Crysis 2 "Hands-on"

Game Review

Game Review

I thought I'd fall in love with Crysis 2 at first sight. The new shooter packs serious graphical punch, developer Crytek's intricate, intertwining lighting systems and rich textures little hurt by the move to console hardware. Not the voice of a certain General Hargreaves, your radio handler on this particular bullet-flecked tour of ruined, alien-riddled New York. The powered Nanosuit that garbs player character “Alcatraz” is happy to provide.

“Tactical options available,” it whispers as I take in my dusty surroundings at the outset of the new, underground Hive level, a mechanical purr originating somewhere around the mid-part of my spinal cord. Hoarse yet smooth, emotionless yet pregnant with menace, the Nanosuit doesn't so much sound like death warmed up as death deep-frozen, cooled to optimum operating temperature.

Tactical ones. The Crysis version tops off a catalogue of robotic attire that runs from the towering rigs of Armoured Core through Halo 3's gaudily pigmented all-in-one to the absurd, jet-powered hyperactivity of Vanquish. The Nanosuit can make you undetectable, bending light round the player like cling-film. I have bigger fish to fry.

Like the Nanosuit, Crysis 2's bad guys are multi-layered, adaptable threats. Some are built for close-quarters combat, bowling Alcatraz over with vicious, Wolverine-esque claw swipes. We're a long, long way from Call of Duty's Pop-up book goons, people. 

The two available modes include Team Instant Action, where two teams face off against each rake up as many kills as possible and Crash Site, where teams battle for control over crashed alien pods. Crysis 2 is out on March 22 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

There's fire pouring out of a nearby pipe, chunks of rocky debris littering the floor and a strong sense of foreboding. Emerging in a bigger, slightly less cramped space, I notice platforms and train tracks - I'm in a subway. Lumps of rock and the odd bit of metal are sent flying across the room, the odd spark illuminating the otherwise dank station.

Jump - no, reload - no, change weapon - no. Ah, a thermal tracker - or Nanovision as the game calls it. Perfect. Soon the cramped corridors and low hanging ceilings are replaced with the vast war-torn expanse of the outside world. The contrast in level design is striking.

The d-pad actually plays host to another three 'modes': Infiltration, Power and Armour. The game allows you to tailor the suit to your own style of play. Pressing the back button brings up your Nanosuit upgrade screen; a gloved hand with holographic options sprouting from each finger. 

By spending Nanocatalysts collected from alien corpses, you can unlock new skills and abilities for each of the suit's modes. Before spending some time with the game first hand, I had no idea this side of the game was so in-depth. Anybody moaning that 3D doesn't offer anything to the gaming experience should don a Nanosuit and see the world of Crysis 2 in 3D. 

Whereas most films and games pop out of the screen, the environments in Crysis 2 pop in. When you boil it down, Crysis 2 is a game about a guy in a suit shooting aliens. Purely based on the one level of the game I played, it seems there's little to worry about with the sequel. If Crysis 2 can nail plot, pacing and throw in a multiplayer mode with longevity to boot, EA could have a winner on its hands.

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'Prince Of Persia' HD Trilogies Coming To 360

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Game Review

Ubisoft confirmed late last year that a high-definition remake of the "Prince of Persia" trilogy was coming to consoles in Europe and North America. The newly updated ESRB listings include all three "Prince of Persia" games and all three "Splinter Cell" games with "HD" appended to the end of the title and both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 listed under the consoles the games will be available for. 

Sony already released HD-ified collections for "God of War" and "Sly Cooper," and has another one coming for Team Ico's beloved games, but those have always been Sony exclusives. Nope. 

According to a ESRB listing (the equivalent of Europe's PEGI) in the U.S. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time HD, Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within HD and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones HD have all been listed for release on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Also noticed, by website GamerXchange, are listings for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell HD, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow HD, and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory HD - again all for both formats.

Here's what's included in these HD Collections: Splinter Cell Trilogy HD will consist of Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, and Chaos Theory. Prince of Persia Trilogy HD will consist of Sand of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones.

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Duke Nukem Forever to use Steamworks, Ready pre-order

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Game Review

Gearbox have announced that Duke Nukem Forever will be using Steamworks. Whether you buy the game digitally, or on a disk, your game will have to be tied to a Steam account. Duke Nukem Forever is now available to pre-order from retailers as well. Pre-order bonuses include access to an in-game big head mode, T shirts and a trucker hat. The Balls of Steel edition is also available if you fancy getting your hands on a great big bust of the Duke. The game’s due out on May 3.

2K Games and Gearbox Software have taken it to the forums to spread news of Duke Nukem Forever's PC version using Steamworks as its back-end suite of choice. For retail customers, that fancy disc can double as a dangerously sharp, makeshift Frisbee.

If you're rabidly pro-Steam, on the other hand, the news should be a boon. "Steam is stupid." "Steam is a lot better than any retail [G]amestop or EBgames," writes a Steam advocate, adding that "Steam saved PC gaming."

"Steam was a minor annoyance at first," writes another, admonishing anti-Steam users for "overreacting" and continuing "At least say you hate Gearbox and 2K for legitimate reasons, like that atrocious box cover at...I'm going to go play Team Fortress 2 right now, and I'm pretty sure Valve isn't stealing my information and using my PC resources for their dirty schemes."

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Pacman Google Doodle Game Remains Hot and Impressive !!

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Google has come up with the best method to bring home the message of Jules Verne - often called the father of science fiction. Verne studied law and his father was a wealthy lawyer. Verne earned his living initially as a stockbroker, but his love always remained writing. In the 77 years of his life-time, Verne initiated and enriched the genre of science fiction. 

or those who missed yesterday's Jules Verne Google doodle, the search giant has set up a standalone Web site that allows users to interact with the ocean scene from the doodle. The image is available at www.google.com/logos/verne_hd.html. The doodle was placed on Google's homepage Tuesday in honor of author Jules Verne's 183rd birthday, who wrote "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," among other classics.

The success of that doodle also prompted Google to create a standalone version of the playable logo, available at www.google.com/pacman. Today, the new Google Doodle has been transformed into an underwater vessel to celebrate Jules Verne’s 183rd birthday, the author of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Google Doodle changes for different holidays and events. Google Doodler Jennifer Horn posted on the official Google Blog that, the decision to honor Verne as someone who sparked her imagination as a child.

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Public Test Realm Patch 4.0.6 Notes

Game Review

Game Review

The first World of Warcraft: Cataclysm patch of the year is in development and now available for testing on the Public Test Realms. This minor patch includes several updates that we were unable to apply via hotfixes, including the recently discussed class balance changes, assorted bug fixes, and more. Below you'll find the preliminary PTR patch notes.

Guilds

            We have redefined the definition of a Guild Group for 5-player dungeons.

           

Dungeons & Raids

            Level-85 players can now choose any normal dungeon via the Dungeon Finder.                                     Foe Reaper 5000's health has been reduced slightly. It is now a stacking buff that increases damage dealt, size, and attack speed, and stacks up to 40 times.               Valiona's Devouring Flame damage has been reduced by 20%.

           

           

                        Anraphet's Nemesis Strike now does 75% of weapon damage, up from 50%. In addition, the damage-over-time effect applied by this ability does 15,000 damage every 2 seconds, up from 9,000.

                                    Toxic Catalyst now deals less damage over time.

                       

                       

           

           

                                    The warning time for Thrashing Charge has been increased by 1 second.                                    The ground phase lasts longer and has fewer stalactites.

                       

                       

                                    The cast time of Shatter has been increased to 3 seconds, up from 2.5.

                                    Shatter damage is now reduced by armor, but has been increased by 33.3% (repeating, of course) as a result.

                       

                       

                        Bug Fixes

                       

                        Gilgoblin Poisoned Spear impact damage has been reduced slightly.

                        Tainted Sentries Swell damage has been reduced.

                                    Desperate Speed cast by Temple Adepts has had its duration reduced significantly.

                       

                       

                                    Static Cling has had its cast time increased to 1.25 seconds, up from 1.

                       

                       

PvP

            Battlegrounds

           

                                    A PvP duration flag has been added to Battleground Demolishers.         Tol Barad

           

                        The weekly PvP quest "Victory in Tol Barad" now awards 200 Honor Points and 3 Tol Barad Commendations.

            The dwarven racial trait Stoneform now reduces all damage taken by 10%, rather than increasing armor by 10%. Death Knights

            Death Coil damage has been reduced by roughly 10%.

            Necrotic Strike's absorption effect is now reduced by the target's resilience.       Talent Specializations

           

                        Blood

                       

                                    Improved Death Strike now increases the damage of Death Strike by 30/60/90%, up from 15/30/45%.

                        Frost

                       

                                    Howling Blast now deals 40% less damage to all targets other than the primary target of the spell.

It increases all Shadow damage by 2.5% per point of mastery.

                                    Dark Transformation now increases pet damage by 80%, down from 100%.

                                    Rage of Rivendare now increases strike damage by 12/24/36%, down from 15/30/45%.

                                    Shadow Infusion now increases pet damage by 8% per stack, down from 10%.

                                    Unholy Might (passive) has been reduced to a 5% Strength increase, down from 10%.

It now grants 10/20/30% additional disease damage.

                       

                       

           

           

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Death's Embrace no longer refunds Runic Power when self-healing via Lichborne.

           

           

                        Swordbreaking and Swordshattering now reduce disarm duration by 60%, up from 50%.

           

           

Druids

            Barkskin is no longer dispellable.

            Entangling Roots now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

            Hibernate now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

            Lacerate damage has been reduced by approximately 20%.

            Mangle (Bear Form) weapon damage (at level 80+) has been reduced to 235%, down from 300%.

            Mangle (Cat Form) weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased to 460%, up from 360%.

            Maul damage has been reduced by approximately 20%.

            Moonfire mana cost has been reduced from 18% to 9%.

            Rake damage has been reduced by 10%.

            Rip damage has been reduced by 10%.

            Shapeshifts: Entering or leaving a shapeshift no longer cancels root effects.         Shred weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased to 450%, up from 350%.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Fungal growth duration has been increased to 20 seconds, up from 10.                          Moonkin Form now grants 15% damage reduction instead of increased armor.                             The Shooting Stars buff duration has been increased to 12 seconds, up from 8 seconds.

                                    Sunfire mana cost has been reduced from 18% to 9%.

                                    Total Eclipse (Mastery) benefit from mastery increased by approximately 33%.

                                    Typhoon mana cost has been reduced by 50%.

                                    Pulverize weapon damage percent has been reduced to 80%, down from 100%.

                       

                       

                                    Natural Shapeshifter has been reduced to a 3/6-second increase to Tree of Life's duration, down from 5/10.

When the druid has Rejuvenation on 3 or more targets, the cast time of Nourish is reduced by 10/20/30%.

                                    Symbiosis (Mastery) benefit from mastery increased by approximately 16%.

                                    Wild Growth healing has been increased by 30%, and the cooldown has been reduced to 8 seconds, down from 10.

                       

                       

           

           

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Entangling Roots redesigned. It now reduces the cast time of Entangling Roots by 0.2 seconds, rather than making it instant cast.

                        Glyph of Wrath now increases damage done by Wrath by 10% and no longer requires Insect Swarm on the target.

           

           

            Aimed Shot weapon damage has been increased to 200%, up from 150%.        Arcane Shot damage has been increased by 15%.

            Concussive Shot duration has been increased to 6 seconds, up from 4.

            Kill Command's damage has been increased by 20%.

            Kill Shot's attack power scaling has been increased by 50%.

            Talent Specializations

           

                        Beast Mastery

                       

                                    Chimera Shot's overall damage has been increased by roughly 50%.

                                    Wild Quiver (Mastery): Chance for this to trigger per mastery has been increased by approximately 17%.

                       

                       

                                    Black Arrow damage has been reduced by 15%.

                                    Explosive Shot damage has been reduced by 15%.

            Pets

           

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Concussive Shot redesigned.   Bug Fixes

           

                        Cobra Shot now properly increases the duration of the Serpent Spread Serpent Sting.

           

           

            Arcane Barrage mana cost has been reduced by 8%.

            Arcane Blast mana cost has been reduced by 12%.

            Counterspell lockout duration reduced to 7 seconds, down from 8.

            Fireball mana cost has been reduced to 9% of base mana.

            Frostfire Bolt mana cost has been reduced to 9% of base mana.

            Mage Armor now reduces the duration of magic effects by 35%, down from 50%.

            Molten Armor, Frost Armor, and Mage Armor no longer cost mana.

            Polymorph now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Slow now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

                       

                       

                                    Flashburn (Mastery) benefit per mastery has been increased by 12%.

                                    Living Bomb mana cost has been reduced by 22%.

                       

                       

                        Frost

                       

                                    Deep Freeze damage done has been reduced by 20%.

                                    Fingers of Frost can no longer be dispelled and now also increases Ice Lance damage by 15%.

                                    Frost Specialization now only grants 2 base points of mastery (instead of 8), reducing all Frost damage to frozen targets by 15% from previous values. However, Frost Specialization now increases base Frostbolt damage by 15%.

                       

                       

           

           

            Bug Fixes

           

Paladins

            Crusader Strike weapon damage percent has been increased to 135%, up from 115%.

            Divine Light mana cost has been increased by approximately 10%.

            Flash of Light mana cost has been increased by approximately 10%.

            Holy Light mana cost has been increased by approximately 10%.

            Holy Wrath no longer counts nearby critters when dividing damage among its targets.

            Inquisition is no longer dispellable.

            Talent Specializations

           

                        Holy

                       

                                    Aura Mastery: This ability no longer increases the benefit granted by Crusader Aura.

                        Protection

                       

                                    Vindication no longer allows Hammer of Justice to interrupt stun-immune targets.                                   Divine Storm weapon damage percent increased from 80% to 100%.

This Mastery now grants a 2.1% increase to Holy damage per mastery, down from 2.5%.

                                    Repentance is no longer broken from damage done by Censure (Seal of Truth).

The Sacred Shield absorbs X damage and increases healing received by 20%.                           Zealotry is no longer dispellable.

                       

                       

           

           

            Glyphs

           

            Bug Fixes

           

Priests

            The mana cost of Power Word: Shield has been increased by approximately 31%, but its effect has been increased by 208%.

            The mana cost of Renew has been reduced by 24%.

            Mind Control now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

            Prayer of Healing effectiveness has been reduced by 15%.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Grace is no longer limited to one target at a time.

                                    Pain Suppression is no longer dispellable.

                                    Penance mana cost has been increased by 7%, but healing has been increased by 20%.

                        Holy

                       

                                                Binding Heal, Flash Heal, Greater Heal can now trigger Chakra: Serenity.

                                    Circle of Healing effectiveness has been increased by 30%.

                                    Lightwell's health has been increased by 50% (for PvP purposes).

                        Shadow

                       

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Mind Flay no longer requires Shadow Word: Pain to be on the target.

            Talent Specializations

           

                        Combat

                       

                                    Restless Blades now also reduces the cooldown of Redirect.

                                    Vitality now increases attack power by 25%, up from 20%.

                       

                       

                                    Executioner (Mastery) has been increased from 2% to 2.5% per point.

                                    Preparation no longer resets the cooldown of Evasion.

                                    Shadowstep's cooldown has been increased to 24 seconds, up from 20 seconds.

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Garrote now increases the duration of Garrote by 1.5 seconds, down from 2.

           

           

            Chain Heal's effectiveness has been increased by approximately 10%.

            Flametongue Weapon procs now deal roughly 20% less damage.

            Hex now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

            Spiritwalker's Grace duration has been increased to 15 seconds, up from 10.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Earthquake damage has been increased by approximately 10%.

                                    Lava Burst's damage has been increased by roughly 10%.

                       

                       

                                    Flametongue Weapon damage now scales from attack power instead of spell power (for Enhancement shaman only).

                                    Purge no longer has its mana cost reduced by Mental Quickness.

                       

                       

                                    Deep Healing (Mastery) has been increased to 3% per point, up from 2.5%.

                                    Earth Shield can no longer be dispelled.

                                    Greater Healing Wave mana cost has been increased by 10%; healing done has been increased by 20%.

            Glyphs

           

                        Glyph of Hex now reduces the cooldown by 10 seconds, down from 15.

           

           

            Demon Armor and Fel Armor no longer cost mana and last until canceled.

            Devour (Felhunter) cooldown has been increased to 20 seconds, up from 8. Devour is no longer able to be auto-cast.

            Fear now has a PvP duration of 8 seconds.

It now surrounds the caster with fel energy, increasing spell power and causing the warlock to be healed for 3% of any single-target spell damage he or she deals.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Demonic Aegis now increases the healing effect of Fel Armor by 50/100%.

It now increases the critical strike chance of all non instant cast Destruction spells by 30%, rather than increasing critical strike damage. Duration reduced to 20 seconds.

                                    Felstorm (Felguard) damage has been reduced by 20%.

                                    Immolation Aura damage has been reduced by roughly 30%.

                                    Inferno no longer increases the radius of Hellfire, but instead increases the duration of Immolate by 6 seconds in addition to its existing effect.

                                    Master Demonologist (Mastery) benefit from mastery increased by approximately 33%.

                       

                       

                                    Burning Embers damage has been reduced by 15%.

                                    Fiery Apocalypse (Mastery) benefit from mastery increased by approximately 8%.

                                    Improved Soul Fire now increases Fire and Shadow damage done by 4/8%, rather than 7/15% spell haste.   Cleave damage has been reduced by 20%.

            Heroic Strike damage has been reduced by 20%.

1-minute cooldown.      Slam weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased from 125% to 145%.

            Talent Specializations

           

                                    Juggernaut no longer increases the cooldown on Charge, but instead increases the duration of the Charge stun by 2 seconds.                                Mortal Strike cost has been reduced by 5 rage.

                                    War Academy no longer buffs Heroic Strike or Cleave.                                     Bloodthirst damage has been increased by approximately 30%.

                                    Raging Blow weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased from 110% to 120%.

                                    Single-Minded Fury bonus has been increased to 20%, up from 15%.

            Glyphs

           

                        Enchant Off-Handed - Superior Intellect now increases Intellect by 40, down from 100.

           

           

                        New meta gems have been added: Agile Shadowspirit Diamond (Agility/3% critical damage), Reverberating Shadowspirit Diamond (Strength/3% critical damage), and Burning Shadowspirit Diamond (Intellect/3% critical damage). Items

            Daybreaker Helm stats have been reallocated, lowering Strength and increasing parry rating.

            Left Eye of Rajh: Chance of triggering increased.

                        Normal PvE helms (item level 359) no longer have a chance to drop from Nefarian or Cho'gall on Heroic difficulty. It now reduces the cast time of Steady Shot and Cobra Shot by .2 seconds.

                        The PvE warlock 4-piece set bonus (Fel Spark) now increases the damage done by the next 2 Fel Flame spells by 300%, rather than increasing the critical effect chance of one by 100%.

                        The PvP priest 4-piece set bonus has been redesigned.              The PvP warlock 4-piece set bonus has been redesigned. It now reduces the cooldown of Death Coil by 30 seconds.

                        The PvP warrior 4-piece set bonus has been redesigned. It now reduces disarm duration by 60% (does not stack with any Weapon Chains).

           

           

            Right Eye of Rajh: Chance of triggering increased.

            Weapon Chains now reduce disarm duration by 60%, up from 50%.

            Players can now individually remove raid world markers.

            Character Info Window

           

            Guild Interface

           

            Bug Fixes

           

Quests & Creatures

            Tol Barad Peninsula

           

                        Quest turn-in NPCs have been added to Baradin Base Camp and Hellscream's Reach in Tol Barad Peninsula for the Tol Barad bonus quests. This will allow players to turn in these quests if the original quest givers in Tol Barad are not available.

                        Spawn rates at Rustberg Village have been increased.

                        Bug Fixes

                       

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