- Reviews
Left 4 Dead 2 Review: We Don’t Care How You Did It Up North
Things go south in Valve’s uncharacteristically quick follow up to last year’s cooperative multiplayer shooter Left 4 Dead, as the walking dead creep below the Mason-Dixon line—where four new Survivors, immune to zombie-ism—seek solace from the infected hordes. Left 4 Dead 2 follows the bloody struggle of four random strangers as they fend off new…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 17, 2009 -
UncategorizedModern Warfare 2 Gets Dedicated PC Servers (Well, Sort Of)
So Infinity Ward ditched dedicated servers for the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, eh? It’s of little consequence, as it hasn’t taken hackers long to enable a workaround, bringing the feature back. And here it is, in action. With predictable shenanigans in tow. Whether it’s actually better than IW’s present solution is another matter,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 16, 2009 -
Uncategorized8-Bit Left 4 Dead De-Make Arrives in January
Here I thought all the flashing corpses meant we were watching the Australian version of Left 4 Dead. I kid, Luke! I kid!!! No, this is a bona fide playable 8-bit “demake” of L4D, available soon for PC. Now, that’s not to say this is exciting. I kept waiting for a crescendo event and then…
By Owen Good Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Games That Missed The October Top 10
We know about the games that came 1-10 in the October NPDs, but what of the also-rans? Those coming in between 11-20? Are they not also deserving of some time in the sun? While we’ve touched briefly on the performance of two titles not making the top 10, let’s look at the other 9. Yes,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 16, 2009 -
UncategorizedOriginal World 1-1 Recreated in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has barely been out 48 hours, already there’s a level editors for it, and already someone’s rebuilt World 1-1 from the original Super Mario Bros. This might be played through a Wii/GameCube emulator, not on the console itself. There are a few flaws in the re-creation – how many can…
By Owen Good Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
PS3 3.10 Update Adds Facebook Features, Fixes Up Friends List
The PlayStation 3 is due for a firmware refresh “soon,” with version 3.10 of the console’s software adding Facebook integration, improved photo browsing and an updated look for the system’s Friends list. Sony’s Facebook integration is the coolest aspect of the forthcoming firmware. It lets users bind their PlayStation Network account to their Facebook account,…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Super Monkey Ball Says Happy Thanksgiving
I think Super Monkey Ball is the second-to-last game I would come up with when thinking about Thanksgiving — the first being Modern Warfare 2. Clearly Sega begs to differ though, with this spiffy Super Monkey Ball Thanksgiving wallpaper they posted to their blog. The wallpaper comes along with a hefty update on Super Monkey…
By AJ Glasser Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Critic: Rock Band, Guitar Hero Glorify Parents’ Overrated Rock
A music critic at a classy publication recently subjected himself to several dozen hours playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band and now recognizes the insidious influence they might have on the youth of America. After opening his article for The New Republic with a reference to how he and his fellow “smug old children of…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 16, 2009 -
Uncategorized“Look Out, He’s Got A Piece!” — Half-Life 2 Mods Mario, Castlevania
From all-new video games to fabulous cakes, the Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania games get lots of makeovers from fans and developers alike. Here are two more machinima renditions to add to the list. First up is the disorienting and somewhat upsetting Half-Life Super Mario Bros. I guess in a 2D world, a gray haze…
By AJ Glasser Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Peggle, Peggle Nights Pegged For PlayStation Store Posthaste
PlayStation 3 owners are in for a double shot of Peggle this Thursday. The North American PlayStation Store adds both Peggle and the expansion Peggle Nights, PopCap Games announced today. We expect that Peggle and the darker, no-more-dangerous Peggle Nights for PSN will feature match the PC and Xbox Live Arcade versions, with Challenges, Adventure…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Twisted Metal, Heavenly Sword Action Figures Ship A Little Late
Next year, DC Comics‘ collectible arm DC Direct will ship action figures based on Sony’s Sweet Tooth and Nariko, precisely at the peak of Twisted Metal and Heavenly Sword hype. Alright, alright, so maybe Heavenly Sword will be a nearly three-year-old PlayStation 3 game by the time this Nariko action figure ships next July. But…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wicked
To: Luke From: Crecente Your late Christmas post was a real eye-opener. I’m going to have to really concentrate on my game play this month if I want to be prepped for the slew of games coming early next year. No work for the wicked I guess. And check out these kudos from Cnet. Oh,…
By Brian Crecente Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Super Mario Galaxy 2 To Be “Really Challenging,” Could Warrant Super Guide
Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto says that, like the recently released New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Wii sequel to Super Mario Galaxy will be “a really challenging game.” Does that warrant a little Super Guide-style help? Miyamoto tells the Official Nintendo Magazine of the UK that he “cannot tell” whether the Super Guide’s hand-holding assist…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Mario Vs. Bowser, Waged Through Chess
One last visual for everyone to see from my visit to the New Super Mario Bros. launch event at the Nintendo World Store this past Saturday. In addition to the museum, and the Marios I shot, I saw some chess.
By Stephen Totilo Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Europe Didn’t Like America’s Mass Effect 2 Box Art Either
When we posted the North American box art for upcoming sci-fi role-playing game Mass Effect 2, it was given a beating for its visual awfulness by the Kotaku readership. Apparently Europe agrees, choosing a different Mass Effect 2 cover option. Gone is Shepard’s blank stare at the consumer. Retained is ample bosom. Replaced is Shepard’s…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Sega Kicks Out Bayonetta Demo Early Access Codes
Did you take Sega up on its offer for early access to the Xbox 360 version of the Bayonetta demo? Then you may want to check whatever e-mail alias you gave the publisher. Early access is on. For those of you who may not have gotten one of the reported 40,000 demo slots, take comfort.…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
In College, the Party Never Stops — for LAN
Last week, more than a million users flooded Xbox Live to play Modern Warfare 2. Here’s something just as impressive: In January, nearly 300 gamers will meet in person to play a game released in 2000. Though one is obviously dwarfed by the comparison, both figures are impressive in their own right. And both speak…
By Owen Good Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Gyromancer, Diner Dash Spin To XBLA This Week
Square Enix brings Gyromancer to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, a Puzzle Quest-like puzzle role-playing game that’s built upon the gameplay backbone of PopCap’s Bejeweled Twist. The single-player PRPG will set Xbox Live subscribers back 1200 Microsoft Points, should they care to invest in Gyromancer. If not, your their other option is the ultra-popular Diner…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 16, 2009 -
UncategorizedMr. T Returns To World Of Warcraft – With Grenades
Think Mr. T’s original World of Warcraft ad was just a fluke? The Night Elf Mohawk is back, and he’s proving his worth – with Mohawk grenades. Yes, Mohawk grenades. Available today in North America and later this month in Europe and Korea, find a Night Elf Mohawk NPC in your favorite World of Warcraft…
By Mike Fahey Published November 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Reggie: Wii 2 Theories Miss Key Point
As it seems to do these days, discussion with Nintendo of America’s president turned to the possibility of a new Wii capable of rendering high-definition graphics. It’s a common question, but one that Kotaku was told, misses something. During my recent interview with Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president, we got to talking about a…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 16, 2009