Shogun 2: Total War Fall of the Samurai TBA ON 23-MAR-2012 ( STRATEGY )

23-MAR-2012

About the Game


The standalone expansion to the award-winning Total War™: SHOGUN 2 explores the conflict between the Imperial throne and the last Shogunate in 19th century Japan, 400 years after the events of the original game. A dramatic clash of traditional Samurai culture with the explosive power of modern weaponry.


Guide ancient Japan into the modern age, as the arrival of America, Britain and France incites a ferocious civil war which will decide the future of a nation.

• Dramatic 19th century Japan setting

Based on the backdrop of the Boshin War period, the new campaign starts in 1864, a time of growing resentment against Western colonial power and influence. As Japan begins to modernise and industrialise, the inevitable social and economic changes lead to increasingly militant nationalism and antipathy towards the Shogunate.

• 6 new playable clans

Play as a clan supporting the Imperial throne, or the last Shogunate:
Shogunate clans: Aizu, Nagaoka, Jozai
Imperial clans: Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa

• New foreign powers

The American, British and French nations play an important part in the story of the Boshin war, and your relations with these foreign powers will be integral to unit recruitment and to advancing your technology trees.
New 19th century Japan campaign map
The new island of Ezo extends the SHOGUN 2 campaign map northwards.
Fully refreshed towns and other campaign map features reflect the new time period, with railways making their first appearance in a Total War title.

• Campaign map railways

Develop your own railway network to move armies and agents between your regions.
Railways can be sabotaged and transport can be blocked by enemy armies who take control of parts of the line or stations.

• 39 new land units

Including modern ranged units - such as the Gatling gun and Armstrong gun - controllable in a new third-person mode.
New units can also be recruited from foreign powers, including the British Royal Marines, US Marine Corps and French Marines.

• 10 new naval unit types with a total of 21 ships

New steam-powered warships, heavily armed with modern artillery.
Foreign ironclad ships can also be purchased, including the Warrior-class ironclad.

• New port siege battle type

This new battle type triggers when attempting a naval assault on an occupied enemy port.
The attacking fleet must sail into the harbour and capture the port, running the gauntlet of coastal gun defences.
New land and sea unit interactions
During a land battle, armies can call in offshore artillery support barrages.
Conversely, costal gun emplacements can target enemy ships during port siege battles, when ending their turn within the range of upgraded coastal defences.
Campaign map bombardments: offshore naval units can bombard armies and cities in adjacent coastal areas on the campaign map itself.

• 3 new agent types 

The Foreign Veteran, the Ishin Shishi and the Shinshengumi.
Each new agent has its own skill tree, and Ninja and Geisha agents have had their skill trees updated with new abilities.

• Improved siege battle mechanics

New upgradable tower defences can be built with a specific defence specialty: archery, matchlock or Gatling gun.

• Multiplayer 2.0

New Conquest map reflecting the 19th century setting
Brand-new Fall of the Samurai avatar, including:
Over 40 new retainers
Over 30 new armour pieces
New 19th century avatar skill tree
Multiple avatars: players can enjoy multiple careers and progression across Shogun 2 and Fall of The Samurai

King Arthur II Dead Legions ( Fantasy/Roleplaying ) RTS

28-JAN-2012

About the Game


This is a tale of revival, resurrection and revenge; the chronicle of how the greatest adversary of King Arthur came into power – and the terrible price he had to pay.

Our journey begins in Eboracum, in one of the greatest cities built in the Roman provinces of Britannia. But that was a long time ago, and Eboracum slowly turned into a magnificent graveyard of marble palaces, populated by the living, breathing ghosts of a fallen empire. Until a young monarch in the south, a Briton called Arthur pulled the enchanted sword out of the stone and changed everything.


And now, after the catastrophe has struck in the south and the Once and Future King lies wounded, the time is right to make the former provinces great again. The fate of the Romans lies in the hands of a noble man called Septimus Sulla. Betrayed and full of anger, he embarks on his quest to restore the glory of Eboracum. Nothing will deter him: he will wage war against both the savages of the north and his fellow nobles; he will unearth the secrets of Hadrian’s Wall and he will even venture into the mists of the underworld to find to the fabled ghost legions of Rome.


Key features:

• Join Septimus Sulla on his road to glory and darkness… and witness the rise of the most frightening emperor who has ever walked the land of Britannia.
• Intense boss fight, where the hero’s forces are pitted against a unique and terrifying foe.
• Lose yourself in a stunning story that unfolds over a huge 3D campaign map featuring knightly quests and other special events
• Wide range of camera control options, a revised animations and an extensive tutorial creating a more accessible and visually stunning experience
• Experience huge real-time battles featuring thousands of soldiers and flying fantasy monsters
• Battle enemies which employ unique war tactics and cast fantastic spells
• Your choices will unlock special content, spells and units with plenty of new and unique possibilities with every choice
• Lead major heroes who possess extraordinary powers

SOL Exodus ( SPACE SIMULATION )

26-JAN-2012

About the Game
By the year 2500, Earth had become toxic and unsafe for human life. Pollution and overpopulation had ravaged the planet, forcing humanity to the stars. Colonies and settlements soon sprung up across the solar system, but man had not left its thirst for war behind. Then, they learned their sun was dying, and everything changed. Only when faced with threat greater than each other did the nations of man finally come together. The United Colonies of SOL (UCS) was born, its first and only mission: to locate a new home for mankind, safely beyond the doomed borders of our solar system.

Suit up and take on the role of the Lieutenant Commander, ace fighter pilot and 2nd in command of the UCS Atlas, as you search for a new home, battle a mysterious enemy, and rescue humanity from a fiery end.


Key features:

• Experience an action space shooter like no other with Unreal™-powered visuals.
• Eight epic missions take you across breathtaking landmarks of our solar system, including Pluto, Neptune, Triton, Uranus, Saturn, and Titan.
• Utilize the advanced weaponry of your UCS HADES space fighter, including dual gatling guns, tracking missiles and MAG cannon.
• Engage a variety of enemy fighters, bombers, drones and more as you protect civilian transports and defend installations from attack.
• Take down massive capital ships by hacking into them and revealing their weak points or turning their weapons on one another.
• Learn the origins of your shadowy foes as the plot unfolds through full voice-acted dialogue
• Replay missions to earn higher ranks and perform heroic actions to earn upgrade points which can be used to improve your fighter.
• Top your friends on Steam leaderboards and compare your medals with dozens of achievements to unlock!
• Fully remappable controls support USB gamepads, joysticks, and mouse/keyboard control schemes.

KING ARTHUR II ( STRATEGY )

27-JAN-2012

Critically praised by reviewers and gamers alike, King Arthur was received as one of the biggest surprises to emerge on the gaming scene in 2010. Now the Fantasy/Roleplaying RTS returns in a sequel set to push the boundaries of the genre even further.

Our story begins long after young Arthur pulled the enchanted sword out of the stone, united the war-torn land of Britannia, gathered the Knights of the Round Table and secured peace in Camelot aided by the might of the Holy Grail. Where legends normally end, King Arthur II begins on its own gruesome tale... 

• Dark fantasy setting. King Arthur is now the Maimed King, trying to mend a land torn asunder as he strives to heal himself
• Intense boss fights, where the hero's forces are pitted against unique and terrifying foes
• Lose yourself in a stunning story that unfolds over a huge 3D campaign map featuring knightly quests and other special events
• Wide range of camera control options, a revised animations and an extensive tutorial creating a more accessible and visually stunning experience
• Experience huge real-time battles featuring thousands of soldiers and flying fantasy monsters
• Battle enemies which employ unique war tactics and cast fantastic spells
• Your choices will unlock special content, spells and units with plenty of new and unique possibilities with every choice
• Lead major heroes who possess extraordinary powers
• Exclusive DLC content for the retail boxed version

FlatOut 3 Chaos & Destruction ( RACING )

13-DEC-2011

Description: FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction brings a new dimension to high speed destruction racing. Feel the adrenaline pulse through your veins as you barrel through insane race tracks against monster trucks, race cars, off road vehicles and much more. FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction is demolition racing at its extreme. Real world physics with 9 different game modes, and over 47 different vehicles available. Players may choose to race, smash and destroy their opponents in a wide variety of online and offline options. Lay waste to farm houses, fences, and then wreak havoc in a Detroit suburb, race up the walls in giant waste disposal sewers. Let the chaos begin as you race through over 60 different tracks, narrowly avoiding wrecking balls, Double Decker buses and much more. Create as much destruction in the all new monster tuck mode. Choose from 20 different playable characters, select your weapon from the 47 available vehicles! Create as much Chaos & Destruction! In stuntman mode anarchy rules create havoc with some rag doll fun. FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction offers more vehicles, game modes and different ways to demolish your opponents before crossing the finish line.

Features:
Physics Engine capable of delivering over 20,000 fully destructible objects on every track
47 vehicles with everything from muscle cars, monster trucks, tanks, bulldozers and more
9 game modes plus challenge mode that incorporates all game modes into one 62 track race
10 racing environments with 62 different race tracks
3 stunt mode environments with 12 stunt tracks
9 Destruction Derby Battle environments
All new Monster Truck, Nightshift, Off Road, and Speed modes
8 multiplayer modes with support for up to 16 players
Force Feedback support for racing wheels
Larger Destruction Derbies with 24 players
Complete Chaos in Off-Road Mode
Complete Destruction in All new Monster Truck Mode
Head to Head in nightmarish, thunderous, rainy, fog weather in Night Shift Mode

Unstoppable Gorg ( DEFENCE STRATEGY )

19-JAN-2012

Get ready to experience a revolution in tower defense that will send you spinning. Unstoppable Gorg challenges you to defend the solar system from fearsome aliens by sending satellites into orbit. Unlike other tower defense games, in Unstoppable Gorg you can move your towers by rotating the orbits that surround planets, moons and space stations.

Unstoppable Gorg is a lovingly crafted homage to vintage sci-fi films from the 1950s. Flying saucers, rubbery aliens, dodgy effects, it’s got it all. The game’s story scenes were shot on film using models, miniatures and live action actors and then edited together with genuine archive footage to create a classic sci-fi experience that is out of this world.

Features:

• Take on the Gorg in more than 40 challenging levels of revolutionary tower defense action.
• Satellites in orbit replace the towers and grid layout used in other tower defense games.
• Move your satellites around their orbits to create the best defense for each wave.
• Experience a thrilling story inspired by the classic sci-fi films of the 1950s.
• Unlock Steam achievements and earn your place on the leaderboards.
• Glorious 3D graphics and effects for added impact.

THE SIMS 3 MASTER SUITE STUFF ( VIRTUAL LIFE )

27-JAN-2012

Description: Home is where the heart is! Whether your Sims relax in a bubble bath in their luxurious bathroom, enjoy some down time in their exquisitely furnished bedroom, or wear new intimate apparel for their special someone, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff adds some sizzle to their home life! From stylish bedroom sets to spa-inspired bathroom furnishings to romantic new lingerie and hairstyles, your Sims will relax in comfort and style.

Create the ultimate master suite with a romantic canopied bed, a 40s-inspired chair, and more.

Give your Sims’ bathroom a makeover with contemporary, spa-worthy furnishings including a well-crafted vanity and a sleek and stylish tub.

Add the finishing touches. From vases of flowers to candles and rose petals, the little things can help set the mood.

Dress to impress. Whether your Sim is seeking a romantic rendezvous or an indulgent evening of relaxation, the new intimate wear options are bound to please.

Complete the look with a casual yet elegant new hairstyle that complements your Sims new commitment to relaxation.

Oil Rush (STRATEGY)

25-JAN-2012

GAME INFO


Fight the naval war between furious armies across the boundless waters of the post-apocalyptic world. Pump the ever-so-precious black gold by oil rigs, capture platforms and destroy the enemy in the sea and in the air.
Be ingenious to unlock super technologies and quick to send your squads straight into the heat of the battle!


Game PLAY

Oil Rush is a real-time strategy game based on group control. It offers mechanics of a classical RTS combined with a Tower Defence genre: control the upgrade of production platforms as well as their defence forces, and send battle groups of naval and air units to capture enemy platforms and oil rigs.


Hardware Requirements


Minimum Requirements
CPU: 2 GHz
Memory: 1 Gb
GPU:
NVIDIA GeForce 8600
ATI Radeon HD2600
Intel HD3000 (Windows or Mac only)
Video memory: 256 Mb
Sound card: any OpenAL compatible
Disk space: 3 Gb

DIABLO III TBA ON Q1 2012

Q1 2012

Diablo III is being developed as the definitive action role-playing game, and a true continuation of the Diablo series. Players will create a hero from one of five distinct classes, such as barbarian or witch doctor, each equipped with an array of spells and abilities. As these heroes adventure through rich and varied settings, unraveling an epic storyline and engaging in combat with hordes of monsters and challenging bosses, they’ll grow in experience and ability and acquire items of incredible power.

The game takes place on Sanctuary, a world of dark fantasy. Unbeknownst to most of its inhabitants, Sanctuary was saved some twenty years ago from the demonic forces of the underworld by a few brave and powerful heroes. Most of those warriors who directly faced Hell’s armies -- and were fortunate enough to survive -- went mad from their experiences. And most of the others have buried their haunted memories and pushed the horrors from their thoughts. In Diablo III, players will return to Sanctuary to confront evil in its many forms once again.

Diablo III will be a fitting sequel to Diablo II, with the easy interface, fast-paced action, and visceral gameplay that Diablo players have come to expect and enjoy. It will also include many new features that will take the Diablo action-RPG experience to the next level.

Five powerful character classes to choose from, including the barbarian and witch doctor

Brand-new 3D graphics engine enhanced with spectacular visual effects and Havok physics

Numerous indoor and outdoor areas detailing new regions in the world of Sanctuary

Interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and destructible elements

Randomly generated worlds bolstered by scripted events for endless and dynamic gameplay

Vast assortment of fiendish monsters, with unique attack patterns and behaviors

New quest system and character-customization options for the ultimate action RPG experience

Multiplayer functionality over Battle.net with support for cooperative and competitive play

Darksiders TBA ON June 2012

June 2012

Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, embarks upon a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother’s name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that there are far worse things than an earthly Apocalypse, and that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation.. 

  

 

   
 

Mass Effect 3 TBA ON 09-MAR-2012

09-MAR-2012

Take Earth Back.

Mass Effect 3 plunges you into an all-out galactic war to take Earth back from a nearly unstoppable foe - and how you fight that war is entirely up to you. Groundbreaking interactive storytelling drives the heart-pounding action in which each decision you make could have devastating and deadly consequences. You are Commander Shepard, the only one who can save Earth from annihilation. But you are not alone. At your side is a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers ready for your command. Flank enemies with your squad or take them down lone wolf. Use cover or go in guns blazing. Unleash tactical assaults from a distance or go toe-to-toe with enemies using devastating melee assaults and the deadly omniblade. On March 6th, 2012 the war for Earth begins on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Play Your Way - Choose a fast-paced cinematic experience or delve into a deeper, more choice-driven narrative. Either way, intense combat propels the action as you fight to unite a war-torn galaxy against a common enemy.

A Rich, Branching Story - Interactive storytelling delivers an experience unlike any other, with multiple outcomes determined by your choices. Mass Effect 3 will redefine what you know about emotionally engaging story.

Unleash a Customizable Arsenal - Build your character and squad with dozens of unique weapons and abilities, each with powerful upgrades and modifications.

Class-Based Co-operative Multiplayer Missions - Fight the war alongside your friends in four-player co-op missions. Choose from a variety of races and classes and combine your skills to overcome impossible odds. Your success can have an impact on the outcome of your single-player experience.

Adrenaline-Pumping Gameplay - Feel every bullet impact, roll into cover, and unleash devastating heavy weapons in an intense and pulse-pounding action-shooter game.

Ruthless and Intelligent Enemies - Battle merciless enemies that will consistently challenge your best combat tactics and put you on the edge of your seat.

Street Fighter X Tekken TBA ON 09-MAR-2012

09-MAR-2012

Being developed by Capcom, the core gameplay is similar to that of the Street Fighter series, incorporating elements such as Super Combos, as well as EX Attacks from Street Fighter IV. Players each choose two fighters from the Street Fighter and Tekken series, both sets of characters are controlled using the Street Fighter 6-button system, however it has been revealed that the Tekken characters will be able to perform Tekken style combos using the primary four buttons in a similar fashion to the Tekken 4-button system. These fighters can be switched out normally, or during certain combos. As fights go on, players build up power in a three sectioned meter at the bottom of the screen referred to as the "Cross Gauge", which allow the player to perform various techniques depending on how much of the gauge is filled, such as EX Attacks, Cancels, Super Arts and various Cross techniques detailed below. As opposed to the other crossover fighting games released by Capcom, in which the player must eliminate all the opponent's fighters to win, victory conditions are more similar to Tekken Tag Tournament, in which the first player to have one of their fighters' health bars reduced to zero loses the round, the player who wins the most rounds winning the match.

The tag team element of the game is heavily emphasized, with players being able to switch between the two characters in their team in a variety of manners. Switch Cancel allows players to switch partners in the middle of a combo, whilst Cross Rush combos involve launching the opponent into the air before swapping partners and continuing the combo. Cross Arts, which require a full Cross Gauge, allows players to chain together each character's Super Combo in one straight attack, whilst the Cross Assault mechanic allows players to simultaneously control both characters in their team until the Cross Gauge runs out.
Street Fighter X Tekken features two new game mechanics: the Gem System and Pandora Mode. Players equip up to three gems to their characters, which provide different stat boosts depending on the type of gem. Six varieties of gems exist: attack, defense, speed, vitality, assist, and Cross Gauge. Each gems and its effects are designated by a specific color, and will activate as the players fulfill certain conditions during battle. When a character on a player's team has less than 25% health remaining, that character can be sacrificed in order to activate Pandora Mode, which gives the remaining fighter increased strength and an infinite Cross Gauge. However, this state has a time limit and the player will automatically lose if he/she cannot defeat the opponent before the Pandora state runs out.
The game will feature various online options. Two players can battle on the same team, one controlling each character, and face off in four player matches. Scramble mode allows four players to fight simultaneously in pairs of two. The game will also support online training modes which can be played competitively or cooperatively with two players, as well as support the Fight Request feature.
Other Capcom games will be referenced in the game, such as Dino Crisis, which has a stage based around one of its levels.

Resident Evil 6 TBA ON 20-NOV-2012

20-NOV-2012


It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President's side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world's population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left. 



In a first for the franchise, Resident Evil 6 sees series favorites Leon and Chris come together to face this unprecedented threat. They will be joined by new characters, each with their own unique perspective and involvement, in this relentless dramatic horror experience enacted on a global scale.

MAR & APR Upcoming PC Game Review

JAN & FEB Upcoming PC Game Review