — none of these should be the reason why you’re kicking yourself for not attending PAX East this year. She is the reason. She is the reason many times over.

This woman’s smart, PhD from UC Berkeley smart. She understands + 1 relates to skill or gil or rupees, not some abstract and meaningless mathematical equation. Her name is Jane McGonigal, and it won’t be too hard to pick her out of the crowd in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. She’ll be the one on stage giving the keynote speech. Do you need more credentials? Here they are.

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The time has come! Whether you’re a fan of Origins, Bioware, or Action RPGs in general, odds are you’re looking to check out Dragon Age II. Throughout my two playthroughs, I’ve come across some tips that will be invaluable to those who are looking to complete the game on a higher difficulty, or those who just don’t want to miss anything.

While Dragon Age II isn’t too difficult, feel free to leaf through the below tips if you’re looking to gain an edge on the denizens of Kirkwall. Read more… »