According to a source that spoke to Siliconera, “Sony Computer Entertainment is recording a teaser for a future Killzone game” that apparently will take place after the events of Killzone 3. The rumor hints that Visari’s daughter–seen briefly in Killzone 3‘s opening cinematic–will be a feature character in the future game.

Siliconera’s source also revealed the dialogue for what appears to be the game’s opening political diatribe, a staple of the Killzone series.

My sons and my daughters, today we take the first step toward our imperial future.

For years, this once-great nation has stagnated in the shadow of its enemies. Governed by scoundrels who flaunted the ideals established by my father, these traitors… these enemies of our race have diluted and exploited the triad of Duty, Obedience, and Loyalty.

This regime, this corrupt regime, has been dissolved. In its place does rise an era of stability and strength. A time of opportunity born from a promise that we shall return our people to their proper sphere of dominance.

If the rumors about Visari’s daughter taking his place are true, this could be an interesting direction for the series. Personally, I think it’s interesting that they are bringing up the triad because it shows that the developers might be showcasing the series’ lore and backstory a little bit more–something I’m all in favor of.

[Source: Siliconera]

Resident Evil 6 was initially slated for a November 20th release, but it looks like the Gods have smiled upon us this day, as Capcom has announced a new October 2nd target. Also, more importantly, in light of this news Capcom has released a new trailer for the game, which highlights the real news here: Wesker Jr. will be a playable character in the game. Also, Leon and Chris engage in an epic battle for whatever reason — more news for this game can’t come soon enough!

Considering I played the Resident Evil 5 demo at least fifty times before I got my hands on the main game, it’s safe to say I’m pretty excited to play the July 3rd demo included with Dragon’s Dogma.

Shortly following Tiger Woods’ first PGA Tour event win in more than two years, the newest installment of Tiger Woods PGA Tour was released. The past few years of this franchise has brought with it some of the best innovation in sports gaming. A sentiment that many hope stays true in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 and beyond.

Game mechanics like Focus and True-Aim have kept the games fresh and rewarding in years past. And while not all of them were gems – looking at you caddie – EA Sports keeps all of this in mind and does not rest on its laurels. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 successfully polishes its strengths, focuses on addressing its weaknesses, and provides enough new content to keep players entertained for hours on end.

One of the biggest issues in the Tiger Woods franchise has always been its difficulty level and its failure to properly scale. Prior to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 with the introduction of True-Aim, the higher difficulties still lacked that challenge many are looking for. While True-Aim was a welcomed addition, the game still lacked a proper difficulty scaling – one in which could only be addressed at its core game mechanic. And thus, Total Swing Control was born.

In years past, the swing mechanic had very few variables that shaped where and how the ball would move. This resulted in a very binary long and short game and is the main reason why Tiger Woods games became a bit mindless after dozens of hours. Total Swing Control completely redefines the way you play every inch of the golf course. The left stick movement now 100% shapes your shot. This not only fixes the difficulty scaling mentioned previously, but it also keeps you engaged and thinking every second. This results in a much more fun and rewarding experience.

The swing meter is gone and in its place is a swing arc. This arc is dynamically defined based on the lie of the ball, your stance, the strike you intend to put on the ball, whether you wish to draw or fade, etc. It is then up to you to match this arc with your left stick. As you pull back the left stick a new arc is drawn. If it is accurate, it will remain white; if not, a red line will be drawn.

Strike and Stance are now something that can be user controlled as well and works hand-in-hand with Total Swing Control. Any change in strike or stance will change the swing arc and is thus something you have to earn when attempting to execute. This fine grain control provides yet another element of strategy that continues to drive the franchise to complete realism.

In previous years, power was earned by spamming the A button if on 360 or the X button if on PS3. The more you pressed it during the backswing, the more power went into the shot. With Total Swing Control, power is now earned based on the swing. The more you hold down the left stick and the faster you bring it forward, the more overswing received and thus more power.

While these mechanic changes work very well and greatly improve gameplay, one negative change is the removal of Focus. While I understand that this power mechanic change has a direct impact on Focus and how it would work, removing it is not the right answer. Focus brought about an element of strategy and aided the issue of people getting 30 under par in a round. With its removal, unfortunately, unrealistic scores in online tournaments and matches at the lower difficulties have returned.

Finally, for those worried, the caddie is finally out of your hair. The caddie system is more under the covers this year and suggestions from the caddie can be received by pressing the Y button on 360 or the Triangle button on PS3. As with last year though, the suggestions the caddie makes are still pretty hit or miss. Either way, it operates as a good guideline for beginners. For those hardcore players, thankfully it can be turned off this year.

One of the most addicting elements of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is the introduction of a coin system. Coins are rewarded based on your performance in any mode you participate in. Multipliers are given depending on difficulty as well as the performance of the Country Club you are in – something which will be discussed a bit later. You also receive coins for completing various objectives across all Tiger Woods games. The more Tiger Woods games you play to complete these objectives, the more coins you receive.

What you do with these coins is a more controversial topic however. Various packs can be purchased which contain pins. Up to three pins can be chosen prior to any match you play. These pins can alter your performance on a given course, power rating, overall stats, etc. While not necessary to complete any objectives or tournaments in the game, it does provide a slight advantage to those that either play a lot or, unfortunately, those that cough up some real life money. When it comes down to it though, skill will always reign supreme – no pay to win here thankfully.

Coins can also be used to buy 18-hole access to various downloadable content courses. While the 16 holes provided in the retail game are plenty, some may want to try out some of the 16 downloadable content courses. I feel it is a fantastic idea to allow players that don’t wish to pay for courses to be given another option. If you use your coins enough on a course and complete all the course mastery objectives, you receive unlimited playtime on that course.

While at first glance this might feel like a free-to-play structure, there is the same amount of courses as in years past, but now you can be rewarded for playing hours on end. To some this may feel like “typical EA” with their microtransactions and cash grabs but after playing this game for over 40 hours, I have come to realize that this in no way shapes or defines how the game plays. All pins and chance at unlimited access to courses are well within grasp if you put in the time. Be smart with your pins, play at higher difficulties, make your way into a good Country Club and you will soon find yourself making great headway in unlocking free, unlimited access to some of your favorite downloadable content courses.

So now you must be asking yourself, “What are these Country Clubs he is talking about?” Well, you can now join together with up to 24 people and show everyone else what you are made of. Once a Country Club is created, various objectives can be completed to make your way up the ranks. No matter who or what you play in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13, your performance always ties into your Country Club. Also, as mentioned previously, a coin multiplier is rewarded based on your Country Club level. This is an element that Tiger Woods has always been missing – a reason to actually tie yourself to the online world.

In addition to the leveling system you can also participate in various tournaments or matches against each other or other Country Clubs. This greatly operates as a stepping stone into the online world of Tiger Woods. It first can operate as a “semi-online” function and is not intimidating in the least. But as you play more and build a bond with the Country Club you are in, you will soon find yourself jumping into dozens of online matches and tournaments. Online has always been a dwindling element of Tiger Woods but this is undoubtedly the spark the franchise has needed for online modes.

The one mode that many find themselves spending the most time with each year is their created player career. Unfortunately, not much has changed here. You make your way from an amateur to a pro, pick up sponsors along the way, and, of course, spend your experience on various skill attributes.

One of the most notable changes in created player mode however is the fact that the control you have over your attributes is much more basic. In previous years you would spend experience points in subcategories of main skill attributes. This year, you only level up the main attributes. While this isn’t really a big issue, some may prefer that fine grain control that is now gone. Nonetheless, it simplifies things without having a large negative impact on the mode itself. Created player mode continues to be my mode of choice and is still a ton of fun.

The newest and most publicized mode in this years Tiger Woods is Legacy Challenge. From Tiger’s toddler years all the way into the future, various milestones in Tiger’s career were carefully chosen. Each of these milestones act as challenges that you can complete.

With up to ten hours of gameplay in this game mode, the experience ranges anywhere from downright bliss to unnecessarily frustrating. The frustrating element is not only because the game mode begins to become a bit long in the tooth but because the difficulty spikes really get to you. At one point you are doing simple putts and the next you are doing match play against an, at times, too good player. These weird difficulty spikes continue throughout the over 50 challenges. This is one mode that I enjoyed much more when played in smaller gaming sessions.

For those that are interested, yes there are in fact motion controls in this year’s Tiger Woods – be it on the 360 with the Kinect or the PS3 with the Move. The PlayStation Move controls are very similar to last years with a couple more fine tuned improvements in tracking. It is a much more realistic experience than that of the alternative in Kinect.

Unfortunately, the Kinect controls are extremely disappointing. The game menu controls are a bit frustrating at times and once in game, it is a simple swing mechanic. First, you face the Kinect which is a bit disorrienting given the fact that you are used to facing the course sideways when swinging. Controlling things like where you want to hit the ball, changing clubs, and spin are fantastic and work very well with voice commands as well. However, once you swing you will quickly realize just how little tracking the Kinect is doing. Whether you are on the hardest difficulty in the game, swinging is nothing more than making a swinging motion. No matter how bad it is, it will always be spot on. I was expecting much more out of the Kinect and have no intention to turn on the Kinect again for this game.

Overall, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is a great experience. The gameplay mechanics and modes introduced this year are a great step in the right direction. There is a lot of content in this year’s title but it is really hard to say whether it is worth the upgrade from Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 to 13. If Total Swing Control, the coin system, Country Clubs, or Legacy Challenge is in any way appealing to you, then the answer is undoubtedly yes. If not, you can enjoy the annoying caddie from 12 because I sure don’t miss him.

This review was based on a retail copy of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for the Xbox 360.

Socom and MAG developer Zipper has reportedly closed their doors for good, according to parent company Sony. Apparently while the studio is closed, their games will still be supported, including the newly released Unit 13 for the Vita. Other than “executive re-alignment”, no real reason for the closure was given, and there is no word on who (if anyone) will take over the franchise going forward.

Sony issued this statement: [the closure was a] “result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS. Zipper titles MAG, SOCOM 4 and Unit 13 will continue to be supported, including the new Daily Challenges in Unit 13.”

[Source: Joystiq]

The Mistborn fantasy series by author Brandon Sanderson will be “lurching” its way onto PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,  PC, and Mac in fall 2013 courtesy of developer Little Orbit. Sanderson himself is writing the story for the game, titled Mistorn: Birthright, and it will be set several hundred years before the events of the books.

The game is set to be an action-RPG, and Mistborn‘s unique magic system based off metals lends itself well to an interactive medium. This won’t be Sanderson’s first time working with videogames as he did story development for iOS game Infinity Blade II and wrote the Infinity Blade: Awakening tie-in novella. According to the press release, players will “suit up as Fendin “Fiddle” Fathvell, an arrogant young nobleman who must quickly master his newfound Allomantic abilities before forces at work can destroy his entire family.”

[Source: Mistborn: Birthright]

While Ninja Gaiden III is not really up to par with the rest of the series, at times it is still a serviceable action game. Also, at least one of you out there will be playing it at some point in your life, so an achievement/trophy guide is probably going to be requested by someone, and I haven’t seen any yet.

So, without further ado, read on for help on the game’s achievements/trophies.

Falcon Dive

Learn the Falcon Dive.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression at the start of the game. You cannot miss it.

Sliding

Learn how to slide.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the beginning of the game. You cannot miss it.

Kunai Climb

Learn the Kunai Climb.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the beginning of the game. You cannot miss it.

Wall Run

Learn the Wall Run.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression a short while through level 2. You cannot miss it.

Flying Bird Flip

Learn the Flying Bird Flip.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the middle of the game. You cannot miss it.

Rope Crossing

Learn how to cross a rope.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the middle of the game. You cannot miss it.

Izuna Drop

Learn the Izuna Drop.

This combo is done by pressing X, Y, X, X, X, Y (pop-up then three slashes, then grab). On PS3 this is Square, Triangle, Square, Square Square, Triangle. You can obtain this accomplishment in multiplayer or single player.

Ultimate Technique

Learn the Ultimate Technique.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the beginning of the game. You cannot miss it.

Steel on Bone

Cut down 100 enemies with Steel on Bone attacks.

This is done by using normal attacks and then mashing the attack button when the camera zooms in. You learn this technique in-game and you will most likely obtain this achievement in the game’s story. You can obtain this accomplishment in multiplayer or single player.

I Got Your Back

Play a Co-op Ninja Trial with a partner.

You need to utilize the online pass, as the game doesn’t have local coop. Simply complete any Ninja Trial in online coop mode to unlock this. You can play the easiest challenge possible, just try and do it as soon as possible before the community is gone.

Initiation

Play a Clan Battle.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Simply compete in Ninja Battle and finish the round, win or lose.

Teamwork

Win 10 team battles.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Win ten team matches to unlock this in Clan battle.

One Against the World

Win a battle royale match.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Once you do so, you have to wait until you get a match that turns into an FFA at the end – win this FFA. An easy way to get kills in FFA is to use the ninpo blast into a group, or utilize ghost killing (instructions are two achievements below).

Shady

Perform a betrayal.

This one can be both hard to get the opportunity for and achieve. Keep doing contracts in multiplayer until you get the betrayal contract. Once you do, you have to press (left analog stick click – L3 and attack at the same time) — aim at your teammate to switch to the other side. You will either unlock this achievement immediately or after the match is over.

Sneaky

Perform a ghost kill.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Eventually you will unlock the ghost kill ability online. To use this ability, slowly walk by moving the analog stick slightly, then press heavy attack when you’re near an enemy to execute them.

An Honorable Death

Perform harakiri.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. You unlock this ability around level 25. When you’re near death, you can press “B” (Circle) to kill yourself, unlock the achievement/trophy, and deny a kill.

Snowfield

Play the Snowfield stage 10 times.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Simply play online on this level and complete the match ten times. Once you start paring down this and the other two level achievements, you can just quit/rejoin clan battles until you get the level you need.

Guardian of the Village

Play the Hidden Village stage 10 times.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Simply play online on this level and complete the match ten times. Once you start paring down this and the other two level achievements, you can just quit/rejoin clan battles until you get the level you need.

Observer

Play the Watchtower stage 10 times.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Simply play online on this level and complete the match ten times. Once you start paring down this and the other two level achievements, you can just quit/rejoin clan battles until you get the level you need.

The Spice of Life

Get 10 customization parts.

You need to utilize the online pass to play online. Simply play clan battles and you will unlock this in a very short amount of time — you may not even notice the unlock.

Walking Dictionary

Get 100 kanji.

You earn kanji through multiplayer and Ninja Trials. Play a combination of ninja trials and clan battles to earn kanji, and earn this achievement/trophy. Do well in clan battles to have a higher chance of unlocking kanji.

Inferno

Learned Ninpo.

This achievement is unlocked through normal story progression near the beginning of the game. You cannot miss it.

Steel on Steel – THROUGH - Mentor

Destroyed the Steel Spider – THROUGH - Cleared the game on Hard.

All of these secret achievements are unlocked through normal story progression. If you play your first playthrough on Hard, you will unlock the Hero and Normal achievements as well. During each level, one achievement is earned at the mid-way point, and one is unlocked at the end after a boss fight.

Master Ninja

Cleared the game on Master Ninja.

Beat the game on Master Ninja to unlock this achievement/trophy. In order to obtain Master Ninja difficulty, you must beat the game. Other than the DLC difficulty, this is the hardest mode in the game.

Initiate

Cleared 10 Acolyte Trials.

You do not need the online pass to unlock this, as you can do it solo. Clear the 10 total Acolyte Trials to unlock this. You can also do this through online coop, however, please note the final achievement on this list before you do so (if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement).

Veteran

Cleared 10 Mentor Trials.

You do not need the online pass to unlock this, as you can do it solo. Clear the 10 total Mentor Trials to unlock this. You can also do this through online coop, however, please note the final achievement on this list before you do so (if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement).

Prestige

Cleared 5 Leader Trials.

You do not need the online pass to unlock this, as you can do it solo. Clear the 10 total Leader Trials to unlock this. You can also do this through online coop, however, please note the final achievement on this list before you do so (if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement).

Overlord

Cleared 5 Master Ninja Trials.

You do not need the online pass to unlock this, as you can do it solo. Clear the 10 total Master Ninja Trials to unlock this. You can also do this through online coop, however, please note the final achievement on this list before you do so (if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement).

Ultimate Ninja

Cleared 3 Ultimate Ninja Trials.

You do not need the online pass to unlock this, as you can do it solo. Clear the 10 total Ultimate Ninja Trials to unlock this. You can also do this through online coop, however, please note the final achievement on this list before you do so (if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement).

Master of the Katana

Raised the katana to level 10.

When Ninja Gaiden III was released, it only had the katana available — more weapons have shipped via DLC. Each weapon in Ninja Gaiden has a weapon level, outside of single player. Complete trials or clan battles to level up your weapon slowly but steadily. Clan battles level up the katana higher.

Hayabusa Style Grand Master

Reached level 50.

You can earn levels through solo play, trial coop play, or clan battles. This is simply a grind achievement and there is no way around it.

Lone Ninja

Cleared 10 Solo Ninja Trials.

Unlock this achievement by finishing ten ninja trials by yourself. This achievement is glitched at launch: if you clear a trial in coop before you do it solo, it will not count towards the final achievement). To avoid this issue, complete the ten easiest trials immediately.

DLC

Legendary Ninja

Clear the story on the Ultimate Ninja play style and Ultimate Ninja Trials 4 & 5.

This achievement/trophy is unlocked through normal story progression on the Highest DLC difficulty setting and the required trials. The difficulty is free DLC.

Bloodied Talons

Defeat 100 opponents in Clan Battles with the Metal Claws.

Unfortunately you must buy this DLC (Claws separate, or DLC Pack #1) to obtain this achievement/trophy. Simply equip the claws online, and grind multiplayer matches until you earn this achievement. You don’t have to earn them with any special parameters in mind — just grind it.

Grim Reaper

Defeat 100 opponents in Clan Battles with the Great Scythe.

Unfortunately you must buy this DLC  (Scythe separate, or DLC Pack #2) to obtain this achievement/trophy. Simply equip the scythe online, and grind multiplayer matches until you earn this achievement. Ghost killing works well for this. You don’t have to earn them with any special parameters in mind — just grind it.

Warrior

Clear all Ninja Trials included in Ninja Pack 1.

Unfortunately you must buy this DLC (Trials separate, or DLC Pack #1) to obtain this achievement/trophy. There are twenty trials in this pack, and they are as follows – Acolyte 11-15; Leader 6-10; Mentor 11-15; Master 6-10.

Sage

Clear all Ninja Trials included in Ninja Pack 2.

Unfortunately you must buy this DLC (Trials separate, or DLC Pack #2) to obtain this achievement/trophy.

Mass Effect 3 is here, and much to the chagrin of non-Collectors-Edition buyers, there is day one DLC — specifically a downloadable pack that adds new squad member costumes, a new weapon, a new mission, and a new very spoilery squad member.

In fact, this DLC character in particular is the absolute focus on this pack, as original Mass Effect fans most likely have been dreaming about this moment for years.

Do not click the break or continue reading unless you’re ready for spoilers for this DLC only — specifically regarding the squadmate.

Javik himself is extremely versatile in that he has biotic abilities, but still utilizes a rifle. Simply put, he’s a hoss, and he’s an asset to your team. I can easily see using him the entire game because of how unique he is, not to mention the benefits of using him over the lack of other interesting core options. In my opinion, the standard cast is severely lacking in”non-generic badasses” outside of Garrus, so thankfully Javik is ready to fill that role in Mass Effect 3.

So in summation, before you lay down 10 smackeroos on this bit of content, take a good long look in the mirror and decide whether or not you’re a Mass Effect fanatic. If you’re just buying this DLC just for the mission because you remember how awesome Mass Effect 2′s Lair of the Shadow Broker was, you’re going to be disappointed. But, if you’re buying it to preserve a kickass piece of Mass Effect lore, or to help augment your second, third, and fourth playthroughs, you will enjoy From Ashes.

This review was based on a digital copy of From Ashes for the Xbox 360.

Mass Effect, over the years, has been quite the chameleon. At first, it started as a pretty RPG heavy title that involved tons of customization and obtuse design choices. Then it evolved into possibly the most streamlined product Bioware had ever produced.

Mass Effect 3 attempts to marry the two types of gameplay into one action packed conclusion. But does it succeed? Or is it too action packed for its own good?

Without spoiling too  much, at the start of Mass Effect 3, it goes without saying that things are not looking good for the galaxy. The Reapers, an ageless race that emerges from the shadows of the galaxy every 50,000 years, are now poised and ready to eradicate everything and everyone. As you can probably tell, there is probably a lot going on in this ~12 hour story — in fact, there may be too much going on.

In terms of lore, on a macro level, you’re going to get more with 3 than you ever have before. Species will interface with each other more than ever, and inter-species problems will rear their head right in front of your eyes. You’ll have to solve numerous age-old feuds in a frantic attempt to unit the galaxy against the Reaper threat.

You will fight giant Reapers, and you’ll feel like a badass doing it. Barring one specific encounter that features a rather odd design choice, battles are going to come fast, and they’re going to come hard. In fact, there are more jaw dropping sequences in Mass Effect 3 than either game in the series, and for the most part, all of your questions on the series are answered.

However, from a micro level, you’re not going to get nearly as much intimate time with your squad members as Mass Effect 2. Bioware, to a fault, attempts to cram quite a bit into the final part of this trilogy — sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

For starters, a large number of former squadmates (and subsequently fan favorites) will show up as fast as they disappear, sometimes to the point of comically fast — which will easily frustrate long time fans. Unlike the second iteration, you never really get the chance to stop and smell the roses — Mass Effect 3 feels like a constant 80Mph road trip with no pit stops. Even moving around the Galaxy map is a dire affair on occasion, as Reapers can invade your space and chase you down, Pac-Man style.

Your party, for the most part, also feels fairly bare bones. Once again the trademark “meathead marine” rears his ugly head, this time in the form of James Vega (and, depending on your ME1 game, Kaidan). — the minute I could replace James, I basically never heard from him again. The rest of your party consists of a few fan favorites, and a two characters that are so spoilery that I can’t even mention here. While some people may be fine with the party choice for Mass Effect 3, I personally felt like other than my signature two, I was out of luck.

Bioware is also seemingly pitching the idea that Mass Effect 3 is a good “starter point” for people who have never played the series. I heavily disagree. Without a large number of lore bits from the first game specifically, most gamers are going to be absolutely lost. Mass Effect 3 makes a decent attempt to educate new players on past events and the current political climate, but ultimately you will end up lost.

A lot of these recaps are mentioned in passing during events, and as a result, the event itself loses poignancy when you really have no basis for why it’s such a big deal. As a result, I heartily recommend you at least play Mass Effect 2 before you play 3.

But despite these inadequacies, Mass Effect 3 does make a number of advancements. When you first boot up the game, you’ll notice one rather large gameplay addition – the ability to play with either the Action, Roleplaying, or Story style gametypes. Action will choose everything for you dialogue wise, and essentially present the game as a non-stop movie. Story mode will make combat easier, and focus more on potential story impact and choices. Role Playing is the classic typical mix of action and story you know and love.

While most gamers are probably just going to stick with Classic, a number of people will most likely enjoy the option. Additionally, I found it pretty rewarding to choose different gameplay types for different playthroughs – it’s a small addition that helps incentivize new characters and new runs. I think every mechanic works well in it’s own right (I’m personally a fan of Action, given the series’ direction since 2), but I really doubt Bioware will bother carrying this new system over to new games, which is a shame.

Gameplay wise, everything is pretty much the same as 2, but there are a few more options that make combat more enjoyable. For starters, gun customization now returns, albeit not as vast as Mass Effect 1‘s system. Shepard also can hold down the melee button to initiate a special heavy sword attack, which looks as cool as it sounds. Weapons now take up “weight”, which can change the rate at which your powers/biotics regenerate — which means no more loading up 5 weapons unless you’re a Soldier (this is how it should have been all along).

One other little addition that helps accent the solid gameplay are the loading screens. Unlike the second game, which mostly showed a wire-frame version of your shuttle embarking to its destination, ME3 has detailed loading sequences that show fully featured animations of the game’s various locales. In fact, some of them are so cleverly hidden, you’ll barely realize the game is even loading — it’s a really nice touch that helps get you jacked up to blow up some Reapers.

As we tested the Xbox 360 version, we are able to report on the Kinect functionality. Out of combat, menial tasks like “Open [door]” or “Examine [locker]” seem extremely askew and pointless, especially since your right thumb is probably resting on the “A” button anyways. But in combat, the Kinect mechanics really start to help when you’re in the thick of things, and want to just relax and have fun without stopping the game for menu based selection.

Being able to tell Liara vocally to launch a Singularity charge at a certain enemy, then tell another squadmate to change ammo types on the fly is very fun, if only for a little while. However, given the delay, on higher levels of difficulty you may find yourself pausing combat via the weapon and ability menus anyways just to get your bearings.

While the campaign is around 12 hours, there is lots of content to be had with this game. While I’ll get to the multiplayer a bit later, I think it’s important to note that no single player content has suffered as a result of its inclusion. The only problem is that while most of the missions are exciting, nothing feels quite as emotionally significant as all the loyalty missions in ME2.

In addition to the game’s missions, exploration are customization are still viable  to some extent. For better or for worse, “planet scanning” the way you know it no longer exists — you simply shoot a sonar pulse onto the Galaxy Map, and occasionally you will find planets with resources or refugees on it. There is some scanning, but it’s so few and far between you won’t be doing it often — planets also only have a single scanning point.

After all is said and done, there is a bit of replay value to be had in addition to multiplayer. There’s a New Game+ option and the ability to go back before the “point of no return” after you beat the game. Considering there’s also nothing stopping you from creating a brand new Shepard in Mass Effect 1, and bringing him all the way through 3,  I’d say the game has a great deal of value — even if you complete ignore multiplayer.

Now onto the elephant in the room – multiplayer. To be blunt, your mileage may vary here. Personally, I’ve always viewed Mass Effect as a single player experience. I thought the cover system was fairly elementary, and while combat works well enough, I’m not the biggest fan of seeing how that would translate into coop play.

So — multiplayer. First off, it’s entirely coop, and has a four player limit — that right there will no doubt scare off a number of people who were expecting giant deathmatches or huge epic battles. Second, it’s entirely horde-based, and has a level-up system similar to Call of Duty. However, unlike most Horde Modes, which extend infinitely, Mass Effect’s is actually winnable, and has various objectives to complete during a session. Like an MMO, different races are playable, and those races only have certain classes available to them. You can also unlock new weapons and weapon mods in addition to extra equipment., through the in-game store.

My preconceived notions ended up being correct in this case — I got bored of multiplayer pretty quickly. There are only a handful of maps, and there isn’t really any story to be had. It’s also hard to really get into the multiplayer once you figure out that you can achieve everything (including all achievements and trophies) ultimately through the Campaign anyways. There’s also the whole micro-transaction setup that left a sour taste in my mouth. Basically, for either a ton of in-game currency or a nominal real-life fee (80 Microsoft points), you can buy “booster packs” — the problem is, you have no idea what’s in this pack.

It could be as cool as a permanent character, or as lame as a one-time-use item (it’s usually one-time-use-items). I think the multiplayer community may die off quickly if everyone is boosting and paying to win — all you need is one hotshot to buy a ton of packs, and kill a ton of enemies for you (which happened to me in a few public games). But, despite all this, if you’re absolutely bonkers about Mass Effect, you might enjoy the opportunity say, play as a Krogan with friends. Most people will skip multiplayer all together.

Galaxy at War, the other component of the online pass, extends over to the single player campaign. Essentially, this allows you to monitor the state of the galaxy in terms of its combat readiness against the Reaper invasion. You can heighten this readiness entirely through single player play, or you can contribute through multiplayer. Outside of changing the potential ending of the game (very slightly, for the last 30 seconds or so), this really doesn’t matter much. In fact, most people will probably play through single player and multiplayer without even realizing what this actually does.

As it stands, I view Mass Effect 3 the same way I view the original Star Wars trilogy. The first one is classic, the second is the masterpiece, and third is solid (but has some issues, like Muppets). While I don’t think that this recent entry is the best in the series, make no mistake — Mass Effect 3 is still a really solid game that shouldn’t be missed.

This review is based on a retail copy of the Xbox 360 game Mass Effect 3

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning by newcomer 38 Studios doesn’t feel like a debut game. The pure confidence with which it presents itself is refreshing because it knows what kind of game it wants to be. While some might be tempted to write Amalur off as just another Western RPG like Skyrim with some World of Warcraft thrown in for color, they’d be wrong.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning might be built upon the backs of familiar fantasy and RPG tropes, but it gets them right more often than it gets them wrong.

Bold and brash. Those two adjectives sum up what Amalur is about perfectly. It’s an action RPG that is all about making your character the biggest badass with the coolest gear around. It’s an escapist power fantasy, but it never pretends to be anything else.

You start Amalur as a recently resurrected corpse, the first person ever properly brought back to life by the Well of Souls. A streamlined menu lets you customize your appearance and then you’re thrust into the world of Amalur–a world penned by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore and illustrated by Todd MacFarlane.

Within minutes you’ve already had a taste of the combat and what your character can do. Already from the beginning you’re able to utilize swords, bows, stealthy daggers, or even hurl bolts of lightning at your enemies.

There are three schools of combat in Amalur: Might, Finesse, and Sorcery. They function exactly how they sound. The Might tree gives you access to warrior abilities including extra damage protection, a harpoon-like attack similar to Scorpion’s from Mortal Kombat, and others. Finesse is your stealthy rogue/archer skill tree where you can unlock skills like extra bow damage, stealth attacks, and traps. And finally Sorcery is your magic skill tree, full of elemental damage spells, self-healing spells, and even summoning spells.

Because your character is “Fateless”, you’re given the freedom to allocate your skill points however you see fit, and unlike most other RPGs you can’t make a mistake. By paying a Fateweaver a paltry sum of gold, you’re able to respect your character anytime you’d like. Amalur’s main narrative thrust is about your character being free from Fate, and the leveling system mirrors this. You’re free to build your character into the type of killing machine you want. Personally, my favorite was a hybrid class built from the Might and Finesse trees. I might have lacked some crowd control, but I made up for it with tons of critical hits during one on one fights.

As you sink points into your skill trees of choice, you unlock Destinies (basically just classes) that grant extra bonuses like increased spell damage or extra physical resistance. Again, the theme of picking and choosing how you want to play is built right into the Destinies system. They’re easily swappable depending on your style of play.

So that’s how you kill things in the world of Amalur, but what about the world itself? 38 Studios did a really fine job crafting Amalur, but I did have a minor complaint. While huge, the world isn’t wide open like Skyrim, but rather a series of large environments connected by what’re essentially corridors. Again, a minor complaint, but it did call attention to the fact that I was in a videogame world.

Players familiar with fantasy tropes will recognize a lot of the inhabitants in Amalur, but that’s not a bad thing. Amalur is a game that knows what it wants to be, and that’s a game with elves, gnomes, humans, fae, and a whole host of recognizable creatures but with a few twists. The lore surrounding Amalur is huge, and if you’re inclined, you can read books, question NPCs, or seek out Lorestones to find out more about it. However all these things, including the hundreds of sidequests, are purely optional. Play your way.

Most of the sidequests are just filler to gain EXP and better loot, but there are several faction quests you can undertake if you like. Players hopping over from Skyrim will feel right at home here. You can help out the Warsworn mercenaries, the Travlers–a group of thieves, or the two Houses of the Fae. There aren’t as many factions available as Skyrim, but they offer quests with a little more impact than some of the other smaller ones that tend to stray towards MMO-style “go here and kill X amount of some monster.”

But even some of the duller quests are improved by Amalur’s excellent combat. Rather than a slow, clunky system like in Skyrim or Fallout 3, combat in Amalur is fast-paced and brutal, like something closer to God of War or Darksiders. You’ll find yourself dodging enemy attacks, slashing them with daggers, to then quickly firing a few arrows, to finishing everything off with an AOE attack that summons flaming spires of rock from the ground. Landing a perfectly timed block always brought a little smile to my face, even after thirty hours of playing.

Despite that, there are a few issues with the combat. You know that AOE attack I just mentioned? By the end of the game, my main attack was doing more damage than it or my other abilities. For being a game built on flashy abilities, some of them feel surprisingly weak. They can be hard to aim, and if you miss just slightly, you leave yourself wide open for enemy attacks that always seem to hit you. Even projectile attacks are able to bend their courses midflight and hit you even if you thought you dodged out of the way. (An enemy called a Thresh is particularly guilty of this sin). It’s a minor annoyance but never one that threatened to stop me from playing.

Plus you’re only able to have four abilities mapped at one time, so investing skill points in more than four active abilities is a little pointless. At least with the sustained abilities you can map them, turn them on, then put something else in their slot. Not the most streamlined system, but nothing game-breaking either.

For as big as the world of Amalur is, there are surprisingly few enemy types. Sure they get stronger as you along, but I would’ve liked to see something other than wolves, generic humans, and boggarts. The end areas of the game are nothing more than glorified linear corridors with the same enemies (Tuatha soldiers and Prismere Trolls) over and over and over. These sections imply that 38 Studios started running out of either time or budget by the time they got there.

All of these issues are minor, but there is one left that is holding Amalur back from being truly great. I don’t know how much I want to replay it. Because the game doesn’t lock you into a specific class, you don’t have to play a different character if you want to be a mage instead of a warrior. It’s a double-edged sword; you have the freedom to play how you want, but would you really want to do it all again? You’re never locked out of any of the faction quests due to choices you’ve made. So if you finish the game and do all the faction quests, what incentive is there to keep going? Maybe more endgame content will be released as DLC, but that’s not guaranteed. (Edit: The Legend of Dead Kel DLC was just announced yesterday)

If you’d feel satisfied by playing through the game once for thirty or forty hours, then I highly recommend Amalur. The same if you’re a fan of fast-paced action RPGs in huge, colorful worlds. But if you’re the kind of person who feels cheated when a game doesn’t require multiple playthroughs to experience everything, then maybe this isn’t for you.

Amalur is a game that makes no pretenses about what it is. Every town has people in need, every monster needs killing, and every cave and dungeon needs exploring. You’ll want to keep taking on quests because maybe you’ll get a new sword that does more damage and looks cooler. Its dedication to enhancing player-power makes it a joy to play, even if a few minor issues keep it from true excellence.

This review is based on a retail copy of the PS3 game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Our review for new RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is coming later this week, but today developer 38 Studios announced a new batch of DLC for the game. The pirate-themed The Legend of Dead Kel will drop anchor on March 20.

Hit the jump for more details about Amalur’s latest DLC pack.

According to the game’s official website, “the legendary pirate Dead Kel and his Hanged Men have returned to haunt the seas of northern Amalur.” The DLC will pair you up with the “eccentric Captain Brattigan” (Futurama reference perhaps?) as you explore Gallows End and reclaim Gravehal Keep for yourself.

Gravehal Keep can become your own personal estate which you can customize with buildings like an armory or stables. All these buildings can bestow permanent bonuses on your character. Plus the DLC comes with new Twist of Fate cards and new weapons. As IGN teases, “When The Legend of Dead Kel ends, you’re put in a place of such extraordinary power that it opens up a few options for additional expansions. If the follow-ups are as substantial, enjoyable, and memorable as this, then keep ‘em coming.”

The Legend of Dead Kel will be available on March 20, 2012 for $9.99 on PSN and the equivalent amount of Microsoft play money on Xbox Live.

The Smithsonian opened registration Wednesday to attend a special lecture held by famed game designer Hideo Kojima. This conversation with Kojima will take place on the second day of the Smithsonian’s Game Fest, a three day festival kicking off the museum’s new The Art of Video Games exhibit. Game Fest begins Friday, March 16 in Washington DC.

If there ever was hesitation around attending this event, the Smithsonian seeks to dispel not only with the confirmation of Kojima but also with the price of attendance — free.

Other panels will include design and development notables like Ken Levine (BioShock, System Shock 2), RJ Mical (LittleBigPlanet 2, God of War III) and Kellee Santiago (Guitar Hero, Q.U.B.E.). In addition, attendees will be treated to screenings of the original TRON and The King of Kong.

The Art of Video Games exhibit will feature games spanning from the early 1980′s to now. Attendees will get a behind the scenes look at design documents, learn insights from top developers and, of course, play. A list of featured games can be found here.

Well, the space cat’s out of the bag now. A listing for a piece of Mass Effect 3 DLC was spotted today on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It’s already been pulled down, but the listing revealed the title “From Ashes” and the fact that it will cost 800 MS Moon Dollars, also known as Microsoft Points, when it comes out.

The description also listed some spoilers, but the vanilla version of it is we’ll “unearth lost secrets from the past” in the add-on. Some people believe that “From Ashes” will be included as free content for consumers who purchase the game new. EA and BioWare did something similar with Mass Effect 2 and the Zaeed character. IGN has a more spoiler-heavy write-up of what’s known so far about “From Ashes.”

[Source: Destructoid]