For many fans like me, there’s been a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Call of Duty franchise over the past couple of years. The towering titan of videogames, the COD franchise breaks records year after year with its blockbuster releases, but despite the billions upon billions of dollars publisher Activision has raked in, fatigue has begun to set in with much of the franchise’s player base.

Ever since the release of the iconic and much-beloved Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision and its developers have managed to pump out surprisingly solid titles year after year, but one could argue that the publisher hit a bit of a bump with last November’s Modern Warfare 3. The game was overshadowed by the drama surrounding Activision’s legal kerfuffle with Infinity Ward founders Vince Zampella and Jason West and much of the Modern Warfare development team, who parted ways with the publisher and went on to form their own company, Respawn Entertainment, now working on a top secret shooter project for Electronic Arts. Activision was forced to restructure Infinity Ward and enlist the help of Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software to see MW3 to completion. Many fans wondered if the quality of the franchise would suffer as a result, comparing the new IW to Lynyrd Skynyrd post-plane crash.

Though Modern Warfare 3 received general critical praise and broke the previous opening sales record set by its predecessor Black Ops, many fans were dissatisfied with what felt like a rehash of MW2, and complained about the game’s myriad technical issues, many of which still persist today, six months after launch. Personally, I enjoy MW3 though I acknowledge how half-assed it feels. The campaign was fun enough and was a fitting conclusion to the story established in COD4, and the multiplayer is as fun as ever, though it doesn’t seem to have changed much since MW2. I will also agree that the game was tweaked so as to be more accessible to noobs and young prepubescent boys, who make up a shocking percentage of the game’s player base.

In addition, Activision received some bad press for the launch of its online service, Call of Duty: ELITE (which I briefly worked on), a website that complements the game by providing in-depth stat-tracking and prized competitions. A novel idea, ELITE was launched before it was ready, and it took months before developer Beachhead could get the site working properly. As many customers shelled out $50 for a subscription to the service, there was an understandable outcry from the fans.

One should note that the Call of Duty fanbase is notoriously difficult to please. Videogame fans in general love to voice their disapproval (take the outcry over Mass Effect 3’s ending), but COD fanboys are particularly vitriolic, and known for their immature, homophobic and racist outbursts in-game. That being said, it does feel like Activision is losing its way, much like it did when it ran the Guitar Hero franchise into the ground.

Hot on the heels of this controversy comes last week’s announcement of Black Ops II, Treyarch’s follow-up to their wildly successful 2010 entry into the franchise. With World War II, the Cold War and modern combat covered, Activision has decided to propel the Call of Duty series into the future, setting Black Ops II in the year 2025. Though long rumored, this is an exciting turn for the series, one that may reinvigorate it… or not. The thing is, as cool as a near-future setting is, at this point it’s pretty hard to get that excited about anything bearing the Call of Duty name, especially when it’s being pitted against an already outstanding Holiday lineup of games (Halo 4 releases just one week prior to BOII). There’s a lot of reasons to get excited, but then again, there’s a lot of reasons not to.

Lets look at the pros. The setting is the number one selling point for Black Ops II. I, like many fans, am excited to see how the unmanned drones factor into gameplay, as well as what types of crazy future weapons Treyarch comes up with. I’m actually pretty excited for the story—the first Black Ops featured the best COD story to date, and the sequel is being penned by Batman Begins co-scribe, David Goyer. It touches on real world issues and paints a plausible view of a future apocalypse where the superpowers of the world fight over the rare earth elements we need to power our electronics. It also ties into the original Black Ops story and features some missions set in the 80s and 90s. Fan favorite Sergeant Frank Woods appears in the trailer as a grizzled old man, and one of the main playable characters is the son of Black Ops’ protagonist, Alex Mason. This will also be the first COD title to feature branching storylines and actual player choice. All in all, it’s looking to be the best Call of Duty campaign to date.

Another reason to feel good about this game: Treyarch. The little developer that could, for the longest time Treyarch played second fiddle to Infinity Ward. Fans bemoaned the lackluster Call of Duty 3, the developer’s first attempt, and though World at War was a solid title, it lacked the originality and setting of IW’s Modern Warfare. Treyarch truly came into their own with Black Ops, which broke all previous sales records and was lauded by fans and critics alike. In hindsight, Black Ops is a far superior game to Modern Warfare 3. Playing BO, it’s obvious that Treyarch put a lot of love and effort into the game, and unlike MW3, Black Ops was actually an innovation. Treyarch added exciting new game modes, the COD points system, increased customization, the ability to run and dive and a streamlined zombies mode. MW3 negated all of the improvements Black Ops had made, most confounding the removal of the dive ability.

Reading initial press releases and watching the trailer, it seems clear Treyarch is putting just as much effort into Black Ops II as they did its predecessor. That being said, the game isn’t without its cons, the number one being its lackluster graphics.

In 2007, COD4 was cutting edge. Characters had more realistic animations than we’d seen before and players felt like they were in the midst of a war-torn battlescape whenever they jumped into the game. Unfortunately, as Activision is so insistent on releasing a new title every single year, not much effort has been put into improving the game engine and now, with the ninth title in the series, the graphics look laughably outdated. I’ll admit that MW3’s engine looks better than MW2 and Black Ops but it was released alongside Battlefield 3, which sported DICE’s new Frostibite 2 engine and was the best-looking game since Crysis 2. Put MW3 and BF3 side by side and the former looks like utter garbage.

The same can be said of Black Ops II. It doesn’t look bad overall, but by today’s standards it looks sloppy and old. It’s competing with other holiday games with improved engines and graphics such as the aforementioned Halo 4, as well as Assassin’s Creed III, Resident Evil 6, Far Cry 3 and more. Next to those games, Call of Duty looks old and grimy- there’s no color! I don’t know what Activision’s obsession is with drab grays and browns but they sure do love them.

I picked up MW2, MW3 and Black Ops at launch and couldn’t wait to pop the discs into my Xbox 360. I can’t say the same for Black Ops II. In all likelihood I, and many other gamers will eventually play it… but I’m definitely not buying it on launch day. I want to hear what fans and critics have to say first, and I imagine so do a lot of other gamers. There are so many amazing games coming out this fall and winter that I simply cannot commit to another Call of Duty title. I’m sure Black Ops II will be a good game; I just doubt it will be as good as its competitors. I’m also not certain it will break any records or surpass either its predecessor or MW3 in opening sales. Though MW3 had “the biggest entertainment launch in history,” its sales petered out after launch due to poor word of mouth. This shows that the franchise’s popularity is indeed waning, even if the drop off is slight.

Thus, Black Ops II may be the beginning of the end for the franchise. While every other series out there tries to innovate and improve, Call of Duty stagnates. I can only imagine Activision is planning a big new launch title for the next-gen consoles, but until then don’t get too excited about Call of Duty. You may be disappointed.

Max Payne is back, gamers. And judging by the latest Max Payne 3 trailer, the detective is a bit more on edge (i.e. pissed off) than ever before. As the game's release draws near, let's take a look back a the series and see how its sequel can be just as impactful as Max's very first assignment.

When the series debuted, Max Payne became a huge game changer for the action genre. It was the first game to utilize the bullet-time effects that became so prevalent in films such as The Matrix, Wanted, etc.  Its story was so compelling, so engrossing and well told that gamers could really feel a sense of sympathy for Detective Payne. The story of Max Payne is what truly sold the game as it gave the gritty shooter an incredible sense of realism: Max Payne is an honest detective who comes home to find his wife and his child murdered. The story in the Max Payne 3 follows a broken Max having left his NYC lifestyle in a attempt to escape his heart-wrenching past. The damaged cop is eventually pulled into a conspiracy which leaves him with no other choice but to run.  Like it's predecessors, MP3 isn't going to pull any punches as Max will be dragged through hell and back (packing on a few extra pounds nonetheless).

A stellar soundtrack isn't what most gamers think of when they hear the name 'Max Payne' but to put it plainly, the series' debut title played host to some wicked tunes and is actually one of the most enjoyable videogame OST ever recorded. Haunting and utterly compelling, Max Payne's soundtrack inspired a sense of cinematic ambiance that went well with its bloody action mechanics. Seriously, just have a listen. While we haven't heard much of Max Payne 3's tunes, it is important that tracks are just as appropriate and memorable as the series' first pair of games. It might not matter when you are running around, shooting people in the face and raising all sorts of hell, but a proper, well composed soundtrack can elevate a seemingly straightforward action title to one that is remembered and honored as the years pass.

Speaking of shooting and killing, (especially in the face!), Max Payne has been known to be a bit of a gun-nut and thankfully, nothing has changed in that regard. Throughout the series, Max Payne has come across some pretty interesting ways to slaughter his enemies; aside from guns he could also grab a bat, a shovel , a knife, and more. There is nothing more empowering and undeniably badass than taking a blunt weapon to someone's face or gunning them down in sweet slow-motion splendor.  And with a combat engine vastly superior to Max Payne of years passed, Max Payne 3 fun factor lies squarely in Max versatility as an unstoppable murder-machine.

Shooting up a bunch of guys and beating them senseless however is only half of the badass equation. Reprising his role as Max Payne is James McCaffrey, the actor gave the detective the distinctively gruff voice that we all know and love. But for the Max Payne series, this is just business as usually as aside from McCaffrey so too does the remaining cast do an astonishingly well job at making the character's sound real. It almost feels as though Max and the rest of his cohorts could very well be actual people. It is also a great big part why the character development is so worth it.  The character development in the Max Payne series’ is truly remarkable; Max Payne goes from a man filled with emotions such as sorrow and loss and winds up on a road to redemption.

With Max Payne 3's release upon us,  gamers have a worthy chapter of the series to look forward to. Neil Young once wrote that,  'it is better to burn out then to fade away'. And with Max Payne 3 Rockstar Games is showing that it hasn't given up on Max  Payne just yet. Let's just hope, for Max's sake, that he doesn't burn out too soon.

I like MMOs.  A lot. From the champions of the genre like World of Warcraft, Everquest, and Star Wars: The Old Republic, to the lesser titans like EVE Online and Roma Victor, I have spent a disgusting – but no less awesome – amount of time devoted to online gaming. Over the years, I've seen MMOs come and go that I once held near and dear to my heart (R.I.P. Star Wars Galaxies). I've seen promises go unfilled and expectations crushed (I'm looking at you, Warhammer). I've hopefully learned a few things about what works and doesn't along the way.

Recently announced – and a surprise to no one – is The Elder Scrolls Online.  While it is set to be spectacularly unveiled in this month's issue of Game Informer, secrets are tenuously held when it comes to the internet.  As such, a handful of details have been able to eek their way onto the world wide web.   Sure, the "details" are nothing more than rumors, but hey, that's what speculation is for! So let's take a look at what's been all but confirmed and take it from there.

As a TES title, its online counterpart is going to be retain the fantasy landscape that we all know and love (no machine guns and laser beams, I guess ). The weakest point of the series latest RPG outing, Skyrim – the combat – is going to be completely retooled and will resemble most MMOs on the market. Similar to Guild Wars, TES: Online is going to purportedly limit the number of usable skills during combat, meaning no thousands of skills at your disposal like in Star Wars: The Old Republic.  Quests hubs are out but in their stead are areas that are latent quests (i.e. crawling through a dungeon until you have saved the day).   NPCs will sometimes give you a nudge in the right direction and a point on your map where to go to (sounds like a 'quest' to me!).  The Elder Scrolls Online will somehow marry – happily I might add – PvE AND PvP (I'll believe it when I see it).  And even though there won't be any houses or pets, expect a huge Tamriel ripe for exploration. On the surface it seems like The Elder Scrolls' online venture is promising just about everything to everyone. So why can't I shake this funny feeling?

Like I said, I'm a huge fan of online RPGs, and I have an affinity for The Elder Scrolls' stories.  While no promises have been made so far, some of what we've seen so far is a little unsettling, and don't clearly don't belong in a TES title.  In trying to appease everyone, The Elder Scrolls Online's connection to the series may be in name alone. To be fair, The Elder Scrolls library doesn't have the burden of an online infrastructure weighing it down.  MMOs are a different beast, however; they take entirely too long to develop and a require a much bigger staff - TES: Online has been allegedly in production since 2007 and has about 250 developers hammering away at it. Well those salaries aren't exactly free, and assuredly ZeniMax Online wants a strong – no doubt World of Warcraft level – response from gamers.  If the business model is subscription expect grinding aplenty and other gameplay systems designed to maximize player retention.  And even if the game squeezes in all the things we love about The Elder Scrolls, such content is going to be expensive to make.

So the crux of the issue boils  down to one point: just who is this game intended for?  Will it cater to current The Elder Scrolls players?  Will specifically target MMO players? Will both commingle?  These are the questions I hope ZeniMax Online's marketing department has the answers to, and I'm sure they do. But based on what we 'know,' my gut tells me the developers are targeting MMO players – and that's a big mistake. There has been lots of talk about PvP and PvE.  The Elder Scrolls games have been traditional PvE heavy, if you can even translate that term to a single-player and offline game.  While The Elder Scrolls games are very open-ended like the sandbox MMOs of yore, sandbox MMOs have historically not fared very well.  None have broken the million subscriber mark, for example.  EVE Online does well for itself, but it's essentially an independent game - both in funds and in playstyle.  Star Wars Galaxies was a bit too sandbox, and the ensuing changes in the NGE made it less like a sandbox MMO and more like World of Warcraft which, at the time, was surging in popularity.

PvP then, is something outside the comfort zone of The Elder Scrolls franchise.  Personally, I feel that it isn't a very good fit for the lore.  Yes, there is faction combat, but such combat is between armies and large groups.  PvP in MMOs is more like limited skirmishes between small groups. And Since eSports has been mentioned to be tossed into the mix, it diminishes the size of the PvP group even more.  Stuff like this just isn't The Elder Scrolls, except, maybe, The Stormcloaks and their guerrilla warfare strategies.  Allegedly The Emperor is also set to be the best PvP player, which sounds absurd, and probably will be.  Removed from real life consequences, any Emperor will probably be more warlord than Augustus.

Good PvP, at its foundation, is a combination of good individual combat and good teamwork.  Like a good basketball team, you'll have players who can make that ridiculous shot, and you'll have the defensive hardcase picking up the slack.  Unfortunately for The Elder Scrolls games, the combat has  never been the point.  The combat for the online game, however, is vital.  TES: Online's stamina bar is said to play a heavy roll, which would lead to some interesting combat trade-offs.  Star War Galaxies briefly had this and it somewhat worked, maybe the boys over at ZeniMax Online can make it work. I do like the idea of limiting the number of skills in use, having to make interesting and difficult decisions on the fly is what games are all about.

Now, just how could The Elder Scrolls Online succeed?  Well, if the combat is done right – and I mean really right – and it manages to stay true to spirit of The Elder Scrolls, then the genre may easily have a new heir to the MMO throne.  That being said, I sincerely hope this doesn't end up being a subscription model.  I want to either see the MMO go the Free-to-Play or Buy-to-Play route, like Guild Wars 2.  Buy-to-Play would be preferred since it would allow the developers to earn a decent amount of scratch and for allow lots of meaty expansions to be released, with less focus on making content that's filler or an annoying grind.

Ultimately, I wish for The Elder Scrolls Online to be the spiritual successor to Neverwinter Nights.  Some kind of local or online co-op, with modules to execute.  I mean, who hasn't mentioned to their friend that they wished they could just co-op Skyrim?  What do you think?  Would you throw down for a traditional, The Elder Scrolls themed MMO?

Post contributed by Joseph Levin. Questions for the author? Send an email to joe.levin@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @joelevin.

Yakuza: Dead Souls has two demographics of gamers lined up in its cross-hairs: fans of the previous Yakuza games and fans of zombie games. Unfortunately, Yakuza: Dead Souls is neither a good Yakuza game nor a good zombie game so the vast majority of both fan-bases are going to be left hungry. This leaves only one very specific, highly selected demographic who could find enjoyment in this extremely half baked and problematic iteration of the venerable franchise: only its most truly obsessive fanboys. Fortunately for me, I happen to be one of them but fortunately for you, I can remove myself from that when considering whether you should put down your hard earned money for it. I have previously lavished extensive praise on prior installments both in my review of Yakuza 4, and my broader perspective piece on how the Yakuza series is a love letter to Japan. But I am now faced with the task of reviewing a game uncharacteristic of the series: one with horrendous controls, an uninspired plot and, most blasphemous of all, a truly terrible combat engine. So why, then, have I logged greater than 50 hours in a game I can hardly recommend to all but the most ardent fan?

If you don’t know what the Yakuza series is about and are curious, please keep walking, there is nothing to see here. At minimum, stop reading and check out our review of Yakuza 4 for an explanation of the sandbox meets brawler meets Japanophilia vibe that is characteristic of the usually well produced series. Better yet, go buy a copy of Yakuza 3 for cheap and work your way up from there.

If you are still here, you have enjoyed prior entries in the series and are curious how the latest chapter turned out. Yakuza: Dead Souls is an attempt to end the current gen saga before all focus turns to the rumored revolution that Yakuza 5 intends to bring to the series. An undead outbreak has descended upon the familiar Kamurocho setting (a fictionalized district of Tokyo modeled after Shibuya), and all your favorite characters are dug in and set to turn zombies into gibs.  In addition to playable characters Akiyma, Mad Dog Majima, Ryuichi Goda, and series hero and mainstay Kazuya Kiryu, (as with Yakuza 4, the best is saved for last) many familiar and beloved faces appear to register their unique responses to a city turned upside down by the infection. The plot is presented with the typical Yakuza flair of well- directed dramatic cutscenes punctuated with bouts of absurdity (Majima’s reaction to his first encounter with zombies is priceless). There is the usual Yakuza melodrama of kidnapping, double crossing and villains becoming friends, friends becoming villains but at the end of the day, it’s a predictable zombie movie that fails to capitalize on either of its pedigrees. Yakuza has always been known for compelling, intricate plots that keep you hooked until the closing credits. Yakuza: Dead Souls sadly offer very little of that motivation.  Whether the antics and devastation that ensues in this title is to be considered canon is debatable, but Japanese organized crime defending itself and its code against the undead is certainly an odd premise that doesn’t entirely work.

The city itself and the engine it runs on is identical to that displayed in Yakuza 4, looking literally no worse nor better than that game did two years ago.  Indeed, the extent to which assets from prior games are recycled borders on offensive given that this is ostensibly a full priced release. NPCs stand in the same locations having the same conversations, mini-games are cut and pasted from last year without a perceptible difference into this year’s game, and every single restaurant, café, sake bar or ramen hut has the same clientele eating from the same menu and uttering the same audible exclamations. At first glance, one would not be able to tell the games apart if not for one difference, that it is admittedly a significant one. An initially central and contained quarantine zone is overrun by the zombie outbreak and represents a devastated perversion of the neon lit Kamurocho we have come to know and love. As the story unfolds over four chapters (each with four parts), the quarantine zone expands to swallow larger and larger parts of the city until finally, only a few puddles of safety remain.  Within these zones you are confronted with droves and droves of mindless enemies in the form of zombies and here, too, is another misstep. Zombie design is profoundly uninspired as Sega opted to blatantly steal multiple enemy types from the two most successful zombie franchises of the past decade. Notably, you will see unmistakable clones of the Licker from RE, and carbon copies of the crying Witch, the Tank, the bile spewing Boomer and the Hunter from the Left 4 Dead series who all look, move and attack identically to their original brethren.

Where civilization persists, however, the same diverse and enjoyable pastimes that defined prior entries exist is essentially unchanged form. Whether your preference is to try your musical stylings at karaoke, chat up and get drunk with a hostess, hit a few balls in the batting cages, get a massage from a particularly (short bus) special masseuse, or play a hilariously titillating game of table tennis, one can easily double or triple their play time without even progressing on the main quest. Yakuza has always been about these mundane diversions and Dead Souls does not take its zombie setting so seriously as to minimize them. The problem, however, is that you played about 95% of them in Yakuza 4 with no discernable difference. Furthermore, some of the more enjoyable excursions have been inexplicably removed. You will not be able to leeringly enjoy a pole dance and my personal favorite, the pursuit of “Revelations” that were so memorable previously is conspicuously absent. One can only dream of the potential that a zombie invasion could have had for these already ludicrous photo opportunities.

In addition to these past-times, each character has an extensive battle arena known as the “underground” as well as fifteen distinct narrative based sidequests. These range from starring as the action hero in a fledgling filmmaker’s live action zombie movie, to trying to broker a deal between two Yakuza clans all while hiding the fact that one Yakuza boss is undead. These side quests are usually amusing and show the typical levity and ridiculous scenario writing of prior games but the downside is that most of them are predicated on an abundance of Yakuza: Dead Souls' greatest weakness: combat.

Prior games in the series were all about over the top fisticuffs with an easy to use but layered combat engine. Unfortunately, that is thrown away like rotting zombie flesh to make way for an absolutely abysmal third person shooting engine. It is hard to emphasize how frustrating (and heart breaking) combat is in Dead Souls. The player-controlled camera is almost never up to the task of displaying the action in a useful context. First person aiming is so imprecise as to be laughable and lock on and strafing are so broken that one best avoids them entirely. While a rather sizable weapons ranging from pistols to sniper rifles to arm-mounted gatling guns are available, it’s a sad state of affairs when the most viable way to play a shooter is to stick to the shotgun almost entirely due to its wide spread being most likely to actually make contact with a target.  Between its main quest, side quests, and zombie arenas, Yakuza: Dead Souls offers no shortage of things to shoot at and ways to extend your play time, but only those with the strongest constitution will be able to stomach any more gunplay and camera wrestling than is absolutely required.

It is beyond inexplicable why Sega opted not to capitalize on one of Yakuza’s prior strengths. There is an enormous missed opportunity here. One can dream of a similar Yakuza game where the hand-to-hand combat engine went unchanged allowing the Yakuza bosses to make use of their usual iron fists and snakeskin-booted feet to smash through zombie skulls and brains. To make matters even more painful for fans, it seems as if Sega flirted with the thought for a moment:  the first chapter in Kaz’ episode is entirely hand to hand combat until the taciturn yet stubborn Dragon of Dojima finally accepts that nothing short of a bullet through the brain can put down the undead. But for a brief fifteen minutes in the game’s last act, you are given an all too fleeting taste of Yakuza’s potential for ass-kickery. It’s as if Sega wanted to remind you what Yakuza could be like at its finest before dragging you kicking and screaming back down into Yakuza at its worst.

I did have fun with Yakuza: Dead Souls, but the entire time I was well aware that I was having fun despite the game, not because of it. I also am such an enthusiast of the series that I know I was basically insisting to myself that the turd I saw was actually a lump of delectable chocolate. Throughout 50+ hours, I suffered through endlessly repetitive and ire inducing third person shooting so that I could lose myself in the same mini-games, hostess clubs and overall personality that I so loved in prior games. Ultimately, Yakuza: Dead Souls is a failed experiment that all but the most fanatic Yakuza fans should avoid like putrid zombie flesh. If you love Yakuza as much as I do, there is fun to be had here, but you could also protect your cherished Yakuza memories simply by replaying Yakuza 3 or 4 and buying a copy for an uninitiated friend while you are at it.

Fun Factor: It’s here, but only the Yakuza fanboys will find it. It’s buried deep under layers of frustration and repetition.

Difficulty: The difficulty level is mostly artificial, resulting from poor combat mechanics and terrible slow down hindering your every strategy.

Length: The main story missions are the shortest in series history, clocking in at 8-10 hours. How you pad your experience is up to you but there is more than enough on display to push your play time well into the double digits.

On the Negative Side: Third person shooting derails one of the most creative and enjoyable franchises of this generation.

Bang for the Buck: With so much of the game regurgitated from Yakuza 4 and the remainder being so poorly designed, its hard to recommend a full retail purchase.

It’s been known that three of the biggest kahunas in gaming – Capcom, SEGA, and Namco Bandai – have been working on a big secretive project for some time now. The cat was finally let out of the bag on the alliance’s latest 3DS title which we now know is entitled Project X Zone. It will be a mash-up of characters from several different games on each company’s side blended into an epic SRPG adventure.  Now I’ve been guilty of a lot of oddities when it comes to gaming preferences. I partake in the obscure and the mainstream alike, but I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for those really often forsaken style of games; particularly the underappreciated genre of the Strategy Role-Playing Game. Though much more popular in Japan, North American gamers are not necessarily camping out in front of Gamestops for the newest Disgaea title and chances are Project X Zone will not soar with popularity either. That is definitely no reason to look the other way on this however, especially if you too are a fan of the genre.

What’s the appeal? That’s what most people ask me when I explain to them how some of my favorite RPGs fall into the strategy category; The Fire Emblem series, Vanguard Bandits, Final Fantasy Tactics, Growlanser Generations, and several Romance of the Three Kingdoms just to name a handful. It’s simple really; the battles tend to dedicate as much time to the experience as the story telling, if not a little more in some cases. It isn’t uncommon for battles to last into the hours in many SRPG titles. It stimulates the brain into considering many different scenarios and trying to predict the enemy’s movements based on yours; it keeps you sharp not unlike a good game of Chess or Stratego would. Those are board games by the way for the younger readers out there. That’s right whippersnappers…those existed. SRPGs tend to feature an exceptionally large cast of characters in relation to all of their RPG style counterparts; this offers a huge scope of choice with play style and much more detail is usually required in making each hero, heroin, or villain stand out from one another. Last but not least replay value is at the highest point it can achieve because vary rarely will any given battle play out the same way twice even if you were to retrace your movements exactly. Admittedly SRPGs are an acquired taste, but often prove to be some of the most rewarding games if you’ve the diligence for them.

What we know so far aside from the intended platform is that the game will focus on character pairings. Multiple screenshots have already shown popular characters fighting and combining skills together, chances are there will be stories woven specifically for each character explaining the who, what, when, where, why, and how’s of each partnership. The roster hasn’t been finalized yet but quite a number have already made the cut for each developer.

Capcom brings many of their most popular characters to the table. If you’re thinking Ken and Ryu are going to be a team in this one, well…you’re right! The original street fighters are featured and along with them all the hadouken and shoryuken goodness. Dante of Devil May Cry fame will actually not be teaming with his brother Vergil, or anyone else from a DMC game for that matter. Instead he finds a kindred spirit (or maybe not?) in Darkstalker’s resident vampire Demitri.  X and Zero from the Mega Man universe make up team robots of doom (disclaimer: not the actual confirmed name for the duo…but it should be dammit).  Rounding out team Capcom thus far are S.T.A.R.S agents “Mr. HGH” Chris Redfield and the long legged queen of Resident Evil herself Jill Valentine, who is sporting her brunette look once again for Project X Zone. Expect this duo to fulfill the ballistics and explosion quota for their crew. A Dead Rising team is widely expected as well, possibly Frank and Chuck. I wouldn’t mind skipping the main character trend here and jumping straight to the twins Amber and Crystal; probably unlikely.

SEGA’s current entries include Valkyria Chronicles favorites Kurt and Riela, really big ass guns in tow. Sakura and Ichiro from fellow SRPG title Sakura Wars will be no stranger to the format of Project X Zone, many of their abilities should seem pretty familiar to those who have enjoyed the game. Akira and Pai from the 3D fighter Virtua Fighter will serve as Ken and Ryu’s martial artist brethren on Team SEGA. Lastly representing Shining Force EXA will be Toma and Cyrille, though the most interesting thing about this duo seems to be the inclusion of SEGA icon Ulala of Space Channel 5 fame as some manner of assistant; or so that is the way it seems according to the screen shots. Her actual role may very well be much more involved. Also, no Sonic and Knuckles yet, sorry folks. It would be quite a shock should there turn out to be no representatives from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe…even if it does involve Tails. Undoubtedly this will be revealed in the next roster announcement. A Bayonetta/Jeanne team is also likely as the super sexy gun toting witch quota has yet to be filled thus far.

First up for Namco Bandai is the Tekken team of Jin Kazama and Ling Xiayou. Like the Street Fighter titles, Tekken has quite a vast roster to choose from should the game only receive one pair. Though I would personally love to see characters like King, Julia, or Yoshimitsu in there it goes without saying main characters seem to be taking priority thus far. KOS-MOS and T-elos make up in my opinion the most bad ass team announced yet. Anyone who has played through the Xenosaga series can attest to the incredible destructive power this pair can dish out together. Kite and Black Rose from wildly popular RPG series .hack will also represent Team Namco Bandai along with fellow RPG characters from the long running Tales series Yuri and Estelle of Tales of Vesperia. It’s a safe bet to expect a SoulCalibur pairing in future announcements, likely involving Kilik or Sigfried. I also wouldn’t personally mind seeing Monkey and Trip from Enslaved: Odyssey to the West featured; any mechanical foe wouldn’t know what hit them.

Maybe the cloak of mystique eventually unveiling that Project X Zone would turn out to be a tactical style game didn’t send waves through the industry or reach out to the mainstream crowd, but for me this might very well cause me to pull the trigger on buying a 3DS finally. It’s refreshing to know that a crossover game doesn’t always have to be a fighting game, as much of a fan of those as I am. Who knows what other pairings and other surprises have yet to be revealed? Think you’ll be on board with Project X Zone? Don’t be shy if you aren’t a follower of the SRPG genre, you know you just might like it.

Post written by Senior Staff Writer Matt J. Randisi. Questions for the author? Send an email to Mjrandisi@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SaveUsMatt.

Over the last decade, The Elder Scrolls franchise has offered gamers engrossing and highly rewarding RPG experiences.  The initial appeal of the massive role-playing series was obvious – take the scale and depth of an immersive MMORPG and cram into a single-player box with a pretty little red ribbon on top. It wasn't long after The Elder Scrolls gained popularity though, that whispers began escaping from the curious yet cautious breaths of gamers everywhere about how well Bethesda’s colossus of a role-playing franchise would make its theoretical transition into a full-fledged online experience. But after the series fourth major release, Oblivion, one thing was certain: The Elder Scrolls Online could no longer be denied. So thanks to Zenimax Online Studios, as confirmed by the official announcement trailer and the cover of the June 2012 issue of Game Informer, it is at long last going to happen.

As expected, the announcement trailer did not feature any real details, but it certainly was enough to fire off our brain synapses in the right places.  With talk of the imperial throne being empty and the legendary dragon fires having gone cold, any fan of The Elder Scrolls should know that there is some serious trouble ahead. Taking place a millennium prior to the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the turmoil within Tamriel is set to lead the famed series' online debut into an unexplored era of chaos and uncertainty. The primary conflict of The Elder Scrolls Online deals with the Deadric Prince Molag Bal, one of the more inherently evil princes, trying to subject Tamriel into an amalgamation with his realm.

Given the one thousand year leap into The Elder Scrolls past, and considering what we have come to know about the series in terms of weapons and magic, as well as its architecture and design, it raises questions about whether or not the developers are limiting not only the combat engine, but also the look and feel of the game itself. As a fictional world under the control and whim of Zenimax Studios, it stands to reason that Tamriel's advancements follow a much different pace than any other given civilization. But even when you take that as granted, it really makes you wonder what the hell Tamriel’s best and brightest have been doing all this time? In the end however chances are nobody will care how similar or different the two vastly separated settings are, because the gameplay and detailed world will remain as superior as ever.

The announcement trailer also alludes to unusual alliances being formed and that salvation would not come for one, but for many. While the relation of this to the main storyline of the game has not yet been spoken about, the concept for PVP has been described as a struggle between three different factions over the Emperor’s throne in Cyrodil. Could this possibly indicate the factions we know and love would be at each other’s throats or even relying on one another to back each other for a greater cause? Dark Brotherhood using their stealth and shady tactics and Mage’s Guild protecting them with magic barriers…or burning them to the ground? Or maybe a larger scale effort is being foreshadowed; perhaps involving the earlier chapters of the Mythic Dawn or even the other Deadric Lords. We do know after all that not all the Daedra royals see eye to eye; Molag Bal is constantly at odds with the Prince of Plots Boethiah in particular. Maybe there would be something completely new in store, the beauty truly is not knowing yet.

Much more will be revealed about the giant project that has been in development for the last several years in the June Game Informer’s feature story. So many questions beg answers and you can bet your bottom Septim that many answers will only invite more questions. Either way, we will remain on top of details as they release over the course of the next year with great vigilance worthy of Hircine’s predators. This is only the beginning nerds and nerdettes, and the quest for a new high end gaming PC has already begun for this humble writer right here.

Post written by Senior Staff Writer Matt J. Randisi. Questions for the author? Send an email to Mjrandisi@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SaveUsMatt.

It’s interesting to think that less than a decade ago, the announcement of a licensed game would have induced groans, perhaps even the overwhelming urge to shield your eyes from the horror.  While the library of the licensed game has seen success with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (those arcade games really were something), and the PSone classic Spider-Man, it wasn't until Batman: Arkham Asylum came along that elevated the genre to almost unreachable heights, proving the obvious: if dedication and care goes into developing a game around a licensed IP (and not purely for a shameless cash-grab), it can exceed our wildest expectations.  Perhaps it’s unfortunate that something like this was actually a revelation to many, but there you have it.  A game based on a licensed IP now has more than its fair shot at glory, when before it could have simply ended up in a landfill with rest of society's garbage.

The amount of unmitigated disasters when it comes to licensed games are far too numerous to recount here, but for those that owned an Nintendo 64 can surely remember the colossal failure that was Superman 64. Those that believe these critical flops don’t bring in enough revenue to justify their existence would be surprised to learn that these games are capable of being profitable.  Let’s check out a couple of unfortunate reasons why this is:

Super Low Development Costs: For the most part, an IP holder dictates the overall design of such games, or what exactly can be done with them.  This not only saves money and time on writers, but it also insures that fans of the property won't be completely lost.  Games based on movies, for example, more than often tend to follow the film’s plot.  Costs are also cut on graphics, design, and overall development time; if the game isn’t out fast enough if it’s a tie-in, then it’s sunk.

Built-in Audience.  Licensed games have a built-in fan base that due to fans of the original work.  There is therefore little risk because there is little to prove; the fans exist before the product hits the shelves.  This is also bolstered by a tendency towards simplistic game design to catch non-gamers interested in the property and casual gamers.  Let’s not forget children, who need no reason to have their parents purchase these games other than the fact that they recognize the characters on the box.

As stated before, Batman: Arkham Asyulum brought upon a much needed change to the licensed game. But before Rocksteady came long to redefine the genre, good quality licensed games did in fact exist.  Take, for example, 2001’s Batman: Vengeance, which was based on Batman: The Animated Series.  Carrying over the shows artistic qualities through cell-shaded graphics, Vengeance was a great game, and even holds up today.  Other classics that transcend the trash include Golden Eye, Disney’s Aladdin, The Simpsons: Arcade Game and many Star Wars games pre-Knights of the Old Republic.  The inclusion of Aladdin may have caught your eye; the SNES and Sega Genesis were home to many quality licensed games due to the restraints of the consoles.  Those games were mostly simple platformeres, side-scrollers or beat-em-ups, genres that excelled during that period.  And seriously, if you want to play a quality licensed game dig up 1994’s The Lion King.  But up until a few years ago, a shift in the production value of licensed IPs has occurred, and we are now seeing studios aiming to do right by the intellectual properties that they have been entrusted with.

From Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and Edge of Time, to Transformers: War for Cybertron, and the aforementioned Batman sensations, the quality in these games is just so unexpectedly high. But it doesn't there. Even the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man, Transformers sequel Fall of Cybertron, and  Gearbox Software developed FPS Aliens: Colonial Marines look to bring greatness to the licensed IP. Arkham City is even getting additional DLC starring none other than Harley Quinn herself. And rightfully so – Arkham City won more awards than even thought possible for a licensed game. The dedication that these developers are putting into these games is astounding.

Things are looking up; it just took a shameful amount of time to reach this point. For every success story however, comes a fair share of crap. While all licensed IPs cannot be as big and as well-received as Arkham City, Rocksteady certainly raised the bar for generation to come.  It's upsetting that there will always be titles that will just plain suck (I'm looking at you, crap-tastic Voltron game), but that is no longer then norm. Even though I am cautiously optimistic about the future of licensed games, I think it’s important to keep things in perspective: a game like Arkham City in only a bright spot in a very dark abyss, but we can see that light more now than we ever could.

For those of you who read my last piece, you might recall that I'm a bit of a Sony enthusiast. As such, not only am I asked if my latest obsession, the Playstation Vita, is worth buying, but what games should be picked up with it as well. So for all of you out there that are contemplating buying Sony's sexy new portable, or for those current owners that don’t know what games are worth purchasing, I thought it would be best to put together this list of Vita games that may or may not be worth your time.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss: If you have ever played an Uncharted game, then you know exactly what to expect with Golden Abyss: top-notch visuals, intuitive gameplay, and terrific storytelling. The game includes some great use of the new control schemes of the Vita. Some of these nice touches include taking photos using the SixAxis feature, or rubbing the screen to create charcoal etchings. Golden Abyss might not be as polished as any of its PS3 brethren, but the series' portable debut is certainly worth getting your hands on. A console experience on the fly, Golden Abyss' story and gameplay will keep you hooked while its puzzles and collectables will keep you playing long after. Be sure to check back as I will be reviewing this portable gem very soon.

Verdict: Buy!

Super Stardust Delta: Out of all the Vita games I have picked up so far, Super StardustDelta is by far my most played game; it is truly addictive. You blast your way through five planets consisting of five levels on each. There are tons of modes for you to delve into if the main challenge runs stale (which won’t happen). The game uses the many different control inputs in various mini-games. There are few unlockables outside of some songs you can get from players in the area on the Vita's NEAR service, but despite that the replay value remains extremely high.

Verdict: Buy!

Fireworks!: This game is hardly a game. Yes – it is free, but that does NOT mean you should download it. You use the AR cards that your Vita comes with and pop some silly house on your floor or desk through your screen. The “game” is just exploding the fireworks at the appropriate time. The fact that it uses AR cards is completely pointless.

Verdict: Pass!

MLB 12: The Show: Finally, a baseball game  done right on a portable. There is nothing more satisfying then playing an amazing baseball sim on the go. The game is damn near identical to its PS3 counterpart outside of some graphical and presentational cutbacks. If you like baseball you owe it to yourself to throw this gem into your Vita. The Vita specific controls are pretty forgettable, but overall the game is absolutely fantastic.

Verdict: Buy!

Reality Fighters: Considering that the Playstation Vita already has a worthwhile fighter with its port of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, even the most casual fan of the genre would be hard-pressed to find enjoyment out of this disaster. While the idea of putting you and your friends into the game certainly sounds appealing, a clear lack of modes and an unattractive interface make this title just about the most forgettable experience on the platform.

Verdict: Pass!

Dynasty Warriors: NEXT: Just so we retain full disclosure here, I played NEXT's demo a bunch of times but only recently purchased the game. I do like what I see so far, though, so I encourage you to read on.

Ah yes, Dynasty Warriors. Like most installments in this ongoing franchise, NEXT follows the Dynasty Warriors formula to the letter: you beat the crap out of bad guys and take over checkpoints. Where the game really surprised me however, was how it makes use of the Vita’s touch screen and track pad. Special moves are performed doing swiping motions ala Infinity Blade, or sometimes drawing a path of destruction using the rear pad. Beating the hell out of entire armies is just fun, plain and simple. And not for nothing, this game runs amazingly for the sheer amount of stuff going on screen at once.

Verdict: Buy!

Escape Plan: This game is very hard for me to speak about. It is very unique and completely built to show off the Vita’s controls. It is challenging and fun, but sometimes the controls don’t work as well as I would like. The art style and ambiance is fantastic, but I never found myself playing for long periods of time. I've had the game for a few weeks now, but haven't really gotten that far. While this type of puzzler isn't exactly my sorta game, that doesn't mean it isn't worth your time. If you like challenging puzzle games and have a few bucks, why not give it a go?

Verdict: Buy!

So there you have it. One other noteworthy item is the Vita's Facebook app – horrible. Honestly, it just doesn’t run well. I only seldom find myself I using it in those emergency situations where my phone, computer, and carrier pigeon are dead. But I digress. What do you all make of this list? Are there are other games that are 'must-haves'? Are there other titles that are absolute garbage and should be avoided like the plague? Let us know in the comments section below.

Post contributed by Stephen Fontana. Questions for the author? Send an email to sfontana86@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @steveactorsing.

A few months ago I downloaded Resident Evil 4 HD for my Xbox 360 and was transported into nostalgic bliss. RE4 is one of my top 10 favorite games of all time, and I was surprised by how well it had aged seven years after its release. It reinvigorated the franchise, redefined the survival horror genre and essentially created the over-the-shoulder perspective that has become the staple of every third person shooter since. Simply put, if it weren’t for Resident Evil 4, there never would have been a Dead Space.

But then the franchise faltered with 2009’s Resident Evil 5, which added improved graphics and co-op play but not much else. The game was set before the backdrop of a sun-drenched Africa, and this, coupled with the addition of a human-controlled ally, took all the horror out of the survival horror equation. RE5 was a good game and the co-op was fun, but it wasn’t scary in the least, and it seemed as if once again, the franchise was faltering. What made its predecessor so exciting was how well it meshed the unsettling and brooding terror of the original games with a faster-paced action style. RE4 was more about upgrading weapons and laying waste to hordes of enemies than ammo conservation and puzzles, but it was still frightening, at times downright terrifying. Also, it was gory, another staple of the genre RE5 sorely lacked.

With its upcoming Resident Evil 6, Capcom seems to have finally found its comfort zone. Footage from a pair of trailers imply that the game will be just as action-oriented as the previous two games, if not more so, but it will also feature a distinctly dark and gritty style reminiscent of earlier titles. If all goes well, RE6 will seamlessly blend the old and new flavors of its franchise.

There are a TON of great games coming out this fall and winter, so many in fact that it’s almost as if the publishers are all playing some colossal joke on us. How can we possibly afford to buy Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, Bioshock Infinite, Assassin’s Creed III, Halo 4 AND Resident Evil 6 when they’re all being released within two months of each other? It’s almost cruel. However, amongst this veritable feast of gaming, Resident Evil 6 still manages to stand out as one of my most anticipated titles.

Last month, three of my friends and I decided to preorder Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, a spinoff that took place during the events of RE2 & 3 and allowed you to command one of several mercenaries in competitive four player co-op. Unfortunately, on release day the game received a completely wretched reception from critics, and we all refunded our reservations. My friends and I are part of a large community of avid Resident Evil fans, so enraptured by the franchise that we couldn’t wait until October for our RE fix. But even we weren’t willing to shell out the $60 needed to play a half-finished misfire.

And this is what Capcom needs to realize if they intend to maintain Resident Evil as a viable franchise. Sure, spin-offs can be successful from time to time, such as the motion control-heavy Umbrella Chronicles and the recent 3DS release Revelations, but in general the non-core RE games have such a poor reputation that only the most diehard of diehard fans bother to try them out. Capcom should focus on the heart of the series, and from what I’ve seen, RE6 seems to be just that.

There’s just so much in it that looks, to put it bluntly, awesome. Six playable characters and three diverging, interconnecting storylines? Chris Redfield and everyone’s favorite wisecracking Secret Service agent Leon S. Kennedy? Wesker’s son? Ada Wong? Co-op and the Mercenaries? The action of RE5 with the horror of RE2? Color me excited.

On first impressions alone, it looks like Capcom has nailed it. Even the tiny details, like the ability to move and shoot simultaneously and the drop-in drop-out co-op are significant improvements that will no doubt uplift the series. Though it’s always been a story-heavy franchise, one can’t exactly praise the quality of Resident Evil’s narrative. At the very least, RE6’s story looks to be… epic. This is the first time in the franchise that an outbreak is a worldwide threat, and as such the game looks to have a wider scope than fans are used to.

I’m actually quite fond of Resident Evil 4’s story and it was also the first time the franchise featured some decent voice actors. Though a lot of the dialogue is cringe-worthy in its cheesiness, it works thanks to the hammy delivery of its actors, particularly Paul Mercier as Leon. What was cool about RE4’s story was how it was connected to previous titles (Leon, Ada, Wesker) but diverged and created a new storyline about Las Plagas and Los Ganados. It felt standalone and was a refreshing change of pace for a series that had become almost hilariously predictable in its plotting.

RE5 tried to combine the story of Las Plagas with the original Umbrella conspiracy, but didn’t quite hit the mark. As cool as it was to launch an RPG into Wesker’s face, his very inclusion felt like a retread. Thankfully Wesker is finally dead, and now we’ll get to follow the exploits of his son, Jake Muller. Like RE4, RE6’s story seems to be veering in a different direction, though the new “C-Virus” seems like a lame attempt at creating drama out of thin air. What exactly is the difference between the T and C Viruses other than a letter? What I’m most excited for is seeing Leon and Chris in the same story, and even better, seeing them come to blows. The very fact that the two are fighting on opposite sides makes me wonder if RE6 will pull a Silent Hill and feature a variety of endings.

As excited as I am for Resident Evil 6, sometimes I pine for the slower-paced survival horror games of days past. RE4 may be my favorite in the series, but I’d argue that both the Gamecube remake of RE1 and Resident Evil 0 were scarier. I’d cite Dead Space as the scariest game of all time, but its sequel, though superior in nearly every way, opted for an on-the-edge-of-your-seat visceral intensity over the more claustrophobic, isolated slow-burn horror of its predecessor. The same is true of the last few Resident Evil games. Whereas the original titles made you feel weak and isolated, now you take control of a walking, talking tank that can mow down enemies with AK-47s, and as such a lot of the tension is taken out of the experience.

I blame much of this shift in tone on Call of Duty. That franchise has been so overwhelmingly successful that every publisher feels the need to replicate it in its own IPs. As such, I wonder if we’ll ever see another old school survival horror game. Every once in a while a gem comes along like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but it seems that for the foreseeable future, the major survival horror franchises will choose action over tension.

If that means we get to play more games like Resident Evil 6, well then… I can’t say I’m complaining.

Post contributed by Alex Hilhorst. Questions for the author? Send an email to monco60@earthlink.net. Follow him on Twitter: @thehilblog.

Well gamers, that not-so-special time of year is once again upon us. Spring has indeed sprung: Rejuvenation. Rebirth. Everything's blooming. All that crap. But as the cold weather begins to dissipate so too do the number of high profile videogame releases. School is ever so closer to letting out and vacation time is fast approaching. The overall pace of the bustling business world begins to slow down. In other words: the time is ripe for gaming. And yet, there are hardly ever any definitive must-have games. And an ideal time to release big name titles goes by with little  impact.

Gaming's equivalent to the summer-movie blockbuster season occurs much later in the year, in the Fall. And what's not to like about Q4: midterms and finals, holiday stress, and the delightful end of year hustle at the office. In other words, the perfect time to go throwing your money around like a crazy person. The industry's biggest releases are crammed into an insanely tight four-month period and suffice it to say, it can be a tad overwhelming. But as the cycle dictates, we play everything in the Fall/Winter and enter a merciless boredom in the Spring/Summer. There is a solution however.

April has been pretty damn quiet so far. But even though a month like this won't ever see the likes of Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed, there are still plenty of reasons to either march on down to your local electronics store or peruse your LIVE/PSN accounts for the latest digital downloads. On the retail side of things, April saw the release of  Xenoblade Chronicles, The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition, and Prototype 2.  For those who are looking for quality gaming on the cheap, the astoundingly adorable Fez just recently it the XBLA scene, not to mention the first episode of Telltale Games' The Walking Dead, and fighting game darling Skullgirls. So with a pair of well received RPGs, an ultra-violent action title, an 8-bit puzzle/platformer,  a good old fashioned adventure title, and a fighting game, April has just about enough to offer for every type of gamer out there. But while these exceptional games should in no way be ignored, the gaming drought can also be relieved by simply looking back at what 2011 had to offer.

Unless you were living under a rock, with your eyes shut and your fingers in your ears, the end of last year was absolutely insane. Not only was the list of holiday season releases a mile long, each title contained a fair amount of replay value. And it's highly possible that a game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may have single-handedly monopolized your gaming time up to this point, leaving you with a outrageous backlog of games.

For starters, let's take a look at the AAA titles that you may have missed. You couldn't have played them all, right? Game of the Year contenders like Portal 2, Mortal Kombat, Dark Souls, and Rayman Origins, have all had their prices slashed and most definitely should not be missed. Next up are the 'flawed gems' of the bunch, stellar titles that received above average review scores that are often overshadowed by the the holiday's big name titles. This category contains the likes of Dead Island and Rage, a pair of really fun, yet flawed FPS games. But even if these games aren't to your liking, you can always try your luck at the bargain bin section where you can catch-up on your 2009/2010 backlog as well.  So go right ahead and pick up Bayonetta, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Metro 2033, and Vanquish – all of which still look and play great.

With a healthy library of games to choose from, the summer gaming lull can very well turn out to be anything but. And with Max Payne 3 and Dragon' s Dogma just around the corner (not to mention Diablo III!), the drought that backlog of games that creeps in right around the holiday season may start a whole lot sooner than you think.