Trailer: Kung Fu Rider

SCEA brings the silly with this fun and funky mix of racing and off the wall stunts. I don't think we'll see this sort of stuff in the Olympics any time soon, but it sure looks like a hell of a ride for the couch jockeys out there...

Namco Bandai Lands IN NYC With Hits Galore

The great thing about not going to E3 is that the best parts of of it (getting to see and play upcoming games with not a lot of waiting) will come to you (provided you're invited to a press event or two post-show). A few of the fine folks from Namco Bandai (or Bandai Namco) rolled into NYC with an incredibly solid lineup that should keep gamers of all stripes glued to their controllers and sporting ear to ear grins. While some of the games shown were still works in progress E3 builds, it was impossible not to walk away completely floored with anticipation about most if not all of the titles shown.

In the order which I saw and/or played them, here's a quick rundown on what was on display:

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom (PS3/Xbox 360) - Game Republic truly seems to enjoy making some great-looking, purely fun to play titles and this gorgeous single player experience looks to be yet another winner. You play as a young agile type who discovers and teams up with Majin, a huge stone elemental giant of sorts and soon find yourself attempting to rescue a missing princess. Graphically, there's a fanciful stylized (yet realistic) look to the game that should please fans of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus while the gameplay excellently mixes fast-paced combat, stealth sections and environmental puzzle elements that require teamwork between the player and Majin. From the demo I got to see, this could be quite a sleeper when it lands in stores later this year.

Clash of the Titans (PS3/Xbox 360) - Yet another fun Game Republic-developed title and after a bit of hands-on time I can safely say that this one was a nice surprise in terms of its impressive level of old-school challenge and the rather large weapons selection players can accumulate. The game's difficulty should appeal to all skill levels (just set it to Hard if you're finding some areas too simple and you'll be rewarded with a rather fierce challenge). However, if you have an extra controller and a buddy handy, there's a two-player co-op mode that should help whittle the AI down to size. Thanks to QTE events during combat, you're able to grab sub-weapons from any armed enemy to add to your armory and most of these assorted death-dealers are upgradable once you're the new owner.

The art style and color palette are straightforward yet quite nice, recalling elements of the film while adding in new levels and enemies created specifically for the game. The mix of fast-paced hack and slash action plus stages graded by how quickly you can complete them should have those who crave perfection jumping back in to improve their scores (and bonus items awarded). Interestingly enough, the DVD drops into stores around the same time the film does, so those who liked the flick can be assured of a few more hours of fun in a lot more interactive format. "Release the Kraken!", indeed.


Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 (PS3/Xbox 360) - Fan-favorite developer Cyber Connect 2 (the .hack series and plenty of Naruto titles on the PS2, PS3 and PSP) keeps getting better and better and this impressive sequel to the formerly PS3-only release is headed to the Xbox 360 as well. The game looks incredible and controls in the short timed demo build were insanely responsive, making for a pretty slick (albeit brief) peek at what's to come. Fans of the anime will be definitely be pleased and I think I can drop a hint to Tekken fans here that there's a really cool surprise in store for you should this game pop up on your radar...


Pac-Man Party (Wii) - Pac-Man is 30 years old and still going strong thanks to this upcoming family friendly mix of tsuguroku and mini-games galore. While only a few of these howlers were playable at the event, what was shown was hilarious stuff indeed from both a visual and gameplay perspective. Sure, the action was simple Wii Remote shaking, tilting and swinging, but all who stepped up to give the game a shot ended up cracking up after one or two quick events. From tossing pizzas into a huge blazing oven, soda bottle jet-pack blast-offs and obstacle packed conveyor belt races, these super quick blasts of fun should keep you and the kids busy for some time.


Enslaved: Journey to the West (PS3/Xbox 360) - Ninja Theory's absolutely gorgeous follow-up to Heavenly Sword is once again, a single-player focused experience that looks to combine cinematic storytelling with high-action gameplay sequences and so far, it's a formula that's working for me. The rich visuals and fine level design are looking impressive and after going though the demo build, I'm extremely looking forward to the final version. And yes, Andy Serkis is doing a stellar job, the facial animations are fantastic and once you see how effortlessly fluid the controls are, the game is a dream to play.

As a totally unique take on the Monkey King legend, it's mind-blowing how well the dev team has transformed the main character, Monkey into a burly yet agile hero and placed him into a blasted out wasteland that's actually quite colorful. Even more incredible is the dev team is making a Teen rated game that's got as much visceral punch as some top M-rated titles. By the way, look for Trip, the game's AI partner to set new standards in CPU-controlled AI. Although you can't really control her directly, she reacts and moves almost like a living person would (and has some pretty funny dialog with Monkey). This is one title I want to cover in a bit more depth, so expect a gallery to pop up at some point.

Splatterhouse (PS3/Xbox 360) - Rising from the dead with a major graphics overhaul and tons of pure, unadulterated gore galore, Rick and his evil mask are back in action after far too long away from consoles. The game is looking superbly twisted with a dark yet crazily funny vibe running throughout the demo build. Fans of the originals will be more than pleased to see their favorite monsters rendered in beefy 3D as well as cool side-scrolling sequences mixed in with the more modern action. There are also plenty of cinematic angles that add a modern horror kick to the game and both lighting and color usage were brilliant in the demo build.

This one's clearly shooting for a Mature rating, as the blood and chunks flow, splash and fly freely. That and Rick's gal, Jennifer appears in some rather er, saucy collectible photos as the game progresses. Speaking of collectibles, players can expect to see all the console Splatterhouse games (and I believe the original Arcade version) on the game disc as a pretty awesome bonus. No concrete release date on this baby just yet, but I expect Halloween or sometime thereabouts would be fitting. Of course, we Splatterhouse fanatics want this one to bee cooked perfectly, so even if the date slips, it'll be because the game is being polished to an even finer shine.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm (PS3) - This latest in the long running arcade gun shooting franchise looks to be the best yet thanks to a ton of content and PlayStation Move support. With the super intuitive design of the Move controller, the game is so much fun to play (yes, it's a total blast) that it was hard to put down after a few stages. The again, the few stages I got to play with a fellow editor in co-op blew by so fast and had so much destruction going on that we were both sweating bullets in that air-conditioned hotel suite. By the way, if you don't want to get a Move on, the game will also support the Guncon 3.

There's a very heavy emphasis on destructibility here, as nearly every bit of scenery seems as if can be shot up by yours or the enemies' bullets. You'll also see levels wrecked by mid-level and end mission bosses that are huge, surprisingly fast and extremely deadly. Not only will you get a few different single and multiplayer modes in the main game, Namco is actually adding both arcade hits Time Crisis 4 and the swashbuckling Deadstorm Pirates to the disc as very sweet bonuses (arr!). As a longtime light gun fan ready to embrace a "new" way of playing a favorite genre, I can safely say the this one's going to be played to death and beyond around these parts. No matter how awful a day you've had, you can always rely on a Time Crisis game to get the adrenaline pumping.

I'm kicking myself because I didn't stick around to check out Ace Combat Joint Assault (there was only one PSP demo unit on hand which was running Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team, a multiplayer focused fighter that looked cool but was a bit chaotic as a single player experience. I think I spied a demo build of Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2 as well, but I was headed for the door after a good chunk of time spent being wowed by everything else. Ah well... guess I'll have to send up a flare for review copies. Anyway, galleries and movies to follow on the games listed - stay tuned...

The Last Guardian E3 Trailer

Simply beautiful is all I can say (well, I can't wait to play it is something else I'll say). Like ICO and Shadow of the Colossus before it, The Last Guardian looks to be an instant classic when it's finally released.

Gallery: XCOM

One of the more "controversial" game announcements of this year was 2K Games' currently in progress reworking of the classic PC turn-based strategy franchise as a high action first-person shooting game light on the tactical elements longtime fans expect from the series. From the striking "retro" visual style to the alien designs to the gameplay, plenty of X-Com: UFO Defense die-hards have been burning up message boards with hissy-fit griping about every aspect of the new game's design before even getting some hands-on time with a demo.

E3 2010 Want List

This year's show was pretty incredible with way too many great games to count. Here's a short (hah!) list of a couple I'm interested in. Updates on as many as I can to come. If you don't see a game you like here, feel free to comment and I'll respond if it's a game I overlooked.

Gallery: ArcaniA: Gothic 4

Here's a look at a few screens as well as PC and console cover art for DreamCatcher's upcoming RPG, ArcaniA: Gothic 4. I'm definitely keeping an eye peeled for this one, as the long running Gothic series is, warts and all one that keeps getting more impressive with each installment.

Get A Little Bit Of Dead Space 2 In Your Inbox...

EA's Dead Space Community is offering up a chance for members to get an early peek at the sequel to the great sci-fi/horror hybrid. Just click on over to the game's official site, sign up if you haven't already and watch your inbox until June 14, when you'll get a nice little email with a slice of exclusive DS2 community-only footage enclosed. Simple, huh?

Yeah, an actual demo code or demo disc would be even better at some point in the near future (note to EA: hint, hint...), but you can't argue with the free part, right?

Deus EX: Human Revolution E3 Trailer

Nice. Rabbit baby wants, Rabbit baby gets! Even though the specter of Spector is non-existent in this followup, the game is looking mighty good thus far in this teaser. Square Enix needs a mega-hit that's not just another Final Fantasy game and this could be it...

Gallery: RAGE

I'll shut up and let id's super gorgeous screens speak for themselves. PFS action, car combat and all-new id tech? Sign me up! This one is going to be a MONSTER hit if it runs as well on consoles and PC as id says it's going to. Bethesda Softworks has made a splendid purchase. I won't be at E3 this year, but I definitely NEED to see and play this one.

Review: 3D Dot Game Heroes

Platform: PlayStation 3

Developer: Silicon Studio/From Software

Publisher: Atlus

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site
Score: A

Without a doubt one of the best "retro" games to date that's not a homebrew creation, 3D Dot Game Heroes perfectly blends old-school gameplay elements and today's console technology with the end result being an instant classic no PS3 owner should miss. It's easy to look at screen shots or poke around on a message board and read about simplistic comparisons to The Legend of Zelda or other favorite 8-bit adventure RPGs, but the game is a lot more rewarding than a mere clone if you know your gaming history. Obvious plot and gameplay elements aside, 3DDGH is a pretty darn funny trip through the 8-bit era with a decidedly modern spin.

While the plot is packed with plenty of familiar genre cliches, the game's intentionally old-school aesthetics get the grins going from the get-go. You can play as a generic hero (or heroine)-type out to save the kingdom of Dotnia, rescue a missing princess and complete a ton of optional side quests. While you can choose to play as anyone you like using a wide host of pre-created avatars, the robust character editor is too tempting to ignore for very long.

Sure, you can whip up a mere boring Link clone, but it's a lot more fun to let your imagination run wild as you piece together a totally original creation or something inspired by your favorite piece of pop culture. The game allows you to swap out heroes when you load up a save, so it's entirely possible to play as dozens of characters (including some sweet surprises from a few From Software-developed titles). Want to play as Old Spock, Sam Jackson, a random Lego character or a favorite deity? Well, jump in and play around with the editor and it's all up to you...

As far as the main game goes, expect the usual huge map-traveling, monster-killing, treasure grabbing stuff of old with a cool twist. You'll be using a bunch of awesome swords throughout the game that are ridiculously HUGE and powerful... provided your health is at maximum. The game's main gimmick revolves around keeping your heart containers full for as long as possible to allow for your swords to have maximum power and reach. You'll also be able to enhance the swords you collect, making them stronger, longer wider and able to shoot a powerful beam in some cases. Yes, this sounds like a Cialis advertisement, but the game actually doesn't make much of a big deal about the overly obvious male enhancement jokes you're possibly thinking of.

The game mines some of its best moments out of things such as tricky boss battles, finding the many hidden secrets scattered throughout the land or tackling its challenging mini-games. If you're one of those younger players more used to games that walk you through the hard parts or games where you can finesse your way out of getting hit by enemies, you'll be occasionally annoyed by what seems like "cheap" areas in some dungeons. On the other hand, part of the retro appeal here is making sure you're just as cheap as the enemies you'll face. If you augment your sword so that it can pierce through walls, you'll have an edge (pun intended) on certain foes. Having a big, fast sword and some deft moves thanks to that dash move (and the time you spend mastering turning on a dime in the race mini-game) is not only supremely satisfying, it just looks so darn cool.

In fact, the game actually rewards you for taking no damage from bosses, but don't expect to blow through all of these big bad beasties on the first go. While some of the earlier boss battles can be won rather quickly, as the game progresses, both regular enemies as well as bosses get harder to beat, forcing you to make every swing or other attack count. Simply relying on your growing arsenal of swords to take down some enemies or traps is a bad idea, especially when you're dealing with flying foes out of range or hazards no sword can touch. Still, there's a great sense of victory and relief once you've cleared out a dungeon, that's for sure.

While you never need to return to a cleared dungeon unless you want to get into previously locked areas, the lure is definitely there. The chance to beat up on even tougher optional versions of defeated bosses (if you really want to challenge your skills) and the items waiting behind those formerly closed rooms help keep the game interesting. While the game isn't really linear (even following the dungeons one after another will have you backtracking at some point), you can stick to the story and miss out on a load of hidden goodies.

What you won't miss out on are the incredible graphics and a great retro soundtrack. The game's super high resolution block-based world manages to stylistically put games with more realistic visuals to shame. Sure, it's a gimmick, but the game explains Dotnia's existence well enough that the illusion is quite believable (well, in a fantasy world come to life sense). It's pretty funny that the dev team has managed to capture almost everything about 8-bit games perfectly, from the way your hero's body moves while walking to re-imagining how color usage would look in the transition from 2D to 3D.

In a great touch, You can also adjust the camera angles so the game can be played from a few angles. The classic top-down style is recommended as it gives you a better idea of what's waiting on each screen, but you can play from a few closer-in views as well. The ability to adjust the typeface size is a brilliant thing (more if not all games this generation absolutely need), especially if you still haven't made the move to HDTV yet or have trouble with the tiny text too many of today's games use. As for length, the game can be completed in around 12-15 hours if you're really good and don't die quite so much. Add at least 10+ hours to that time if you get wrapped up in finding all the secrets and completing every mini-game as perfectly as can be. Getting ALL the Trophies takes quite a bit of work, but this isn't quite as brutal as the spectacular Demon's Souls.

For my money (I always end up buying Atus games even if I get review copies because I like supporting the company), the game has no huge negatives at all. It's built like the classics and can be as tough as them when it wants to. Anyone who's played and loved games from the NES era onward absolutely needs to give 3DDGH a place in their game library. If you're rusty from too many of today's easier games, you might want to jump up and down on your PS3 controller once or twice. Nevertheless, that rush of sheer nostalgia will make you feel young (well, for at least for the time it takes you to complete the game).

Screenshot Gallery
Screenshot Gallery

N3II Promo Posters 1 & 2

Two very cool promotional posters for the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights II show off a nicely grim aesthetic I'm hoping the game manages to pull off a bit more than the original (well, a LOT more, actually).

Konami has the publishing rights this time out, but I'm guessing they more than likely had not much at all to do with the development on the sequel. I've got my fingers crossed anyway that the game will be at least equal to the first one in terms of massive waves of enemies and very tough bosses. We shall see, I suppose...

Gallery: Hunted: The Demon's Forge

InXile Entertainment is baaaaack... and this time, they're putting together an even more action-focused RPG than their fun console and PC remake of The Bard's Tale from a few years back. Hunted: The Demon's Forge looks like it'll be a blast to play through thanks to a co-op focused online mode and combat that's a mix of hack & slash with a bit of cover-based ranged weapons work "borrowed" from games such as Gears of War. Granted, I'm hoping the game will support single-player grinding as well (my personal favorite style of play), but with Bethesda handling the publishing duties, it'll also be really intriguing to see just how deep the game gets when it comes to story.

All I know for sure is we've a lovely, deadly magic user and a mean-looking tattooed dude that can swing his sword quite well as the main characters. Well, actually... I know a bit more than that (and you can too once you read the press release and check out the screens below the jump) ...

Review: Deadly Premonition

Platform: Xbox 360

Developer: Access Games

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

# of Players: 1

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A-

Deadly Premonition just might be a tipping point for certain gamers who don't quite trust mainstream review sites for any number of reasons. Sure, if you apply the now boring "by today's standards..." mantra to every aspect of the game, it deserves a low score for failing to have stunning graphics, online multiplayer modes, flawless controls and so forth and so on. On the other hand, if you approach DP as a game experience that's going to be (outside of yearly sequels and games trying to copy other games) wholly unique... well, hell - welcome to paradise. Granted, it's a twisted paradise of survival horror, intentional comedy, open world exploration, police car driving and a main character that's crazy as a herd of cows on a crack binge.

Review: Alice In Wonderland

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Etranges Libellules

Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios

# of Players: 1-2

Rating: E10+

Official Site

Score: B-
As with the Nintendo DS/DSi version of Alice In Wonderland, developer Etranges Libellules has done a great job, transforming what could have been a boring platform-hopping romp into a visually stunning, simple to play (yet challenging at times) experience. The Wii version uses the film's look and much of its major voice talent with excellent results and while it's not the longest game on the planet, a few tricky puzzles and combat should keep you entertained There's co-op play here for those that crave companionship or want to share the fun, but it's not quite perfect and actually can make the game a bit harder in some areas.

TopWare Introduces Battle vs Chess

Well, color me pleasantly surprised. You'd figure that since every strategy game is based in one way or another on Chess, we'd have seen something like this hitting consoles sooner. I can still remember playing Archon on the NES and Battle Chess on the 3DO back in the day, so this should be as much addictive fun from a gameplay perspective. Of course, those lovely new graphics are nothing to sneeze at.

Here you go - two screens from TopWare Interactive's upcoming Battle vs. Chess, set for a May 2010 release across "multiple platforms". Hmm... as if the publisher's upcoming epic RPG Two Worlds II isn't going to be keeping folks like me too busy to breathe already! I guess BvC will be a "downtime" game for when I'm not exploring Antaloor's expansive over world and deadly dungeons.

Also below is the official press release. The teaser site lists Xbox 360/Xbox Live, Wii, PC and Mac versions, but I'm hoping this makes it to the PS3 and or PSP at some point. I guess sales will dictate that, right? If anything, the fantasy theme combined with the Fritz Chess-powered gameplay will certainly make Chess a lot more accessible to those who can't quite grasp the board version, that's for sure.

Chess, the unrivalled champion of strategy games has been attracting players of all ages for countless centuries. Battle vs. Chess takes up the mission of adapting the time honoured classic for the 21st century, seeking to breathe new life into the beloved game without abandoning the essential concepts that have made it so enduring. However simply digitalizing it is not nearly enough, as the progressive title aims at developing a unique fusion between vivid 3D environments & characters, professional chess software and upbeat combat visuals & mechanics.

Employing the framework of ChessBase’s world renowned Fritz! chess algorithm software, widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated chess engines in the world, even the most experienced chess experts will be presented with a daunting challenge. All these features paired with an atmospheric soundtrack, several distinct game board environments, special game modes, and a plethora of unlockable bonuses guarantee players long lasting fun with the timeless game of kings!

Battle vs Chess is currently being developed across multiple platforms, and is scheduled for release in May 2010.

Sherlock Holmes vs Jack The Ripper To Stalk 360 in April

Looks as if the adventure game on home consoles isn't quite dead after all. Thanks to Dreamcatcher and The Adventure Company, Xbox 360 owners will get their hands on Frogware's Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper on April 20, 2010 for a mere $29.99.

The game is a port of the 2009 PC version (which garnered pretty decent reviews overall) and features first and switchable first and third-person perspectives, detailed environments based on actual locations around London and more investigating than you can shake a walking stick at. Here's a quick peek at a few screens as well as a little bit of info on what to expect in the final version:

Game Overview:

A horrible series of crimes are uncovered in the East End district of London. The police have no serious leads and the heinous murders continue. Take on the role of Sherlock Holmes as you set out to find clues in the dark, gloomy streets of London searching for the macabre trail of the one known as Jack the Ripper.

During this terrifying adventure, Sherlock will attempt to shed some light on the mystery that shrouds the identity and motive of the ghastly killer

Sure, the game has no explosions, DLC, multiplayer modes or fast-paced action sequences that might cause you to break an controller into bits. Nevertheless, anyone who craves a more brain-twisting set of puzzles and a well-scripted mystery that combines Arthur C. Doyle's classic crime cracker and one of history's most memorable real-life murderers will be more than pleased, particularly if the 360 version is as well done as the original. We'll be keeping an eye on this one for sure.

Review: Alice In Wonderland

Platform: Nintendo DS

Developer: Etranges Libellules
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios

# of Players: 1
Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site
 

Score: A

When it comes to licensed movie games, the DS usually gets the short end of the stick and that stick usually has a particularly blunt end. With much less memory to work with, movie games squeezed onto the handheld (generally in record time) often show off the handheld's limitations rather than its strengths. On the other hand, every so often you'll see games that take what the system can do and combined with more stylized visuals and truly fun gameplay, manage to impress as much as (or more than) the console versions.

Alice In Wonderland does just this on the DS, thanks to developer Etranges Libellules, who also developed the Wii and PC versions of the game. Whereas the absolutely lovely, surreal console and PC versions are based on gorgeously colored, highly detailed imagery from the Tim Burton film, the DS game's fantastic blend of strikingly (and even quirkier), hand-drawn 2D and 3D elements combined with the multi-genre gameplay make this one of the most surprisingly cool licensed games to date. The game isn't quite what you'd expect it to be, yet there are more than enough familiar gameplay elements here that keep it entirely accessible to the target audience.

As royally cute as the cover art is, once you see the game in motion and yes, get busy with the stylus action, it's hard to stop playing. Like the other versions, you're not directly controlling Alice as the main character. You start out the game with The White Rabbit and Alice in tow and as the game progresses, you meet up with The Caterpillar, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. All of your unusual friends have areas of the game designed specifically for their talents often on the same map. It's here where the gameplay shines and makes this nothing like a straightforward platforming experience. You control the Rabbit for a good portion of the first half hour or so as a running tutorial keys you in on movement, combat and problem solving. He can manipulate time and later, learn a double jump. So most of his puzzles revolve around making things stop, freeze or move faster while that jump helps him cross wide gaps.

As you go through these first few areas, the intuitiveness of the controls and menu system soon become apparent. Personally, I think this one of the most intuitive DS games I've played in terms of its learning curve. If fact, while there's a bit of text in the game, the gameplay is geared so much toward a purely visual experience that you'll eventually be able to look at parts of a map and figure out who you need to get Alice from Point A to Point B. The game throws a few areas at you where you'll need to quickly swap out characters to complete multiple tasks, meaning you never feel as if anyone is "useless". During your time in "Underland" You'll solve puzzles, uncover hidden treasure and bonuses while exploring a nicely sized collection of stages.

While Alice is regulated to following the selected character, she can also interact with them very much like Yorda in the PS2 classic, ICO. Alice can't jump too far, so each character has a means of aiding her across wider gaps or up to higher ledges. You can have Alice stay put as well, but don't leave her alone for too long. The wee lass also has no combat skills, so when the dreaded Red Knights appear to whisk her off in a vortex, you need to get tap-happy with that DS stylus to quickly defeat them. As in ICO, if Alice is spirited away in a vortex, it's Game Over and a trip back to your last save. Granted, save points in the game are numerous, so you rarely have far to backtrack if you lose Alice. On the other hand, the feeling of defeating the Knights as well as the game's bosses is quite exhilarating.

It's the boss battles that really showcase each character's skills as you'll need to move quickly in order to pacify some pretty tricky creatures. One early fight has the Caterpillar, who can shift air patterns in certain areas so the party can walk upside down, going up against a huge, toothy beast with multiple attacks. Trying to take it on directly is a bit crazy, but by changing the gravity, you can slam the beast to the ceiling or floor before rushing in to attack it for a few quick seconds before it recovers. Other bosses require a bit more work, but I won't spoil those battles for you. Let's just say that the game can be tricky, but it's never cheap or too hard.

Another fun element is the map system. As you travel through Underland, you'll need to locate map tiles shaped like puzzle pieces. Putting them together on the map screen in one order will unlock new areas, but swapping certain pieces around opens up shortcuts that can help you get past previously impassable obstacles. The trick is, you can't place a map piece in you need to move the piece you're on, so you're sometimes forced to hoof it to a different part of the map so you can move the piece you were formerly on. I liked this element a lot and hop ELB does something else with it in the future (either for an Alice follow-up or some other type of game).

The visuals and sound production are fantastic. The graphics share influences from Tim Burton's own art (of course), to Okami (the use of Asian-style brush work in characters and environments) and Patapon (the simple yet exaggerated enemy shapes and usage of black areas) and even a tiny bit of the cartoon-like Zelda games. While the pace of the game a a tad more languid than candy-colored mascot platformers, the use of color, mixture of 2D and 3D scrolling effects and overall "feel" of the game is superb. Richard Jaques' score is brilliant, slightly eerie and always compelling you to reach the next new area. While the sound effects are minimalist, they work perfectly, especially when Alice needs a boost or shows fear when certain enemies are around.

Even simple things such as the menu system and adjusting options is well thought out and funny. You'll want to go though all the options and adjust the sounds, microphone sensitivity (you'll find out why you need that microphone in the game - think teacup boats) and even check out the credits just to see the cute animations. I don't know if ELB has plans to do a second Alice game, but I'd love to see this art style either in a new Alice cartoon or on T-shirts or some other licensed products. There's also a bit of hilarious manga/anime stylization in the game, but again, you'll have to see these scenes for yourself.

As a bonus, the game cart has Disney's D gamer functionality that allows you to create an avatar and connect to the D gamer web site for online fun and games. You'll also unlock Achievements or gear your avatar can wear in your Collection in by collecting certain items in Alice in Wonderland. It's a much more kid-friendly mixture of Xbox Live with a dash of Miis in the creation process, but we'll see if this catches on n the future. Given that Disney games have an automatic user base, I'm sure the service will do quite well. I was going to ignore it and just play through the game, but I relented and cooked up an avatar just to see how well the feature was implemented. It works perfectly fine, bit I'd have loved to have the ability to make my little guy look as if he was drawn in the style of the game art.

As far as negative issues go, well, there aren't many to speak of. While the controls are intuitive, once in a while the camera will pull back to show a larger puzzle area, making something like a small jump a bit tough to tap out precisely (as in the return trip past the the bathtub puzzle). If you hate lots of backtracking, there's a great deal of it in the game. However, it's well-designed backtracking, as you'll be required to use skills your team hadn't learned during your last trip through the stage to reach new areas and uncover hidden items. The exploration element of the game is in fact, where the bulk of the fun is, so I'm gathering that those who want to buy the game won't mind trekking it about from start to finish.

Overall, for a licensed game, Alice In Wonderland is just about as perfect as it gets and so far, one of the best DS games of 2010. It's long and challenging enough to feel rewarding yet never wears out its welcome thanks to its stellar visual style, combination of familiar gameplay styles and emphasis on exploration. All of these elements equal nothing but pure fun when they're mixed as well as this. Even if you have the barest interest in licensed games, platformers or normally dislike games geared toward a younger audience, the consistently quirky nature of the game (and its amusing dialog) will have you hooked.

Classic Gaming Expo 2010 Info!

It's baaaaaaaaack! Want to spend a weekend in Vegas surrounded by TONS of vintage to current games, game consoles and plenty of cool folks who love them (as well as a few that have created them)? Well, Classic Gaming Expo 201o is set to take place at the Tropicana Las Vegas on the weekend of July 31 and August 1, 2010, so boogie on over to the registration page and get your pass NOW.

In addition to more games than you can shake a stick at (sticks not included at the show) , AtariAge and Digital Press are hosting a "Retro Rumble" tournament where the best classic gamers can compete to win fame and some awesome prizes. There will more likely than not be an incredible, eyeball searing auction where attendees can snag some really rare games, systems and swag (I'll update this as info comes in) as well as many special guests

As the press release says:

"Classic Gaming Expo is the largest and longest-running celebration of classic video games, the designers who created them, the players who enjoy them and the fanatics who collect them."

Anyway, c'mon down, bring the family and prepare to break the bank (or at least maim it slightly)... but not on slots or roulette! You'll more than likely go broke picking up some great deals on classic to current gaming goodness.

Avernum VI Released, Grand Time-Suck Begins Worldwide...

That Tardis-like sound you're hearing on occasion as you stroll about isn't your tinnitus going haywire. That's the sound of pure time energy being vaporized as people download and play Spiderweb Software's supremely addictive new RPG, Avernum 6. What, you don't believe me? Hmmmmm. Go download the PC or Mac demo and see for yourself. Have a great time, but maybe remind friends and family of what you're doing, as you won't be coming up for air any time soon...

Missile Command Is 30 (And I Feel Old.... But There's A Sweepstakes To Make It All Better)...

Yikes. I can actually remember playing Missile Command back in 1980! Atari is certainly celebrating their classic (and making me feel ancient) by not only letting you young whippersnappers play the original version and a really cool remix, they're also holding a nice little contest where the grand prize is a restored MC arcade cabinet. So go poke around and enter, already. Feel free to check out their other playable arcade and Atari 2600 classics as well.