-
'Call of Duty: Black Ops III Salvation' Now Out on PS4, But Is It the End of 'Black Ops III?'[teaser]There is always the Black Market.[/teaser] The fourth DLC pack for 'Call of Duty: Black Ops III,' 'Salvation,' hits the PS4 today, and should hit the Xbox One and PC before too long (think October). 'Salvation' is the final announced expansion pack, and with comes four new maps, 'Outlaw,' 'Citadel,' 'Rupture,' and 'Micro,' along with the Zombies 'Revelations' episode. Two of the MP maps see 'Call of Duty' at its wackiest, while the two others are remakes. Here from Activision is a breakdown of 'Salvation' content: Salvation features Revelations, the finale of the Origins Zombies saga. In Revelations, this final chapter of the Zombies experience, Richtofen, Dempsey, Takeo, and Nikolai – having traveled through space and time – finally discover the identity of the mysterious Doctor Monty in The House. As the heroes face-off against an ancient evil, they must hold the zombie horde back in the ultimate battle between human and undead. Salvation also includes four new action-packed multiplayer maps set within the ancient walls of a medieval fortress, to the dusty streets of an old-west town. Citadel: Once home to a powerful medieval army, this ancient castle now sits broken and abandoned. Tight corners force close-quarters engagements, while the moat and drawbridge allows for unique player movement opportunities in this mid-sized map. Micro: What’s better than a BBQ on a hot summer day? A miniaturized war zone that takes place on a well-stocked family picnic table. Navigate this bite-size battlefield for a larger-than-life experience. Outlaw: Gear up for a showdown in Outlaw; a western-style re-imagining of the fan favorite map Standoff from Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. This rough-and-tough medium-sized map brings classic engagements, flanking routes and strategic positions for long and medium ranged combat. Rupture: The Call of Duty®: World at War classic Outskirts is re-imagined as a high-tech facility, designed by a futuristic society desperate to repair the Earth’s atmosphere. Take control of one of the facility’s mechs to unleash a barrage of heavy machine gun and rocket destruction. With such wackiness, ('Micro,' 'Citadel,' 'Zombies'), it would seem to be the end of the road for 'Black Ops III' content. Both 'Infinite Warfare' (with a new Zombies mode,) and 'Modern Warfare Remastered' are incoming. Even so, if prior Treyarch action is any evidence, 'Black Ops III' can expect to at least some small bits of content make its way to the public in the future. You can find the latest info on 'Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare' linked from our Video Game Release Schedule. Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Source: ActivisionPosted Tue Sep 6, 2016 at 10:12 AM PDT by: -
Remember 'Freedom Fighters?' - Agent 47 Going Militant in 'Hitman - Episode 5: Colorado' This Month[teaser]And there will be four targets.[/teaser] Checking in on the new 'Hitman,' thus far there have been four episodes plus a bonus. That includes the Intro (see the review here), 'Sapienza' (review here), 'Marrakesh' (review here), the Summer Bonus Episode (review here), and 'Bangkok' (review here). And now, the fifth episode has been announced with a September 27th release date. Episode 5 has been dubbed 'Colorado' to help indicate its setting, but really, the private military camp and its four targets hearken back to IO Interactive's past. The mission, 'Freedom Fighters' will see Agent 47 targetting four "special skills" type people. Such skills include environmental terrorism and chemical interrogation. From IO Studio Head Hannes Seifert, "This is one of the toughest episodes yet. Not only do you have four targets, but from the moment you set foot in Colorado you’re on enemy ground. 'Freedom Fighters' is a key episode, which will add serious momentum to the story and set up an intriguing season finale for players.” With Episode 5 announced and coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on September 27th, what remains is the final episode, 'Japan,' which is expected later on this year. Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Source: Square EnixPosted Tue Sep 6, 2016 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
'Batman: Return to Arkham' Launches in October[teaser]The Asylum has never looked better.[/teaser] Previously delayed indefinitely due to technical concerns, Warner Bros. has announced that 'Batman: Return to Arkham', the HD remasters of 'Arkham Asylum' and 'Arkham Knight' containing all DLC, will finally be released on October 18th on PS4 and Xbox One. You can watch a new trailer showing off this version's graphical enhancements below: It seems like the delay was definitely worthwhile, because this looks staggeringly better than the original versions of the games (particularly 'Arkham Asylum') and seems to be running nicely. I wasn't terribly fond of 'Arkham Knight', but I adored 'Asylum' and enjoyed 'City' well enough, so this might be one I'll check out at some point. You can find the latest info on 'Batman: Return to Arkham' linked from our Video Game Release Schedule. Order from Amazon Order from Amazon Source: Warner Bros.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2016 at 06:49 AM PDT by: -
'Tokyo 42' Announced for PS4, PC, and Xbox One[teaser]Inspired by games like 'Syndicate' and 'Grand Theft Auto'.[/teaser] Mode 7 and SMAC Games have announced that their isometric open-world game 'Tokyo 42' will be heading to PS4, PC, and Xbox One sometime in 2017. The game is heavily inspired by titles such as 'Syndicate' and the very first 'Grand Theft Auto'. Mode 7 describes the game as follows: Tokyo 42 is an action title inspired by classics like Syndicate and GTA1. It’s viewed from an isometric perspective but the camera can be rotated to reveal every facet of its intricately designed open-world. Bullet physics, jumping with air control, sneaky stealth and crowd simulation all play a role in this ultra-colourful kinetic frenzy. You’re a budding freelance assassin in a world where sinister forces are at play, taking on missions to pay your way and becoming embroiled in all sorts of cyber-shenanigans. There are also cats. A multiplayer arena mode blends adds a Where’s Wally-slash-Waldo-for-other-territories dimension: change your skin and blend in with the crowd, then explode into view with a flurry of overly ambitious rockets. You can also catch a trailer for the game right here: The music and art direction here are absolutely terrific. and while I'd not heard of this until now, I'm really excited to give it a shot sometime in 2017. Source: Mode 7Posted Tue Sep 6, 2016 at 06:36 AM PDT by: -
Check Out a New Developer Diary for 'Until Dawn: Rush of Blood'[teaser]Oh, VR death.[/teaser] 'Until Dawn' is one of this year's best horror games, developed with a terrific understanding of what can make the genre so effective. I'm never really into interactive movies ala Quantic Dream games, but 'Until Dawn' managed to be fun, creepy, and extremely replayable. The upcoming VR spinoff 'Rush of Blood' is taking a completely different approach to its parent game, but it looks like a sharp rail shooter, and the ties to the original sound pretty fun. You can get a look at how the game is shaping up with a new developer diary from Supermassive Games, which you can check out right here: While I was pretty skeptical of this when it was first announced, seeing more of it in action, I'm actually pretty excited to see what Supermassive can do with this kind of heavily guided experience. It'll be out on October 13th exclusively for PlayStation VR. Source: Supermassive GamesPosted Mon Sep 5, 2016 at 06:16 AM PDT by: -
'Chroma Squad' Heading to Consoles and Mobile in 2017[teaser]Hopefully with no issues from Saban.[/teaser] Bandai Namco has announced that they will be publishing 2015's acclaimed indie PC strategy RPG 'Chroma Squad' to PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, iOS, and Android in early 2017. The game is an homage to Tokusatsu shows like 'Power Rangers' and casts players as the managers of a small TV studio, with each mission of the game being framed as the production of an episode of a new show. Managing the skills of the heroes, making sure battles are as flashy and exciting as possible, as well as tweaking things like catchphrases, casting, and character names is key to success. It was a really lovely game made by a studio with a clear love for the genre, and I'm glad to see it'll be reaching a much wider audience soon. Source: Bandai NamcoPosted Mon Sep 5, 2016 at 06:05 AM PDT by: -
Ubisoft Releases 'For Honor' Character Profiles In Advance Of Closed Alpha[teaser]Bring in the Vanguard.[/teaser] Ubisoft's upcoming medieval combat game 'For Honor' will be entering a closed alpha next week from September 15–18, and the publisher has released a trio of intro videos to get players familiar with some of the characters they'll be able to take into the fray. The three characters profiled are the Vikings' Raider, the Samurai's Kensei, and the Knights' Warden. All three represent the game's Vanguard class of fighters, well-rounded characters that wield hulking weapons and follow a block-and-attack pattern when facing off against other players. The publisher also put together a list of combat tips that could help anyone able to get into next week's alpha, including the strategy of healing allies, the benefits of camping in your caputred points, and a caution against hanging out near spiked walls. You can watch the three character profile videos below. If you want to try your hand at getting into the closed alpha, you can register on the game's website. Source: UbisoftPosted Sun Sep 4, 2016 at 12:04 PM PDT by: -
'Civilization VI' Introduces Playable Kongo Civ In Series Debut[teaser]A cultural powerhouse with early population benefits.[/teaser] The Kongo civilization will make its debut in the 'Sid Meier's Civilization' series when 'Civilization VI' launches later this year, and developer Firaxis has released an introduction video breaking down the benefits of this African civilization and its leader, Mvemba a Nzinga. The Kongo civilization gets a couple of distinct advantages in the early game. Their unique combat unit is an early-game melee unit that can withstand more ranged attacks than its Swordsman counterpart, is not hindered by woods or rainforest, and costs no iron to build. Kongo also has a unique district that replaces the Neighborhood. It can be built sooner in the game, allowing Kongo to build up a greater population earlier on. After its early-game benefits, the Kongo civilization can become a dominant cultural force, with bonuses to certain Great Works and an increased generation of Great Artists. Kongo is also in a unique place in terms of the game's religion system. They cannot build Holy Sites themselves, but they do gain the founder beliefs of any religion established in the majority of Kongo cities. You can check out the in-game art and models for the Kongo civilization in the reveal video below. Source: FiraxisPosted Sun Sep 4, 2016 at 11:15 AM PDT by: -
Telltale's 'The Walking Dead' Season 3 Details, Release Window Revealed[teaser]With players getting to take control of two characters.[/teaser] Though they're working on an ever-growing number of high-profile properties nowadays, the folks at Telltale still haven't forgotten about the series that launched their current string of choice-driven, narrative-focused titles. The third season of Telltale's 'The Walking Dead' will be coming to consoles, PC, Mac, and mobile devices in November, the developer announced at PAX West. Titled 'A New Frontier,' this new chapter in the saga will follow series standby Clementine, now a teenager, and newcomer Javier. Players will get the chance to play as both characters as they deal with issues of family in an environment in which the zombie outbreak has long become the norm. "This third new season will serve as both a continuation of what's come before in our story, as well as an all-new beginning set nearly four years after the outbreak events of Season One," said Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner. In addition to digital distribution, 'The Walking Dead: Season Three' will be available as a "Season Pass Disc" for consoles, which will include the season's first episode and access to downloads of the other four episodes as they release. Source: TelltalePosted Sun Sep 4, 2016 at 09:39 AM PDT by: -
'Overwatch' Season 2 Competitive Play Brings Changes To Skill Rating, Removes Sudden Death[teaser]While also giving disconnects a bit more than a slap on the wrist.[/teaser] Season 2 of 'Overwatch' competitive play has officially started, and Blizzard is starting to rethink how it handles player ranking. The most noticeable change is that players are now ranked on a scale of 1 to 5,000, much more detailed than the 100-point scale of Season 1. These skill ratings are then divided into tiers, from Bronze to Diamond and the special Master and Grandmaster tiers. According to Blizzard, once players reach a certain tier, they can no longer fall back down to lower tiers, though they can continue to rise. The exception are the Master and Grandmaster tiers, which players will fall out of if their skill rating falls beneath the cutoff. These new skill ratings will also be used to limit which players can group together in ranked play. Players will not be able to group with others whose skill ratings are more than 1,000 points away from their own. This limit shrinks to a tolerance of 500 skill points in the Master and Grandmaster leagues. In terms of actual gameplay, Blizzard has completely removed Sudden Death from ranked play. Instead, the developer has gone ahead with its previous plan of implementing the Assault game mode's "time bank" system into the Escort and Hybrid game modes. In the event of a tie after a full round of attack/defense, the two teams will play another round with a game clock that reflects the amount of time left on the clock during the original match. More details can be found on the developer blog post. Blizzard has also started to increase its penalty against players who disconnect during a ranked game. Leavers not only incur a 10-minute penalty but also need to finish additional matches without a disconnect before they are again in good standing within the game. Source: BlizzardPosted Sun Sep 4, 2016 at 09:17 AM PDT by:
