EVO will have to wait...

Due to unfortunate last minute situations, I will not attend the Evolution World Finals at Las Vegas this year. I am saddened that I cannot experience the ultimate gathering of fighting gamers personally. I wished that I was able to try out the new upcoming games including Skullgirls, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, and The King of Fighters XIII as well as watch the numerous community documentaries such as Bang The Machine.

I made a promise to myself that I will go next year to not just cover aspects of the event but also compete for some of the games available.

On a positive note is that I will still watch the event from home so I can still enjoy what's available.

A review of one of the featured docs at EVO entitled Focus will be available tomorrow. If I have time, I might be able to write a review of King of Chinatown as well.

Good luck to those attending EVO this year!

Oathbreaker - Maelstrom review

The Oncoming Storm

Belgium serves as a hotspot for metalcore ever since the 1990s. While not as popular as other international scenes influenced by Scandinavia, the Slayer/Cro-Mags-infused "H8000" style ('H' standing for hateful, '8000' referring to the West Flanders post area in Belgium) was a different beast. After some touring and an EP on Thirty Days of Night Records, offspring band Oathbreaker expands with a full release on Deathwish Inc. titled "Maelstrom" (stylized as "Mælstrøm") While it sounds absolutely destructive with fast riffs infused with doom on the side, there is the notion of its unfortunate problems that luckily doesn't detract too much.

The word maelstrom is defined as a very powerful whirlpool and throughout the years has been exaggerated to give it a very destructive meaning. The bulk of Oathbreaker's latest piece puts that sense into the sound excellently. Opener 'Origin' presents itself with strong d-beat drumming, Converge-esque guitar attacks, and in your face vocals from female frontlady Caro. It also foreshadows that the future songs will be as, if not more devastating. Even if Kurt Ballou is a hit or miss on mixing, he deserves credit making the feel right in Maelstrom.

Ballou's mixing is best characterized in both parts of 'Sink Into Sin' (part 2 features Amenra vocalist Colin Eeckhout). He is able to keep it very heavy even if it's fast or slow and filled with well structured guitar layering.

Towards the end is where Maelstrom's weakness is exposed. After 20 minutes or so of consistent intensity, it seems to abruptly stop with the lacking "Glimpse of the Sun." If condensed and rewritten, it might have been a good listen. Following is the album-titled song that while is a good acoustic (with clean vocals) conclusion, it doesn't feel complimentary to the previous composition.

Fortunately, most of Maelstrom's songs are absolutely catchy and well-executed that you will probably listen to more in the future than the snag that exists on the record. If Oathbreaker can improve with a more intense and consistent followup, which Maelstrom somewhat signifies, they have a bright future ahead of them in the world of metal and hardcore music.

8/10

FULL ALBUM STREAM

Oathbreaker "Mælstrøm" CD/LP/Digital by deathwishinc

Pre-E3: Nintendo Press Conference

Nintendo ended the press conferences for E3 before the main convention began with more games coming to the 3DS as well as announcing the anticipated successor to the Wii.

Kicking off was a full orchestra playing songs from The Legend of Zelda series in preparation for the 3DS iteration of The Ocarina of Time as well as the upcoming Skyward Sword and to congratulate the franchise in its 25th anniversary. Events and symphony soundtracks for the series were announced by Nintendo's own Shigeru Miyamoto.

The 3DS became the next subject with new games coming down the line. This includes a new Mario Kart entry, a Star Fox game featuring gyro sensor and camera capabilities built in, and a new Super Mario Bros. game specifically made for the 3DS. Another first party game is a sequel to Luigi's Mansion with the return of the vacuum cleaner, ghosts, and mansions.

Kid Icarus: Uprising nearing release, details for its multiplayer mode was revealed where players in a team of three are tasked with protecting a special character. It's also set for later this year.

Tekken, Tetris, Driver, and Cave Story are one of the many third party titles confirmed to be in development for the handheld.

A flagship title for Nintendo's 3DS Eshop announced from the conference was the official Pokemon Pokedex. With a couple already stored in the database, players must find ways including getting AR cards to complete the large list.

Prior to E3, an open letter was released that a new console from Nintendo would be announced in the conference. Other information including pictures and technical specification were also running amok and subject to debate. As the day arrived, Nintendo shown off the Wii-assisting successor built for many different gaming demographics entitled the Wii U.

While being an expansion to the Wii, the Wii U features a new console design as well as a new control scheme that can be used for multiple occasions. The controller consists of a dual joystick and trigger format with the middle having an interactive touch screen with stylus capabilities. Other aspects of the controller include having a game playable on the controller's screen. communication with other Wii controllers such as the Wii Fit board.

CEO Satoru Iwata expanded what else was featured on the Wii U including Wii games being backwards compatible and the controller featuring many different gizmos such as a microphone, gyro sensor, and camera built in.

At the E3 floor, attendees were able to try out conceptual ideas of what can be done on the Wii U. Players though can expect actual games arriving to the console including a new Super Smash Bros. also aimed for the 3DS. Following an interview with various developers, third party games including Darksiders II, Tekken, Batman, Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon, Lego City Stories, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge are also aimed for release on the Wii U.

Pre-E3: Sony Press Conference

Sony ends day 0f of E3 with a conference of new games as well as a focus on their latest handheld successor to the PlayStation Portable dubbed the PlayStation Vita.

Prior to kicking off the show with games, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton comes by to talk about about the ongoing pressure after the PlayStation Network compromise months back. Working at 90%, Tretton thanks to all the supporters who awaited the return of the service.

Naughty Dog and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception begins the series of game in the conference. The live demo has protagonist Drake on a ship in bad weather at sea. While trying to escape, Drake discreetly enters the cargo bay with many stealth kills in his journey only to be caught and cause chaos. After a major firefight, the ship begins to flood and Drake tries to get to the main floors as quickly as possible before the water attempts to engulf him. A new trailer shows off Drake and his partner Victor Sullivan aided with series allies Chloe Frazer and Elena Fisher in an attempt to stop an enemy from using a special ring. It was also revealed that a multiplayer beta will arrive on June 20 with the chance to try out the completed multiplayer after getting a voucher from Subway resturants in Oct. before its Nov. 11 release.

Resistance 3 also has a live demo. Developer Insomniac shows off multiple parts in one of the games levels taking place in St. Louis, Miss. The first focusing on shooting Chimera forces with the second section having protagonist Joseph Capelli taking a device towards the war torn city. The Sept. 6 release will have both the regular edition as well as the Sharpshooter version featuring a gun peripheral for the PlayStation Move.

Tretton would return to announce a couple of new small things before introducing PlayStation Move content. Starting off, Tretton revealed an HD remastering of the God of War PSP entries as well as confirming the American release of the Team Ico HD collection which are both arriving in Sept. Tretton also got the chance to talk about a new Sony 3D TV display coming soon set for $499 with Resistance 3 and a set of 3D glasses.

The next major portion of the show comes from games utilizing the PlayStation Move peripherals. Los Angeles Lakers star player Kobe Bryant would come on by to help demonstrate the Move on NBA 2k12. Kobe was able to navigate various players, pass, and perform defense easily with aiming with the Move sensor and navigation controller. Medieval Moves is a rail shooter where players control a young knight with multiple weapons in his arsenal. Thanks to specific gestures, players can switch to sword and shield or to a bow and arrow in an instant. The game is also based in a rail design with multiple paths to take by choice. LittleBigPlanet 2 also expands to have the level creator use the PlayStation Move. JJ Abrams' Star Trek would become a game featuring the Move as well as co-op (Kirk and Spok) aiming for a 2012 release.

Following the Move is some exclusive games coming to the PlayStation 3. Spiritual sequel to the popular multiplayer game Warhawk, a trailer of Starhawk was revealed showing off the large war-like future setting with lots of guns. A Sly Cooper sequel was also announced with a special teaser involving a recurring series antagonist pretending to be the legendary thief. EVE Online developer CCP Games went out to confirm the existence of their first person shooter spinoff Dust 514 to the PlayStation 3 as well as expanding onto the PlayStation Vita. A closed beta will be available later this year with a full release in Spring 2012.

Electronic Arts will also have their games feature exclusive content. SSX: Deadly Descents will feature players to try out Mt. Fuji, Need For Speed: The Run will have seven additional super cars, and Battlefield 3 will include Battlefield 1943 in the disc.

Ken Levine of Irrational Games would announce that BioShock Infinite will now support the Move after many criticisms of the product. Owners of Infinite on the PS3 can also play the first BioShock on the same Blu-ray disc. Levine also hinted that another game in the series will be available on the Vita.

Before the reveal of the Vita, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai announcements of expanding PlayStation content to non-PS hardware such as Android platforms in a service called PlayStation Suite.

After many rumors, Hirai confirmed that the Vita is indeed the name of the once named Next Generation Portable. More technical information such as versions using wi-fi as well as 3G service under AT&T was introduced.

One of the many flagship games for the Vita shown was Uncharted: Golden Abyss. This entry plays very similar to the other Uncharted games but with the extension of touch screen capabilities. With the touch or even a drag of the finger, Nathan Drake can move to ledge by ledge easily. Gun fight aspects such as swapping weapons can also be used with the finger. Benefit is that it's not programmed and players can choose schemes or make a hybrid approach in an instant.

Idol Minds' Ruin is a Diablo-esque game aimed for the Vita and PS3. Thanks to cloud saving, players can transfer over their saves to another platform in an instant.

ModNation racers also gets a port to the Vita which members of developer United Front shows a quick example of the track editing system with touch motions. Community creations from the PS3 version will be available on the Vita version by release.

LittleBigPlanet will also receive the Vita treatment.

The final game of the show had Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono showing off Street Fighter X Tekken on the Vita with inFamous protagonist Cole McGrath as a special exclusive character in action.

Pre-E3: Ubisoft Press Conference

Publisher Ubisoft celebrates its 25th anniversary with a press conference featuring their latest series entries such as Brothers In Arms and Assassin's Creed.

Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil creator Michel Ancel with the assistance of a member from his development team shown off a live demo of the 2D-based Rayman Origins. Ancel as the titular protagonist and his partner as Globox, they are chasing an object through multiple levels including escaping a tremendous boulder as well as piloting their own small aircrafts. The demo also makes emphasis on how teamwork can help such as assisting each other in jumps.

One of the unique aspects of the Ubisoft show was their major games introduced by a version if it was made decades back such as looking like a Commadore 64 or a Sega Master System game.

Their first to have that was to show off a multiplayer trailer of Driver: San Francisco.

Ubisoft's Montreal studio would come on by demonstrating Far Cry 3. As Jason Brody stranded in Africa, he must try to find his girlfriend in a land filled with rebel troops bent on killing anybody. This third entry still utilizes the free world like environment and dynamic approach to gunfights.

Gearbox Software's Randy Picthford would then come by to the stage to announce another Brothers In Arms game. The surprising news was that it wasn't a conclusion to the main series but a spinoff game coming to major platforms. Brothers In Arms: Furious Four details a group of four American soldiers loving to kill Nazis stylized humorously and cartoon-like.

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's Tintin also gets a game adaptation. The film makers comment on a trailer about how to make a good hybrid adventure experience by having aid from actual developers.

One of Ubisoft's flagship series, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, is also a spotlight game in the show with focus from the latest entry Future Soldier. With four player co-op, players can initiate synchronized attacks and plan strategies against groups of enemies. The co-op also expands to special cinematic sequences where in the demo for example has each member escort a hostage while taking down enemies from every side.

Maniaplanet and developer Nadeo makes a return to Ubisoft's stage with first announcing the first game in the multi-game customization series (Trackmania - Racing, Shootmania - FPS, Questmania - RPG). Trackmania 2 Canyon is scheduled for released this Sept. with the return of the game series' own track customization feature.

The Rayman spinoff series Raving Rabits also appeared in the conference with a live demo showing the capabilities of the Xbox 360 Kinect including multiplayer action and object tracking. Just Dance is also getting a sequel on Oct. 11 with its first appearance on the Xbox 360 with Kinect. They are also projected to be available for the PlayStation 3 with PlayStation Move capabilities.

Ubisoft tries to expand the music genre with actual guitar compatibility with Rocksmith. A trailer featuring various musicians including Dave Navarro talk about their experience with the game.

Assassin's Creed Revelations closed the show off with a bombastic live demo of an aged Ezio Auditore di Firenze trying to escape Constantinople from Templar troops. Much of the series' gameplay aspects such as combat and navigation is still intact in Revelations. A trailer of the gaim shows the various areas Ezio go including the home base where the once legendary assassin and original protagonist Altair resided. Only now in Revelations show that the Templars control the former Assassins headquarters.

Pre-E3: Electronic Arts Game Changers

Electronic Arts represented the second press conference in day 0 of E3 with some heavy hitters including their sports entries and the popular Battlefield series.

Mass Effect 3 is one of the major headliners of the show with Bioware executive producer Casey Hudson showing off a new demo apart from the Kinect iteration at the Microsoft briefing. Commander Shepard is tasked to destroy a Reaper base only to find out that it's actually a living Reaper. One of the many antagonists tasked with destroying the Earth, this Reaper gives chase to a fleeing Shepard leading to a energetic rail sequence. After the delay announcement prior to E3, Mass Effect 3 was given a definite release date of Mar. 6, 2012.

The next game would be Black Box's Need For Speed: The Run. The gameplay certainly have the characteristic cinematic aspect that Black Box's Need For Speed games but they have also added on foot quick-time-events to change the pace. After the success of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit's autolog feature, The Run expands the ability with more social stats information including seeing single player progress from your friends.

Bioware Vice-President Greg Zeschuk would come out to do a quick talk about Star Wars: The Old Republic before showing a trailer based on the past CG videos.

A new trailer for SSX: Deadly Descents was revealed showing off the three major concepts that EA Sports President Peter Moore explained. "Race it, trick it, survive it," Moore said.

An EA conference isn't it without its Sports brand and info of FIFA and Madden are no exceptions. The former has a chockload of content for its 2012 iteration including refined animations, defense, collision. Another introduction is a social system called Football Club where players can communicate and compete with each other in a local friends league.

The social aspect also expands to The Sims with Facebook capabilities. Players can play a 2D version of The Sims and perform activities similar to the actual game with friends online.

38 Studios CEO Curt Schilling would introduce a new trailer of their upcoming game Kingdoms of Amular: Reckoning and the many contributors to the project including Todd McFarlane.

Ever since the announcement last year, Insomniac Games' Ted Price would finally introduce their multiplatform game under the EA Partners brand. OverStrike involves a small group of unique government agents tasked with defeating their agency from creating a calamity. Each member has different abilities and weaponry such as stealth and a freezing foam gun that heavily compliments each other members' privileges.

The last as well as biggest game of the show was Battlefield 3. Two of the first things shown was an examination of the Frostbite 2 engine as well as a first quick to the multiplayer mode and one of the levels taking place in Paris. In addition to the multiplayer trailer, the stats-based Battlelog was annouced and declared free as well as a multi-console open beta coming in Sep. What followed was a live demo of a tank driver destroying multiple tanks on the armored vehicled as well as creating air raids with a UAV. As it finished, Battlefield 3 got an official release date of Oct. 25.

Pre-E3: Microsoft Xbox Media Briefing

Microsoft kicks off day zero of E3 by playing safe with Xbox 360 Kinect games and capabilities but brings their big guns such as Halo in their press conference.

Starting the conference has Infinity Ward's community manager Robert Bowling showing off a live demo of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. As a Navy SEAL in a war torn New York City, Bowling aided by supporting character Sandman attempt to sabotage a Russian sub preparing to launch missiles. After successfully infiltrating the sub and killing off some Ultranationalist troops, the SEALs breach the sub's command center and help launch missiles to attack the Russians. Their Call of Duty-esque escape has the SEALs attempt to get extracted through a combat rubber raiding craft. After the demo, general manager Glenn Scofield of co-developer Sledgehammer Games came by to say that they can't wait for the game's release.

After an introduction by Microsoft's president of the interactive entertainment business Don Mattrick, Crystal Dynamics' Daniel Neuberger and Darrel Gallagher demonstrates the latest Tomb Raider entry. This reboot game shows off a young and inexperienced Lara Croft trying to escape a cave. The demo shows off the game's interactive capabilities. When Lara gets stabbed and tries to remove the impaled object or tries to light up a room, a button prompt appears. Things like escaping the collapsing cave are more advanced, requiring the player to rapidly press the triggers. Another aspect is its navigation system. Lara now has a special vision that players can identify special objects that can help them progress.

Electronic Arts and EA Sports president Peter Moore would briefly announce that the Sports' lead games such as Madden and Tiger Woods as well as EA's regular games will feature Kinect capabilities.

Bioware CEO Dr. Ray Muzyka would show off the new features in the upcoming Mass Effect 3. Using Kinect, now players can react to conversations just be calling out the phrase. The Xbox 360 device also expands to performing squad orders such as moving to a position or performing abilities. Other things such as one of the probably many new melee abilities as well as some story is revealed as well.

Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier would be the next game in spotlight. With Kinect capabilities, Future Soldier will allow players to navigate and aim/shoot using camera gestures and make settings with voice. It was revealed that players can make many combinations to their weapons with over 200 million combinations. Players can have a long range focus or fight in close quarters with their guns. They can also try it out at an instant with a testing field. Ubisoft CEO Yves Gullermo would then announce all future Tom Clancy titles will utilize Kinect.

Xbox Live's Mark Whitten then introduces a new version of the "New Xbox Experience" with optimization for Kinect. Players with Kinect can now navigate much easier with voice-friendly menus. Whitten also announced Xbox Live's expansion of media services including YouTube support and live television. Also arriving is support from Microsoft's Bing search engine system.

Another expansion to Live's service is support from the Ultimate Fighting Championship including live fights, stat checking, and choosing a fighter's outcome.

Epic Game's Cliff Blenszinski then presents Gears of War 3 with support from co-op partner, major series fan, and voice actor to the game's newest character Ice-T. It shows off a new level where the Gears fight off a lambent monster. Ice-T fights the monster with use of a robotic armor that other players can take cover behind.

Crytek's once unannounced game has revealed to be an action game set in a feudal Rome with Kinect abilities. Ryse's concept trailer seems to show off the many dynamic capabilities when killing your enemies in hand to hand/sword combat.

After many rumors, the 10-year-old FPS classic Halo: Combat Evolved has now been remastered for HD by 343 Industries. Optimized for the Xbox 360, the Anniversary edition adds new graphics and mechanics from the recent games to the original game. Online co-op is also available as well as seven of the game's maps remade.

Turn 10 Studios' latest Forza Motorsport is now dated for a Oct. 4 release with Kinect support and monthly car expansions.

Lionhead Studios' Peter Moleneux finally reveals their first Kinect based game set in the Fable universe. Placed after Fable III, Fable: The Journey shows off a rail shooter style adventure where the demonstrator shows off cool Kinect features such as riding a horse as well as making magic powers with different hand gesture combinations.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer expands on Xbox Live and other Kinect products. It was confirmed that the successful world building indie game Minecraft would be available on Xbox Live Arcade. Kinect Disney Adventures has kids the ability to experience various rides from the theme park including Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. After a year of silence as well as claims of previous footage being unusual, Kinect Star Wars is demonstrated in real time showing a very rail-like style utilizing hand/body movements as well as voice commands (you can turn on a lightsaber just by staying a simple phrase).

Tim Schaefer of Double Fine would show off a bit of their own Kinect game made for the family. The Seasame Street: Once Upon a Monster demo has a father and son (playing as Cookie Monster and Elmo respectively) trying to combat a monster with jumps and voice shouts.

Kudo Tsunoda of Microsoft who first introduced the Kinect two years ago came to the stage to show off the Kinect Fun Labs. Built as a network of software using different aspects of Kinect, the Fun Labs is available to everyone now. They can try out such things as body and object scanning as well as finger tracking. Kudo concludes his part with a sequel to Kinect Sports. Season 2 now includes golf, darts, tennis, and football.

Harmonix comes up next to show off a quick demo of Dance Central 2. This sequel allows the songs from the original to be imported as well as simultaneous multiplayer.

Mattrick then finishes the show with a quick teaser to the new trilogy arc of the Halo series. Halo 4 is set for Holiday 2012 on Xbox 360.

Pre-E3: Konami "Press Conference"

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Konami - E3 2011: Press Conference

Developer Konami prepares for this year's E3 with a showcase of the games to be featured at the event as well as fans to anticipate in the future in a very conventional fashion.

To get the gaming press as well as fans hyped up for the latest game, some press conferences occur before E3 begins with others during.

Konami is one of the least popular companies out of all to have such a conference as well as being sometimes fascinating in presentation. Their previous efforts have turned to provide really interesting stories of awkwardness as well as memes that many gamers know including the popular "ONE MILLION TROOPS" phrase by Ninetly-Nine-Nights producer Tak Fuji from last year.

For 2011, a countdown was initiated for what was believed to be the next Konami live press conference and being their first before E3. As the time elapsed to its deadline, the website hosting as well as other major video gaming sites revealed that it was actually a well-edited pre-recorded video previewing the publisher's latest games.

Introducing the video was Konami Digital Entertainment America President Shinji Hirano behind a 3D backdrop showing off what might look like for the company's games in E3. Prior to introducing the games, he brought out his thanks to fans grateful for their support after the major Japanese earthquake and tsunami that damaged the country months back.

Hirano finishes off by quickly announcing downloadable content for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow as part of the franchise's 25th anniversary and a Nintendo 3DS version of Frogger.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D

The perspective shifts to creative producer at Konami's Kojima Productions Yoshikazu Matsuhana who talks about the development of the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for the 3DS.

"First and foremost, we wanted to make good use of the stereoscopic 3D feature," Matsuhana-san said who intends to have the hardware take advantage of the game's jungle forest setting. "With 3D in mind, we were able to create a natural depth-of-field. It's on a completely different level than an interior setting where you might not have as many rich textures or as wide in scope.

Matsuhana-san expands on some specific hardware characteristics such as the gyro sensor and the camera being used for the game. With the ability of using different types of camoflauge to blend to the environment made ever since the original game's inception, Snake Eater in the 3DS allows players to take pictures such as a flower from their handheld and create their own known as "photocamo." When Snake Eater protagonist Naked Snake does a particular action involving balancing including crossing bridges and climbing a tree, players must steady their 3DS or else Snake might fall off and be in danger.

"We are hoping for a new kind of experince whereby holding the 3DS in your hands, you could in a sense be 'one with Snake'," Matsuhada-san said.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

Next up is the latest iteration of Pro Evolution Soccer (previously Winning Eleven) with the game's creative producer Shingo "Seabass" Takasuka.

Seabass comments that the 2012 entry should provide players who are not controlling players managing the ball with more abilities after looking at 2011's mechanic of handling the ball freely when in possession. Improvements over the offense also carry over to the defense and the AI who manages the security including animations and zone-defense.

"That's the realistic kind of experience we want to achieve," Seabass said. "I believe we are able to make a 'one body, one mind' type game."

To prevent simplicity from their reinforcements, the development team expanded their one-on-one game with improved dribble techniques.

The video feature concludes with Team Barcelona's forward and PES cover boy Lionel Messi about following for more news on Facebook.

NeverDead

In Oxford, England, producer Shinto Ojira takes on a small tour with one of Konami's own development team working with the country's own Rebellion Developments to help work on the upcoming 3rd person shooter NeverDead.

One of the main topics was about the main character Bryce's ability to never die, originally conceived by Ojira.

"Even though he loses limbs on occasion from the attacks, he still can't be killed," Ojira-san said. "So what happens is he picks ups he limbs and puts it back on."

He expands the concept as not just losing and regaining the limbs but how it can be used as an advantage for the game's progression. Footage shows Bryce able to detach a limb in order to fight a particular enemy.

Ojira concludes with showing off the latest trailer as well as reveal that thrash metal band Megadeth contributed a song exclusively for the game.

Silent Hill

Silent Hill: Downpour and its developer Vatra Games, situated in the Czech Republic, would be the next featured game in Konami's presentation.

Silent Hill: Revelation director Michael J. Bassett and actress Adelaide Clemens, portraying Heather Mason, comments on the upcoming game entry and the rest of the series as an influence on the film. New footage of Downpour as well as the development process including live motion capturing in the forest plays as they speak out.

Before showing off a new trailer, it was announced that Silent Hill 2 and 3 would be made for HD consoles as well as introducing Silent Hill: Book of Memories planned for Sony's upcoming NGP handheld (yet unconfirmed by Sony Computer Entertainment of America as of the message).

Kojima Productions

To help finish off is Mark MacDonald, executive director of localization group 8-4 Ltd., visiting Kojima Productions in Tokyo, Japan in hopes to clarify the news of Hideo Kojima being unable to come to E3 this year.

After a humorous entry to the offices, Kojima-san presents MacDonald a huge reveal for Metal Gear Solid with assistance from video game comedy group Mega64. Member Rocco Botte plays as a janitor interrogated by other members Derrick Acosta, Shawn Chatfield, and Garnett Hunter acting as military like guys breaking in an after hours Konami building. Actosta acting as a sort of outrageous parody of Metal Gear Solid's popular bad guy Psycho Mantis "invades" the janitor's mind.

The visions show Botte trying to play Metal Gear Solid on the go while physically moving an external electric battery and a big TV in public. While providing many laughs, the skit also confirms Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, 3: Snake Eater, and even the once-PSP exclusive Peace Walker to be available on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as an HD optimization set for a Nov. 2011 release. To add to the HD updates, both Zone of the Enders games will also be available in the format in 2012.

These HD editions does not use emulation and properties such as user interface, art, and audio have been rebuilt and optimized for the consoles. Characteristics in both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles such as right analog stick use and trophies/achievements will also be available. A new featured called "Transfarring" is also introduced to the PS3 and PlayStation Portable versions of Peace Walker.

"[Transfarring] is the ability to bridge distance and gaming hardware by transferring your game between platforms," Kojima-san explained when talking about his concept. "With Transfarring, you can play the same game 24 hours a day, whether at home or on the go."

A demonstration shortly begins with how it exactly Transfarring works featuring members of Kojima Productions. From the PS3 version of Peace Walker, they "transfarr out" the save data onto a PSP via USB cable. To avoid save issues, the data from the PS3 version is locked until it's "transfarred in" from the PSP.

"[Peace Walker] is just the first phase of my plan for the Transfarring system." Kojima informed about his future plans. "The next step will bring PlayStation 2 class games onto PS3 and NGP and allow transfarring between those platforms."

He would also conclude that is to have PS3 games transfarr between NGP versions after day one of release.

MacDonald brings up Metal Gear Solid: Rising which Kojima responds that the game will release in 2012 as originally intended. Metal Gear series mechanical designer Yoji Shinkawa would then pop on by and explain more of the concept art MacDonald sees when interviewing Kojima-san.

"It's an extension of the concepts from Metal Gear Solid 4 but we wanted to take it in a more futuristic and sci-fi direction," Shinkawa-san said. "Our teamwork is mostly complete however we got one more task that still remains."

MacDonald then asks Kojima-san of any future projects which the prolific developer responds that it's in the planning stage aimed to be multi-platform as well as Transfarring-enabled.

"We are experimenting with some of the ideas we have as well as researching, conducting interviews. From there we take the necessary info we need and move forward," Kojima said. "So when it comes to the title, the game system, or any kind of visuals, there is nothing I can really show at this time."

Kojima-san didn't seem that footage of the project can be seen from MacDonald's view. Kojima-san then let a bit of info in including it proprietary game engine dubbed the "Fox Engine."

"Up until now, we have been developing games exclusively for specific platforms," Kojima-san explained of the development process for their previous games in comparison to Fox. "We are paving the road to go multi-platform for future titles.

Kojima-san aims to have the Fox Engine help shorten development time thanks to the tools provided. What is shown ran by the engine is a test bed of a dynamically-lit forest with a horses and other various objects built for the developers to research.

Kojima-san plans to visit E3 next year.

Contra

As the video ends, a small teaser of a moving fire ball moves everywhere until it finally settles in a C positioning and the phrase "They are coming...," ultimately to tease that Contra is getting a new entry.

The Future Part 1

Short note: Japan has hit hard with an 7.9-8.9 magnitude earthquake and is horrible. :(

I haven't posted anything in a long time but I will post more as I am planning to go to WonderCon 2011 this April. I hope to post my experiences.

Best wishes to the Land of the Rising Sun.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day Three Video Game Panels

Scheduling for the third day of video game panels was a bit complicated, some were early while others were too close from others.

Despite some misses, I got into the "Street Fighter" and "Epic Mickey" panels.

Street Fighter

"Super Street Fighter IV" producer Yoshinori Ono began the panel about the rumored "Darkstalkers" game believed to appear in Comic Con. Confirmed to not be true, Ono though asked the crowd to pull out a dollar and were photographed to convince Capcom to help create a new entry in the series.

Ono then talked about the success of Super Street Fighter IV and planning for a Nintendo DS release of the game.

"We're going to do our best to have the look and feel of SSF4 on the 360 and PS3 and bring that to the DS," Ono said. So be on the lookout in the future for more information about SSF4 on DS."

The two mysterious character slots featured in the upcoming arcade version of SSF4 have been discussed with the crowd guessing who will they be.

"In September we have the Tokyo Game Show and we'll talk about that more then," Ono replied.

Ono made an announcement that a new version of "Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike" is now in development with the additional subtitle "Online Edition." No further details including platforms have been released.

He jokingly said shortly after, "because you saved my job, the least I could do is bring Street Fighter III back to you."

During some talk about additional content to SSF4, people from Namco interrupted by giving out copies of Tekken 6 and suddenly producer Katsuhiro Harada came in to announce that his company and Capcom are working on two projects using characters from Tekken and Street Fighter.

The first revealed titled "Street Fighter X Tekken" (X pronounced as cross) is being developed by Capcom. It seems to resemble and play more like Street Fighter IV with additional tag features.

Harada announced that Namco will be developing "Tekken X Street Fighter" which will play in a 3D gamefield, closer to what is in Tekken.

Ono did want the crowd to enjoy "Marvel vs. Capcom 3" first as both of the "X" games will not arrive "for a while."

Epic Mickey

Later on in the day, renowned developer Warren Spector and Marvel writer Peter David were panelists for their upcoming Disney project tentatively titled "Epic Mickey."

Spector considered that when people get their hands on the game, they should "perceive the game as they want it."

Spector began to talk about the origins of the creation of Epic Mickey including his strong interest in developing a platformer and David's involvement after the Marvel/Disney merger.

A new trailer was reviled showing familiar locations like Steamboat Willie and new ones influenced by Pirates of the Carribean.

Later on, the topic of morality in the game was discussed. Spector wanted to avoid the good/bad path and dig deeper into more detail like how one group might admires a said activity while another group doesn't.

As additional content, a digital comic named "Tales of Wasteland" was announced providing background information about the universe named "Wasteland;" where older Disney characters and settings have been deserted.

David will be working on the six issues as well as an 64-page graphic novel adaptation to the game when it ships fourth quarter of 2010.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day Two Video Game Panels

On the second day of Comic Con, I visited some of the important video game panels including Epic Game's anticipated shooter "Gears of War 3."

Twisted Metal

Earlier in the day, I went to see info on the upcoming "Twisted Metal" coming for the PlayStation 3. People at the panel featured members of the development team Eat Sleep Play including series creator David Jaffe.

Jaffe detailed on the single player mode which will focus on four characters; Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, Dollface and Preacher. Each will have live action sequences detailing some backstory as well as endings.

Eat Sleep Play would later reveal a new level still planned in development named "Rooftop;" heavily influenced by similarly named maps in the first two Twisted Metal games.

Jaffe also discussed different concepts of what Twisted Metal was supposed to be. Included is "Twisted Metal: Apocalypse" taking place in a post-nuclear setting and another was a clean and stylized approach similar to what can be seen in the "Midnight Club" game.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Unfortunately, I missed the "Marvel vs. Capcom 3" panel due to being open when Twisted Metal ended and being full in the meeting room. From what I have heard, it basically talked about what the game was and shown the trailer to new character and Okami protagonist Ameterasu.

Gears of War 3

During the evening, Epic Games shown tons of new content for "Gears of War 3" and other expanded content surrounding the series.

Moderated by G4TV's Adam Sessler, Epic Game's Rod Ferguson and Cliff Blezinski appeared to talk about new stuff in Gears of War 3.

They begun talking about the origins of the new mode "Beast." After some testing of "Gears of War 2's" "Horde" mode, it was believed that an Epic developer suggested trying the Locust Horde and lead to the creation of Beast. It's different from Horde where players take roles as the Locust in order to take down the humans. Blezinski called Beast a "class-based squad mode."

Both Blezinski and Ferguson provided specified commentary to the E3 co-operative demonstration giving more insight to parts including weapons and enemies.

While female characters were confirmed, more details was revealed in the panel. Actress Claudia Black was confirmed to play as a soldier named Sam. Another named Bernie was confirmed to fight along with the other Gears.

The rumors of hip-hop artists Drake and Ice-T in Gears of War 3 was confirmed to be true as they will be important characters in the story.

Book series author Karen Traviss who worked on the previous two Gears of War novels is now confirmed to be writing two more books respectively titled "Anvil Gate" and "Coalition's End." The latter book has been revealed that it will take place 18 months in between the second and third games.

The action figure series by NECA is still developing new models just in time for Gears of War 3. The main panalists were then suddenly interrupted by actor Carlos Ferro, who played as major character Dom. Eventually the voice actors of Cole, Lester Speight, and then Carmine, Michael Gough, appeared creating loud reactions from the crowd.

Gough especially talked about the dispute of Carmine's fate and was split on both choices: "Save Carmine" and "Carmine Must Die." Blezinski would introduce a video serving as a campaign video about picking one of the sides.

The panel ended with a strong question and answer session involving things in multiplayer and the universe.

Fans of the game were able to get autographs from every panelists including Gough who was eager to get as much signatures as possible.

San Diego Comic Con 2010: Day One Video Game Panels

Thursday at this year’s San Diego Comic Con International featured a prominent video game appearance including special panels for upcoming releases which some I visited.

At the morning, one of the many meeting rooms featured Capcom’s “Dead Rising 2” with a high volume of people attending.

While developers Blue Castle Games were unable to come by to talk about the game, creator and executive producer Keiji Inafune and producer Shinsaka Ohara appeared before the crowd. Inafune discussed a bit of how surprisingly successful the first game was and hopes that Dead Rising 2 will “cater more to western audiences.”

More details of the plot have been revealed where the zombie outbreak hit Las Vegas and later the main area Fortune City.

While Dead Rising 2 takes place 5 years after the original, the downloadable “Case Zero” will confine to the Vegas infection just two years.

Dated for an Aug. 31 release date just a short of a month before the full game, Case Zero is an Xbox 360 exclusive priced at 400 Microsoft Points. The game is “To provide a taste of Dead Rising 2 while serving something new,” Inafune said. Case Zero introduces sequel protagonist Chuck and his daughter surviving zombies in Vegas. The downloadable also gives background on the anti-zombification medicine “Zombrex” which will serve a strong role in the full sequel.

Chuck in Dead Rising 2 participates in a zombie killing show in Fortune City to fund enough money for his daughter’s Zombrex medication. Along the way, Chuck gets framed for trying to destroy television equipment and must clear his name before a 72 hour extraction deadline.

Capcom also details about Dead Rising 2’s multiplayer where players can play against each other or in co-op as well as participate in mini-game challenges dubbed “Terror Is Reality.”

Set for Sept. 28, Dead Rising 2 will receive a special “Zombrex” edition featuring various props and a special disc different in both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. While the PlayStation 3 will receive a making of documentary, the Xbox 360 version will have Inafune-directed B-movie horror film “Zombrex Dead Rising Sun” with an exclusive alternate ending.

Later on, Ubisoft began a panel for “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” featuring G4TV’s Morgan Webb on moderation.

Writer Jeffrey Yohalem described how the whole Assassin’s Creed series relied on a specific set of rules where everything in the game had to have justification for it to exist. The storyline relying on controversial historical periods and being “the spine of the experience;” meaning that other elements including gameplay and sound aids this plot.

Brotherhood continues the storyline of Italian assassin Ezio Auditore di Firenze and his struggle leading to truly leading the Assassin Order. Yohalem confirmed that the themes of Brotherhood was heavily influenced by “The Prince” by real-life person and series character Machiavelli. Characters in the “Assassin’s Creed 2’s” story including Ezio’s mother Maria and will have a much larger and complex role in shaping his destiny.

The multiplayer fits in to the story where members of the antagonistic group Abstergo takes over personas of assassins to train them. Along with an overview, two new characters were announced including the bearded “Blacksmith” and the smirky “Soldier.”

With the release of Brotherhood, a comic book series is planned. Taking place in early-1900 Russia, the protagonist is a novice assassin named Nikolai who travels between Siberia and St. Petersburg while the infamous Tunguska Event occurred.

Towards the evening, members of Bungie initiated a demonstration of new features in “Halo: Reach.” Multiplayer designer Lars Bakken discussed the options that can be placed in returning mode “Firefight.” Players can customize wave types and enemies, end a game prematurely, and provide objectives including generator defense. Still multiplayer enabled, Reach features matchmaking along with friend based joining. A mode introduced in the panel is “Versus” where one can be a Spartan defending Covenant forces led by another playable member. Versus will be playable tomorrow at Comic Con.

Another part of the live demonstration is the much improved “Forge” mode. While the multiplayer favorite “Blood Gulch” returns to Reach re-titled as “Hemorrhage,” it’s part of a tremendously bigger map called “Forge World.” Just like its title, it’s a map perfect for different designs using Forge. The capabilities of constructing new things in Forge has increased like where objects can clip on other pieces and much better rotation controls giving new possibilities in making outrageous designs. Bungie also had video documentary shortly released showing what can be done in the new Forge mode.

Before the end of the Halo: Reach panel, Bungie revealed a special Xbox 360 containing a special silver design on the console and two controllers along with a full copy of the game. The special edition console is planned to release the same as Reach.

Cermemony - Rohnert Park/Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines

California Über Alles

These two northern California bands share a lot of similarities. Interesting to note that these bands are friends to one another and a member from each group contributed in the others' latest releases. Both Ceremony and Trash Talk in their previous works combined a very fast and straightforward style very reminiscent of Infest and other groups distinctive to some modern hardcore punk today. The latest releases from both bands signifies a departure from that approach. Yet different, their favor of finding a new noise still binds their musical relationship.

From the two, Ceremony takes a huge left turn in "Rohnert Park." There is a profound difference in comparison to their earlier recordings "Violence, Violence" and "Still Nothing Moves You." From hyperspeed anger to now nostalgic homage of more classic hardcore groups from the 1980s. The stylistic changes help create catchiness and variation. While some sound like a punk in the default sense, the others including 'The Doldums (Friendly City)' feel like something out of a new wave band. Beginning song 'Sick' pays respect (and jokingly disrespects) to those bands while the constant punk beat goes on and vocalist Ross Farrar goes misanthrophic about Barrack Obama, the GOP, atheists, buddhists, and other annoyances.

Lyrically, the content is strong detailing things Farrar's stints in Main County Detention Facility in Sonoma County, California ('MCDF'), his near death experience seconds after his birth ('Back In '84'), and the dullness of growing up in the city of Rohnert Park ('The Doldrums [Friendly City]'). The clarity of his storytelling always felt enjoyable and immersive while digesting. Sure it's not exactly distinctive to other suburban kid angst content but it's all about the details.

Hours east is Sacramento where Trash Talk formed and vocalist Lee Spielman still resides. His approach in "Eyes & Nines" is more centered towards many different (and sometimes abstract) themes as opposed to personal pieces. It can range from smoking pot on Wednesday ('Hash Wednesday') to pyromania ('Explode). Lyrics in Trash Talk though is not their strongest suit but rather their assaulting manner of the vocals and instruments mixing.

It's different from their earlier releases yet have a similar feeling. Trash Talk tries out a Discharge-like d-beat approach and hell it's successful. Sans the super doomy Hash Wednesday, Eyes & Nines lasts only 12 minutes long thanks to the constantly fast and seamless transitioning of songs. The bludgeoning strikes in 'I Do' immediately continues in 'Trudge' and does the same in 'On A Fix' and the titled and ultimate track. Especially at the second half of the album, it's energy-inducing and doesn't take breaks; Trash Talk still knows how to make swift and memorable strikes.

Music To Frag To! – June, 2010

(From Digital Gaudium)

This series of monthly features will talk about select songs on the latest albums from extreme music based bands (death metal, hardcore punk, powerviolence, etc.) which you should listen to when getting the nuke or capturing a flag.

Sometimes when I play games like “Call of Duty” or “Halo,” I get a bit irritated of those moments of silence. It became an annoyance when I played the “Lost Planet 2″ multiplayer demo where distant sounds sounded too far and near proximity effects fade too quickly. I put on some fast grindcore which in result turned out excellent. The immediate assaulting songs worked in context of the game and would work in others too.

For this month I will showcase music from the first half of 2010. For the coming months, it will regularly be based on releases during a particular month while I might do some special entries on occasion.

NOTICE: Music on this edition will be removed by next feature of this series. Labels, if you request a track removal during this period, contact staff@digitalgaudium.com and we will happily remove the file.

1. Kverlertak - 'Mjød' (self-titled)
In extreme music, Norway is the capital of its significant black metal scene. Murders, church burning and even a bizarre suicide situation. The ideology is dangerous but the music is intense and mysterious.

The atmospheric energy from the sound is blended with Kvelertak's love for party time rock and roll. Sort of like a mix of Turbonegro, Emperor and Refused. Their latest album is perfect for those casual play sessions with friends where good clean fun is more important than winning. Kvelertak's self-title album is currently streaming here.

2. Celeste - 'Ces belles de rêve aux verres embués' ("Morte(s) Nee(s)")
Most of the time I hear people put their microphones near their music speakers on Xbox Live; it's pretty much badly done hip-hop music with the bass frequency of the beat pattern repeatedly coming on. French quartet Celeste also focuses on constant rapid repetition but for their case it works.

Hypnotizing black metal-like guitars and bass fill the left and right channels, drums stays and a pummeling rhythm, and vocals contribute to the chaotic approach. The production is intentionally overpowered to match the constant bombastic and bludgeoning terror the album encompasses. Would sound great for the upcoming "Splatterhouse" reimagining. An intensely violent game with intensely violent music; there will be blood. The album along with their previous two is officially available for free here.

3. Extortion - 'Regrets' ("Loose Screws")
FAST! FASTER!! FASTEST!!! High speed intensity represents this powerviolence band from Perth, Australia. It's immature and punk but that's the point. They play it very straightforward in every release they had. Great for those tactical knife sprinting runs on Modern Warfare 2.







4. Ceremony - 'Sick' ("Rohnert Park")
Ceremony is too after two album of fastness. Rohnert Part takes it back to the early 1980s where bands like Black Flag and Bad Brains were emerging from their own scenes. The song "Sick" best represents that feeling.

Staying on a pacing tempo, Ceremony vocalist Ross Farrar goes all out nihilistic about hating everything. If you have that same mood and won't care if you are playing adversarial or team modes, you hate everyone and it's time to kill them (in game of course).



5. Trash Talk - Tracks 1-3 and 5-10 ("Eyes & Nines")
Removing the fourth slow track 'Hash Wednesday,' Eyes & Nines from this Sacramento, California quartet is just about 12 minutes long. But hell those 12 minutes go out fast like a bullet. A big player count Halo match should be enough for these nine songs. The minutes will be blissful chaos during melee combat and constant ballistic urgency.






6. Integrity - 'Learn To Love The Lie' ("The Blackest Curse")
Cleavland, Ohio metalcore masters debuts a full length (ever since 2001) with more "Holy Terror."

Remember when Slayer's 'Angel of Death' was in almost every skateboarding game? Even a great thrash song can get tiring. If there was an alternative, I will take this song or others from Integrity's The Blackest Curse." They match the rage that Slayer perfected in "Reign In Blood" and makes it more in key with hardcore punk. It's still angry.



7. "This Comp Kills Fascists Vol. 2"
It's 74 tracks of aural violence in one CD! The compilation soundtrack to utter chaos for any intense multiplayer game. Enough said. Here are two tracks from the massive grindhouse of sound. DON'T PRESS PAUSE.

Halo: Reach multiplayer beta (preview)

Originally posted on Digital Gaudium (May 8, 2010)

Bungie, developers of the acclaimed Halo video game series released a multiplayer testing build of their final franchise-based game “Halo: Reach” to the public with high anticipation before the retail release this fall.

Officially released on Monday, people who own a copy of “Halo 3: ODST” and have a membership to the Xbox Live, can download the beta. The download provides a small taste of the multiplayer mode that will be featured in the final build.

After a short introduction message from Bungie, players can pick one of the two modes available.

Matchmaking mode allows online players to combat one another in multiple playlists featuring game types common in Halo like “capture the flag” and the deathmatch-based “Slayer” while some new are introduced in Reach. “Headhunter” requires players to grab skulls from fallen enemies and deposit them at specific capture areas for points while “Stockpile” is a variant of capture the flag where teams must store neutral flags in their own bases.

Throughout the beta, Bungie will add more game types for players to play and test. “Generator Defense” has a small team of Spartans have to defend multiple machines from a rag-tag group of invading Elites. The other, “Invasion,” is the large scale mode featured in the beta where Elites must complete a set of objectives while going through Spartan defenses; this mode also has a Slayer only variant.

Introduced in “Halo 3,” “Theater” mode allows players to watch footage of their played games as well as take screenshots.

So far, the Halo: Reach beta looks, sounds and plays like any other Halo game but like the series’ previous incarnations, new features and other nuances makes this distinct from the others.

The most apparent addition is armor abilities where each player can pick one of the four provided. These abilities replace the equipment system in Halo 3 where it was one use as opposed to Reach being reusable. Each ability serve different purposes best for particular situations. Active camouflage increases the chances of assassinating enemies without being seen while the jetpack allows temporary air superiority against ground forces.

Weapons have gone towards another overhaul in Reach featuring new additions as well as removing some common in the series. Similar to the original Halo and Halo 3: ODST, dual-wielding is not featured in Reach. In return for balance, weapons like the magnum pistol have more power into it just in case if ammo for a primary weapon runs out; those single handed weapons serve as more of a sidearm.

The popular battle rifle has been removed as well for another called the DMR, short for Designated Marksman Rifle. Instead of a three-round burst, the DMR can only provide single shot fire generally preferred for mid to long range combat; making it closer to the battle rifle’s original envision during Halo 2. It’s not easy to handle though because the DMR along with almost every other weapon in Reach has accuracy and the faster each firearm is shot, the less accurate it will become. The DMR and many other new weapons are featured in Reach for all of us to play with.

Although Bungie wants everyone to enjoy this small bit of the beta, they want players to discover and report any issues or bugs; which in this phase is normally suited for private testing. Bungie is eager for every players’ opinion if such things as the focus rifle being overpowered or someone found a way to get under the battlefield ever occurs.

There are some particular issues in the beta but with over a million participants, all the feedback up until closing day on May 17, 2010 will allow Bungie to fine tune and help create the best possible experience in Halo: Reach when it comes out fall 2010.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis (review)

It's Mathcore Madness!

It has been more than a decade since the release of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s acclaimed 1999 progressive metalcore debut “Calculating Infinity.” The group continues with their latest release doing what they do best: providing catchy unpredictable aural assaults while trying to experiment with new sounds and styles.

The first track “Farewell, Mona Lisa” foreshadows what’s to become of the band’s longest album to date. The first part features their signature burst of chaos exemplified by guitarist Ben Weinman and newly recruited drummer Billy Rymer.

Almost two minutes in, the song displays an ebb and flow effect where vocalist Greg Puicato shines in his dynamic vocal range following a tremendous band-central climax.

Although not as apparent, it’s great to hear that their characteristic hypersonic and discordant style is not forgotten in this record.
“Good Neighbor” features many dissonant yet enticing guitar runs by Weinman while Rymer can hit multiple time signatures without error. It has a lot of energy which when translated live, can entice large scale moshes.

The instrumental capabilities of Weinman and Rymer are best heard in “Endless Endings.” The majority of the track sounded like a much harder version of experimental jazz band Naked City. Weinman’s fast solos and chords sound like an altered interpretation of many different cultures of music and Rymer does his best to the point that it’s reminiscent of former DEP drummer Chris Pennie.

Some select songs from previous albums “Miss Machine” and “Ire Works” featured DEP experimenting with a pop music approach in mind, much different from their heavier pieces. “Option Paralysis” takes what made those songs great and adds a fitting metal edge, which makes the overall sound more cohesive.

“Gold Teeth On A Bum” best displays their new approach. Taking notes from former collaborator Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Puicato uses various vocal styles throughout.

From whispering, to screeching and then to singing, Puicato knows which style is perfect for each section. The band aids him resulting in a more tenacious unit instead of one particular member standing out.

“Widower” is another great example of the band’s experimentation in the album. Enrolling pianist Mike Garson, the song evolves from being very isolating and later on deconstructing.

Although being the longest album compared to the others for the band with only three songs falling below three minutes, there are still intense songs that justify its length.

“Room Full Of Eyes” still sounds like DEP but halfway in is a very pummeling doom dirge where everybody can headbang to.

Each album sounds like a logical progression in which “Option Paralysis” follows what made best with their previous work. With four albums and multiple member changes, The Dillinger Escape Plan excels at what they do and always tries to tread new ground, while not compromising who they are.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (review)

Tactical Destruction Part 2

Although with the recent midst of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 dominating the first person shooter market, Battlefield developers DICE was working on the sequel to their 2007 console breakout Battlefield: Bad Company. Containing memorable characters, a unique style while pertaining to the series ethic of large scale vehicular combat, and fun multiplayer, a sequel should be anticipated. Now released it's indeed a hell of a good time.

Following a quick and surprising prologue, the player controls again soldier Preston Marlowe fighting with a rag-tag squad formerly of an Army's B-company (nicknamed Bad Company) After going rogue and escaping with mercenary gold from the previous Bad Company, it's implied that they eventually got caught. Impressed by the squad's activities, the military assigns them to a special operation involving a Russian terrorist and a mysterious weapon of catastrophic proportions. In return for succeeding, the squad is able to retire from service.

The first Bad Company had a comedic feel and seemed to have been influenced by the war film Three Kings. Bad Company 2 takes a more conventional action movie route removing some of the little nuances that charmed the original including the in-game radio (surf music during battle is awesome). The interaction between the squad is still retained yet much applied in a more subtle fashion than in the previous game. It's hilarious to hear conversations about Harrison Ford, the pronounciation of 50 Cent, and what would be the best mixed martial arts nickname for squad leader Sgt. Redford. It's up to committing some downtime to hear their comrade because of the game's much more confined level structure.

Unlike the first game's single player, Bad Company 2 removes most of the large scale semi-linear formula and takes a 180 degree turn. The choice results in a double-edge sword effect where although it goes outside Battlefield's tradition of big free-form action, the pacing is well timed and the action is much more fun. The completion time with the changes applied is shorter than the original Bad Company but the memorable moments throughout many beautiful environments kept me going back.

Some moments outside the gunplay and just seeing the mountain ranges, it almost looks photo realistic. Much detail has been taken care of for the updated Frostbite Engine with effects that I would have never thought would work on consoles. DICE did an excellent job in making a great looking game while running at an always constant 30 frames per second and allowing anybody destroy the world to their whim.

Just like the first Bad Company, the sequel makes use of destructive environments once again and increases by two-folds. Not only the walls can be destroyed, now with enough explosives, buildings can collapse killing anybody inside which is a great alternative for one of the multiplayer modes.

Without the gold, the Rush gametype follows the same format with some fixes including the defending team able to recompose and prepare for an attacking base. A smaller variant called Squad Rush is intense and requires everyone to work together on four on four combat. Versions of maps accommodate the mode as opposed to being tacked in. The conquest gametype originally absent at the first game's launch is here and does it job just fine. The last surprising mode is Squad Deathmatch where four squads of four members attack one another for the highest kills. That mode is great for a quick pick up and play without committing too much time.

With four classes specializing in different ways of playing, there is thought in picking one for a particular situation. Medics can heal and revive teammates while providing suppressing fire. Assaults use high powered rifles and grenade launchers to destroy enemy cover. Engineers are able to fix vehicles as well as destroy with rocket launchers. Recon units can snipe enemies from afar and infiltrate bases with spotting tools. The classes are simplified and much more accessible from the previous game.

Vehicles like in multiplayer as well as single player are threatening. Along with the usual tanks and helicopters, newly added is a small unmanned aerial vehicle which can provide missile support and suppression fire by means of a machine gun from above. For an attacking team, it's a godsend while the defensive side can feel overwhelmed if not destroyed.

The multiplayer grabs some elements experimented with downloadable Battlefield 1943 including squad member spawining which helps in very tight situations. It helps improve the communication and cooperation factor of Battlefield which is the key to success as opposed to running and gunning.

There is also unlocks that seem to be grabbed from Modern Warfare 2 but with a twist. Each experience gained in a class is added to getting a class-based upgrade including kits and weapons. Included are all kit perks and weapons for which someone who would like to go all out with a Thompson submachine gun while looking like a recon class is great.

Even with an emphasis in multiplayer (the box art says "Defining Online Warfare") and a single player that is lacking in length, the overall package in Bad Company 2 is excellent. It's a great alternative for people who want to try other high profile shooters in the market now besides Modern Warfare 2. There is enough variety and charm which will keep me going back for more building destruction online or offline.

9/10