Mad Max - First Gameplay Overview (with added Just Cause 3)

Announced at E3 2013, it seemed that Avalance Studios Mad MAx game had ended up in its own development wasteland. Fear not! The game is not only alive and well, it looks stonkingly brilliant too! With a new installment of director, George Miller's apocalptic vision coming to cinema this month, there could not be a better time to take the first look at what the game will look like. Thankfully, Avalanche have released a developer diary video that takes a deep look in to what to expect when the game launches this September.

Batman: Arkham Knight - "All Who Follow You" Trailer

With the release of Batman: Arkham Knight just two months away (56 Days to be precise!) I have realised that I have not added any content to the site relating to this game. Seeing as the Arkham series of games have been my favorite games of the last generation, this is unforgiveable on my part. I am here to rectify that right now, so lets delve into the final chaper of Rocksteady's Dark Knight epic.

Life is Strange - Episode One Available Now!

Meet Max, your typical teenage girl in high school in small town America. Life for Max is a constant juggling act of keeping up with project work, hanging with her friends, trying to fit in with the other kids and keeping out of the way of the jocks and the mean girls. Oh and she is having apocalyptic visions and she has just discovers she can rewind time. Like I said pretty normal!

Assassin's Creed Unity - Review (PS4)

I had it all sorted this Christmas. I asked for Dragon Age: Inquisition for Christmas,  knowing that it would be the perfect time for me to throw myself into a 50 hour game. So imagine my surprise a month later that I am still only 4 hours into it. The reason for this may shock you and I feel like I should be ashamed of it. I am playing Assassin's Creed Unity and I like it.

Middle~Earth: Shadow of Mordor - Launch Trailer

This game has come out of nowhere for me. In the last few days the reviews have come in for Shadow of Mordor and they have been a lot better than I had expected them to be. Then I got to have some hands on time with the game at EGX this weekend and loved it! Next thing you know its pre-ordered, dispatched and on its way to me (thanks to The Game Collection).

Shadow of Mordor is a third person action adventure game with elements of Batman: Arkham series and Assassins Creed. What sets it apart is in the unique Nemesis system. This system actively monitors the rise and fall of Sauron's army, from the highest warchief to the lowliest grunt. What does that mean for the player? Well, in my brief go at EGX it meant that when I was killed by a Uruk foot soldier, he gained power and respect, which then meant he challenged a Captain to duel and won. He was then promoted to Captain and became even stronger. When I resurrected and tracked him down again, he tuanted me about how he killed me once and he would do it again. Its a cool feature and one that surely is going to change the way enemies are handled in games from now on.

To celebrate the launch of the game, WB Games have released the launch trailer. This trailer goes into the story of the game and ranger that you play. The trailer dives into the story behind the award-winning action game set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Talion, a Ranger of the Black Gates, is slaughtered alongside his family and is resurrected by the powerful Wraith, Celebrimbor. The two will face the might of Sauron’s Army and Black Captains with the aid of unexpected allies, ultimately confronting The Dark Lord himself.

Take a look below...



Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ is available from Friday 3rd October for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Why I Love Watch_Dogs

Two years after its stunning unveiling at E3 2012 ushered the first glimpse of the next generation of gaming. Ubisoft's cyber crime open world game, Watch_dogs was released this week. I was there at my local branch of Game at midnight, ready to embrace this on my new shiny Next Gen platform, the PS4. There is a part of me that can't believe that I am actually getting to play this on Next Gen kit. I had expected to still be rocking the PS3 when this came out.

STOP THE PRESS! WHO IS THAT?

Lets play a game of good news, bad news. Ready?

Good News: There is going to be a new Batman: Arkham game this year!

Bad News: It won't be until the end of the year.

Good News: It will be the first Next Gen Batman game!

Bad News: It will only be available on Next Gen consoles and PC.

Good News: The Batmobile will be a drivable vehicle!

Bad News: No mention of a playable Bat-Boat.

Good News: Rocksteady are back behind the development!

Bad News: This is the finale of the Arkham series!

Batman: Arkham Origins Week - Day 5

Happy New Game Day everyone! Now lets get down to justice in Gotham!

Batman: Arkham Origins Week - Day 4

Tomorrow sees the release of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate on the Vita ( 3DS version is out 8th Nov). This week we have had a look at the gameplay of the console version. Now it is time to look at the handheld version, with this 10 minute look into the gameplay of Blackgate.

Batman: Arkham Origins Week - Day 3

Another day, another trailer. This new launch trailer takes a look at the story behind Batmans latest challenge. Will the young Bruce Wayne survive his first real test of his alter ego's mettle and rise to become the legend?



It certainly looks like we are going to have our hands full of villain come Friday. It doesn't stop there though. Lets not forget that Friday sees the release of not one, but two Batman games. Vita owners can get their hands on Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. Take a look at the trailer for the game.



Set three months after the events of Arkham Origins,a prison revolt at Blackgate Prison allows Joker, Penguin and Black Mask to seize the prison. Batman goes to investigate and he quickly learns that there is more to this than your average uprising. Using a pseudeo-2D metroid style the game manages to retain the feel of the console versions whilst feeling at home on the handhelds.

Hopefully, the review embargo will lift tomorrow so that we can report the first reviews on both of these huge games.

Batman: Arkham Origins Week - Day 2

Welcome to day 2 of our Batman: Arkham Origins week. After yesterday's 17 minute gameplay video (see it in full here), Lets take a look at the cast of Gotham's criminal elite that are out to kill the young Caped Crusader on snow covered Christmas Eve.

As Gotham's premier crime lord, Black Mask has seen his empire suffer from the actions of Batman. He is not the kind of man to take this lightly and he has put a contract out on Batman's head. The terms are simple $50,000,000 to the person who kills the Bat! An offer like this is bound to attract the attention of some pretty nasty people. Kind of like this bunch of killers, criminals and mercenaries.

Deathstroke, a veteran merc and expert hitman. Slade Wilson joined the US Army at 16 and excelled wherever he was sent and this ended with him being transferred to a secret experimental military programme and was endowed with superhuman speed, strength and healing. Deathstroke is an expert in all weapons, but he prefers close combat with his sword.

Copperhead is a mystery, reports of someone using the moniker Copperhead point to a man. This Copperhead is most definitely not a man, but is possibly even more deadly. Agile, ferocious and may even be poisionous. Copperhead seeks to trap a Bat in her jaws.

Deadshot, another ex-military expert turned mercenary for hire. Deadshot has just one ability, but it is a good one. He is the best shot in the world with any firearm. He often uses impossible techniques and ricochets to take out his targets. His lack of self regard often leads him to take huge risks to make things challenging.

Before Venom transformed him into monster, Bane was still still every bit as formidable. His large build and strength along with his training makes him almost unstoppable. Not much more is known about this mercenary.

It maybe the worst snowstorm Gotham has seen in years, but at least this guys is here to bring a little heat.Firefly, a pyromaniac with over 70% burns over his entire body. He now uses a suit that slows him to fly and a military Flame thrower. A wise man once said that some my just want to watch the world burn, Firefly is one of those.

Anarky, a techno terrorist turned bomber. Anarky has moved up from social media anarchist to bomber. Although he is not the most wanted or dangerous of Batman's foes this Christmas Eve. His spread of bombs across the city need to be stopped before he causes serious damage,

That just leaves Gotham's over crime lord, Oswald Cobblepot. Batman's activities have hurt his operations just as much as Black Mask's and there is nothing that Penguin wouldn't do to have The Dark Knight put off the streets forever.

Looks like Batman has his hands full with all of these people coming at him at once. At least it could not get any worse for him. Right?

Ah yeah, I forgot about him! 

Batman: Arkham Origins Week - Day 1

What better way to start a week of Arkham Origins coverage than with a brand new 17 minute sneak peek at some of the early gameplay of Batman: Arkham Origins. Featuringa commentary from Senior Producer Ben Mattes and Gameplay Director Michael McIntyre at WB Games Montréal. During this video you will see Batman explore the Batcave, beat down on thugs (natch) and infiltrate a corrupt Gotham City Police Department. You really feel that this game is set during Batman's early career and it is interesting to see him have to battle both thugs, cops and assassins.



From this footage and the gameplay demo I had at Eurogamer all of my reservations about a new team handling Rocksteady's awesome series has been quelled. This may even be the best Batman game in the series. Look forward to more Batman as we go Dark Knight nuts over the next few days.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition out next month

Huge announcement yesterday from WB Games, NetherRealms excellent DC universe brawler is getting an Ultimate Edition. Not only that its coming to PC, PS4 and PS Vita. I could not be more excited for a Vita version of this fantastic game.

The press release states:
"Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition debuts in Europe on Nov. 29, with the comprehensive version of the 2013 best-selling fighting game franchise. The game will be available for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and platforms, Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft and for Windows PC.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition will include all original game content as well as all downloadable content (DLC). Valued at more than £79, the game will be available at a suggested retail price of £49.99 for PS4™ system, PS3™ system and Xbox 360 £29.99 for Windows PC and £29.99 for PS®Vita.

The DLC included in Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition, includes fan favorites Lobo, Batgirl, General Zod, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, as well as Scorpion, a character from the Mortal Kombat world, as reimagined by Jim Lee, Co-Publisher at DC Entertainment. In addition, more than 40 extra character skins and 60 S.T.A.R. Labs Missions, originally offered as DLC, are now available from the start of the game."

The Vita version is being handled by Armature Studios, developer of Metal Gear Solid HD on the Vita and the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. After being really blown away with Blackgate at Eurogamer Expo last month, I couldn't be happier with the choice of developer to handle this port. Armature Studio's Technical Director, Jack Matthews has also posted some more detailed information about the Vita version on the PlayStation Blog (full article here).

"When developing Injustice on Vita, our primary goal was to make sure it could hold its own next to its console counterpart. 

The PS3 version has beautiful lighting, destructible environments, and – most importantly – 60 FPS fighting. We worked tirelessly to bring this experience to the handheld, and pulled out all the stops to push the PS Vita as hard as we could to make all of the above happen.

In addition to all of this, we’ve included ad-hoc multiplayer, traditional multiplayer over wi-fi, and touch controls to Story Mode and various S.T.A.R. Labs Missions."

If you haven't owned Injustice yet, this is the version to get whether it be on Xbox, PS3 or your new shiny PS4 or your Vita. Just get it on the 29th November, you won't regret it.

F1™ 2013 Launches this Friday

Friday 4th October sees the release of F1™ 2013, the definitive FORMULA 1 videogame for this generation of consoles, and we’d like to invite you to suit up and join the action at HMV’s Oxford Street store from 11am where there will be an actual FORMULA 1 car inside the store.

During the event, you can take on your friends on some of the most iconic tracks from FORMULA 1 history including Imola and Estoril. When you’re not setting fastest laps, you’ll be able to try your hand at changing a race tyre in our custom pit-lane inside the store itself. We’ll be shouting about your successes throughout the day, and if you’re lucky enough to be the fastest in the pit-lane, there’s some great prizes to give away on the day, including a brand spanking new PlayStation 3 for the fastest time.

We’ll also be showing off the greats of FORMULA ONE, only available in F1 2013: CLASSIC EDITION, such as Alain Prost, Emerson Fittipaldi, Michael Schumacher, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill.

F1 2013 is the pinnacle of FORMULA 1 videogames, capturing the excitement and the action of one of the world’s most watched sports. With its release on 4th October, this is your chance to step into the cockpit and take on the world’s best. F1 2013 includes all the official content from the 2013 season, including the 2013 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, an expanded Young Driver test, a new scenario mode, and the return of Grand Prix mode.

Take a picture in store and Tweet #F12013 #HMVlaunch as we will be handing out some cool prizes for the best pictures in store.

Features of the event:

·         Pit-Stop Challenge (F1 tyre change time challenge)

·         Hot Lap Challenge (test your F1 driving on F1 2013)

·         Hands-on with the game

·         Prizes

·         A classic Lotus Formula One car in-store


WHERE: HMV
ADDRESS: 150 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1DJ
WHEN: Friday 4th October 2013
TIME: 11am – 4pm

Watch 14 Minutes of Watch_Dogs

With Watch_Dogs only a few months away (launching on the same day as Xbox One hits the UK), the veil of secrecy is slowly being lifted by Ubisoft and we are finally getting to see more of Aiden's world. Today, Ubisoft have released a 14 minute gameplay demo video, which shows off the single player and multiplayer functionality.



Watch_Dogs will be available in Europe on the 22nd November 2013 on current gen and next gen platforms

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - First Gameplay Trailer

With Batman: Arkham Origins stealing all the limelight recently, its easy to forget that there are two Batman games coming out this year. The other game is Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate. Blackgate is the first title in the Arkham series to appear on handheld systems, namely the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS (and 2DS I presume now?). Set after the events of the main Arkham Origins game, Blackgate is a 2.5D metroidvania take on the Arkham series.

Batman: Arkham Origins - Comic-Con reveal

Comic-Con International in San Diego, is well under way and in between the hordes of fanboys and cosplayers, WB Games Montreal held a little screening of what to expect in Arkham Origins later this year. Detailing new skins for Batman, including exclusive PS3 Knightfall and "Sixties" Batman costumes.

There was also a new trailer showing one of the eight assassins brought in to Gotham by Black Mask to kill Batman. That assassin is Copperhead and looking quite a bit different from the comic books.

Mad Max Gameplay Reveal Trailer -- Soul of a Man

Hope is lost and only the savage survive. In a world where the roads are paved to nowhere, what choices will you make to stay alive?

Check out the World Premiere of the "Official Mad Max Gameplay Reveal Trailer -- Soul of a Man" now, released today by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Avalanche Studios.

Tomb Raider - Review (PS3)

Due to scenes of brutal violence, this game in not for Little Gamers.


Tomb Raider is one of gaming's great franchises. In the Nineties, the emergence of Lara Croft was especially important for me. It was the game that I got a Orchid Righteous 3D card for. It allowed me to lord over my common PlayStation owning friends with the superior looking Lara. How times have changed, as I have just played through the newest Tomb Raider game on my PlayStation 3, whilst my friends all played on the PC version and told how much better it looked on the PC.

Remember Me - Launch Trailer

Remember Me is out tomorrow on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC DVD. Just in case you forgot!