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Dragon Age DLC revealed

EA has announced a new DLC for the highly successful RPG Dragon Age: Origins. The BioWare developed RPG’s first DLC, titled “Return to Ostagar”, will be released this holiday for just $5. The DLC will offer a chance for the player to “revisit Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens’ darkest hour, to reclaim the honor and learn the secrets of Ferelden’s fallen king”.

While it’s okay with a cheap DLC, it seems a bit too early. We’re in the process of reviewing the game (review coming soon!), and we’ve already strolled through some 30 hours of gameplay. It’s not like the game is light on content as it is.

Nintendo planning Zelda surprise for E3 2010

At E3 2009, Nintendo revealed a few fragments of information about the upcoming Zelda, basically confirming that it was in development and released a sweet teaser poster (which you can see above). Now Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has said that they’re “trying something new” with regards to the structure of the game, and adds,

“So we have been trying something new in terms of the structure of the Wii version of the new Zelda game this time. I am really hopeful that people will be surprised with the changes we have implemented for this Wii version.”

The game is set for a hopeful 2010 release. Very hopeful.

BioShock 2 special edition revealed

Well, don’t look surprised, of course BioShock, like all other highly anticipated sequels, was getting a special edition set. The BioShock 2 Special Edition package includes the game, a 160-page hardcover art books (we love those) and the soundtrack on CD. But there’s more! For the first time (at least we think), the set includes a orchestral score on vinyl. Yep, vinyl. How retro is that? Pretty retro if you ask us. The special edition will retail for $99 on consoles and $89 on PC and will be released on February 9.

Assassin’s Creed 2 review

Assassin’s Creed was one of the few original and interesting new IPs that was released two years ago, bringing a new setting not often explored by games, alongside some original combat and acrobatics. The sequel — and of course there’s a sequel — looks to build upon the success of the first game, and offer something new. While the gameplay remains mainly unchanged, the new setting, in Renaissance Italy looks just as great as ancient Jerusalem did in AC1.

The story continues where the previous ended; Desmond, in today’s time, escapes from the complex that kidnapped him and captured his mind. This time he teams up with the good guys, and gets back in the seat in the machine that sends him back a few hundred years to Italy, during Leonardo da Vinci’s time, where he’ll play an assassin, in order to train himself the skills. We won’t go into detail of the story, but rest assured that it’s pretty well told and written, although the cut scenes and dialogue aren’t exactly top notch. Read the rest of our Assassin’s Creed 2 review

BioShock 2 cover revealed

2K Games has revealed the cover of the highly anticipated BioShock 2, which is scheduled for a February 2010 release. As you can see above, it’s quite similar to the original BioShock 2, this time though, as the PS3 cover suggests, PS3 owners won’t have to wait a full year to play the game.

Left 4 Dead 2 review

There was understandable outrage when Valve announced a sequel to Left 4 Dead, to be released only a year after the original game, giving a hint that it might be a yearly series, something very untrue to the Valve spirit (which is quite the opposite: quality delays). Is there merit to the criticism and concerns? Has Left 4 Dead 2 too little to offer compared to last year? In short, yes, in long: yes, but it’s still a heck of a lot of fun.

The story in Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D 2) followed the same type of story and gameplay as its predecessor, the main campaign follows four survivors, played via online co-op with three other players, where the point is to escape through a maze and myriad of zombies of all kinds. It’s a style of gameplay where teamwork absolutely counts, in L4D 2, it counts even more. Don’t even think about going solo — you’ll be picked to your bones very quickly. The new campaign follows four new survivors, this time they seem to be more varied with better personality, however the AI is still lacking a bit behind, where they’ll often run in front of you, despite that it’s very clear that you’re shooting a very big gun right next to them. But this, of course, is gone when you play co-op — which you should, that’s the whole point, anyways. Read the rest of our Left 4 Dead 2 review

Gearbox claims Borderlands the fastest selling new IP in 09

Well, this isn’t surprising at all; Gearbox, developers of Borderlands, claim that Borderlands is the fastest selling new IP of 2009, which is no surprise, as it’s probably the most known new IP of 2009, not to talk about the most anticipated one. The only other notable new IP was Prototype, and, completely unsurprisingly, both games are looking to get sequels in the near future.

Left 4 Dead — 8 bit version

Prepare to get all nostalgic, as you can see above, Left 4 Dead, they way it would have been if it was released 20 years ago on NES. The creator of the game plans to release this little gem for free later this year.

Top 10 original video games of 2010

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Hollywood usually takes most of the slack when it comes to criticism for lack of originality, but in fact, the video game industry is even worse at creating original content, it’s a world dominated by franchises of every kind, from sports to action games, publishers and developers are usually taking the easy and safe way: sequels. And spin offs. And remakes. Etc.

We’ve compiled a list of top 10 original games that are scheduled for release for 2010 — and it was quite a challenge: out of the 130 games confirmed for 2010 by major publishers and developers, we found 19 that were original. Just 19.

10: Brink (Spring 2010)

Brink, an FPS developed by Splash Damage and published by Bethesda, centers around a two sides: Resistance and Security, and is a team based multiplayer shooter much like Quake Wars, which was also developed by Splash Damage. It looks promising as a multiplayer game, as it’s story based, much like Quake Wars, where one battle takes place over several maps, with a story connecting everything together.

9: Alpha Protocol (Spring 2010)

Alpha Protocol, developed by Obsidian Entertainment — developers of Star Wars: KOTOR 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2 — is a third person action RPG where the player assumes the role of Michael Thorton, a CIA agent who’s been betrayed and must not only fight his way through enemies, but also uncover the conspiracy that set him up.

8: Singularity (Q2 2010)

While time travel is a known concept in games, albeit underused, it’s still something that is difficult to fit in wiht the overall storyline, and the time feature never seems to be used properly. In Singularity, the player will have control over a TMD (Time Manipulation Device), a “weapon” which will be used to solve puzzles, for instance, if a door is locked, instead of looking for the key, you use the TMD and speed up time for the lock only, which will rust, and voila, door opened! Or use it on an enemy and watch him turn into a skeleton. The concept certainly seems intriguing, and offers some truly original puzzles.

7: Dante’s Inferno (February 9, 2010)

Dante’s Inferno has already caused a lot of controversy, from the fake E3 2009 protest, to gameplay elements where players can slay children. The gritty, hell based game is loosely based on the actual Inferno by Dante in The Divine Comedy, and the player assumes the role of Dante, who has to fight his way though monsters and demons in the 9 circles of hell, and decide whether he’ll be good and spare some (like children) or go reckless. It definitely looks as one of the darkest games of 2010.

6: MAG (January 26, 2010)

MAG (Massive Action Game) is a PS3 online FPS multiplayer who’s main feature is a massive 256 player online matches, with 128 players per team, divided into 8-player squads, 4 squads into a platoon, and 4 platoons into a company. With 256 players on the map, MAG is set to deliver some of the most intense and frantic combat yet, and will offer detailed stats and rankings, where higher ranked players will be able to command the battle and give orders to individual squads and platoons.

5: LA Noire (Q3 2010)

LA Noire, an open ended adventure game set in a recreated 1940s Los Angeles, which players can freely roam around, and chose to solve a number of murders around the city. The game has a great feeling of classic noir films based in LA, like LA Confidential, The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown, and draws inspiration from such works as well.

4: Rage (Q4 2010)

It’s been a while since Id Software has made an original game — actually, the last original game Id Software made was Quake, back in 1996. Id finally shows something new with Rage, a fusion between a first person shooter and a racing game set in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max styled world. It’s built with the all new Id Tech 5 engine, and shows very promising visuals, to say the least.

3: Heavy Rain (Q2 2010)

Heavy Rain has been on the radar since it was originally showcased at E3 2006, and will be released almost four years later, in Q2 2010. The gorgeous looking game centers around a serial killer known as “The Origami Killer”, and players assume roles of different characters who try and solve the murders. It’s one of the most stylish and atmospheric games to come out in 2010.

2: Alan Wake (Q2 2010)

What Heavy Rain is for the PS3, Alan Wake is for the Xbox 360. Developed by Remedy, Alan Wake is a psychological thriller inspired by the likes of Twin Peaks and Stephen King novels, where players assume the role of Alan Wake, a writer who seeks refuge at a quiet place where he can write his next novel (much like Stephen Kings “Misery“). However, when his wife vanishes, it’s up to him to get her back.

1: APB (March 2010)

APB is not only the most original MMO game to his the stores in 2010, it’s also the most original game overall. It’s the classic cops vs. robbers gameplay, but on a massive scale, with endless customizations and options, tons of missions and weapons. Created by David Jones, the original creator for GTA, APB is hailed as everything he wanted to do wince he made GTA, and while originally trying to pitch and sell APB to Rockstar as GTA Online, it’s good that APB is on its own now, we need a great, original game. And an MMO that’s not fantasy based.

Assassin’s Creed Lineage, Episode 2

Ubisoft has released the second episode of Assassin’s Creed: Lineage, the short film series based on the popular game. As for Assassin’s Creed 2, the game will be released next week — alongside our review of it, naturally.

Call of Duty: Secret Spielberg level unlocked

You have to give it to the guys from Funny or Die, who created the hilarious spoof above, an “unlocked Spielberg level” in Call of Duty. Suffice to say, it’s very realistic. And very fun.

Super Mario Bros Wii, Super Skills trailer

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii Mario platform game appears to look quite exciting, as you can see in the above trailer, which showcases the new Super Skills system. The game will be out tomorrow.

Fallout MMO screenshot appears

While Bethesda and Interplay are in a legal battle surrounding the Fallout MMO which is in development (at least last time we heard about the game) — which Bethesda think is moving too slow — according to 1UP, the above screen is one of several which were leaked, alongside concept art, which Interplay allegedly submitted as evidence in court, a sign that they’re working on the MMO — a statement Bethesda is contesting.

Alan Wake premiering in May 2010

Remedy has always been secret about Alan Wake, and has been very careful not giving a firm release date on the gorgeous adventure game. Now MCV claims that a source tells them that the release date is set for the end of May on the Xbox 360, and will receive a “Hollywood-style promotion”? Does that mean we’re gonna be seeing a lot of Alan Wake merchandising? T-Shirts and cup-holders?

Uncharted 2 sells 1 million copies

While Modern Warfare 2 is ravaging the sales charts these days, Sony quietly announced (and what better time to announce it) that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves has sold over 1 million units on the PS3. However, the number isn’t confirmed with NPD, so we’ll see how much truth there is to it. But for a game of Uncharted 2’s quality not to already sell a million copies, being the most anticipated PS3 title this holiday season, would be a bit disappointing.