Skyrim - Dawnguard

Bethesda has officially revealed the name of the first piece of DLC for Skyrim. An image posted on  Bethesda's blog, states that the new DLC will be titled "Dawnguard" and will launch on Xbox 360 this summer.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim - Dawnguard (Credit Bethesda)

Bethesda also announced, the Skyrim DLC will be an Xbox 360 exclusive for at least 30 days. 

No other information has been revealed on upcoming expansion but with E3 just a few weeks away, you can be sure that Dawnguard will make an appearance. Rude not to, right?

In other news, Skyrim's Kinect integration is now live (see the video below). If you haven't had a chance to try it yet, it's well worth a look. There's nothing quite like shouting random Dovahkiin words at the tv when under attack. My neighbours must hate it! FUS RO DAH!!

Game of Thrones - looking forward

Game of Thrones is an upcoming Action RPG for the Xbox 360. The game will be based around the bestselling book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' (though many of you will know it better by the title of the first book in the series, Game of Thrones), written by George R.R Martin.

Not much is known about the plot so far, except that it is set before the events of the first book and that the player will get to experience events from the perspectives of two very different characters. However, with George R.R Martin working closely with the developers, one thing that we can be certain of is that the plot will be lovingly crafted, filled with all the treachery, betrayal and back-stabbery that make his stories so great.

I am a huge fan of the books and recently went to a talk given by Martin, as well as a book signing. Though there was no mention of this game, George did treat us to a short chapter from his next book. Suffice to say, minus the spoilers, it sounds as brilliant as the rest!

Game of Thrones for Xbox now has a release date set for 1st June 2012 and is available for pre-order from Amazon.co.uk.

Here's a short trailer to wet your appetites!

The Witcher 2 - launch controversy

As you all know The Witcher 2 is not due for UK release until tomorrow, however a lucky few (myself included) happened upon some rogue stock on sale in Tesco over the weekend. It seems that Tesco inadvertently began to sell the titles on Friday, a whopping 4 days before the official release. Developers quickly got in touch and demanded that the supermarket pull the remaining stock from the shelves until the actual release on 17th April. 

Whether this mistake was genuine error, or a more sinister ploy to make a few bucks at the expense of more established game retailers, we will likely never know. I for the most part was completely unaware, shambling into my local Tesco on a quest for Cat food, Butter and AA Batteries, I came across The Witcher 2 in the entertainment aisle. 

Without a second thought I dropped one of the many copies on sale into my basket and set off towards the quest marker at the checkout. I encountered no enemies on route and no traps, not so much as a puddle of spilled Ribena. Plain sailing.

After tweeting about my recent purchase, I received a few messages of confusion from friends and followers. For the most part these read something like "Howd u gt that?? N0t out till tues...!". After doing a bit of googling, I stumbled upon this article on EuroGamer, which explained the mix up.

Some of the environments are stunning

In all my gaming history, I've not really experienced this before but the sensation was probably akin to time-travel...or being sent a review copy of a game. Without hesitation, I decided to get stuck in, and here's what I found:

The Game

Following a short, obligatory tutorial designed to introduce you to the combat mechanics and some of the basic functions, you are thrown into a large battle between two ruling powers in the fictional land of Temeria. Your character (Geralt, the Witcher) is a super-human who specialises in slaying monsters. However, on this occasion, you have been summoned by the King to assist in a clash against his enemies. 

So far this looks like an excellent example of a modern RPG. The story is well crafted with characters that have a depth and complexity that makes them really come to life. The graphics are excellent considering that this is a game that has been ported from a PC and adapted to fit the aging hardware of the Xbox. 

In general, the game feels a lot more focused than some open-world RPGs like Skyrim for example (Not that freedom in Skyrim is a bad thing!) but you don't get the feeling of being herded in one direction. I spent the best part of the day exploring, getting pretty stuck into the initial quest, only to find that I was still in the prologue and hadn't even started the first chapter! So, needless to say, there is plenty to do in the world of Temeria.

Mean looking chappy, eh?

Above all though, The Witcher feels very much like an adult's RPG. The mature themes are in your face, but in no way overdone. The language is rife, the violence bloody and the nudity full-frontal, but where others try and fail, the Witcher manages to pull this all off without it feeling trite. 

The Xbox version also comes with some additional DLC and some lovely booklets, manuals and a map. Manuals. Remember those?! If you are a fan of RPGs, Game of Thrones or fantasy in general, I think you'll dig it.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Looking Forward

Skyrim is the next installment in the Elder Scrolls saga and so far it is looking epic. The game is set 200 years after the events of Oblivion and the story will take place in the region of Skyrim located to the North of Cyrodiil and to the West of Morrowind. Skyrim will be released in both the U.S and Europe on the 11th November 2011 (11.11.11).

The development team boast countless improvements on the previous title, Oblivion, but here are just a handful of things that I am looking forward to the most:

New system for leveling up

Unlike the previous Elder Scrolls titles (and indeed most RPGs), Skyrim has taken a more open ended approach to character leveling up and skill customisation. Players will no longer be bound to a class and it's related skills based on a decision that they made right at the start of the game. With the new system your character can improve any skill simply by using it. This means that you can now adapt the skills of your character as the story progresses e.g you may start off with skills with a two-handed weapon but after some experimenting discover that spell casting is more your style. Experimentation looks like it will be key in Skyrim and it means that your character will be constantly evolving throughout your journey, regardless of the path you take.

New combat systems

You can now dual-wield a variety of weapons and spells. You can for example hold a sword in your left hand and a fireball spell in your right. You can alternatively dual wield two different spells, or even dual wield the same spell in both hands. This will give you the ability to cast an enhanced, more powerful version of the spell. The new combat system will encourage players to try different combinations and tactics for attack, furthering the ethos of creating a unique character that suits your style. 

Prettier menus

Ok so, menus aren't generally a deal-breaker for a good RPG. However, from what I've seen of Skyrim, the menu and stats screens look stunning. For example the skills/perks system is presented as an enormous night sky filled with the twinkling stars of the various constellations that represent the various gods. Your character will now look to the heavens for skills and powers instead of the generic lists that we have come to accept. Skyrim has even taken a fresh approach to the Map Screen - now, at the push of a button, the player camera will zoom up into the sky giving a birds eye view of the entire region. As vertigo inducing as it sounds, it looks fantastic!

New ways of talking

Unlike Oblivion, conversations with Skyrim's inhabitants will no longer take place from a fixed perspective. You will now be able to converse freely with NPCs whilst on the move or whilst rummaging through their homes. This means that once a conversation is initiated, the game will no longer zoom in the other characters face, forcing you to hang on every word while you are glued to the spot. Not much is known so far about the conversation mechanics such as persuasion, but early speculation is that it may resemble something like that in the Fallout series.

Dynamic questing

The new Dynamic Quest system means that factors in your tasks will be randomly generated. Whilst the specifics of a quest may be pre-written, for instance 'steal an artifact from a sorcerer', the game will pick and choose characters and locations dependant on what is nearby and relevant at the time. In short, you and five friends could complete the same quest and yet each one of you would have a completely different experience. This factor sounds great for re-playability, although I wonder what it means for guide and walkthrough creators. 

Diverse dungeons

Dungeons in Skyrim have been built by a team of level designers who specialise in internal environments. The development team have said that this will help to create a better flow and diversity to these aspects of the game. I find this reassuring considering there are over 120 dungeons in the game.

New and improved AI

Much like Oblivion, the NPCs in Skyrim will all have set routines and occupations that they must attend to. However, the game will build on this by including unscripted reactions to the players actions. NPCs may now attempt to steal items that a player has put down or even challenge your character to a dual if they have taken a particular dislike to you. It's these small details that really breathe life into the villages and towns that you visit.

Dragons

Ah yes, the Dragons. These fiery foes will play a large part in the story of Skyrim. Without saying too much, Dragons have awoken and roam freely around Skyrim and your character is the last of the 'Dovahkiin' (the Dragonborn) meaning you have the soul of a dragon and can speak the dragon tongue. These huge beasts look incredible and I can imagine the first few encounters with them will be terrifying. That said, I can't wait to get stuck in!

So those are just a few of the many new things that I am looking forward to in Skyrim. I was a huge fan of Oblivion and I can tell that Skyrim will be spending a lot of time in my disc tray from day one.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is due out on 11.11.11 and it's available for pre-order now.

Watch the trailer here:

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - review

Softly softly...

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the third installment to the critically acclaimed FPS, action-RPG series by Eidos Interactive and Square Enix.

Set in the cyber-punk style future of 2027, you play Adam Jensen, an ex-cop turned head of security for Sarif Industries. Sarif specialize in human augmentation (genetic & mechanical enhancements) and weapon design.

The company comes under attack by a group of mercenaries early on who kill the top research scientists (including Jensen's ex-girlfriend) and demolish most of the complex, killing Jensen in the process.

Jensen then undergoes a series of extreme augmentations to bring him back and enhance his broken body. Once recovered, he sets out to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

Human Revolution is blessed with a tremendous narrative, rich in twists and many complex characters to keep you guessing. It explores a future where science has enabled mankind to break down the barriers between man and machine, taking a serious view on the problems that this presents.

The game looks fantastic in HD and the environment designers have done a brilliant job in creating a moody yet sleek vision of the future, which clearly pays homage to the film Blade Runner.

However, it's in the gameplay that Deus Ex really shines, giving you absolute freedom over how you play. Fans of gunplay and explosives can go wild - leaving a trail of death and destruction (great fun). For the more patient among you, try your hand at sneaking past enemies, performing silent take-downs, hacking security devices and crawling through air ducts. Whatever your style, Deus Ex will provide you with numerous upgrades and multiple paths to get the job done.

Not all negotiations end peacefully

Upgrades come in the form of body augmentations, which include abilities like temporary invisibility, x-ray vision, super strength (enabling you to punch through walls and throw refrigerators!) and enhanced hacking skills. These can either be bought from LIMB Clinics or gained through skill trees that are unlocked by gaining XP.

Perhaps one minor shortcoming is the lack of guidance or support when upgrading augmentations. This becomes particularly apparent in some of the later boss battles, which without the appropriate skills, can be power-sappingly mundane. These conflicts are also the most linear parts of the game and fly in the face of the flexible ethos that the rest of the game promotes. However, this fault is so insignificant in the scheme of things it's barely worth the mention.

With these minor issues aside, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an amazing game that I have found difficult to put down. With a story full of intrigue and visuals to die for, this truly is next generation gaming at its best. You owe it to yourself to buy Deus Ex. Do it now!

My top tip: Explore as much as you can. There are multiple routes for each mission and hide-y-holes everywhere with new items and upgrades. It is also advisable to complete all the side-quests in order to get your hands on as much XP as possible for augmentations.

My Score: 9/10

Game Reviewed On: XBOX 360 

Bastion - review

The Bastion cover-art

Bastion is the first title to be released as part of this years 'Xbox Live Summer of Arcade' and it's a real treat for arcade lovers. The game takes place in a world that has been ravaged by a cataclysmic event called the 'Calamity'. The Calamity has caused widespread destruction and unleashed a plague of hostile creatures into the world.

You take on the role of 'The Kid', a boy who has seemingly slept through this catastrophe and wakes up to find the world in pieces with many of his friends gone. Guided by a wise old stranger, the Kid sets off to find The 'Bastion' (a safe place where people agreed to meet in troubled times) and restore normality to the realm.

The Bastion acts as a hub where the player can upgrade weapons, swap load-outs and select levels. You can also take part in mini-games based around the many weapons and complete challenges for upgrades.

This is a very accessible RPG in the sense that the player does not have to concern them self with endless statistics, items and inventory management. Interaction with other characters is simple and adds value and insight into the world and recent events. As well as this, combat with the various weapons and combinations is a joy. The mechanics of battle are simple to get to grips with, but timing of attacks plays a key role, particularly if players have raised the games difficulty.

Vivid environments like this are plentiful

The game has a stunning art style and scenes throughout resemble a moving oil painting in which the world quite literally forms beneath the Kid's feet. It also features a fantastic musical score that complements the game's mood perfectly. However, what makes Bastion truly unique is the dynamic narration of events. Much like the film 'Stranger Than Fiction', the narrator comments on the players actions in real-time, often observing the players particular style or choice of weapon.

Bastion does a brilliant job of merging storytelling with action by allowing players to take part in a fable as it unfolds. I was entertained throughout as well as constantly surprised by the variety of weapons, enemies and environments.

SuperGiant Games have done a brilliant job with Bastion and truly started the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade with a bang. I urge you to give it a look. For 1200MP it would be rude not to.

My Top Tip: Experiment with lots of different weapon combinations and upgrade the ones you like. Don't be afraid to mix it up a little if you are finding a particular section difficult. 

My Score: 10/10

Game Reviewed On: XBOX 360