All-Time Most Viewed Games Tagged 'core, action' on The Great Games Experiment All-Time Most Viewed Games Tagged 'core, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Most Viewed Games Tagged 'core, action' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Tribes 2 The ultimate team-based action experience for you and up to 60 others. Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game, currently the second-latest game in the fictional Earthsiege universe . It was developed by Dynamix and published by the company then known as Sierra Entertainment in March 2001.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 07:08:58 Deus Ex The year is 2052 and the world is a dangerous and chaotic place. Terrorists operate openly - killing thousands; drugs, disease and pollution kill even more. The world's economies are close to collapse and the gap between the insanely wealthy and the desperately poor grows ever wider. Worst of all, an ages old conspiracy bent on world domination has decided that the time is right to emerge from the shadows and take control. No one believes they exist. No one but you.
]]> 22 Nov 2006 09:26:12 Halo 2 Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. Released for the Xbox game console on November 9, 2004, the game is a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed blockbuster Halo: Combat Evolved. From the day of its initial release, Halo 2 has been the most popular video game on Xbox Live, even after the release of the Xbox 360. On June 20, 2006, more than a half-billion games of Halo 2 had been played on Xbox Live since its debut, and by October 30, 2006, this number was raised to four billion. Halo 2 is compatible with the Xbox 360, including its Xbox Live functionality.
]]> 19 Dec 2006 02:18:15 Shadow of the Colossus Tales speak of an ancient land where creatures the size of mountains, roam the majestic landscape. Bound to the land, these creatures hold a key to a mystical power of revival - a power you must obtain to waken a loved one.

Shadow of the Colossus is a majestic journey through ancient lands to seek out and destroy gigantic mythical beasts. With your trusty horse at your side, explore the spacious lands and unearth each Colossi. Armed with your wits, a sword and a bow, use cunning and strategy to topple each behemoth.
]]> 18 Jan 2007 10:58:36 Far Cry Far Cry is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Crytek Studios and published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004. Far Cry sold 730,000 units within four months of release. The game's story follows an ex-Special Forces man named Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago in Micronesia. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their sailboat was destroyed by mercenaries.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:40:12 Hellgate: London Notice: In production

London, 2038. The once great city lies in ruins. A massive, sinister gash in the fabric of our reality gnarls and churns, dominating the horizon as it blends into a permanently darkened sky. The unspeakable cataclysm that befell London threatened to engulf the world as the shadow of the demons fell across the face of mankind.

  • Introduction

    • According to legend, when the ravens depart the Tower of London, it will crumble to rubble and disaster will befall England. As man became more dependent on science, ancient lore and rituals were lost to the antiquity of time.

  • Classes

    • Mankind is a race of survivors. A rebellious few survive in the shadows of their former dominance, combining the holy, ancient, and arcane rites with the fringe sciences of the modern era.

  • Demons

    • Emerging from the swirling chaos of the Hellgate, the demons overwhelmed humanity's defenses. The Hellgate writhes and seethes like a living thing, a tornado of eldritch energies through which the minions of the netherworld surge forth.

  • Mods

    • Some equipment can be modified through the introduction of various technological and magical elements, commonly called Mods. These Mods are typically integrated into pre-defined slots or hard points on an item through a simple procedure that can be performed by any adventurer.

    Bill Roper said,
    Success should be based on skills, level, items, and so on. So it's really based on what makes you successful in an RPG. That being said, it certainly isn't going to hurt a guy if he's good at shooters.

    Additional Game Features:

    • First person perspective!

    • Dynamically generated content and levels including tons of weapon and item drops for scavenging.

    • PvP will be included, although it is likely that it will be for Elite members only. PvP modes may include duels and arena matches

    • Has some combat aspects of a shooter, but is first and foremost an action rpg. Players will not need to scavenge for ammo. The only mention of "ammo" refers to a type of modification.

    • Quest driven story, yet with a lot of freedom to adventure and treasure hunt in hopes of finding the best of the randomly generated goodies, as was so popular in the spiritual predecessor Diablo!

    Proposed Subscription Details (thanks Hellgate Guru!) These are just a few of the features discussed, visit the Hellgate Guru links for more info:

    • Free player accounts as well as "elite" optional subscription play options that are currently stated as $9.95 per month for U.S. players.

    • Free players can access all initial content and play with free or elite players, but elite accounts will receive regular content updates.

    • Elite players can access premier 24/7 customer support via phone and email, and will have priority in case of player ques.

    • Free players may create 3 characters, Elite players up to 12. Elite players will have a 40 item "swap stash" versus 20 items for free players.

    • Elite accounts can access additional play modes.

    • Elite players will have enhanced graphical options for characters.


    Ex-Blizzard employees Bill Roper, Erich Schafer, Max Schafer, and Dave Brevik--the men behind Diablo, are the heart of the development of Hellgate: London.

    Developers: Flagship Studios
    Co-publishers: Namco Bandai Games & Electronic Arts

    The game runs on a proprietary engine developed specifically for this game. The only other component that Flagship has licensed is Havok for physics.

    System Requirements: Pending!
    ]]>     16 Dec 2006 10:48:21     S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
    Man made hell...

    S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl takes you into a near future where nuclear disaster has taken place. When a strange second explosion at the old Chernobyl site rocks the landscape, it leaves a vast "Exclusion Zone" plagued with deadly energy disturbances in its wake. The quarantined Exclusion Zone expanded over time, and by 2012, specially equipped poachers, known as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, venture into the Zone to claim radioactive artifacts for the black market. You are a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. battling for survival among rivals, soldiers and mutant creatures while trying to discover the true nature of Chernobyl's dark past and horrific future.
    ]]>     07 Jan 2007 09:06:28     Beyond Good and Evil For centuries, the planet Hyllis has been locked in conflict with a race of relentless alien invaders.

    Wary of her government's promises to repel the aliens for good, a rebellious action reporter named Jade sets out to capture the truth behind the prolonged war.

    Armed with her camera, dai-jo staff, and fierce determination, Jade soon finds herself inside the jaws of a horrific conspiracy, and face to face with an evil she cannot possibly fathom.

    In a world where deception is the deadliest weapon of all, will Jade's discoveries be enough to free her people?
    ]]>     26 Nov 2006 11:41:51     Crysis Crysis is an upcoming sci-fi first-person shooter computer game that is currently in production by German developer Crytek. Crytek is best known for the 2004 shooter Far Cry that was released for PC.
    ]]>     01 Dec 2006 11:21:39     Crackdown Crackdown pushes the action-driving hybrid genre into the next generation with the first ever truly 3-D playground. Gamers will enforce justice by any means necessary in Pacific City, a crime-ridden urban center built to encourage the exploration of the full width, depth and height of the city. Coupled with highly innovative co-op gameplay - a genre first - and an interactive world where nearly anything can be used as a weapon, gamers will be able to create a volatile cocktail of judicial oppression as they clean up the streets.
    ]]>     03 Feb 2007 06:17:13     Metal Gear Solid This game is the game that started it all, sure the other ones after this are great, but I think this is the best. It has level design that is genious. The storyline is compelling and full of plot twists, and the action and gameplay is groundbreaking.

    basic Plot outline:
    An elite group of Next Generation Special Forces lead by members of FOX HOUND has attacked and captured an Alaskan nuclear weapons facility.

    Their demands state that the US government hand over the remains of their former commander (Big Boss) within 24 hours or they will launch a nuclear weapon.

    Solid Snake's mission comes in a two phases. First, he needs to rescue both DARPA Chief Donald Anderson and the President of Arms Tech Kenneth Baker, both are being held captive in the facility.

    Next, Snake needs to investigate weather or not the terrorists have the ability to actually launch a nuclear weapon, and stop them if they do.
    ]]>     13 Dec 2006 05:20:13     Counterclockwise Counterclockwise is a remake of 1983 Spectrum game "Knot in 3D". Your goal is to navigate a mass-trail propulsion craft through zero-G space and survive as long as you can. There are other crafts (chasers) around, trying to cut you off with their trails. Avoid crashing into trails and showoff some fancy flying and shooting skills for extra score.
    ]]>     02 Feb 2007 12:37:48     Morning's Wrath Morning's Wrath is a Classic Adventure / RPG fusion. It combines rich story and puzzles with intense melee and spell-casting combat.

    Assume the role of Princess Morning of the Leowyn Kingdom and guide her on a quest to master the ways of magic and save her kingdom from invasion.
    ]]>     30 Dec 2006 08:25:10     Ichor Ichor is an action game based in fluid dynamics. Each player floats around the screen, trying to engulf his opponent with his own color.
    ]]>     11 Feb 2007 08:48:06     The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Link, after setting sail for new experiences and adventures, finds himself caught in a squall at sea. Helpless in spite of his valiant efforts to last through the storm, he is overwhelmed by vicious waves and lightning...

    Some time later, a gentle girl named Marin discovers him washed up on Toronbo Shores.. the beach of Koholint Island. She finds a way to get him home and takes care of him until he finally awakens. Marin and her father, Tarin, explain to him where he is, and after he sets out to reclaim his sword, he encounters a mysterious owl... The owl cryptically warns Link about the perils this island faces should the Wind Fish be disturbed from his slumber, and thus Link decides he must do something to save them.

    This owl guides him throughout the rest of his journey, slowly helping him uncover just what exactly is going on. Link learns that, unfortunately, in order to save the islanders he had grown to love, and to set himself free, he must also end a dream, a romance that he might not want to... To save all those people he had come to know and cherish from the Wind Fish's Nightmares, he would also have to end the illusion that caused them to exist in the first place.

    It's a heart wrenching choice to confront, one that Link no doubt regrets with every deep ache of his very soul.. but the only alternative was to let the Nightmare take over and destroy everything.. This was the only fate he could offer them...

    A tragic, touching tale that is told in the simplest way, Link's Awakening is a dream that I'll always hold dear to my heart...
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 11:34:05     Assassin's Creed The game takes place during the Third Crusade, exact year 1191. The gamer plays as a member of the assassin sect Hashshashin known as Altair (Arabic, "The Flyer") whose objective is to assassinate the nine historical figures who are propagating the Crusades, and the suffering of the people. As the gamer finds and kills these targets, their conspiracy is unveiled. The player will be able to travel through three cities, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus. The environment is completely interactive, from the people to the historically accurate cities. These cities are populated by many people and the way the player controls Altair affects how people around him react to his presence. For example, when going through a crowd, if the player lightly moves someone out of the way, it will not have a significant effect. However, if the player throws someone to the ground and kills them, the crowd may unite against him and he will then have to find a way out. Similarly, if the player shoves a person aside, they may shove him back. If he climbs walls, civilians will gather around, attracting unwanted attention from guards.
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 04:44:17     Nexuiz Nexuiz is a fast-paced 3D deathmatch first-person shooter. The purpose of the game is to bring deathmatch back to the basics, with perfect weapon balancing and fast paced action, keeping itself away from the current trend of realistic shooters.
    ]]>     04 Jan 2007 05:17:20     Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines brings White Wolf's famous pen-and-paper role playing game to the back to the PC . For the first time players can explore the World of Darkness from a first person perspective in a game which utilizes Valve's striking Source Engine.

    Unlike third person role playing games, Bloodlines will put you in the shoes of the character you control. You will get up close and personal with the brilliantly animated characters that populate the game world and tangled in the web of intrigue that is the staple of Troika Games' roleplaying titles.

    Although set in the same universe, Bloodlines is not a sequel to the last Vampire title: Redemption.

    You begin your journey this time in modern day Los Angeles as a newly embraced vampire. By creating you without the consent of your clan's Elders, your sire has violated one of vampire society's most hallowed laws. As punishment for the crime he has been put to death. Normally you would be expected to share the same fate but the newly installed Prince of Los Angeles thinks you might have some merit: you're a newly embraced vampire with no sire to guide you; you are unfamiliar with the world of vampires and their laws and customs. You would be useful and expendable pawn in his grand scheme.

    You will employ a variety of firearms and skills such as computer hacking and lock picking as well as your devastating array of vampiric powers called Disciplines. And what would a game about vampires be if there wasn't some blood drinking?

    You choose to play as a member of one of seven diverse and specialized vampire clans and you'll need to employ all of your preternatural skills to survive. You'll need to charm, sneak, intimidate and fight your way through the dangerous world the vampires inhabit and along the way decide just who you really owe your allegiance to.

    With so many different clans, as many as 5 different endings and the ability pursue several avenues of specialization as you upgrade your character, Bloodlines will provide a great deal of replayability.
    ]]>     01 Dec 2006 06:25:23     Deus Ex: Invisible War Fifteen years following the events depicted in the multi-award winning Deus Ex, the world is just beginning to recover from catastrophic depression.

    As an elite anti-terrorist agent, you must fight numerous militant factions bent on violently reshaping the world to suit their own agendas. Using high-tech gadgetry and futuristic body modification (or biomods), you are granted near superhuman powers.

    Travel the globe while uncovering fiendish plots of world domination. Unmask the conspirators, while uncovering the shocking truth behind your own origins.
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 01:08:20     Unreal
    Alter your reality... forever

    A first-person shooter by Epic Games and Digital Extremes, Unreal was the game that started the highly successful and epic (pun not intended) franchise, and was seen as a direct rival to id Software's Quake series (both with the games and the technologies powering them).

    You are a convict on a prison transport ship when the ship crashes, marooning you on a strange, magnificent world the likes of which you've never seen. Battle the ruthless Skaarj as you try to free the race they're enslaving. Use your translator to decipher your surroundings, and above all, stay on your toes!
    ]]>     12 Jan 2007 06:53:23     Tribes: Vengeance Tribes: Vengeance (sometimes called T:V or Tribes 3) is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game of the Tribes video game series. It was developed by Irrational Games and released by Sierra Entertainment (part of Vivendi Universal) in October 2004. It was built on enhanced version of the Unreal Engine 2/2.5, which Irrational Games called the Vengeance engine. In addition to its multiplayer network maps, Vengeance includes a complete single-player campaign.
    ]]>     01 Dec 2006 05:46:42     Kingdom Hearts Many thought the idea of a Square/Disney crossover was doomed from the start. On the contrary, it is one of the most successful franchises in Square's library. You take control of Sora who ventures out with Donald and Goofy to find his friends Riku and Kairi. Your journey takes you through many Disney worlds.
    ]]>     07 Feb 2007 09:47:54     Postal 2 Notice: Not suitable for children

    It's always funny until someone gets hurt... and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!

    In the second game of the series, you are "the dude", living in a shabby trailer on the edge of the town of Paradise with a significant other whose nagging is just one of the many reasons you might just go over the edge.

    Each day you leave home with a list of chores, and day one finds you heading to the office to pick up your check, but a pink slip awaits, as the game continues to urge you to cross the line.

    Unlike the 1997 Postal however, in this game you can choose not to let things push you over the edge, instead following a pacifistic route, though you are certain to witness mass carnage either way.


    Additional Game Features:

    • Walk a week in the Postal Dude's shoes.

    • Freely explore full 3-D open-ended environments.

    • Interact with over 100 unique NPC's including Gary Coleman, marching bands, dogs, cats and elephants, protesters, policemen and civilians, with or without weapons.

    • Accessible map of town shows all main locations.

    • HUD displays current weapon and available ammo, inventory button displaying current selected item, and health status.

    • Arsenal includes a pistol, shotgun, fully automatic rifle, gasoline can, Molotov cocktails, frag grenades, rockets and more.

    • POSTAL 2 is all about choice; experiment with everyone and everything.

    • Originally a complete single player game, various multiplayer modes were later added in the "Share the Pain" edition.

    • Powered by the Unreal 2.0 engine.

    • The "1337" patch reduced long load times, and added levels, such as "Tora Bora Cave" where the dude comes across Osama Bin Laden in the course of his search for weapons of mass destruction.

    Developer: Running With Scissors
    Publishers: Windows edition by Whiptail Interactive , Linux version by Linux Game Publishing
    Released April 2003

    Minimum System Requirements

    733 MHz Pentium 3, 128 MB RAM, 8x CD-ROM, 32 MB GeForce2-class, DirectX 8.1 compatible video and sound card required.

    Trivia: Postal III is set to be released in 2008 on PC and Xbox 360. It is currently being developed by Running With Scissors and Akella, using Valve's Source engine.
    ]]>     21 Dec 2006 12:16:09     God Of War Similar to franchises like Devil May Cry, Rygar, and Castlevania, the game draws its inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and boasts a heavy emphasis on exploration and battle strategy. Broken into three to four acts, the game also has a strong focus on story-telling and boast tons of magic spells and abilities. Described as "Clash of the Titans meets Heavy Metal", God of War equips its hero with a pair of sword-like chain weapons that can grab enemies, perform multi-hit combos, and pull off a variety of different aerial attacks. Slight platforming elements and an energy collection system similar to that of Onimusha have been incorporated as well, and players are even able to use certain elements of their fallen enemies as a weapon (re: Medusa's head, for instance, can be used to turn enemies to stone after you've defeated her).
    ]]>     31 Jan 2007 03:07:48     Endless War 3 Endless War 3 is a top down shooter. Control your character movement with WSAD, and aim your gun with the mouse. Your soldier has access to guns, grenades, and knives. You have to fight your way through multiple levels and multiple different wars. The wars range from WWII, to a future alien war. Endless War 1 and 2 are also included in this game, so there are a multitude of campaigns to play through.
    ]]>     09 Mar 2007 06:23:11     The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was released in June, 2004 for Xbox, and in December, 2004 was released for Windows as the "Developer's Cut", with the improved shading effects and higher resolution expected with the pc release, as well as added content.

    Inspired by the Vin Diesel movie, the story begins with you captured by mercenaries and locked down in the toughest and bleakest prison in the galaxy. Your obvious task is to make an unprecedented jail break, and will require intelligence, sharp wits, combat skill and sometimes stealth.

    Additional Game Features:

    • First person shooter, but with some third person actions, and even some RPG aspects.

    • Over 30 levels, split into checkpoints.

    • High quality musical soundtrack befitting the movie tie-in.

    • Player eventually acquires "eye shine", a vision enhancement that becomes very useful in the often dark environments.

    • Tied to the movie not only be relating to the story and atmosphere, but including movie star vocal talents such as Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser as Johns, Kirsten Lahman as Shirah, Willis Burks II as Pope Joe, and Ron Perlman as Jagger Vance.

    • Among the first games to use "normal mapping".

    • Fight with melee weapons, special moves, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and more, although by default, guards weapons are DNA coded.

    • Single Player campaign only.

    Developer:Starbreeze Studios
    Publisher: Sierra/Vivendi Universal Games
    Released: Xbox in June, 2004 followed by Windows release in December, 2004

    Minimum System Requirements, PC Version
    CPU 1800MHz, 256MB RAM

    ESRB Rating: Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
    ]]>     22 Dec 2006 09:51:54     Alan Wake Alan Wake's first novel is hailed as a masterpiece of horror, its source material having come from dreams that began just before meeting his fiancee Alice. Her sudden dissappearance leaves him devastated. Suffering from insomnia, he can no longer write, nor even dream. Desperate for help he travels to a sleep clinic in the secluded, small town of Bright Falls, Washington.

    At the clinic he overcomes his insomnia, but meets a woman that looks remarkably like Alice. He begins to have nightmares, and starts writing a new novel based upon them, but soon finds that Bright Falls appears to be turning into the horrible place of his nightmares. With gun and flashlight in hand, he must find out what's going on.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 03:01:56     Prince of Persia The Grand Vizier Jaffar has thrown you into a dark dungeon and plans to marry the girl of your dreams in an hour. You're not going to let that happen are you? Try to escape from the dungeon, take out Jaffar's guards, find your way through the sultan's palace and defeat Jaffar himself. Now go, you've got 60 minutes!

    Prince of Persia is a 2D action-adventure / platformer with run & jump gameplay. Avoid deadly traps, solve some puzzles and engage in sword fights. The player has an infinite amount of lives but has to restart at the beginning of a level each time he dies and must complete the game within an hour. An especially noteworthy aspect of the game is the very fluent animation of your character.

    from the (Moby Games Price of Persia page)
    ]]>     24 Dec 2006 08:39:15     Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is the follow-up to one of the most captivating and intelligent adventures on the original PlayStation. Solid Snake, everyone's favorite mullet-sporting supersoldier, is back, along with many other familiar faces and voices. While its predecessor was lauded for telling a complex story, this sequel has even more fascinating twists and turns. Also, like Metal Gear Solid, MGS2 takes console-game storytelling to an entirely new level with stunning in-game movies, great graphics, and game mechanics that let you find your own solutions to challenges. The game's twisting and at times bizarre plot will undoubtedly keep some gamers perplexed.

    Konami has replaced the moronic enemies from the first MGS with more cerebral and capable foes; this causes an even greater emphasis on stealth than the original. The controls have been refined and Snake's repertoire of moves has grown, significantly deepening the gameplay. This is, technically and stylistically, one of the best-looking PS2 games on the market. The sound is also topnotch, with a fabulous score and outstanding voice acting. What makes this game such a standout, however, is how all of these sight, sound, and story elements combine to immerse the player into an entertainment form somewhere between movie and game. It will be years before Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is surpassed. This is interactive entertainment at its finest. --Raymond M. Padilla
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 07:17:05     GunMaster Onslaught 2.0 Survive the onslaught for as long as you can. You are an elite commando, with access to multiple weapons. In addition to your standard rifle, you have a rocket launcher, shotgun, grenades, and mines. As you run and jump across the map, more and more soldiers will come after you. First soldiers will just run on to the map. However, they will eventually begin to parachute into the battlefield, and call in snipers as well. Survive for as long as you can while racking up the kills and headshots.
    ]]>     09 Mar 2007 06:32:11     Prey In Prey, players enter a living spaceship which enslaves alien races and devours humans for lunch. Prey turns the first person shooter genre upside-down with awesome new gameplay features like wall-walking and gravity flipping, making for intense single-player and multi player experiences.

    Prey is built on a heavily modded version of the Doom 3 engine and is developed by Human Head Studios under the direction of 3D Realms.
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 10:15:01     Hitman: Blood Money 47 finally comes to the U.S to escape danger in Europe from a rival assassination agency. But danger follows him. From Vegas to the suburbs of California. 47 must compete and stay alive and stop his competition. This game explains all of the confusion created by Contracts.

    This sequel introduce so many new features to the game it's hard to believe. 47 truly comes alive with a more agile move set, a better arsenal and a notoriety system.
    ]]>     25 Nov 2006 08:40:15     Scorched 3D Scorched 3D is a game based on the classic DOS game Scorched Earth. Scorched 3D adds amongst other new features a 3D island environment and LAN and internet play.

    The gameplay remains much like in the original game. Aiming towards a certain opponent is earily done with the A button, and after that the aiming with angle and power is exactly as in Scorched Earth. However, some weapons will react differently when landing due to the three dimensional terrain.
    ]]>     13 Feb 2007 01:38:57     Abuse The protagonist of the game, Nick Vrenna, has been falsely incarcerated in a prison where illegal experiments are taking place. A prison riot occurs and the experiment goes horribly wrong. The people inside the prison - except for Nick, who seems to be immune - get infected with a substance called Abuse that transforms them into monsters. Nick takes a laser gun and goes on to single-handedly destroy all mutants, stop the substance from spreading further and escape from the prison complex.
    ]]>     06 Feb 2007 06:00:16     Red Faction Join a group of miners on Mars working for the evil Ultor Corporation. Miners have been dying from bad working conditions and a new disease. Join the Red Faction to combat Ultor and gain freedom for your fellow miners.
    ]]>     01 Dec 2006 10:22:10     Heretic Raven Software teamed up with Id Software for the second time in its creation of the hit fantasy action game Heretic. Based on a modified DooM engine, Heretic pioneered a revolutionary new inventory system for character item use that has become commonplace in the FPS genre. Id Software published the game under its flag and it was distributed by GT Interactive.

    Players took the role of Corvus, an Elven hero whose race was nearly eliminated by a horde of evil monsters from another dimension. The first episode of Heretic was released as Shareware as a precursor to the full version of the game, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders.

    Heretic won several awards for excellence, appeared in such notable publications as USA Today and Playboy, and opened many new doors in the computer gaming software industry for Raven Software and its team of developers. Heretic was Raven Software's most popular, highest acclaimed, biggest selling game to that point.

    (from the Raven Software Heretic page)
    ]]>     13 Dec 2006 01:18:12     Super Mario Sunshine
    Super Mario Sunshine is a 3-D platforming video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on July 19, 2002, in North America on August 26, 2002, and in Europe on October 4, 2002. It is the first original traditional Mario platformer since Super Mario 64, six years earlier. It will be succeeded by Super Mario Galaxy for Wii.
    -Wikipedia
    Mario sets out for the prestigious tropical retreat Isle Delfino, for a well-deserved vacation with Princess Peach, Toadsworth, and other many colored Toads. Upon arrival, Mario finds that the once-pristine island has been vandalized with graffiti and toxic goop. As a result of this pollution, sun-shaped objects called Shine Sprites, the island's sources of power, have dispersed, and the island is covered in a perpetual shadow. Even worse, the culprit seen spreading the graffiti is disguised as Mario (he is later referred to as "Shadow Mario"); thus, Mario is promptly arrested as he steps off the plane. Shadow Mario is identified as a blue, paintlike version of Mario with red eyes and a large paintbrush he uses to paint graffiti, including his double-arch-like tilted "M" symbol (similar to the McDonald's one) with a vertical dash above each hump of the "M".

    Mario is put on trial, found guilty, and ordered to clean up the mess and return the Shine Sprites. To help with the cleaning, Mario finds FLUDD, a powerful water cannon toted like a backpack ("FLUDD" stands for "Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device"). Mario sets out on his adventure, promising to clear his name and locate the real criminal while restoring tranquility and order to Isle Delfino.
    -Wikipedia
    ]]>     24 Jan 2007 10:30:45     Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Call of Cthulhu -- Dark Corners of the Earth is a first-person horror game that combines intense action and adventure elements. You will draw upon your skills in exploration, investigation, and combat while faced with the seemingly impossible task of battling evil incarnate.
    ]]>     26 Nov 2006 01:18:28     Contra Playing with fire and murder in the eyes.
    Keep squeezing that trigger and never let go.
    If it moves, shoot it.
    If it doesn't move, shoot it anyway just to be sure.
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 09:14:23     Hitman 2: Silent Assassin AFter the events in the first game 47 quits the Agency and retreats to a life of solitute as a gardener for a church in Italy. When the priest who runs the church is kidnapped and 47 himself is targeted he must return to action.
    ]]>     25 Nov 2006 08:39:18     Zatacka Zatacka, also known as Achtung, die Kurve!, is a freeware, multiplayer DOS computer game that supports from two-player up to six-player gaming.

    The game bears some resemblance to the game Snake, though in Zatacka the main goal is to make your opponent hit the wall, his kurve or your kurve. As a result, the game resembles closely to the famous Light Cycle of the 1982 movie Tron. You control the kurve by only two buttons: one makes the snake turn left; the other, right. Although the game has primitive graphics, the gameplay is considered very good and the game is loved by many fans worldwide.

    There's a strategic and tactical depth that goes unmatched in the small-games-to-play-on-a-break gaming world. Even though the simplicity is striking (anyone can play it) there are an infinite amount of tactics that can be applied in this game.

    It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master! Be warned though - it's addicting!
    ]]>     23 Feb 2007 01:06:02     Tron 2.0 Twenty years have passed since Kevin Flynn defeated the MCP with the help of his Tron program. In doing so, he also destroyed the technology he'd used to digitize himself. He's long since left ENCOM in the hands of Alan Bradley, who is raising a family of his own.

    Now ruthless global corporate powers want to send humans into the digital realm once more in order to control world finances, and only Alan knows the answer to perfecting their faulty code. Alan encrypted his secrets in time to prevent their theft, but now he's been kidnapped, and the search for the code is on.

    You enter the fray as Jet Bradley, Alan's brilliant but rebellious son, who finds himself enlisted by Ma3a to fight the now viral corporate security officer within the digital realm and prevent global domination.

    The Tron series of games are based upon the 1982 Walt Disney movie of the same name, beginning with a Tron arcade game and arcade sequel. Tron 2.0 is the first game of the series to be produced for the PC, and subsequently was released for Mac. A related title, "Tron 2: Killer App" was later released for the Xbox, but with significantly altered content.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Single player campaign entirely in the digital realm (excepting some cutscenes) immersing you into story-driven, first-person action.

    • As Jet Bradley you will combat digital opponents using guns, rods, grenades, missiles, and the iconic TRON disc, gaining abilities and new weapons as you overcome various challenges to go deeper into the system.

    • Defrag and disinfect your inventory or live with the unpleasant consequences (You're in a computer after all!)

    • Intense action, intense and deadly battles, and the trademark high-speed light cycle races, featuring a new light cycle design by Syd Mead, who developed the cycles for the original film.

    • Musical score by Wendy Carlos, the composer of the original Tron film score.

    • Vocal performers include Bruce Boxleitner, Rebecca Romijn, Ken Boynton, Cindy Morgan and many more, and featuring Jason Cottle as the voice of Jet Bradley.

    • Multiplayer includes some campaign scenarios and light cycle mode.

    • Rendered with the Lithtech Triton engine (specially enhanced version of their Jupiter engine)

    Developer: Monolith Productions
    Publisher: Buena Vista Interactive
    Designer: Frank Rooke
    Released: August 26, 2003 for the PC, April 21, 2004 for the Mac.

    Minimum System Requirements
    WIndows: 500 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 2.4 GB hard disk space, 32 MB GPU
    Max: 700 MHz G4, Mac OS X 10.2.8, 256 MB RAM, 32 MB GPU, 2.5 GB disk space
    ]]>     01 Jan 2007 11:33:32     Kingdom Hearts II From IGN.Com:
    The unlikely but successful collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive returns in Kingdom Hearts II; where a darkly-cloaked Mickey Mouse joins Donald, Goofy, and Sora as they continue their adventure into several popular Disney-inspired worlds. Battling against the Heartless once more, the dedicated group of friends now find themselves up against an all-new enemy threat -- a mummy-wrapped ruler of unknown origin. Also fresh to the series is a brand new meter known as the "Transformation Drive" that allows players to merge with other team members to create more powerful versions of themselves. New costume designs, improved camera controls, and the answer to lingering plot questions from the first game are also included. Developed exclusively for the PlayStation 2.
    ]]>     20 Jan 2007 08:27:25     Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
    Game Informer said,
    The excitement that the game delivers in it's adrenaline-draining boss battles is captured beautifully through some of the finest spectacles that the mighty pixel has ever produced.

    Human snow pirates navigate Vital Suits (VS) through hostile ice-covered environments in Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, fighting against the indigenous Akrid creatures for the precious thermal energy they need to survive. For one such pilot named Wayne, death almost seemed imminent until he was fortunately rescued.

    However, he can only remember a few fragments of his past, including the slaying of his father by the monstrous beings. Yet under the veil of ice, a devious plan has been set into motion for the termination of all Akrid and snow pirates alike. What really happened to Wayne? Who is plotting the destructive scheme? Encounter valuable allies and dangerous enemies on Wayne's search for the truth.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Frenetic action: Lost Planet is a fast-paced third-person shooter with all the depth, intrigue, and intensity of a science fiction classic.

    • Vehicle-based gameplay: Command highly powered armed vehicles and weapons, not only to help you traverse the treacherous terrain, but to eliminate the terrifying enemies that threaten their survival. Strategically switch from vehicles to on-foot gameplay as dictated by the situation.

    • Vast arctic environments: Snowstorms, arctic winds, and towering mountains of ice are all stunningly realized, creating a truly immersive and cinematic event of epic proportions.

    • Premier developers: The creators of the critically acclaimed Onimusha and Devil May Cry series have come together to create the expansive world of Lost Planet.

    • Alien Encounters- Face off with an array of Akrid, from massive rolling behemoths and long-legged ground-dwellers to fast-flying swarms overhead!

    • Single player as well as Xbox Live Enabled- Download additional maps, compete in 16 player cooperative and versus battles!

    • Vast and Vivid Environments- Snowstorms, arctic winds, towering buildings, and mountains of ice create cinematic, stunning visuals and breathtaking landscapes!

    • Next-Gen Realism- Immerse yourself in the brutal chilling world of Lost Planet as you labor through waist-deep snow, hear the crunch of ice with each step, and fly backward from explosive force during battle!

    Developer: Capcom
    Publisher: Capcom
    Released: December 2006 in Japan, January 2007 in North America.

    The Vital Suits - Lost Planet's version of mech - are fun to walk around in, and it is possible to equip them with any two of the game's various weapons.

    Currently only for the Xbox 360
    ]]>     24 Jan 2007 04:41:13     Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Cast down to the material world, the mysterious entity 'Raziel' seeks vengeance for betrayal by his master: Kain. Cursed to stalk the dark realms of Nosgoth, he must slay his undead brethren; only then can he absorb their souls for the energy he craves. Moving between the spectral and material plane, Raziel must negotiate puzzles, overcome traps and defy blood-chilling enemies to reach his goal - the final battle with Kain!

    Game Features:

    • Feed on the souls of your enemies.

    • Explore the vast 3D worlds of Nosgoth packed with 60 hours of gameplay.

    • Shift real-time between the material and spectral planes.

    • Hunt 5 different tribes of murderous vampires with an arsenal of deadly hand-to-hand, projectile, and environmental weapons.

    • Third-person perspective, single player adventure.

    Developer: Crystal Dynamics
    Publisher: Eidos Interactive
    Released: 1999 for Playstation and Windows, 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast


    Minimum System Requirements
    P200 MHz MMX Processor (with 3D accelerator card, DirectX 6 compliant)
    P266 MHz Processor (without 3D accelerator card)
    Windows 95/98
    16 MB RAM
    4X CD-ROM drive
    DirectX 6 or higher required (included)
    100% DirectX 6 compliant Sound Card
    320 MB uncompressed hard drive space
    ]]>     31 Dec 2006 04:29:22     Bioforge
    Take the starring role in Origin's latest Interactive Movie"

    Centuries in the future, a madman's interstellar plot is set in motion, and only you have the skills, the position and the armament to stop it. You are the Mondites' first success in creating the perfect warrior.

    Stripped of memory and enhanced with both human and alien technology, you are a primary element of their master plan - unless you can rediscover who you are, uncover your enemies' plans and make your break for freedom. But you'd better be quick - time and opportunity are running out.

    Game features:

    • Variable identity outcomes - your choices throughout the game determine your former identity from a list of experimental subjects.

    • Lifelike, fluid animation with 24 powerful combat maneuvers.

    • Interactive backgrounds - from ground-to-air weapons, to monitors and projectile-reflective surfaces.

    • 8-channel digital sound effects, cued by distance and camera location.

    • 3-D, texture-mapped synthetic actors whose images actually show the injuries suffered in combat.

    • Multiple camera angles and beautifully rendered alien environments.

    • 22 voice actors!

    • Believed to have the first single-skin, fully texture mapped, skeleton-based characters ever seen in gaming.

    Origin Systems (An Electronic Arts Company) developed and published this single player adventure. It was released in the U.S. in April 1995. At the time the following system requirements were high end!

    Requirements
    MS-DOS: Intel486/50+ or 100% compatible PC system. Required: MS-DOS 5.0 or higher, 8MB RAM, 5MB Hard drive space (29MB recommended), 2x CD-ROM drive, MSCDEX version 2.2 or higher, Microsoft mouse , keyboard.
    Graphics: 256-color VGA.
    MUSIC: Ad Lib, Sound Blaster/SB Pro/SB 16/SB AWE, Wave Blaster, General Midi MPU-401 interface, or 100% compatible sound board.
    DIGITIZED SPEECH and SOUND EFFECTS: Sound Blaster/SB Pro/SB 16/SB AWE or 100% compatible sound board.


    Trivia: Spoiler warning! In spite of a highly detailed story that obviously was painstakingly crafted, the game ending is rather notorious for falling a bit short. The developers endeavored at one point to rewrite the ending, which then blossomed into a possible sequel, but at length the whole initiative was dropped.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 10:44:27     Toy Robo Please try it and then let me know what you think :)

    Toy Robo is an Action-Adventure Shooter that requires quick hands and engaging strategy. You play as Toy Robo, a robot action figure on the side of good. Your goal is to rid the world of evil toys which appear only at night. You will do this in Arena style combat using your Blaster and Energy sword. To help you along your way, you can equip several types of batteries, each with different combat effects and
    bonuses.

    This game was developed as an entry to the gamedev.net 4e4 contest which required that it encorporate at least 2 of the following four elements (elements of which ALL games are apparently made of): pirates, ninjas, robots and zombies.

    I opted for robots and zombies because robots are easy to model and zombies are easy to animate ^_^

    The contest had a 6 month time limit, so I wanted to make sure I didn't bite off more then I could chew. In the end I came in 2nd out of at least 20 - the 1st place finisher was developed by 5 people! so even though I didn't win I felt like the game did very well and the process was rewarding.

    Belowe are a few screen shots and the game download.
    ]]>     23 Jan 2007 10:40:46     Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles Shivering Isles is an expansion for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It is available for download on Xbox Live or for the PC.
    ]]>     10 Apr 2007 02:46:54     Pillowfight Some of the most intense and stunning battles are fought not with guns, swords or fists, but with Pillows! A unique casual fighting game, Pillowfight lets players serve up powerful pillow beatings with simple controls and fast paced gameplay. Square off against 5 unique opponent types, each with their own attack and fighting style! Are you fast enough to dodge the speedy jump attacks of Mona LaMoane? Can you handle the super-powered swings of Sindy Graver, or Vikki Valentine's expert double shot? With a challenging career campaign, unlockable game modes and perhaps the sexiest cast of characters to hit mobile, Pillowfight is in a league of its own!
    ]]>     06 Apr 2007 08:28:37     Marathon 2: Durandal Marathon 2: Durandal is the second game in the classic sci-fi shooter trilogy. It continues the story started in Marathon and is followed by Marathon Infinity.

    Bungie went on to create one of the most successful games of all time: Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Developer: Bungie Software
    Released: 1995 [Mac], 1996 [Windows]
    ]]>     02 Dec 2006 01:38:19