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Archive for the ‘Xbox 360’ Category
Shortly after we previewed the PC version of Codemaster’s upcoming mix of arcade and sim racing game, Race Driver GRID, we had a chance to have a look at the Xbox 360 demo version of the game as well. Weighing in at 795 MB, the demo turned out to have more bang for the buck then other game demos that have been clogging our bandwidth but failing to deliver a gameplay experience that would justify the huge file sizes. With support for online racing in the demo via Xbox LIVE, it is pretty much ensured that this is one demo that you won’t be deleting any time soon, at least, not till the game hits the shelves coming June.
Come Friday and we normally sneak out early off work, go some place and get drunk. Thankfully, we still had not managed to sneak off get ourselves drunk silly when we realized that we have stumbled upon a treasure trove of sorts. On our hands here, we have an awesome quantity of previously unreleased details of the upcoming DICE game, Battlefield: Bad Company scheduled to be seen on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. In the next few hours, we will give up on the bottle for a while and keep updating you with more juicy details of the game, until they decide to send some lawyers our way. If this has got the Battlefield fans salivating all over their keyboard already, hit the jump to whet your appetite with a look at the Achievement list for the Xbox 360 version of the game and know for yourself why the much talked about Trophy system for PS3 wont be seen in this game.
Before you start shedding tears of joy, let us tell you that the game has reached India but is, as of now, stuck at the Mumbai customs. Our friends over at Gaming Indians have been in constant touch with the people concerned, both at Take2 and e-Xpress Interactive and the news doing the rounds right now is that the game has finally made it to the Indian shores. Considering the general apathy of the customs as far as the Indian gaming community is concerned, it can take anywhere between 7-10 working days before the games clear customs and are ready to hit the shelves across the country.
The month of May seems to have started off on a great note, what with E-Xpress Interactive playing Santa and leaving us a PC preview copy of the highly anticipated multi-platform game GRID. Knowing the rich history that Codemasters has when it comes to the racing games genre, the racing buffs in us were eager to try out the latest offering from their able-stables. Certainly then, braving the Mumbai traffic to rush back home was something that we were not really too keen upon. However, once back home and having installed the game, it just took us a couple of minutes into the game to know that all the trouble was worth it.
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Five minutes.
That’s all it took for me to realize how much I sucked at Ninja Gaiden II. It doesn’t matter how many excuses I could think of to justify dying so quickly and so embarrassingly. “Well, it has been a while since I last played the Xbox original,” I muttered to myself. Right, that was soothing. I should also go on and mention how the sun was in my eye, the check was in the mail, and how the ninja dogs ate my homework. Whatever. Bottom line was, Team Ninja’s grand follow-up to one of the best Action games of 2004 was standing in front of my face, every bit as punishing as it’s predecessor ever was to newcomers and softies. And really, no self-respecting fan would have it any other way.
When Microsoft India’s Sanjoy John gave us the OK to come on over to his office in Gurgaon to give us our Ninja Re-Education Classes, two things became quickly apparent to myself and Reggie. Firstly, nothing was going to get in our way of experiencing Mr. Itagaki’s latest hacker-slasher. Not over-priced shady parking lot “services”, not the blazing heat beating our foreheads like an engineered oven-bazooka, nadda. We had to get our hands dirty, no matter the cost and humiliation. The second thing that became quickly apparent was the fact that we needed someone who was more than experienced in the ways of the Hayabusa clan. Fortunately, we had just the right person: Ren Miranda, Reggie’s younger brother. The pieces were in place and it was go-time.
2007 was a good year for racing games. Fans weren’t exactly spoilt for choice, but it was more a case of quality over quantity. There was something for everyone; Forza Motorsport 2 for the purists and car enthusiasts, DiRT for some off-road escapades and the best car damage ever, and the highly underrated and overlooked PGR4 with its addictive pick-up-and-play approach.
Like in most other genres in 2007, the Xbox 360 came out on top here was well. Forza 2 and PGR4 were exclusive to Microsoft’s console, while DiRT came to the PlayStation 3 months after it did on the Xbox 360.
But 2008 is a new year, and it’s already off to a smashing start – literally. Here’s a look at what racing fans can look forward to in 2008. Once again, there’s something for everyone – simulation, arcade and even some combat racing. And Sony fanboys can finally stop sulking now, because from the looks like it, the PS3 has got some heavy-hitters lining up on the grid.
Firstly, the good news. Soulcalibur IV has a release date pinned, albeit just for the US as of now. Expect to see the dazzling installment burn into souls on the 29th of July, that too with your choice of cuddly Jedi master Yoda (Xbox 360) or bodacious Sith-Daddy Darth Vader (Playstation 3). Oh, and this time you’ll get to play online. Two jugs are better than one.
Now for the bad news. Ubisoft will be distributing SCIV within PAL territories, which means that the chances of seeing this carried over to Indian retailers are within the vicinity of slim. Not a possibility I’d like to admit, but that’s only going to be one more obstacle to overcome in my vast pursuit of knowledge for digital Tee and Ay. Man, if only Ubisoft acquired some mobile game development studio based in, oh I don’t know, Pune or whatever. Actually, I’m not sure how much good that’ll do, but not all candy-coated dreams should have to be imported from Play-Asia, ya know. Unless you don’t want your parents catching you during an intense session of Puchi Evangelion. Hang on, I better lock the door.