Top Ten Video Game Weapons of All Time

Over the years video games have shown us a variety of different weapons, from blades to guns, bombs to chainsaws and let's admit, they make gaming fun. While weapons are common in many games these days, there are definitely those that stand out among the rest. They're those weapons that you that are so elusive you may spend days trying to get it. They're the weapons that may not be the strongest but are the most fun to use. Or it could simply be that they are the most powerful weapon in the game. With a handful of these great weapons to choose from, I decided to compose a list and countdown the top ten greatest video game weapons of all time.


10. Crowbar - Half-Life

It is the iconic weapon of the Half-Life series and the signature weapon of Alien killer, Gordon Freeman. The  crowbar is the first weapon that Gordon acquires in each game and aids him in combat and solving puzzles throughout the Black Mesa facility, City 17 and beyond. The single piece of cast iron painted red with silver tipped ends has made the crowbar one of the most noticeable weapons in gaming. Whether it be destroying crates, clearing obstacles, breaking padlocks or being your last defense after running out of ammo, the crowbar has always served as a trusty weapon.



9. Mehrunes' Razor - The Elder scrolls V: Skyrim

The deadly Deadric artifact is one of the most powerful blades in all of Skyrim and with a 3% chance to kill your opponent in one hit, the razor is definitely a weapon you'll want in your inventory. You can acquire Mehrunes' Razor after being prompted by Mythic Dawn fanatic, Silus Vesuius. Silus operates a museum featuring several artifacts of the Mythic Dawn but he also has a keen interest in the Deadric Prince, Mehrunes Dagon. To complete his collection, he employs the player to collect the pieces of the fabled dagger so that he can prey to the Deadric Prince to repair it. However, at the shrine, Mehrunes prompts the player to kill Silus and take the dagger which he will only repair for you. Killing Silus is a no-brainer, as it rewards you with one of the best weapons in the game and it's a one-of-a-kind once owned by a god. The razor is the perfect weapon for any stealth player but no doubt, its power and deadly effects can be useful to any character. Oh yeah, the 3% chance to kill a target in one hit, applies to dragons as well.

8. 211-V Plasma Cutter - Dead Space

The plasma cutter is to Isaac Clarke like the crowbar is to Gordon Freeman. The plasma cutter offers unrivaled reliability with firing options that allow players to dismember necromorphs with vertically fired lines of ionized plasma or horizontally fired lines for maximum potential. Ammo is plentiful, which in a game Like Dead Space is sure to make the plasma cutter one of your best friends when fighting through necromorph hordes. The ability to upgrade weapons allows you to craft an even deadlier plasma cutter and in the second game, you even have to option to ignite enemies in flames. Again, the plasma cutter is one of those weapons that has become a trademark or icon for a game series. The plasma cutter is often one of the first weapons people think of or recognize from Dead Space despite the large arsenal that is available to Isaac throughout the game, which earns it a spot on this top ten list.







7. Mk 2 Lancer Assault Rifle - Gears of War

The Mk 2 Lancer Assault Rifle is unlike any other rifle due to the fact it has an attached chainsaw for cutting up Locust hordes. Not only is the chainsaw intimidating, it's actually practical. The original Mk 1 Lancer only had a bayonet fixed to it which was not very effective against locust armor. Marcus Fenix and his father, Adam Fenix are actually the brains behind the Mk 2 Lancer and the design was conceived by Adam Fenix himself. The chainsaw addition allowed Gears to easily cut through Locust armor and aerved as a better melee component on the rifle itself. The rifle holds a whopping 660 rounds (550 in Gears 2) allowing you to mow down Locust hordes easily. However, if they close in or flank your cover, they'll be sorry when the mean-looking teeth of that chainsaw rips them apart.

6. Energy Sword - Halo

Easily one of the most popular weapons from the Halo series, the Energy Sword takes spot six on this list. The Energy sword is one of the most deadly weapons in all of Halo and is only wielded by the Covenant Elite or the Sangheili. The sword is extremely effective in close quarters combat and successful strikes from the sword almost always result in a fatality. The razor sharp ionized blades of the Energy Sword can cut through the densest of metals, reduce enemy shields to zero and kill in a single strike. White-hot energy produced by the blades burns and cauterizes flesh, organs and tissue inside the body creating wounds that are nearly impossible to recover from. The tactful Sangheili also devised a fail safe within the sword which destroys the weapon if the original user drops it. The energy housed within the sword destroys the hilt preventing enemy soldiers from retrieving it. One of the most awful sights a player can see in Halo during multiplayer is that of an enemy player running toward them with an energy sword equipped. If you don't have a rocket launcher, sniper rifle or sword to defend yourself, you'll add a tally to your deaths.With the ability to kill an enemy in a single strike or cause permanent damage, the Energy Sword easily earns its place among the top ten weapons of all time.

5. Fat Man - Fallout 3 (New Vegas)

Fat Man was originally the codename for the atomic bomb detonated over Nagasaki; in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout, it is a gun that catapults 'mini nukes' that will decimate your enemy. Don't misinterpret 'mini nukes' because there is nothing mini about this gun. The nuke which is loaded into the catapult like device is slightly larger than the average human head. Weighing in at about 30 pounds, the Fat Man is the perfect weapon for taking out small armies, enemy strongholds, or a pack of mutants with a nuclear strike. It makes the perfect explosive weapon, from far range; get to close and you could find yourself feeling the blast as well. It is much wiser to fire the weapon upward, similar to a mortar to avoid be caught in the nuclear blast range. Another variant of the Fat Man, the Experimental MIRV is even more destructive with the ability to fire eight mini nukes at once. The resulting explosion is a small mushroom cloud and a bunch of dismembered bodies. Also, be sure not to head into that blast radius to scavenge without a radsuit, or some radaway as the entire area with be irradiated.

4. Crissaegrim -Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The Crissaegrim is considered to be the ultimate weapon of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The weapon allows the player to walk while swinging and each attack results in four great, successive swings. The swings cover the entire area in front of Alucard from above his head to below his feet allowing players to slash anything in their path. The lightning fast swings and power of the sword make it the most powerful weapon in the game. Coincidentally, it is also the most elusive weapon in the game. It can only be found by killing a schmoo in the Forbidden Library section of the castle. Schmoos are difficult enough to find and the chances they drop a Crisseagrim are very rare at best. With enough dedication though, players will obtain this legendary sword and if they feel up to the task can find a second to equip in their left hand making them a killing machine.

3. Master Sword - The Legend of Zelda

Possibly the most iconic weapon of video game history comes from a franchise that is 20 years old and one of the most famous game series of all time. The Master Sword is a recurring weapon in the Zelda games forged by the goddess Hylia and only worthy of being wielded by a true hero, Link. Imbued with the power to vanquish evil, the sword embodies much more than being just a weapon. It symbolizes true good, power, and is the definition of what it means to be a man and a hero of the people. It is the only weapon capable of destroying, Link's nemesis, Ganon and has become so recognizable with the Triforce etched blade and winged hilt. The moment in which Link pulls the sword from its alter within the Temple of Time is always a highlight in each title and gives players this ultimate feeling of accomplishment. The Master Sword may not be the biggest sword or the most deadly but you won't ever see Link fighting the forces of evil with any sword but the fabled Master Sword.

2. BFG 9000 - Doom

It isn't hard to figure out what the acronym BFG stands for and it fits the weapon well. With the ability to vaporize demons and other hellish monsters with a single blast of plasma, the BFG 9000 is hailed as the most powerful weapon in the Doom series and possibly gaming history. Described in the game as 'the most advanced firearm ever designed' the BFG is able to decimate anything within 15 meters of the blast radius. Each plasma projectile contains a computer chip capable of tracking and identifying enemies. The BFG has the ability to eliminate any enemy with a single blast of plasma and with the friend or foe identification system built into the gun, it is the perfect weapon. Carry this gun around Hell and you'll be unstoppable.

1. Zero-Point Energy Field Manipulator (Gravity Gun) - Half-Life 2

Gordon is famous for carrying around his crowbar but there's another weapon that he's very often associated with. Simply known as the gravity gun, the ZPEFM was originally intended to handle hazardous materials or move heavy objects. The tractor beam on the weapon which is able to lift and manipulate any object in the game is powered by a Xen crystal.The gravity gun has two functions which make it especially useful. The first allows you to pick up and manipulate objects. It is useful for creating paths by stacking or moving objects. You can also create shields out of some objects which gives it a defensive use as well. The secondary function allows you to launch items from the primary mode or you can launch items while they aren't in the primary mode. The combination of these two functions allows players to pick up deadly objects such as saw blades and use them to kill enemies. A kill with a saw blade usually results in cutting the target in half. Other objects such as oil drums and propane tanks also make deadly projectiles to be launched from the gravity gun. Its ability to use a variety of different projectiles make it the most powerful weapon in the game. Paired with its ability to create shields, create paths and build barriers it is also the most effective and useful weapons in Half-Life 2.

There are a lot of other powerful and just plain awesome video game weapons out there. Did your favorite weapons make it on the list or are the others you would have preferred to see on here? share your thoughts in comment.

Mass Effect 3 Extended Endings Available Tuesday

Bioware recently announced that the extended endings for Mass Effect 3 will be available on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this coming Tuesday.

After some serious backlash from fans disappointed with the seemingly, simple endings, Bioware responded with this free to download DLC which will go more in depth to explain the endings and give players a better idea of what other ramifications their choices throughout the series had on the galaxy. The DLC is not meant to change the current endings or add new ones but is rather meant to expand and elaborate on the current endings with new scenes and dialogue. Bioware promises the extended cut will "provide more of the answers and closure that players have been asking for. It gives a sense of what the future holds as a result of the decisions made throughout the series. And it shows greater detail in the successes or failures based on how players achieved their endings."

I was initially somewhat disappointed with the endings of Mass Effect 3 but over time, I have come to respect them and actually embrace them. I am however interested in seeing what the extended cut will reveal. What do you think of the idea of these extended endings? Are you one of the players that was looking for more closure or were you fine with the endings as is?
Source [Gameinformer]

Agent 47 makes a visit to China Town

He's not there for Orange Chicken.

In the first hands-on footage for Hitman: Absolution, shown at E3, Producer at IO Interactive, Luke Valentine gives us some insight on what we can expect in the game. Our favorite bald assassin is after the King of China Town and the demo shows how assignments in Absolution can be completed in a variety of different ways. As Agent 47, you can draw attention to yourself and make a scene, do things quietly or just make the hit look like an accident. In the game, it's up to you.

The gameplay also does an excellent job of demonstrating the crowd effects in Absolution. Unlike the Mardi Gras level from Hitman: Blood Money, the crowd in Absolution behaves realistically. You can overhear conversations, you see people eating, buying or doing different kinds of jobs on the jumbled streets. All of it adds up to create an experience that feels like a real situation. Absolution also makes fine use of a more present soundtrack as well featuring plenty of low, foreboding tones.

You can see some of 47's new tricks and all the methods he employs to complete his assignment in the video below. What do you think of Hitman: Absolution so far?

20 minutes of Dead Space 3 Gameplay

EA games has released a 20 minute long video showing off the new features, deadly enemies and harsh environment that Isaac Clarke must endure in Dead Space 3. We're also given a closer look at Isaac's companion, John Carter who can be controlled by a second player in a cooperative mode. The single player campaign allows players to play as Isaac without Carter and the co-op campaign allows players to explore new paths, explore the past of John Carter and experience Dead Space in new ways.

Steve Papoutsis, Vice President of developer, Visceral Games gives us the intro to the video. He also gives brief commentary throughout the video, explaining what you're seeing. Dead Space 3 looks great so far and is looking to be the best entry in the series yet!

E3 Preview for Lego Lord of the Rings

Just when you thought Traveler's Tales had run out of Lego game ideas, they announce that they'll be recreating the famous Lord of the Rings characters as miniature heroes. In this preview, executive producer Nick Ricks explains how Lego Lord of the Rings will be different from past Lego games. Lego LOTR will feature RPG elements such as a backpack where you keep stored items. The game will also be the first ever to feature actual voices which are dubbed over from the movie.

You'll be able to play as all your favorite characters from the fellowship and other characters of Middle-Earth. Lego LOTR will span across all three movies; in the trailer below, we're given a glimpse of some gameplay from the Mines of Moria, a scene from The Fellowship of the Ring. We can still expect the usual dose of humor that the Lego games are associated with however and the endless coin collecting.

Source and video courtesy of G4TV.com

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Prometheus: Movie Review

Prometheus, the third ever science fiction movie directed by Ridley Scott is the long awaited prequel fans of the Alien series have been anticipating for over a decade. Director Scott teamed up with writer Damon Lindelof to deliver a film that would serve as a prequel to the Alien series but at the same time, would explore new ideas that allow Prometheus to stand apart from the Alien movies as an original film. There's no doubt that Prometheus does exactly that; the feeling of the movie reminds you of Alien and there are plenty of cues for fans of the series to pick up on but Prometheus easily separates itself and delivers a truly unique alien movie.

Late in the 21st century, archaeological scientists, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and love interest, Charlie Holloway discover illustrations that show men pointing to what seem to be a formation of stars that are consistent with the writings and drawings of several different cultures. This discovery leads them to believe the drawings are related and may reveal the origin of mankind. After sparking the interest of Peter Weyland, multi-billionaire CEO of Weyland Corporation, a team is put together and he funds a journey for crew aboard the titular Prometheus to follow the map to the darkest depths of the universe where the crew will learn the dark truth behind mankind's creation.

The plot of Prometheus is easily one of its strong-points but is not without its shortcomings. Instead of making the movie into a science fiction, horror-filled thrill ride, Scott and Lindelof focus on the themes of truth and religious ideologies as the characters strive for knowledge concerning their beginnings. Prometheus has a much more serious undertone than the alien movies; its about so much more than shooting Xenomorphs or fighting to escape a ship over run by aliens. Without spoiling any of the plot I can only say that Prometheus  provides answers and new insights for fans of the original Alien series but more importantly, raises new questions concerning the dark past of our creation. I found myself leaving the theater with more questions than answers but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

My only complaint with the plot was that I feel it wasn't developed enough. Prometheus is just over two hours long but I felt it was so brief. As the falling action began, I could sense the end of the movie was near and all I could think was, "Already!?" The whole movie seems to move a bit fast though. The Prometheus crew of 17 is easily forgettable with a couple of exceptions (which I will get to in a moment). Most of the characters felt like extras or were just annoying so I really didn't feel I cared about them at all. They were uninteresting and just felt flat and didn't really evoke any kind of emotion. I feel their personalities and backgrounds could have been developed much more if a scene were added.

Strangely enough, the character I enjoyed the most was the android David played expertly by Michael Fassbender. He's the one character without a brain, a soul or a heart yet he was the most interesting crew member without a doubt. Fassbender stole the show with his excellent performance as David and his acting expertise really shines. David is meant to look and behave exactly as a human. David has an almost unlimited source of knowledge but he can't quite comprehend the reasoning behind the voyage to the strange planet. Each scene with Fassbender is a delight and to me, his portrayal of David was the highlight of the movie. Fassbender says he was heavily influenced by the replicants of Ridley Scott's, Blade Runner and also took cues from David Bowie's, The Man Who Fell to Earth. 




Noomi Rapace plays opposite of the emotionless and moral devoid David as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, who is desperately seeking answers behind the creation of man. Her limits are tested as she learns that planet they are own holds dark secrets. Noomi fit the role well but I feel like there was more to her character than the film let on. A brief flashback gives us a glimpse of her skeptical views on religion, yet Shaw wears a cross around her neck. Her complicated views are the focus of some scenes and her beliefs do spur some interesting thoughts. She does an excellent job in a few solo scenes which aren't for the squeamish and you won't want the kids to see. Similar to Ripley from Alien, you will feel sorry for her as she does endure quite a bit of punishment but again, I would have liked to learn more about her.

The visual presentation of Prometheus also drew my attention. The movie was shot entirely with 3D cameras and also relied on more conventional video effects rather than CGI, as most films do these days. Scott's direction mastery is exemplified by his intense set-pieces and the fact that green-screens were used less than six times during filming. The dark caverns, the futuristic technology and mysterious planets are nothing new but Scott presents them perfectly to evoke feelings of fear and awe. New monsters and alien species also provide some excellent visuals that are sure to leave you terrified.

While Prometheus was Scott's first time filming in 3D, he testified it was pretty simple and instead of creating scenes that pop out at you, Scott focused on adding illusory-depth to the movie to really immerse viewers. The opening scene of the movie caught me by surprise. It provides an impressive fly-over montage of different parts of Iceland panning over majestic mountain-scapes, waterfalls and endless plains which is beautifully shot and took a reported two weeks to finish.

You shouldn't let the fact you haven't seen the original Alien movies keep you from seeing Prometheus. No prior knowledge of the original movies is needed as Prometheus can stand perfectly well on its own and delivers a rich and satisfying plot full of disturbing elements that'll make you cringe. Scott and Lindelof purposely left many questions unanswered but encourage fans to seek answers throughout the film. I personally enjoyed the movie and I would recommend seeing it. Two expert performances made up for a cast that mostly fell flat and the story alone of Prometheus is as exciting and grim as they come.

New screen shots of Black Mesa Source unveiled

Black Mesa Source is the ambitious project of a third party developer to modify the first Half-Life game using more advanced capabilities of Valve's source engine. Essentially the team is recreating the first Half-Life game with all new voice acting, sound effects, AI, improved graphics and much more. The game was planned to be distributed as free-to-play but the 2009 spring release date window came and went with no release. No definitive release date was rescheduled nor was then any kind of time frame; the team simply said, "when it's done."

Black Mesa Source seems to have come out of the dark now and the team has been drip feeding tidbits of info and media on their Facebook page since March of 2012. On June 9, they announced to their Facebook fans that once the hit 20,000 likes that they will release new media. The likes on their page soared over 20,000 before the end of Sunday and they treated fans to some new screen-shots featuring some familiar environments from the Black Mesa research facility. The newly rendered environments, enemies and characters all look amazing and will surely provide an entertaining experience.

The update was also posted with the promise of more content to come in the future. This seems to indicate Black Mesa Source is back on track and that the release of the game may be imminent if the team is ready to show off their work. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we can expect more information and possibly a trailer for this long awaited game. Check out the screen-shots below and head over to the Black Mesa Facebook page and give them a like to get more updates on the game.

Get a closer look at Resident Evil 6

An all new zombie outbreak has spread globally in Resident Evil 6 which Capcom showed off some awesome footage of at E3. Resident Evil 6 will be a new experience that Capcom promises, will stand out greater than any past entry in the series but will still resonate with long-time fans of Resident Evil.

Instead of following a single character, Resident Evil 6 follows the treacherous adventures of three different heroes. Fans of the series will notice a handful of familiar faces and Resident Evil 6 will also introduce some new characters as well. Two fan-favorite veterans, Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield will each have their own story-line and newcomer Jake Muller, son of Albert Wesker will have an adventure of his own. Capcom has stated that each character's story-line amounts to the length of a full game; with an average of 10 hours to complete a game, Resident Evil 6 could very well be stretching past the 30 hour mark.

The campaign for each character features a different style of gameplay. Fans of the early Resident Evil games will enjoy playing as Leon in the fictional American town of Tall Oaks, where an outbreak occurs and even the President is infected. Leon is still part of the Secret Service and it was his duty along with his partner, Helena Harper to protect the president; however, after the president's infection and death, the blame is put on Leon and Helena themselves. Leon's campaign will feature more traditional zombies and will build suspense and tension with a slower paced play style. Ammo and supplies will be harder to come by and you'll need to conserve as much as you can during Leon's campaign if you're going to survive.

Chris' play style will surely appeal to newer fans of the series as it will follow the formula used In Resident Evil 4 and 5. Chris is still part of the BSAA and has been sent to fictional Chinese city, Lanshiang to aid in another recent outbreak with his companion Piers Nivans. Playing as Chris, you can expect a more intense, fast-paced action experience. Along with traditional zombies, Chris will face the J'avo as well; a direct result of the new C-Virus, J'avo are able to communicate, plan attacks, use weapons and even heal themselves. They also have increased agility and strength and have a regenerative mutation ability which will make them a formidable enemy.

As for the newcomer, Jake Muller, Capcom has created a unique play style. Jake will feature a mix between the play styles of Leon and Chris but adds a heavy emphasis on melee combat. Jake, son of Wesker is immune to the virus strands and thus has nothing to fear by engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the infected. His techniques and maneuvers are reminiscent of his father's. Jake is accompanied by Sherry Birkin, daughter of William Birkin who worked alongside Wesker; she will aid Jake as they evade authorities across Eastern Europe and fight through hordes of zombies and the J'avo. Fans of Resident Evil 3 will especially enjoy the Jake's campaign due to the fact he is constantly hunted by a creature known as, Ustanak.

Ustanak operates similarly to Nemesis in that he is constantly hunting you down. He is equipped with an interchangeable mechanical arm. In the trailers we see a claw like arm and another with a whip attached to it. It seems his main purpose is not to kill Jake but capture him, possibly for his unique blood. At one point in the trailer, you see Jake escaping from a cage fixed to Ustanak's back. Ustanak is sure to provide for some intense chases and punishing fights.

Resident Evil 6 will support co-op play whether it be split-screen or over the internet with a friend. Each companion of the heroes listed above is playable. Playing over the internet finds you someone who is at the same part of the story so that you or other players don't have the game spoiled for you.

Capcom has also decided to interject new features into Resident Evil 6. New tweaks will allow players to shoot and move simultaneously for the first time ever in a Resident Evil game. No doubt long time fans won't be crazy about the idea but it does make sense to be able to move and shoot at the same time. Additionally, you can now utilize a cover and shoot system and employ dives and rolls into the zombie fighting action. At one point during the gameplay demonstration, Leon almost seems to be wielding two handguns too. Melee combat will play a larger role; one video shows Leon hacking zombies up with an ax and Jake Muller relies heavily on melee based fighting. Inventory management has been improved too, allowing players to assign weapons to hot-keys and heal themselves on the fly with the push of a button.

The trailers reveal some details of the story but also leave us asking questions; one in particular, who are the people that have captured Helena Harper and why have they abducted her sister? I'll leave readers to come to their own conclusions but I have a few guesses. More familiar faces such as Ada Wong and Leon's link to  the Department of Security relations, Ingrid Hunnigan, make a return in Resident Evil 6 as well. Hunnigan seems to be helping Leon in secret due to the fact that he and Helena have been blamed for the death of the President.

The trailers also reveal a very troubled and more somber Chris Redfield. It seems his involvement in the attacks become more personal after he helplessly watches his comrades become infected and is forced to kill them. Chris is seeking vengeance against Ada Wong, who he believes is behind the attack. Ada is now working for Neo-Umbrella who is responsible for the bio-terrorist attacks but the corporation itself is still shrouded in mystery. The story lines of the characters seem to cross as well as the trailers show Leon and Jake fighting alongside one another and Chris meeting Jake for the first time and realizing a resemblance of Albert Wesker in him. With all the different story lines, seeing how they relate and differ from each other should make them very engaging.

I felt the Resident Evil 6 may have strayed too far from the series' original formula but seeing the new footage and getting the details on the gameplay have re-instilled my faith in Capcom and their ability to make a successful sequel to this loved series. The gameplay looks solid so far with great visuals, intense action and exciting set piece moments. What do you think of Resident Evil 6 so far? Is the series no longer what it used to be or are the addition of new features and a heavier focus on action a good idea? Look for Resident Evil 6 on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on October 2, 2012.

Quantic Dream Announces Beyond: Two Souls

David Cage, head developer of Quantic Dream, took the stage during Sony's press conference to announce the team's newest project, Beyond: Two Souls. In case you didn't know, Quantic Dream is the developer of Heavy Rain; the interactive thriller that follows an adventure from the perspectives of four different characters who's choices and actions alter the ending of the game. Heavy Rain delivered brilliant visuals and unique but intense gameplay. Beyond: Two Souls seems to be using a similar formula but the story is something completely different this time around.

Beyond follows Jodie Marsh, voiced and acted by Ellen Page (Inception). It is unknown if Jodie will be the only playable character in Beyond but the game spans 15 years of her life. The trailer shown during the press conference revealed that Jodie is on the run from the law. we don't know why but it may have to do with the strange supernatural powers she's been endowed with. No, she isn't super strong and she can't fly but she definitely has abilities beyond that of normal humans.

She seems to have the ability to manipulate objects and people with her mind; at one point a coffee mug is sent crashing into a wall and after a S.W.A.T. team encounters her, their vehicles are destroyed and a nearby clock tower topples over. She is also able to form a force field around her body which seems to act as a protective barrier. Now, it is unclear if these are actually powers or if these strange occurrences have a paranormal origin. Jodie is accompanied by a disembodied spirit named Eiden or Aiden aids Jodie as a companion throughout her life. By the looks of the super natural powers and the police chases, Beyond may be a little more action heavy. You can see the trailer for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Check out the trailer below and keep an eye out for more news on Beyond: Two Souls.

Assassin's Creed 3 trailers show of Revolutionary warfare

If you aren't excited for Assassin's Creed III at the moment, some new trailers should surely change your mind. Fans have been eager to see what kind of gameplay we can expect from a true sequel to Assassin's Creed II released all the way back in 2009 and Ubisoft really delivered during their press conference. A cinematic, jaw-dropping trailer made Mel Gibson from The Patriot look like child's play as we watch, protagonist Connor, fight alone, through a battlefield of British soldiers to hunt down his Templar target.

Connor wades through a retreating Continental Army, toward the British force, despite the warnings of the revolutionaries. Connor mounts a horse and begins a full on sprint toward the redcoats dodging cannon fire and musket shots until he reaches their lines, unscathed. Armed with his deadly tomahawk and a dagger, Connor is untouchable as he drops soldier after soldier with deadly fluidity. Before long, he fights his way to the Templar Commander and ends his life.

The sequence is truly amazing in terms of visual presentation and just pure awesomeness. Some videos and screen shots of gameplay have shown Connor engaging the Redcoats on an open battlefield similar to the cinematic trailer and I'm sure we can expect the same level of intensity from these battles in game.

The gameplay trailer shows the new 'wilderness' environment which Ubisoft reps explained will be traversed multiple times, through winter, summer, fall and spring. The seasons and weather change and will effect gameplay. For instance, the demo takes place during the winter and high snow drifts impede Connor's movement forcing him to trudge his way through unless he takes another route. The dense forest will provide a completely new Parkour playground for players to explore. Connor swings, jumps and climbs swiftly from tree to tree and the movement looks natural and realistic.

I was almost worried it'd be difficult to make a forest work for the Assassin's Creed style of travel but the demo re-instilled my faith in the setting. The trees don't look awkward or in any way like they are made a special way to enhance the free running. It's almost like the perfect camouflage; the trees make up the forests we will explore but they serve the dual purpose of being the focus of Assassin's Creed III's Parkour. The beautifully rendered forest is teeming with wildlife which we see in the beginning of the demo. Connor hunts down a deer with his bow but the scent of blood draws in a pack of wolves. Ubisoft has explained you'll confront different animals, docile and hostile in the wilderness and that hunting these animals will serve different benefits. You can collect pelts, meat and other materials from the animals you hunt which can be sold or traded.

After hunting the deer and delivering the meat to a nearby, dreary looking Continental camp, Connor speaks with a soldier asking where to find a Templar named Silas. The man answers the question and begins to explain how Connor can help Continental army but the assassin assures him he has no interest in aiding the patriots. Connor sets out into the forest again and locates the the fort, deep in the forest, where the Templar is hiding. From the trees, Connor attacks the group of redcoats guarding the gates and we see the new chain-blade weapon in action here as Connor uses it to strangle one unfortunate soldier.

A slew of new violent kill animations are sure to spice things up; they're one of the first things that caught my during the intense combat. Connor uses his tomahawk and dagger combination to manipulate the bayonet mounted muskets against their users. He directs the fire of the guns at their companions or drives the bayonet into one of the redcoats effectively impaling him. The combat is as fluid as ever and looks freshly satisfying compared to the kill animations of Altair and Ezio which have become stale over the past few years.

Connor makes his way into the fort and locates the target. He causes an explosion distracting the soldiers and throwing them into a disorganized frenzy allowing him to chase after Silas and complete the assassination. The gameplay has so much more to offer this time around and while it's the third game in the series (fourth if you count Brotherhood and Revelations) it almost looks like a new game entirely.

Ubisoft didn't stop there however; they revealed that Connor will take to the high seas in naval combat where you can command your own ship and crew, canons and all. The trailer shows Connor steering the ship as the crew fires off canons sinking several British ships. The action will even include the iconic ship boarding battles that occur in pirate movies. Check out the trailer below and see for yourself. Look for Assassin's Creed III in stores October 30, for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist Announced

Microsoft made it clear that Sam Fisher is still a badass when they revealed Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Sam is making a comeback after the President of the United States assigns him to a 'black than black'
 special ops team. The team is formed after a group of hostile nations composes a list containing plans for terrorist attacks to be carried out if U.S. troops are not evacuated from their countries.

A cinematic trailer reveals that Third Echelon has been shut down as Sam Fisher hitches a ride into a Middle-Eastern terrorist compound crawling with goons. Sam uses his impressive, yet deadly skill-set to infiltrate the base and take out some unfortunate guards. It's obvious he hasn't lost his edge after he swiftly kills a group of terrorists in the blink of an eye. The action is amped up when Sam rappels down the side of a building and makes quick work of some more terrorists. A man being held prisoner by the terrorists is freed by Sam and given a gun. The two head into the hallway of the building and engage in a fierce fire fight while Sam's partner provides cover fire with a sniper rifle from a nearby building.

Sam and the man reach the roof and are momentarily clear of the action. The man asks Sam what agency he's with in which he receives the reply, "Welcome to Fourth Echelon."

While the cinematic trailer is great, we see the true brilliance of Blacklist in the gameplay demonstration (posted below). The trailer begins with Fisher using a disguise to gain access to an Iraqi terrorist camp where we see an improved mark and execute system. Sam uses his iconic goggles to survey the camp yard and tracks about seven terrorists. He tags the three closest and exits the tent in which he was hiding. The game enters bullet time and Fisher delivers one bullet to each of the three men while running toward a fourth. The game re-enters real time and the fourth man gets a knife in the neck as Sam marks the last two enemies. He slides over the hood of a pickup and violently executes the last two.

The whole sequence is stunning as Sam flows seamlessly from kill to kill. It all looks so clean and happens so fast, that when Sam had killed the last enemy, the guy was just reaching for his gun. Sam goes on to fight through the camp where he encounters a mounted machine gun and more terrorists. At one point, the player uses a voice command with their Kinect to call in an air-strike which disposes of the machine gun. The action of Splinter Cell has definitely been turned up a notch but still features plenty of stealth opportunities for player who prefer to keep things quiet.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is slated for a Spring 2013 release as of now. What do you think of Blacklist? Is Fisher too old to still be doing this or does age not even matter at this point?

Reality Pump announces Sacrilegium

Reality Pump, the developer behind the Two Worlds games, has announced their newest title. Sacrilegium is a survival horror experience that Reality Pump promises will deliver cinematic sequences and spine-tingling action in a way gamers have never experienced before.

Sacrilegium follows a pretty-faced 20 year-old college girl, Alex as she travels the globe in search of paranormal evidence linked with ferocious vampire-like creatures called Moroi. Reality Pump boasted in an interview that the Moroi are much deadlier than the average vampire and that they could easily "eat one for breakfast." Alex's treacherous journey will take her from comfortable California to mystery filled Europe where she arrives at the titular Sacrilegium.

Alex isn't just a pretty face; she is well trained in martial arts and likely has other skills that that will no doubt come in use as her limits and fears are tested by the horrors that await her in Sacrilegium. You can check out some screens posted below which look quite impressive. I have to say, I'm glad to see a new survival horror IP and I'm very interested to see more on Sacrilegium. Hopefully Reality Pump can live up to their promise and deliver a truly terrifying experience. No time frame was given for Sacrilegium but it has been confirmed for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

What do you think of Sacrilegium and Reality Pump's ambitious plans? It may be too early to tell now but hopefully information will surface soon on this mysterious title.

Dead Space 3 announcement and trailer

During their press conference, EA games was happy to share some stunning footage of Dead Space 3 which confirmed that the game will feature a co-op game mode. Isaac will no longer dismember necromorphs all by his lonesome but instead he will be accompanied by a man wearing similar armor by the name of, John carver. In a trailer featuring a montage of necromorph kills and co-op action, Carver reveals he is after the markers, like Isaac and will stop at nothing to destroy them. With similar interests in mind, it seems the two of them will be teaming up to bring an end to Unitology and the necromorphs.

It wasn't clear whether or not Carver will accompany Isaac throughout the entire game but the drop-in, drop-out cooperative play implies that it is very likely. If this is true, it will be the first time Isaac ever has a partner for more than a chapter or two. The addition of Carver will no doubt add an interesting mix into the horror filled combat and hopefully won't detract from Dead Space's usual spine-tingling, survival horror theme which the series has always executed so well. Boss battles can be approached in new ways such as one player focusing on shooting weak points on a giant brute while the other player takes out necromorphs descending on the pair of you. Players will likely be able to share weapons, ammo and health supplies but must also collect enough of these provisions to support each of themselves.

The gameplay trailer also reveals that necromorphs won't be the only enemy the duo faces off against. After Isaac and Carver destroy a large out of control drill and kill some necromorphs, they head outside and engage in a firefight with what appear to be Unitologists or soldiers from EarthGov. Isaac and Carver maneuver behind some boxes, dodging pulse rifle shots by crouching and rolling and firing back at the group of enemies. The shootout is interrupted by a giant insect-like necromorph which begins swallowing everything in sight.

After a brief fight with the monster, Isaac gets a little too close and is swallowed by the giant necromorph. The screen fades to black and the crowd at the conference cheers as the trailer has seemingly ended but then the eerie green glow of Isaac's visor illuminates the inside of the monster's gullet revealing he is in the process of being digested alive.

Dead Space 3 looks great so far and with an all new setting, enemies, weapons and characters it is sure to deliver the best Dead Space experience yet. Expect to see Dead Space 3 on store shelves sometime in February of 2013 and check out the trailers below.

Lara Croft gets her hands dirty in New Tomb Raider Trailer

Lara Croft is looking better than ever as she takes on some bad guys in some kind of Mountain-top village. Tomb Raider now supports a cover based shooting system similar to the Uncharted games in which players must utilize cover from their environment. We see a beautifully rendered jungle as Lara runs and hurdles over some ancient looking bridges and wades across a small river. The lighting and shadow effects look brilliant as well. In the distance, you can see more mountains shrouded in mist as Lara treks onward.

She encounters a group of three men, past survivors who have adopted the ideals of a leader which is still unnamed. They operate as a type of cult which seems to pillage the remains of crashed ships and planes and violently indoctrinate any survivors into their cult. Those who oppose are seemingly killed. Director Karl Stewart revealed that not all of these scavengers are loyal to their leader though and still seek escape from the island.

Lara approaches the group scavengers stealthily, armed with a bow she must have found on the island. She peeks over the wall and fires an arrow into the head of one of the unsuspecting scavengers causing him to fall off the cliff he was standing at. Lara then turns her focus to the other two scavengers who are still unaware of their dead friend. She takes aim with her bow again and fires an arrow into the head of one. The other man, startled, dives for cover as he flips a table over and begins firing his gun at Lara. She scurries behind the wall dodging the sporadic shots which chip pieces of the wall, explode vases of water sending bits of ceramic in all directions. The  destructible environments look to provide a much more intense action experience.

The man takes a moment to reload his gun which allows Lara to charge him sending him to his death in a free fall off the cliff. Lara then turns her attention to a zip-line which takes her across the canyon to another part of the village. As Lara Lara explores further into the village, she encounters another group of men. She is able to ignite the tips of her arrows and shoot them into flammable materials resulting in fires and explosions. The fire spreads across the different materials and even ignites one of the scavengers at one point.

Enemies react to shots from the bow depending on where they're hit. Lara shoots one scavenger in the leg sending him in pain to his knees allowing her to finish him off with the ice-axe she has; Tomb Raider now seems to support a fair amount of close combat. After another brief fire fight, Lara attempts to cross some treacherous looking rapids but after a misstep, she is violently sent down the river with some other debris. As she is dragged down the river, Lara enters a couple of brief bullet-time sequences prompting her to destroy obstacles with her shotgun. The frantic fall ends with Lara in the cockpit of a crashed plane where Lara finds herself on a plane of glass which is about to shatter and send her falling hundreds of feet.

She carefully but quickly grabs a parachute and is able to put it on just as the glass breaks. The chute malfunctions on the first attempt but the reserve chute seems to save Lara as it opens just in time. She's then sent hurtling through the top of a pine forest where she's violently whipped around until she makes her eventual punishing descent.

While the new Lara Croft is inexperienced at her current youth and has much softer features, she can certainly take a brutal beating. By the end of the trailer, she is bloodied and can hardly walk. You can't help but feel sympathy for Lara as she struggles through these multiple fire fights and the harsh jungle environment. The intense action combined with the rough survival tactics is looking to be very entertaining. Check out the trailer below and see just how great this game already looks. I've been very excited since the game was announced last year and I am eagerly awaiting Tomb Raider's release on March 5th of 2012.

Ubisoft announces Watch Dogs

Perhaps one of the most stunning game demonstrations of E3 yet was delivered by Ubisoft during their press event in which they reveled their new game entitled Watch Dogs. The preliminary announcement trailer explains the back story of the game. In August of 2003, a power outage on the East Coast caused by a 'disgruntled employee' left 55 million people in a total blackout. Panic ensued and by the time it was all over, 11 people had died. In order to prevent such a tragedy again, a system named CTOS (central operating system) is installed; it is a very sophisticated program that controls online networks, traffic grids, data servers, surveillance cameras and power grids. A computer is responsible for controlling and managing an entire city but who controls the computer? The woman narrating goes on to explain the ulterior motives of big corporations controlling the content we see and how we see it, likely the main focus of Watch Dogs.

The gameplay demo follows shortly after the announcement trailer and pans over various shots of a very impressive and beautiful looking Chicago; I was stunned by the visual quality of the city. The camera catches up with main protagonist, Aiden Pearce, a hacker capable of infiltrating the CTOS system. As he walks casually down the street I can't help but stare in awe at the amount of detail injected into the game's visuals. The city streets replicate the feel of a city much better than any other game has done in the past. The amount of depth and small details like, neon signs, wind, litter and the pedestrians around Aiden just look so real. The behavior of clothes and accessories like a pedestrians purse even caught my eye as they seemed to move and react to movement and the wind in such a realistic fashion. To say the least, I was impressed in the first ten seconds of the camera following Aiden over his shoulder.

Aiden makes his along the windy streets to an art gallery featuring the work of a man named Flynn Demarco and it seems to be invite only. Instead of jumping in line, Pearce pulls out his phone and jams cell phone and radio signals. The guard at the front door is distracted and wanders away from his post allowing Aiden to slip inside. In the gallery, Aiden walks through the crowd of attendees who have actions above their head associated with what they're doing.

You can hack their phones to listen to conversations or jam their cell phone signals to prevent them from making contact. Pearce meets up with some kind of contact who he has some sort of arrangement with. Not much is revealed other than Pearce is after Demarco and is using himself as bait. After the contact hands Aiden a gun, he uses his phone to hack the phone of a employee of Demarco. She's calling Demarco to alert him of Aiden's presence which prompts Demarco to make his way over to the gallery. Aiden heads for the back door but is halted by a guard who he disposes of with a asp baton without drawing any attention. He exits the building and awaits Demarco's arrival.

Once he spots the car, Pearce causes a massive car accident between multiple vehicles after he hacks the traffic lights. A gun fights ensues as Demarco's body guards spot Pearce. The seamless cover and shoot system employed by Pearce allows him to take the guards down. At one point he even slides over the hood of a car and engages in close combat with one of the body guards which looked very clean and just awesome at the same time. After the security is eliminated, Pearce drags Demarco from his car and kills him with a single shot from a handgun.

Pearce opens his PDA but the camera switches to a man on a rooftop watching Pearce; The man, with the tag of Bixxel_44 talks to a another man on his phone and runs out of sight in a bit that seems to be controlled by the player. The camera then pans up and gets a view of the whole city where code names such as 'Siren', 'Fidget' and 'Valkyrie' pop up which seems to imply a network of players may be playable and have a role to play in manipulating the CTOS system. Aside from that, Ubisoft refrained from revealing anything else and no time frame was given for a release date although the game is planned for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Check out the trailers below to see how truly amazing this game looks. Keep in mind the screens in this post are all in game. Keep an eye out for more news on Watch Dogs.

Get a closer look at Dishonored

In a interview with Morgan Webb, Co-Creative directors, Raphael Colontonio and Harvey Smith show off the  Steampunk and stealth based gameplay featured in their upcoming game, Dishonored. Smith and Colontonio emphasize the focus on the stealth aspect in Dishonored and go as far as to claim that players can go through the entire game without killing a single person.

Players assume the role of Corvo, former body-guard to the empress. After being framed for her murder, he gains supernatural abilities (similar to Plasmids in Bioshock) and combined with his marksmanship and talent as a swordsman, he sets out for revenge against those actually responsible for the empress' death. We get a glimpse of these powers Corvo has throughout the demo. One of the powers demonstrated is called 'Blink' which allows Corvo to teleport over short distances. He can use the power to dodge enemy attacks, sneak past guards or even reach areas that are normally inaccessible. At one point in the demo, Corvo strangles a guard and must hide his body to avoid being detected; the player uses the Blink ability to teleport into the second story of a vacant building to hide the corpse.

One of the other powers demonstrated in the game allows the player to posses animals such as the vile rats that scurry along the streets or even a human. When you use the posses power, you can use animals such as a rat or a fish to find vents or tunnels to access the domains of your enemies. When the player controls  rat at one point, he accesses a tiny vent which leads to the inside of a mansion. Once through the vent, the player ends the possession and resumes the game as Corvo having successfully infiltrated the mansion. It sounds strange but Smith and Colotonio explained there are almost endless possibilities in the world of Dishonored. You can approach your missions with stealth in mind and find these hidden access points and even use other powers at your disposal to infiltrate certain locations without alerting a single guard. Not many of the other have been revealed just yet but they imply that missions can be completed in a multitude of different ways.

Also important to keep in mind is that the choices you make as Corvo effect your morality and the outcome of the ending. Smith and Colontonio explain that sparing the life of certain enemies will have an effect on the game in the future but killing them will have different results that effect the game as well.

As the demo begins, you get a glimpse of Dishonored's Dystopian setting as the two directors explain the city named Dunwall (one of the various locations you'll frequent through out the game) is part of a completely fictional world and inspired by the streets of London with a Steampunk-esque vibe. You can see primitive forms of steam based technology such as generators to power lights and other machines.

You can check out the whole interview below and see just how awesome this game looks. If you're a fan of Bioshock, Thief, or just stealth games in general, you'll definitely want to keep your eye on Dishonored which is set to release on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on October 9, this year.