Stefano’s E3 2014 Report Part 7: PlayStation Vita

The PlayStation Vita is, without a doubt, my favorite handheld device. I also love my 3DS, but my library of games on the Vita is over 160 and still growing. So, it goes without saying that I was anticipating seeing what the handheld had on offer at this years E3, but I was also apprehensive, as there was nary a peep from Sony concerning the Vita at their E3 press conference the Monday before the show floor opened. So, did the Vita deliver this year?

Stefano’s E3 2014 Report Part 3: Bloodborne

Bloodborne was the last game I saw at E3 today, and boy, what a game to go out on! It’s not big on flash, set-pieces, or fancy combo systems, but what I saw demoed for me catapulted the game to my game of the show, ahead of The Witcher 3, and The Order 1886. Bloodborne is a third person action/horror/rpg developed by From Software, produced by Sony Japan Studios, and is being published by SCE exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Read on for my thoughts.

Stefano’s E3 2014 Report Part 2: The Order 1886

The Order 1886 wasn’t the first game I got my hands on at E3 this year, but it was definitely one of the titles I was anticipating checking out for myself the most. For those unfamiliar with the title, The Order 1886 is a third person shooter set in an alternate history London in which an ancient order of knights must protect the world from supernatural threats. The game is being developed by Ready at Dawn, exclusively for the PlayStation 4. So, how did it hold up? Read on below to find out.

Stefano’s E3 2014 Report Part 1: The Witcher 3

Hey, everybody!

I just got back from my first day at E3, and I had a great time! I saw a lot, played a lot, and wore down the soles on my shoes! I can’t say that this is a comprehensive E3 2014 report, as I focused on the stuff that interests me. Below is Part 1 of my summary of the stuff I saw. I’ll be uploading my photo gallery as well a little later. So, read on to find out what I thought of E3 2014!

inFAMOUS 2 Beta Impressions

Hey, folks! I know it’s been awhile, but it’s been a crazy busy few weeks for yours truly! However, I come today with some little, hopefully not bannable tidbits of information from the recently began inFAMOUS 2 Beta from Sucker Punch.

I’m not sure how much is allowed to be discussed concerning the beta, but I’m keeping it general, and hopefully will not get into too much trouble.

I was certainly surprised to find an invite in my mailbox earlier this week, and eagerly downloaded the 1.9gig install. After loading up the game, I was given a brief video tutorial about what to expect from the beta. After the video, I was in the shoes of Cole McGrath; Electric Dude.

DC Universe Online Beta Impressions

I have to say I’ve never been that big of a DC Comics fan. Growing up, I certainly loved Superman and Batman, but I never really paid much attention to the bigger picture of the DC Universe. As I got older, I gravitated more towards the Marvel Universe and it’s seemingly more grounded world.

Even so, I have, at the least, had an interest in some of the individual characters in the DCU, if not the whole shebang. Green Lantern, The Flash, Zatana, the Bat family, Wonder Woman, were some of my favorites. With that said, I admit to being more than just a little intrigued when SOE revealed that they were working on an MMO that takes place in the DC Universe. Having played City of Heroes for years, and ultimately coming away wanting more from my super hero experience, I was interested in seeing how SOE tackled the genre in the MMO space.

Heavy Rain Demo Impressions

Hey folks! I got my  hands on a Heavy Rain demo code earlier today, and took it for a spin. Here are my thoughts.

Upon booting up the demo, what I found struck me was how good the visuals are. The menu screen is simply a shot of an alley that could be in any city, although I believe the game takes place in New York, with lots and lots of rain cascading down the buildings walls, and onto the concrete below. It really oozes atmosphere. The loading screen is an extreme close-up of the current character of the chapter’s face, and I was amazed at the level of detail and character. The game manages to avoid the “Uncanny Valley,” with eyes and facial features that are believable as real people, but slightly stylized just enough to not freak you the hell out.

Batman: Arkham Asylum PS3 Demo Impressions

I’m a huge Batman fan, and I’ve been dying to play a video game adaptation of the Dark Knight that does him justice for a long time. Considering the pedigree of  previous Batman games, I came into Arkham Asylum a little more than wary.

Fortunately, I came away more pumped for it’s August 25th release than I expected. First things first, the game is visually striking. I’m one of those folks who have grown tired of the overreliance of Unreal Engine 3 over the past 4 years, but I have to say that developer Rocksteady Studios have made it their own, and AA looks nothing like previous tried and true, Gears of War clones many other UE3 games strive to be.

inFAMOUS Demo Impressions

Those in the US that have pre-ordered Sony Computer Entertainment and Sucker Punches electric superhero romp inFAMOUS at Best Buy retailers will have recieved a voucher to access the demo, originally slated to be available on the 8th of May.

Well, Sony decided to post the demo up early, and it is now available to download and enjoy. Here are my impressions of that very demo.

Killzone 2 Demo Impressions

Hey FPS fans! I was going to save my impressions for the weekend, but decided the hell with it and post it now.

In short: the demo was awesome.  Short, but sweet, and I think it perfectly incapsulates the phenomenal  gaming experience Killzone 2 is going to be when it hits Playstation 3 consoles in just 3 short weeks.

A more detailed look after the jump