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JAM Live Music Arcade Review

Malcolm Spinedi — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:02:01 +0000

It's been years since I last used my guitar controller. With the end of the Guitar Hero franchise, most assumed the music genre to be dead. However, the brave minds at Zivix think otherwise. With JAM Live Music Arcade, they promise not only a return, but to re-invent the genre. A bold promise they may have pulled off. JAM Live Music Arcade changes up the music game formula. You control every aspect of a song -- guitar, drums, vocals, piano, etc. -- all at once. These instruments and effects are separated into five sections called banks, which are separated again by five different tracks. Switching between these sections during the song creates a beat and makes a remix. The centerpiece of JAM Live is the JAM Mode. As the song plays, you can mix it up as you see fit. There is no "Game Over" to worry about; you simply play the song like you want, going on until you tell the game to stop. [caption id="attachment_15241" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Above: Got a bronze!"][/caption] I love this mode. With other music games, the franticness of keeping up with the notes could be very stressful. I was so focused on seeing the colors and keeping up that I never got a chance to hear the song in the background. To have a mode were a player can just relax and have fun with the music is genius. JAM Mode makes the song itself the focus, and allows you to do with it what you will. It was great to play a music game where I had time to just bob my head with the music. You can even record your creations for future use, or challenge it in arcade mode. The fact you can’t share your remixes online is unfortunate, but that’s the reality of dealing with people who have licensed songs who don’t like sharing their property. Those who loved the challenge of arcade modes in other games need not worry. JAM Live Music Arcade might even be the most challenging music game yet. It's no longer as simple as strumming the cord with the right color fret pressed down. Now you have to make sure the correct banks are activated as you do so. There is definitely a challenge, but it might be too much.The game mechanics are doable with practice, but I can see people getting turned off by their complexity. In my case, I was stuck on the first song for a while before I got the hang of it. JAM’s new take on music gameplay is a bit intimidating, so I was shocked that there isn’t an easier mode to help players get into it. However, it was rewarding when it finally clicked. [caption id="attachment_15242" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Above: You will be humbled."][/caption] JAM Live Music Arcade has 32 licensed tracks to chose from and play, including music from Owl City, Fatboy Slim, Chris Willis, Modest Mouse, and more. While these songs are good, it’s disappointing that the music lacks mainstream appeal, a huge selling point of games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Future DLC is confirmed, though, which will hopefully solve that problem. Time will tell how JAM Live Music Arcade is received, but I'm rooting for it because there's a lot to like about it. The JAM mode is blast to play and has a lot of potential. The arcade mode will require a lot of practice, even for Guitar Hero veterans, but is ultimately satisfying if you stick with it. JAM Live Music Arcade has the potential to be the phoenix the genre needs, but for now we have a really good start. FINAL GRADE: B+

News You Can Use: 05/15/12

Tyler Lee — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:24:46 +0000

We've got several interesting news pieces for you today. If you ever wondered what an HD remastered Final Fantasy VII would look like, then Kotaku has an article that you won't want to miss. The PlayStation Blog has the top PlayStation Network sellers of April, so see who held the top spot. Capcom comments on On-Disc DLC and how they are "reconsidering" the issue (thankfully). Game Informer has the launch trailer for the upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and news that Darksiders II will hit stores this fall. Finally, the PlayStation Blog gives us some more great stuff with their Ubisoft sale that you won't want to miss. You Want Your Final Fantasy VII HD Remaster? Well Here It Is! - Kotaku April 2012 PSN Top Sellers - PlayStation.Blog On the Topic of On-Disc DLC - Capcom-Unity Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Launch Trailer Sets The Scene - Game Informer Ubisoft Sale - PlayStation.Blog Darksiders II Coming August 14 - Game Informer

News You Can Use: 05/14/12

Tyler Lee — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:23:49 +0000

It's Monday (bleh), and we have some News You Can Use to start your week off right. Sadly, it begins with the announcement that the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot has been delayed until 2013. The PS Vita title Silent Hill: Book of Memories has also been delayed until October, which fellow writer Malcolm will be devastated to hear, I am sure. On the up side, a release date and price have been confirmed for the next Virtua Fighter title. To end it all on a really high note, the PlayStation Blog has the releases (full games, demos, and downloadable) scheduled for this week. Check them out and see what you can't live without. Tomb Raider release date shifts to 2013 - Eidos Games (forums) Release Date & Pricing for Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown - Game Informer Silent Hill: Book of Memories Pushed to October - Game Informer The Drop: Week of May 14th 2012 New Releases - PlayStation.Blog

Join PS Uni’s Max Payne 3 Crew in the Rockstar Social Club!

Joe Garcia — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:09:09 +0000

The Rockstar Social Club recently added the ability to create and join crews across all of their multiplayer games, starting with the release of Max Payne 3 tomorrow (there will be a review up soon, promise!). Wonderfully enough, the crews will also carry over to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto V (whenever that actually is). Naturally, that means that we needed a crew to call our very own, so here it is! Click that last bit! Or here, if you prefer! Why should you crew up? Fighting alongside a crew gives you an XP bonus over playing lone wolf, and there are also bonuses for fighting against rival crews. And since the crews are tied to your Rockstar Social Club profile, you can be part of a crew even if you're not playing on the same console! Weird, right? But that's how it works, apparently! So please, justify the 40 minutes I spent recreating our logo for the crew emblem by joining PS Uni! Here's the link again, if you somehow missed it.

PS Uni Underground Radio 017: Basement Dweller

Joe Garcia — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Team PlayStation is back, and what a challenge they have this week! Soul Sacrifice is coming for PS Vita. Is this the game that makes people buy a Vita, or will people turn their spinal cords into a sword to aviod it? BioShock Infinite has been delayed! Is this a yay or boo situation? Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD is coming. Will the skateboard controller work? No -- sorry, I just needed a sentence here. Malcolm reviewed also Awesomenauts. Did he like it, or was it it an Awesome-not? (PUNS!) All this plus Malcolm and Tyler fight to the death over whether Final Fantasy VII is the same thing as Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerebus ... this week on Playstation University Underground Radio! Download episode | Subscribe on iTunes | RSS | Discuss the show Running Time: 01:53:01 Hosts: Joe Garcia (@Wons23), Malcolm Spinedi (@NotintheMiddle), Tyler Lee (@_SamuraiZero_) Music: No More Lies by George & Jonathan | Buy “The Best Music” on Bandcamp

Max Payne 3′s arcade modes detailed

Tyler Lee — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:11:24 +0000

Rockstar Games is implementing two distinct arcade modes into their upcoming Max Payne 3 -- the classic New York Minute makes a return, joined by the all-new Score Attack. These modes will allow gamers to achieve and attempt to top their own high scores in Max Payne 3's single player experience. These modes will also give you access to unique multiplayer Deathmatch avatars and XP benefits.

New York Minute returns from the previous Max Payne to pit you against the clock. You start one minute on the ticker, but you gain more time for each scumbag you put down. Score Attack allows you to replay any level you have already completed to try and obtain the highest possible score, gaining points for each bullet you put in someone and each thug you kill. In both modes, the destruction of the environment can be used to your advantage. Your surroundings can aid in dealing more damage for higher scores in Score Attack, or for earning you more time in New York Minute. Have you heard that Max Payne 3 is out this Tuesday, May 15th? I think we've mentioned that a couple times by now.

News You Can Use: 05/10/12

Tyler Lee — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:08:26 +0000

Trailers, release dates, and sales figures are what we have for you today. First off, Sony's earnings are not as high this past year as they would like, but the Vita seems to be doing just fine with itself. Dishonored finally gets a release date, while Assassin's Creed 3 gives us a new trailer showcasing some of the story and areas within the game. PlayStation's Blog page shows off some of Resistance: Burning Skies' trophy list and uses for the Vita tech. Finally, it's said that the much anticipated sequel to Beyond Good & Evil is in the works...but not much more beyond that. PlayStation sales down as Sony posts record full year loses - Gamasutra PlayStation Vita sells 1.8 million units - GameSpot Beyond Good & Evil 2 in 'active creation' - Shack News See Resistance: Burning Skies PS Vita Features and Trophy List - PlayStation.Blog Dishonored arrives October 9th - Bethblog Assassin's Creed 3's latest trailer offers glimpse at Mayan Ruins, complex story - Polygon

Awesomenauts Review

Malcolm Spinedi — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:59:03 +0000

Awesomenauts is the latest from Ronimo Games, and for those with a PlayStation Plus subscription, you can download for free during the month of May. But does Awesomenauts live up to it's name? Awesomenauts is a traditional "red vs. blue" team combat game. You play as one of six Awesomenauts, all with their own unique powers and abilities. The goal of each level is to make your way across the field and take over the opponent's base by destroying their drill. Before you can do so, you need to find a way past two of four gun turrets that can easily kill you in seconds. Teamwork and persistence are highly recommended to take down a turret. Your character starts at level one each time you begin a new battle, but you can level them up by collecting cash to purchase power ups and abilities. Cash can be received within the level or by killing enemies. While your upgrades are lost after a fight, your profile earns XP for your trouble. As you gain levels, you unlock more characters, stages, special abilities, and more. The look of Awesomenauts is that of a Saturday morning cartoon. Everyone from Voltar the Omniscient to Sheriff Lonestar all look like they stepped off a comic strip, which works with the humorous tone. All the characters have voice actors and backstories, which is interesting for a game with no single-player campaign. Unfortunately, Awesomenauts gets old fast, as you end up doing a lot of the same thing over and over. Taking out a turret is accomplished in one of two ways -- hiding behind two aid bots that spawn every so often and chipping away at the turret, or suicide runs where you run to the turret and give it everything you got. This, of course, while you deal with the players on the other team. If you have friends that you're playing with, you can work out a better strategy, but that's a big if. The maps, while having differences as far as wandering enemies and bots, are also very much the same in structure. You have a high and low road, with two turrets for each road and the drill at the end of either side. You barely notice these differences after a while and the maps end up looking the same. Interestingly enough, the unlockables don't necessarily help replayability. When the game starts you have access to only three characters, one map, and three of your five abilities. This is like starting Borderlands, and only getting to play as one single class at the start. I don't understand this game design decision; Awesomenauts' characters are highly touted, so why make the player work so hard to experience them? Once you do unlock them, though, you'll find that each character is unique and have their distinct advantages. Voltar can heal teammates, Lonestar’s dynamite is great for decimating HP, and Clunk’s armor gives him a tough kill. The humorous look of the characters -- and their theme music -- also sets a fun atmosphere. It's easy to find enjoyment in Awesomenauts; the over-the-top characters, cartoon levels and violence are all a blast, and the fun is multiplied if you can play with friends. However, it peters out after doing the same exact thing over and over while leaving plenty to be desired; different turrets and enemies, maps that weren’t just two roads, and not as much of the good stuff locked at the start. It's okay, but I don’t know if I’ll go back to it. FINAL GRADE: B-

Rockstar releases Max Payne 3 launch trailer

Tyler Lee — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:24:16 +0000

Those of us who have been waiting to get our next Max Payne fix will be pleased -- Rockstar Games has released the official launch trailer and it looks great. The clips show off much of the in-game footage, showcasing Max reflecting on his past and how he got to where he is, while also giving us shots of the chaos that surrounds Max's life. But enough of this analyzing. Make of it what you will below. Max Payne 3 releases next Tuesday, on May 15th; look for our review in the coming days.

Dragon’s Dogma Ur-Dragon mode revealed

Tyler Lee — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:59:11 +0000

Determined to bring out the dragonslayer in its players, Dragon's Dogma will have a special challenge awaiting all players upon its release date. This special event is known as the Ur-Dragon, a larger than life, and just as powerful, dragon awaiting players to come and challenge it. Capcom has stated that players, along with their pawns from around the world, will be able to compete online against one another in fighting the powerful creature. Capcom says that due to the power and ferocity of the Ur-Dragon, it will most likely take several encounters to deal the deadly blow. Those who defeat it will have their names and playtime recorded as a goal for others to shoot for. Defeating the Ur-Dragon gains the players involved both common and rare items, though the rarest prizes will go to the one who deals the fatal blow. Offline players may challenge the dragon as well and earn prizes, though they will be different from those won online. The Ur-Dragon challenge can be attempting upon the games release date of May 22. When the times comes, will you slay the Ur-Dragon?