It might not be official, but the first footage of the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta has leaked onto the net and it’s smoking hot!  It shows off a ton of stuff like new moves, new weapons, new gameplay modes, and jetpacks!  I mean who doesn’t like jetpacks, am I right?

Of course if you aren’t really a fan of Halo you’ll probably watch this video and think to yourself, “yep that looks like Halo”.  I wouldn’t blame you, because to the untrained eye it really does just look like more of the same.  Trust me though, there is a ton of stuff in this trailer to get excited about.  Hit the jump to watch the video and see for yourself.

I’m starting to think that in the next couple months we’re going to see a lot more copies of Halo: ODST fly off the shelves as people scramble to get into the beta.  We are talking about what will probably end up being the most played beta of all time, and the only way to get in is to own a copy of ODST.  The sales will jump up as May approaches.  Trust me.

I’m interested to hear what everyone else thinks of this leaked footage.  Does it get you excited for Halo:Reach, or is it just more of the same?

The launch of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is drawing ever closer, and today EA has revealed details of some downloadable content that will be deployed on the day of release. The day one DLC will consist of two multiplayer maps entitled Nelson Bay and Laguna Alta, both of which are previewed in the above video.

Once the game has launched on March 2nd (March 5th for European territories), new adopters can gain free access to the map pack from an enclosed VIP code, much in the same vein as Mass Effect 2. It will not be freely available if you purchase the game pre-owned, however, and an additional map pack is also scheduled for release later in March.

“These first two map packs are just the beginning. We’re planning ongoing support for the community by always keeping the experience fresh and ensuring the best possible gameplay experience,” Senior Producer Patrick Bach stated.

It’s a shame that Battlefield 1943 didn’t receive the same sort of deserved treatment, but the prospect of continued support for Bad Company 2 in order to extend its playability is indeed enticing. Roll on next month.

Source: Joystiq

This week on Retro Reunion we have a very special commercial for you. This little gem isn’t pimping the Sega Mega Drive or SNES – oh no! This 30-second clip is dedicated to what is obviously one of the most incredible handheld gaming devices in the history of games.

The ad starts out like a steamy night with Russell Brand: hot. Arnie is doing his thing, donned in his classic Mr. Freeze outfit. But then something happens; all of a sudden it switches gears and becomes even more radically bodacious. You’ll definitely have to pick your jaw up off the floor when you see how insanely insane the insane graphics are!

I think I’m going to need a change of underwear because you can actually touch Batman in his happy place! And if you manage to please Batman enough, you’ll (probably) win the game.

Everybody get on eBay now and try to find one of these pieces of gaming history!

Over at 1UP, someone with access to an alpha build of the upcoming XBLA and PSN game Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 leaked a smattering of images (of which the header image is one) of the game in motion, along with a video.  While the video was clearly taken with a home video camera, it still gives us a (somewhat) clear look at what we can expect from the game.

Check out this nostalgic footage after the jump, along with some of the leaked images that accompanied the video.  Then, feel free to share your thoughts on what you’ve seen in the comments, or head over the official Sonic the Hedgehog forum thread for more in depth discussion!

For the first time in 7 years, Ferrari has made a comeback for the long running Need For Speed series. From today, you can download a Ferrari centric car pack for the latest iteration of the series, Need For Speed Shift, which includes 10 new cars and 46 Ferrari themed challenges to bolster the game’s career mode, including hot laps, endurance races, eliminators and a new world tour.

There is just one snag however – if you own PS3 version then you are out of luck, as this is currently exclusive to the Xbox 360 for 800 points. You can watch a new shiny launch trailer along with a breakdown of the featured cars after the break.

The 10 available cars are as follows:

• 1996 Ferrari F50 GT
• 2005 Ferrari F430 Spider
• 2005 Ferrari FXX
• 2005 Ferrari Superamerica
• 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
• 2006 Ferrari F430 Challenge (Online/Quick event only)
• 2006 Ferrari F430 GTC (Online/Quick event only)
• 2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia
• 2008 Ferrari California
• 2008 Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider

This commercial has everything: grown men with ponytails, evil bikers, oversized white suits, and some of the best one liners you’re ever likely to hear in a 60-second advertisement.

“Talkin’ to you!”

Revel in the hilarity that is a dodgy white American attempting to be a badass. Bombarded by the Oscar-worthy acting, a kickin’ soundtrack, and entirely realistic sound effects, I think my head just might explode.

What do people enjoy more than launching copies of Perfect Dark Zero extremely great distances?  Receiving any news, screens or video that they can on the Perfect Dark XBLA remake that’s set to release in March, that’s what!

At their ongoing X10 conference, Microsoft unveiled a new trailer for the remake.  The video featured the game running in glorious HD, as well as at 60 frames per second (which comes as a huge delight to anyone who played the crazy slow original).

Check out the trailer after the jump, and strap on your nostalgia goggles!  Everyone does have nostalgia goggles, right?

Perhaps the most important thing to notice about the remake is how true it stays to the original.  It looks better, but not in that “Completely redesigned from scratch!” kind of way.  More like a new coat of paint.  A very awesome new coat of paint.

Rare also put out some new screens for the game.  Check them out!

Share your thoughts in the comments.

One thing that has always amazed me about the video game industry is the ability of some companies to actually make you excited about their upcoming games, even if you had no interest at all initially.  The latest example of this trend is Bungie and their newest game Halo Reach.

As I already stated yesterday, I am no big fan of the Halo series.  I like it, and I’ve played all the games, but when a new addition to the series is announced, I don’t jump for joy like a lot of people do.  It therefore shouldn’t come as a shock that Halo Reach hasn’t really peaked my interest all; that is until I watched the new video documentary Bungie released today.  Now I’m extremely excited about this new Halo game, which is a feeling I’ve never experienced before.

One of the biggest changes coming to the game is a huge graphics update, which is badly needed as the Halo 3 engine has started to become very outdated recently. Bungie has literally gutted almost the entire engine and started mostly from scratch to create a visual style that feels very believable.  The most noticeable change has to be in the detail of the faces, which need to be able to bring out the large range of emotions the developers hope to convey to tell their “human” story.

As you watch the video you’ll notice that the visuals are by far some of the best seen on the 360 to date.  Reach is apparently running at least 4 times the amount of polygons as previous titles, and it really shows, especially in the wide open environments that are truly a site to behold.  Another big change is the use of motion capture to make all the characters movements much more fluid.

Not only is Bungie completely overhauling the graphics engine, but they are spending a ton of time creating a more intimate, character driven story. They want to player to feel a real sense of “tragedy and heroism” that they haven’t experienced in the other Halo games. At the same time though they need this intimate story to take place in the epic setting that is the fall of Reach.

To accomplish this, they are promising much bigger battles with at least twice as many characters on the screen at once.  Reach is also being described as a “sandbox” game, though not many details are given to explain this claim.  I highly doubt that we are going to get a Grand Theft Halo or a Metroid-Halo-Vania, as those styles of gameplay just don’t fit with the Halo series.  ODST kind of pulled this off, but its sandbox nature felt very forced and artificial.

The most important thing I took away from watching this video documentary is that Bungie is extremely passionate about making Halo Reach a unique experience that’s the most ambitious title in the series.  The best quote comes at the end when the game is described as being “The definitive Halo made by the people who created Halo.”  It’s a simple quote that carries with it a lot of weight.  After all, Bungie is the company that essentially made console FPS’s as popular as they are today.

Watch the video and decide for yourselves, but by the end I bet you’ll be a lot more excited for Halo Reach than you’ve been so far.

Those of you who simply can’t wait for God of War 3 to come out on March 16th have two options.  You can either go out and purchase Dante’s Inferno to get your hack and slash, action adventure fix, or you can save your money and watch God of War 3 trailers to hold you over.

If you’re in the latter camp then today is a good day for you.  Sony just released a brand new trailer for the game on Gametrailers TV which shows a ton of never before seen gameplay.  Hit the jump to watch the video and prepare yourselves, because Kratos is in for one hell of a ride.

Did anyone else notice that Kratos launched himself into the air in one scene by attaching himself to a catapulted boulder?  That is one hardcore dude.  You know, the more God of War 3 trailers I watch, the more I get the feeling the demo doesn’t even scratch the surface of the type of gameplay elements that are going to be experienced in this game.

Make sure to check back at Gamer Limit when the game is a released for our official review.  Until then, enjoy drooling over the trailer.

Forget everything you already know about Dante’s Inferno. Forget the frequently questionable ad campaign. Forget the comparisons. Forget that there is some big title just around the corner. Forget the differences from its literary “counterpart”. Forget it all. Either way, go to Hell.

There is no getting over the fact that Dante’s Inferno is going to polarize gamers: I think everyone knows that going into it. What I mean by that is you will either coin it as a clone of a game I refuse to mention in this review, or, you will forget all of that, take it for what it is worth, and actually enjoy the hell out of it (pun intended).

It truly amazes me how many people have already made up their mind on this game. Be it from the demo, the ad campaign, or just the unnatural love for others of its kind. Is there anything wrong with that? That depends. Do you do yourself a disservice by judging a book by its cover? Perhaps.

Dante – not a poet, but a warrior – has lost his one true love, Beatrice, who’s soul was taken by the devil. Due to his indulgences in life’s sweet, evil temptations, Dante is given the opportunity to delve into the nine circles of hell – Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud and Treachery. Taking on Satan himself in his own twisted backyard is no easy task. But for Beatrice, anything is possible.

The combat in Dante’s Inferno is something that many are already familiar with. Wielding just Death’s scythe, Dante has the initial ability to do a sweeping strike – or light attack – as well as a top-down strike – or heavy attack. As with the offensive attacks, you will also find the commonly used defensive attacks in block, using the trigger button, and dodge, using the right analog stick. Sound familiar?

Customization can be found through spending the one currency available to you: souls. However, “leveling” in this game has been given a unique spin with two different talent trees (holy/unholy). With the power to either absolve or punish your enemies, holy or unholy points are given to you depending on your choice, which allows new talents to open up in each tree (a total of seven levels in each tree). Essentially this allows you to become either good or evil, which helps in the replay value department.

This two-tiered leveling system provides just the right amount of depth and customization to warrant replayability. My second playthrough has proved to be just as enjoyable since I am able to carry my progression from my first completion into my second. And I promise, you will need these extra moves to progress in the higher difficulties.

Along with the skill improvements provided by the two trees, you will also find relics hidden throughout the game. With 31 possible relics to find, two (or a possible third through an upgrade) equipment slots to fill, and the ability to level each relic through use, these relics give passive abilities that provide yet another element of customization and replayability.

For example, “Antony’s Standard” is a relic that increases the rate at which redemption energy is stored (Lvl 1: 10%, Lvl 2: 20%, Lvl 3: 30%) – which is an ability to go into a “hyper” mode by pressing RB + LB when enough energy is obtained.

Through the use of the many options available to you in talent trees and relics, Dante’s Inferno provides a great amount of balance for a majority of the game, while still maintaining the right amount of challenge. However, some of the boss fights feel a tad unbalanced, which takes away from the experience. But once you get over the hurdle, the unique feeling of accomplishment that action games provide shines bright. Should you be a less stubborn person than I, the game in no way punishes you for bumping the difficulty down (achievements or otherwise).

Throughout each of the nine levels of hell, you will find yourself pitted against an overwhelming amount of enemies in extremely well designed levels. The progression through Hell and the transition between combat scenarios felt extremely seamless. However, at times the game bogs itself down with its lackluster puzzle elements.

While I appreciated many of the unique puzzle elements in Dante’s Inferno, it was the repeated use of move block here, hit switch A, and then hit switch B that really slowed the game down and took itself away from the high tension action moments.

Another interesting turn taken in the game is the arena style mission objective areas towards the end of the game. In my opinion, this was the biggest letdown because it forced you to complete arbitrary tasks, such as killing five enemies in the air, in order to progress. It felt like the only reason why it was there was to provide some semblance of unique gameplay. Nonetheless, it was still challenging and fun.

Fighting your way through a very visually pleasing take on Hell runs at a smooth 60 frames per second from start to finish. The level of immersion in a game such as Bayonetta, while still staying visually pleasing, is missed in Dante’s Inferno, however. This is primarily due to the very few finishing move animations available to you.

Immersion is something that is extremely important in any game – be it story, combat, etc. While Dante’s Inferno’s combat is engaging, I never felt immersed in this Hell laid out in front of me. The story is something that should not, in any way shape or form, be taken as seriously as the game seems to think it has to be. The fact that Visceral Games felt the need to flaunt so much graphic content in your face is not in any way warranted or necessary. Instead, it is extremely distasteful. But again, don’t take it seriously, and it won’t bother you.

Look… it is time to be blunt. I’ll break my promise of mentioning the one game I said I refused to mention: God of War 3. The reason? The game isn’t out yet! However, it still deserves to be mentioned, and not simply due to the fact that elements in its trilogy have a lot of similarities to Dante’s Inferno (which I don’t feel to be a bad thing), but instead the fact that its release is right around the corner.

Dante’s Inferno isn’t for everyone. If you own both a Playstation 3 and an Xbox 360, there are alternatives in games such as Bayonetta, Darksiders, and God of War 3. The former two are better games than Dante’s Inferno, no doubt about that, and the latter is yet to be seen.  But if you own just an Xbox 360, you can’t go wrong with Dante’s Inferno.

Combat is everything in an action game. And while Dante’s Inferno lacks innovation, the action genre has had the opportunity to flesh itself out, find what really works, and, most importantly, find what is fun. The way I look at it, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

If the sound of that rubs you the wrong way, this game may not be for you. But for those that are open-minded, want to enjoy themselves immensely while feeling challenged without being looked down on – like some eastern style action games – than this game is definitely worth your time.

Expanding on our news post from yesterday, Ubisoft unveiled the very first teaser trailer for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Since the game is gearing up for a “Holiday 2010″ release, it’s safe to assume that production on the title is well underway.

While it doesn’t show much (do teasers ever?), the above footage is enough to get any Tom Clancy junkie pumped for the future.  And why shouldn’t they be?  Check out the awesome teaser after the jump.

The last game in the series, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 was met with some nice critical and commercial success, and the online community surrounding that and its predecessor, GRAW 1, were and are pretty substantial. With this new game promising even more high-tech weaponry and gadgetry (which apparently include Harry Potter Invisibility Cloaks.  Score!), it’s safe to say that people will pay attention.

The word is that the conflict will be set in the year 2020, with locales spread across the entire globe.  This means a distinct change in scenery for those tired of the South American basis from the last two titles.

This is the first thing from the mostly ridiculous Dante’s Inferno ad campaign that I’ve seen yet that makes me care about the game.  Why?  Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine.”  Makes up for the fake protesters, the fake game, and encouraging game geeks to molest booth babes.

Almost.

It wasn’t the only cool game-centric commercial from Super Bowl XIV; there was also this ad for the new Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie:

Nothing will live up to the Doritos or E-Trade commercials, however…

Still, when you spend more money on one thirty-second commercial than the entire Gamer Limit staff will earn in their lifetimes – combined – you’d better do something incredible.  People might even buy Dante’s Inferno now when it drops on Tuesday.  That is, if EA can fight off a little title called Bioshock 2.

Source: YouTube