Gamercide News

Developed by: Techland Published by: Deep Silver Distributed by: Square Enix Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 Release Date: April 23, 2013 Available on Steam for $39.99 Physical Copy Available for $49.99 Dead Island Riptide is the follow up to the 2011 game Dead Island. The original was fairly well received and sold very well. That said I’ve never touched the original game. Will this be a hindrance or a blessing for Riptide? Read on and find out if I had as much fun bashing zombies around as most or if I put down my machete and walked away disappointed. As I said, I have never touched a Dead Island game before and I was worried I wouldn’t be the right person to review its fol…

Dead Rising 2: Case Zero Developed by: Blue Castle, Capcom Published by: Capcom Players: 1 Rated M (Mature) by the ESRB The Breakdown Are you a bad enough dude to save your daughter from turning into a zombie? The zombie outbreak that started in Dead Rising has spread beyond Willamette, Colorado, and Chuck Greene, a former motocross champion, finds himself in search of a temporary cure called Zombrex for his infected daughter. Is Dead Rising 2: Case Zero able to stand on it's own as a good game, or is little more than a paid demo? Read on to find out. The Important Stuff Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is a prologue to the upcoming (you guessed it) Dead Rising 2. You play as Chu…

Deadliest Warrior: The Game Developed by: Pipeworks Software Published by: Spike Games Platform: Xbox 360 (XBLA) Players: 1-2 (2 player versus, online and offline) Rated M for Mature by the ESRB Link to Purchase from Microsoft The Breakdown 8 of the fiercest warriors in history battle it out to see who the Deadliest Warrior is in this brutal fighter. Based on a TV show of the same name, what can we expect from this game? Does the game deliver, or is it just another mediocre tie-in? Read on to find out! The Important Stuff Let me start off by saying one thing that will blow your mind: This game plays like Bushido Blade. If you haven't played Bushido Blade, shame on you. If…

Developed by: Humble Hearts Published by: Microsoft Studios Platform: Xbox Live Arcade Players: 1 Dust: An Elysian Tail. Just the name brings great joy to the members of Gamercide and a lot of the gaming community. We've been looking forward to the game for a very long time now. Back in 2009 we hooked up for an interview with the awesome and amazingly talented guys of Hyperduck Soundworks and our excitement for Dust only grew stronger after talking with the guys. You can check out our follow-up interview with Chris and Dan from 2010 here. Dust: An Elysian Tail is an action RPG that was set for the Xbox Indie Games Channel, but after winning the 2009 Dream.Build.Play Chall…

Developed by: Lionhead Studios Published by: Microsoft Game Studios Players: 1 player, 2 player cooperative online and offline Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows Rated: M Date of Release: October 25 2010 in North America and Australia and on October 29, 2010 in Europe Albion is about to face it's biggest threat yet and it is up to you whether or not Albion can muster up enough force to rise above and defeat it or crumble under it's very own regime and existence. How will you lead the revolution? Will you be the hero that Albion desperately needs and deserves or will you be the tyrant that rules with an iron fist? In Lionhead Studio's latest entry into their highly suc…

Cutting fruit. Sounds simple right? Well, when put in game form it becomes an astonishingly addictive concept. You are a ninja whose sole purpose is to cut fruit. Previously it was limited to the mobile market. Deft finger flicks would allow you to slice through fruit and avoid bombs. Can Halfbrick bring this same game play to Kinect? If you've played the mobile version, you know the deal here. Fruit is thrown up on the screen and you have to use your hands to slice it. Slicing multiple fruit at once gives you multipliers and you gain more points. Occasionally, game ending or point sapping bombs will be thrown across. Don't slice those. "Slicing" may be a bit generous her…

God of War 3 Developed by: Santa Monica Studio Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment Platform: PS3 Players: 1 Rated M by the ESRB The Breakdown Kratos has been on a mission of vengeance for the death of his family for over 5 years. Gods, Titans, and a bestiary full of monsters have stood in his way, but not even death could stop Kratos’ quest for the revenge he so desperately desires. Using a narrative that ties together every single game in the series, including God of War: Chains of Olympus on the PSP, the death of Zeus is finally within Kratos' grasp in this, the final game, in God of War series. The Important Stuff Picking up right where God of War 2 left off, Kra…

Developed by: Paradox Interactive Published by: Paradox Interactive Platform: PC/Mac Players: 1/up to 32 Hearts of Iron 3, one of many titles made by grand strategy giants Paradox Interactive, is a grand strategy game set around the events of World War II. In it, players are able to take control of any historical country that existed between the period of 1936 - 1944, though the game can be played to 1948. With hundreds of historical provinces open for conquest, this is as massive as you can get, aside from managing a real country. It should be said that the game is not just a World War II game, but one that features all events in history during this period. Players choos…

The theatres interface. Another development is the Air Mapmode. This allows players to view each airbase across their nation, and the range of the planes stationed there. This shows how far a plane can go before coming back to refuel. It is great for planning bombing runs or sending in fighter planes to battle it out, as you can quickly see where each plane needs to be based. Having bombers based just behind the front line allows them to easily travel into enemy territory. The new partisan system adds a new level of warfare. This allows you to be a bit sneaky and turn the enemies people against them. By slipping in some of your men, you can begin to create turmoil withou…

Developed by: Straandlooper, Telltale Games Published by: Telltale Games Platforms: PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad Players: 1 Rated M for Mature by the ESRB Clapper's Wreake. The town that took the "Great" out of Britain. When a terrorist holes himself up in a building with hostages there and no one seems to be able to reason with him, it's time to call in Hector, the so-called Fat Arse of the Law. Hector: Badge of Carnage is a crude, point and click adventure where you play as Hector, an overweight cop with a sarcastic attitude. Not to say that he's a bad guy, he's a good cop overall, he just lacks hygiene. And pants (initially). Hector isn't overly thrilled about being called up…

Developed by: Straandlooper, Telltale Games Published by: Telltale Games Platforms: PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad Players: 1 Rated M for Mature by the ESRB It's the final act and once again Detective Inspector Hector finds himself stuck in a small room without any pants. After confronting and subsequently being captured by the terrorist in the finale of the second episode, Hector once again starts out in a perilous situation where one wrong move and he's up a certain creek - though this time quite literally. All the usual gameplay elements are still here and essentially the same. This time around, after escaping from a septic tank out in the countryside and getting back to civili…

[Review] - Hydrophobia Developed by: Dark Energy Digital Published by: Microsoft Game Studios Players: 1 Rated M for Mature by the ESRB The Breakdown A group of terrorists, known as the Malthusians, has taken over the luxury liner the Queen of the World. As Kate Wilson, you are on a mission to escape the sinking wreckage with your life. All the while your co-workers and friends are dying around you. The Important Stuff Hydrophobia is a typical 3rd person action-adventure game that integrates some of the most amazing water effects to date. The tale of a giant luxury liner, that has taken the place of cities due to the “great population flood”, under siege by a terrorist gr…

Developed by: Jason Rohrer Published by: Jason Rohrer Platforms: PC Players: 1 What happens when you cross Geometry Wars with Inception? You get a space shooter of epic, layered proportions. Inside a Star-Filled Sky is a space shooter unlike any other. I say space shooter for lack of a better term, as you're really in some odd, layered pixel dimension. There isn't really an objective in the game aside from maybe seeing how far you can go. You can play the game normally like any other shooter, flying around the levels, blasting enemies until you find the level exit. If you can't find the exit, you can stand still and a guide line will lead you to it. And when you get …

Developed by: Neocore Published by: Paradox Interactive Players: 1 Platforms: PC King Arthur: Fallen Champions, the latest addition to the King Arthur strategy roleplaying franchise by Neocore fills the gap between King Arthur I and II. It is, however, very accessible to new players as well. One might assume from the name that this is a strategy based in reality, but this is not so. Along the journey, players will come across many fantasy elements as well. Set in a fictional land in ancient Britannia, players will fight knights, twilight creatures, tribals, and other fantasy creatures The game follows the stories of three heroes on their respective paths. Players take on …

Mafia II Developed by: 2K Czech Published by: 2K Games Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC Players: 1 ESRB rating: M 17+ The Breakdown You're Vito Scaletta. You find yourself back home in Empire Bay, after getting injured in World War II. Once back home, you realize some things have changed, while others haven't. Your Mother and Sister haven't changed one bit. However, your best friend from childhood, Joe Barbaro, most certainly has. Joe has a few things to show you, and you too will change after being introduced into the seedy underbelly of his newfound, Costa Nostra (mafia) world. The Important Stuff Mafia II will suck you in from the very start of the game. The a…

Developed by: Arrowhead Game Studios Published by: Paradox Interactive Platforms: PC Players: 1-4 Magicka has come a long way with all of the new updates and DLCs, but aside from the Magicka: Vietnam DLC, they've only been robes, items, and levels for the arena and versus modes. Now finally a true addition to the Adventure mode has been released. This isn't a quick, challenging little map like Magicka: Vietnam either. There are three full chapters with checkpoints, bosses, and cutscenes. All the signature humor is there, with various areas, new and old, to explore. You start with none of your spellbook spells from the main adventure, but a few new ones await, such as a s…

Developed by: Arrowhead Studios Published by: Paradox Interactive Platforms: PC Players: 1-4 You already know we here at Gamercide love Magicka. But does the new DLC stand up to the greatness and originality of the main game, or will it just leave you with nightmarish Vietnam flashbacks? Magicka: Vietnam is a fairly small DLC. It consists of two new Challenge maps, and adds nothing to adventure mode. However one of the challenge modes is structured similarly to adventure mode, with three screens you must make your way through to complete the level. The other mode is a new arena with just one small area to face waves of the new enemy types just like the other arenas The …

Developer: Capcom, Eighting Publisher: Capcom Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 Players: 1 - 8 Players (Only 1-on-1 with 8 player lobbies) Genre: Fighting For more than a decade fans of the Marvel Vs Capcom series have begged and pleaded for a follow-up to the wild and crazy fight fest that was Marvel Vs Capcom 2. With the release of Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds' release did everyone get what they wanted? Does round 3 of this legendary arcade staple live up to the hype? Read on fellow comic and fighting game fans to find out if we got what we wanted or are we still waiting for a great follow-up to this great series. When you first start up this game, you can tell right…

Developed by: Bioware Published by: EA Games Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 Players: 1, with 4 player cooperative multiplayer Four and a half years since the launch of the revolutionary original Mass Effect, which introduced a new style of RPG, the final installment of the trilogy has released. More than four years of hype are riding on it. And with as epic a follow up as Mass Effect 2, the stakes are even higher. The Reapers have finally arrived, and have begun to lay siege to civilization around the entire galaxy. Even after all the warnings Commander Shepard had given, no was prepared, nor could they truly be even if they tried. The stage is set as the Reapers beg…

Developed by: TaleWorlds Published by: Paradox Interactive Platforms: PC Players: 1/Multi ESRB: T Mount and Blade: With Fire and Sword is a stand-alone expansion to the acclaimed games Mount and Blade and Mount and Blade: Warband. Unlike the previous games With Fire and Sword is based on a historical novel of the same name by Polish author, Henryk Sienkiewicz. It has players enter into an ongoing war between five Eastern European factions during the 17th Century: The Polish Republic, The Tsardom of Moscow, The Kingdom of Sweden, The Crimean Khanate (early Turkey) and The Cossack Hetmanate (early Ukraine). Therein lies one of the greatest strengths of the game: the ability…

Ms Splosion Man Developed by: Twisted Pixel Games Published by: Microsoft Games Studios Platforms: Xbox 360 (XBLA) Players: Single and Multiplayer With a spray of champagne and a stray celebratory bow, Ms. Splosion Man opens with the accidental creation of the Ms. while the scientist are carelessly celebrating their successful capture of her male counterpart. The second game in the Splosion Series created by Twisted Pixel, Ms. Splosion Man runs on the famous Beard engine, making it quick to pick up for fans of the original and easy to learn for newcomers. Ms. Splosion Man pays homage to classic arcade and console games such as Sonic, Mega Man, Super Mario Bros. 3, and of …

Orcs Must Die! is about the last of the War Mages defending the fortresses of the Order, an organization dedicated to stopping the orcs from invading their world. In each fortress there is a rift leading back to your home world, which you must stop the orcs from entering. You are given many traps to place as you progress through the game, as well as archers and paladins that will attack nearby enemies. You also have weapons ranging from your trusty crossbow and blade staff, to items that allow you to cast offensive magics. Using all of these, you must kill all of the invaders as they rush into the fortress. In the beginning of a level you have time to set up your d…

Developed by: Robot Entertainment Published by: Robot Entertainment Platforms: PC Players: 1-2 The orcs are back, and in greater numbers. But no worries, this time you can bring a friend along for the slaughter. Orcs Must Die! 2 offers a wide array of improvements over the original game, while retaining all of the great gameplay that made the first a hit. All of what makes Orcs Must Die! fun to play is there, and improved. All of the traps, the strategy, the weapons. The gameplay is largely the same, but new weapons and traps abound, as well as a new upgrade system. Several new traps range from bug zapper-like shock turrets to bear traps, and an awesome new guardian…

Developer: Zen Studios Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Distributor: Microsoft Game Studios Platform: Xbox 360 (XBLA) Mode: Single player, Multiplayer I’m going to be honest I've never been a huge fan of pinball. I have never been good at it, no matter how hard I try. However, there was something about Pinball FX 2 that caught my eye. Be it the colorful tables, the licensed characters, or hope that this could be the pinball game that finally breaks me out of my funk for pinball. Did it succeed? Read on and let's find out. Pinball FX 2 really isn't a game unto itself. It is a free base of the game that allows you to try each table before you buy them. This sounds weird,…

Twisted Pixel and Zen Studios have teamed up to bring us another table in the number one pinball simulator on gaming consoles, Pinball FX 2. Ms. Splosion Man graces us with her presence in this latest release. Does it live up to the standards set by Marvel and the other Zen Studios tables? Splode on through and let’s see. Big Science labs is the setting for this latest entry and much like the 2 games in the series, none of the experiments are going quite as planned. With Splosion Man captured, she will have to utilize all the gadgets in the lab to save him from the Mighty Eternal. Much like the full non-pinball game, the main goal of the table is to 'splode' as much as …