Infinite Lives: E3 2013: David Cage On Beyond: Two Souls
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 16:53 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 David Cage is the director behind some of the most emotionally engaging games of the last two console generations, chiefly marked by supernatural conspiracy thriller Fahrenheit and kidnapping drama Heavy Rain. The latest game from Cage’s studio Quantic Dream, Beyond: Two Souls, launches later this year on PS3. Empire caught up with the auteur creator at E3 to discuss working with Hollywood, the changing landscape of media and the challenges facing the games industry.
Empire: Another PS3 exclusive, The Last of Us, has just launched to considerable acclaim, largely on the basis of its very human and emotionally grounded story. Does that add to the pressure of what you’re trying to do with Beyond: Two Souls?
David Cage: Oh, not at all, not at all. On the contrary, it’s great to see more games exploring the directions we started to explore like ten years ago. It’s great – we started this vein of games where we’re talki... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Ryse: Son Of Rome
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 16:40 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Crytek’s upcoming historical action game Ryse: Son of Rome has gone through a few iterations already. Originally announced in 2011 as a Kinect-only title for Xbox 360, its slow development has seen it lose the Kinect requirement and get an upgrade to Xbox One launch title.
In a closed session, the game was exhibited to press by Crytek’s Wayne Cline and Ryse’s Senior Producer Justin Robey. Players will be cast in the role of Marius Titus, a soldier whose family is killed, leading him to seek vengeance against those responsible – yes, Russell Crowe’s Gladiator is a clear influence. Our initial impression was that Ryse would just be an attempt to cash-in on the shock-and-gore fanbase of God of War, and while the one-on-one combat here does borrow from the same playbook (onscreen prompts to execute gruesome killer blows, linear progression through areas, occasional environmental puzzles) it soon became apparent that despite the surface similarities, there’s more go... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Killzone: Shadow Fall
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 16:21 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 In a closed-door presentation, Guerilla Games’ PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall was shown off in depth, presented by Game Director Steven Ter Heide and Managing Director Hermen Hulst. Set 30 years after Killzone 3, the game evokes a Cold War-era mentality with the opposing Helghast and Vektan races uncomfortably sharing a giant, walled city. Playing as a Shadow Marshall, you’re in a black ops role, undertaking covert missions to prevent tensions from escalating into another full-blown interplanetary conflict.
Although the fourth main game in the series, Hulst and Heide stressed that prior knowledge wasn’t necessary – this is a new chapter in the series and while returning fans will get more from knowing the history, newcomers will feel still like they’re in on the ground floor. We can believe that too – on aesthetics alone, the verdant alien world Shadow Fall is set on is a significant departure from the rubble-strewn battlefields of the original trilogy.... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Electronic Arts Booth Tour
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 16:20 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Electronic Arts’ stand at E3 tragically had no further information on Mirror’s Edge 2. To make up for that shocking omission, the publisher instead offered hands on time with a number of its upcoming titles and extended previews, revealing more than was shown at the earlier press conference.... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Nintendo
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 15:58 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Nintendo may not have had a showy press conference at this year’s E3 but that didn’t mean the much-loved publisher had no presence at all. In fact, a sizable chunk of the convention’s West Hall was taken over by a gargantuan Nintendo stand, with hands on opportunities for its upcoming games on Wii U and 3DS, and was constantly swamped by fans.... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Dark Souls II
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 12:00 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Namco Bandai’s Dark Souls became something of a sleeper hit after its 2011 release, praised for its hardcore difficulty and dark fantasy setting. Even to this day, it remains one of the most challenging yet oddly rewarding games on the market, a love letter to the punishing games of the 16-bit era.
Dark Souls II, then, has a tough reputation to live up to. The buzz has grown following the previous game, potentially bringing more interested players to the sequel, and we can’t imagine there wasn’t temptation to make the game more accessible for them.
In some ways it is – starting up and getting a feel for the controls certainly feels a touch more intuitive than before. Character creation has been modified, with a selection of basic classes to start with and finer details determined by your play style. Monotonous backtracking has also been reduced thanks to a persistent ability to warp between bonfires, the few safe points found in the gothic world.
... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Pac-Man
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 12:00 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Pac-Man celebrated his 33rd birthday in May. Pause on that for a second and come back when you feel suitably old.
While 33 isn’t a particularly special anniversary, Namco Bandai are celebrating anyway, injecting some life into their mascot character and refreshing him for a new generation while maintaining appeal for the hardcore, oldschool fans.
Pac-Man Museum, due for current gen consoles later this year, packages a compilation of Pac-Man games together. Yes, there are more than just the original and Ms. Pac-Man. It also includes newly created modes such as Battle Royale (where multiple Pac-Men try to grow large enough to eat rivals), a Snake-like mode where you build a growing chain of ghosts until you chomp down on a power pill and gobble them all for a huge score boost, and a reflex-testing challenge where the maze layout shifts around you. There’s also a retro, fan-pleasing tweak that skins the core game with other classic titles such as Dig Dug. It’s clearly aime... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Hands-On With Watch Dogs, The Crew, The Division and The Stick Of Truth
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 11:59 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Following on from our spotlight on Ubisoft’s conference on the first day of E3, we head to their show floor booth for some hands-on time with the publisher’s latest offerings.... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Thief
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 11:58 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Eidos Montreal’s Thief has the distinction of being the most blisteringly difficult game we played this E3. The ‘stealth action’ game firmly puts the emphasis on the former half of that descriptor, and guiding master thief Garret through the game’s luscious world proved a serious challenge.... Continue reading... Comment Now
Back To TopInfinite Lives: E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV
Posted on Friday June 14, 2013, 11:57 by Matt Kamen in Infinite Lives
 Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV has had a rough time of it. The original release of the MMO was plagued by bugs and failed to grab players’ attentions as its predecessor, Final Fantasy XI had. It was so unpopular, it lead to that most un-Japanese of corporate responses - the game was pulled and rebuilt from scratch.... Continue reading... Comment Now
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