Michael McWhertor

echochrome ii Looks Like The Right Move For PlayStation Motion Control

It may not have gotten the same attention as the original echochrome did at E3 2007, but the sequel looks like one of the more promising games coming to the PlayStation Move, Sony’s new motion controller. Similar to WiiWare game Lost In Shadow, echochrome ii puts an emphasis on solving puzzles with light and shadow…

The Wii Returns To Glorious Second Place In Japan’s Weekly Console War

Thanks to first week sales of the new Wii role-playing game Xenoblade in Japan, Nintendo’s motion-controlled console managed to outsell the PlayStation 3 in Japan this week. The two consoles have been battling for second place behind the PSP for months, with Nintendo pulling ahead this week. That gives the Wii and Nintendo DS maker…

The Beauties & Beasts of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Mercury Steam’s take on Castlevania, vetted by Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima, is a very different thing, full of God of War-like action. Including a new Belmont, this is the all-new cast of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Some, like the Butcher, are simply horrific. Others, like the lovely/frightening Carmilla, may fall under the NSFW…

Man Vs. Massive Rock Band Set List

Harmonix and MTV brag about their ever expanding Rock Band set list at E3 2010 by printing out the whole thing, now with more Rock Band Network, on a huge wall, with human being included for comparison.

Def Jam Rapstar’s Online ‘Data Porn’ Rolls Deep

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of rap game Def Jam Rapstar is the one I may never be brave enough to use—it’s incredibly deep community, a massively connected online feature that’s stuffed with “data porn.” Def Jam and 4mm Games reps showed off much of Rapstar’s deep and broad community side at E3 2010. It’s…

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Gentlemen. Might I inquire about your video game plans for this weekend? I’ll be squeezing in some Team Fortress 2 on the Mac when I can this weekend, but after playing a lot of games at E3 2010, I still have loads of writing to do. I may find a few moments to sit down…

Is Child of Eden Everything You Want From A Rez Sequel? [Update]

Fans of the video game Rez from Tetsuya Mizuguchi—people of discriminating taste—should be ecstatic to learn that a sequel, in spiritual form, is coming. Child of Eden is what Rez would be if controlled by the human body. Child of Eden, published by Ubisoft and crafted by Q Entertainment, the development home of Mizuguchi, shares…

Japan’s Biggest Game Right Now Is A Wii RPG, Which Makes Sense

Xenoblade, the new Wii role-playing game made by the people who made Xenosaga, is Japan’s top selling game, dethroning previous champ Super Mario Galaxy 2, which crosses a milestone of its own. Super Mario Galaxy 2 owners in Japan now number more than half a million, putting the Wii game on its way to great…

Kratos Is Good With A Spear & Shield In Ghost of Sparta

You can’t see it any of these screen shots, but the star of God of War is pretty good with a spear and shield, one of the angry Spartan’s newest tricks in his new PSP adventure. God of War: Ghost of Sparta is the follow-up to God of War: Chains of Olympus, a PSP game…

Journey, From The Creators Of flOw and Flower, Explained

flOw and Flower developer thatgamecompany is making something new, Journey, a game that’s about singing, sand, hiking, cloth, surfing, astronauts and feeling small. And, in a radical departure for the team, it uses two whole buttons. Journey is a multiplayer online adventure for the PlayStation 3 that aims to explore the emotional palette that its…

Vanquish Is Full Of Stylish Bullet Time, Smoke Breaks

The makers of Madworld and Bayonetta turn their attention to Gears of War-style, cover-based shooting. Then they step on the accelerator and wind up with Vanquish, a lightning fast action game created by a man who loves to smoke. Vanquish puts players in a super powered suit built by DARPA, worn by government agent Sam…

Otomedius Excellent Combines Xbox 360, Gradius & Boobs

Konami’s cute-em-up shooter with ample chests is coming to the Xbox 360 and it’s coming to North America, the publisher announced today. Otomedius Gorgeous will feature more sidescrolling sexy shooting, with a few new girls-as-Konami-characters. Expect more Gradius style gameplay—that is, if you’ve ever imported and played the previous Otomedius—and girls that look like Gradius…

Silent Hill 8 Coming To Xbox 360, PS3 In 2011

Konami has put the psychological horror series Silent Hill in the hands of a new developer, Vatra Games. Konami confirms today that the third-person frightfest, Silent Hill 8, will be hitting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2011. Silent Hill 8, as they’re calling it now, will put players in the role of prison…

The New Mortal Kombat Cuts Deeper Than Ever Before

Mortal Kombat is back, sans DC Universe heroes, loaded with much of the blood, gore and cruel violence the series is infamous for. But Mortal Kombat for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 is also worth discussing for its deeper fighting engine. Yes, there will be horribly painful fatalities, which developer Netherrealm Studios showed off…

MotorStorm: Apocalypse Hands-on… In 3D!!!

Evolution Studios is leaving the vistas of Monument Valley and the lush jungles of the Pacific for an experience more deadly and destructive with MotorStorm: Apocalypse, it’s latest combative racer for the PlayStation 3. Oh, it’s in 3D! That’s how I played my first session of MotorStorm: Apocalypse, strapped into a mean virtual muscle car…

PlayStation Move: Every Announced Game, Right Here

Sony’s line-up for the recently priced and dated PlayStation Move controller, its weapon in the motion control war, is already long. What games are coming to the Move and what PlayStation 3 games are getting Move control updates? Some are wholly original efforts like echochrome ii, Sorcery and The Fight: Lights Out (which is also…

Killing Time, Pedestrians With The New Twisted Metal For PS3

That long rumored Twisted Metal revival from Eat Sleep Play is real and Sony had the multiplayer portion of the game playable at its E3 booth, a vehicular combat game that might offend your sensibilities, but not for its gameplay. While playing Twisted Metal—that’s the final and straightforward title of the new PS3 game—I ran…

PlayStation Move Goes Pew! Pew! Pew! With New Gun Shell

The PlayStation Move has its own answer to the Zapper, the PlayStation Move Shooting Accessory. It’s going to be perfect for games like Time Crisis on the PlayStation 3. The new accessory is sitting pretty in Sony’s booth at E3, one of the first accessories for the Move to take advantage of its expansion port…

Nintendo 3DS: Every Announced Game Right Here

The Nintendo 3DS, just revealed by Nintendo, looks like it’s already home to an enviable, rich library. But beyond a new Kid Icarus, a new Pilotwings and a new Nintendogs, what can 3DS owners look forward to? There’s more than just Nintendo content, which ranges from remakes like Star Fox 64, familiar properties like Animal…

Sony PlayStation At E3 2010 Live!

Microsoft has shown its hand, as has Nintendo. What will Sony bring to E3 2010 for the PlayStation 3, PSP and PlayStation Network? Microsoft has Kinect and a slew of new motion controlled games. Nintendo just revealed, officially, the Nintendo 3DS and a bunch of new games starring Mario, Kirby and Kid Icarus. Sony will…