[Shipping Out] February 7th, 2012
The Jak & Daxter Reckoning of Darkness: I Believe In A Thing Called Love Edition
Published: February 7, 2012
Welcome to Shipping Out, our weekly notice of all them thar games that ship from publishers to retailers in preparation for their street date a day later. In many cases, these games won't be on store shelves until tomorrow, but in the interest of getting the word out, letting the PR departments have their fancy quotes and saving us sanity as the weekly releases pile up, we're going to be consolidating everything down into one handy little news story at the end of the day, along with this description. Neat, eh? And lazy!
It's the TPS way!
[Playstation 2]
She's dead Jim.
[Playstation Portable]
You are not long for this world, old friend.
[Playstation 3]
[The Jak and Daxter Collection]
With all the runaway success and mainstream popularity of the Uncharted series, people often forget that Naughty Dog isn't the house that Drake built, but the one that Jak built. When Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy landed on the PS2 in 2001, all other 3D action adventure franchises were officially put on notice. While they had built a strong following with the Crash Bandicoot franchise the generation before, the Jak and Daxter series marked Naughty Dog's unquestionable entry into the elite echelon of development studios.
Not to be outdone by the likes of Kratos and Solid Snake, Jak and his long time running buddy Daxter decided they deserve an HD collection of their own. The Jak and Daxter Collection includes all three of the dynamic duo's classic adventures, each remastered in high definition and with stereoscopic 3D to boot. Sorry kart fans, no Jack X: Combat Racing. Maybe they're saving it for a Naughty Dog Kart Kollection...you know, AFTER Uncharted: Sahara Kart Rumble comes out. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON IT NAUGHTY DOG! YOUR RESTRAINING ORDER WONT STOP ME FROM UNCOVERING THE TRUTH!!!
[The Darkness 2]
The follow-up to developer Starbreeze's surprise hit of 2007 finally hits store shelves this week. Inspired by the Top Cow comic of the same name, The Darkness 2 follows the ongoing story of Jackie Estacado as he tries to come to terms with the horrible tragedy he suffered in the first game, and the dark path of revenge it led him down.
I won't give away more than that because frankly, I feel that the personal trials Jackie went through in the first game stand among some of the most well realized examples of character development in the medium and should not be spoiled for anyone. I would go so far as to say that, if at all possible, you should try to play the original before starting the sequel, as this is the rare case where playing them in order will not only enhance your understanding of the story, but will greatly increase your level of emotional investment in the main character.
That said, if pathos isn't your thing, The Darkness 2 appears to have no shortage of sex, violence and all around demonic bad-assery either. Developer Digital Extremes has chosen to do an interesting visual overhaul that brings the game's look - for better or worse - very much in line with the original comics upon which it was based.
They also dropped in some new gameplay systems, including a branching skill tree to beef Jackie up as you see fit, and a pretty sweet “quad wielding” system that allows you to independently control both shooting hands AND both of Jackie's tentacle arms simultaneously. It's actually a lot more fun and a lot less gimmicky than it sounds, trust me. Or don’t. You can just download the demo on PSN, or go grab a copy off store shelves and see for yourself!
[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning]
Finally, 38 Studios' debut offering is on store shelves (and sitting on my coffee table anxiously waiting to be opened and played). If you would have told me 4 years ago that the legendary MLB pitcher, Curt Schilling was going to start a video game company and that their first game was going to be a single player western RPG of near Elder Scrolls scale and depth, there would be no accounting for how I might have reacted. Winged ferrets, Bea Arthur, and a case of Four Loko might have been involved in the proceedings.
And yet, here we are.
Featuring a world brimming with lore conceived and written by NY Times best selling author, R.A. Salvatore, and visual designs by comic book icon, Todd McFarlane, the game has been spoiled with creative riches. Put all that talent under the veteran leadership of Ken Rolston of Morrowind and Oblivion fame and you have a recipe for RPG greatness.
It's a confluence of inter-medium talent you don't see often in any creative forum, let alone gaming. On that level alone, it should be interesting to see how it all pans out. If you love free roaming RPG's but hate the clunky combat that often comes with them, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning could be just what the doctor ordered.
[Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition]
Speaking of sprawling western RPG's with clunky combat (heyooooooo!) Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition hits this week and is actually a great deal for those who missed out on New Vegas when it came out a little over a year ago. You get the full game, all four of the major DLC episodes, and access to the gear and guns from the newer Courier's Stash and Gun Runner's Arsenal add-ons as well.
Cheap shots about the combat aside, that's a ton of content for what I thought was a terrific game. If you never got around to playing it or, like me, you started it, got distracted, and never went back to finish it or check out the expansions, give Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition a look.
[Playstation Network]
[Shank 2]
I never got around to playing Shank but I always thought the art style and combat system sure seemed dandy. It's good to see a smaller project like this get a sequel, especially given how crowded the side scrolling action genre is getting in the digital download space.
With the capability to aim in all directions around you, as well as the ability to brutally counter your opponents attacks, Shank 2's combat looks even more fluid and gratifying than it's predecessor's. The game also features a horde-esque two player co-op mode where you can team up with a friend to mercilessly shank (sorry, too easy) waves upon waves of enemies. As a fan of The Dishwasher series, I'm looking forward to playing and reviewing this one in the near future. Shank 2 is available for download right now!
[Gotham City Imposters]
Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought to yourself, “Self, I really wish we could find a team based, multiplayer shooter where we constantly get WTFpwnt by people named 'fAtman420' or 'xJ00o0ker69x'”? What's that? You have? Congratulations! YOUR SCHIZOPHRENIC!
Prior to checking yourself into Arkham, you may want to check out Gotham City Imposters. The hook is that you can either join team Batman or team Joker and, much like their imposters featured in The Dark Knight film, you get to dress and customize your adorable counterfeit superhero/villain to your heart's content. Sneaky use of the wide range of available gadgetry is a key part of the experience, making it a bit more interesting than simply running about popping caps in asses. I had the chance to play it briefly at PAX last year, but sadly I was still too comatose from waiting 6 hours for my 10 minute demo of Skyrim to really take any of it in. Be sure to talk it up in the forums and let us know what you think. Gotham City Imposters should be available today.
Shout outs to me for making it through that entire segment without making a single mention of hockey pants! Oh wait...
And that's a wrap! Quite the release week, huh? Apparently a few publishers didn't read the memo about this being the slow time of year. Our wallets just never seem to get a vacation. Oh well. Until next time folks. Keep paying and keep playing!
Publishers! If you would like to have your games added to the list of weekly Shipping Out releases, just add News (at) TotalPlayStation (dot) com to your PR blasts and we'll make sure it's added here.
It's the TPS way!
[Playstation 2]
She's dead Jim.
[Playstation Portable]
You are not long for this world, old friend.
[Playstation 3]
[The Jak and Daxter Collection]
With all the runaway success and mainstream popularity of the Uncharted series, people often forget that Naughty Dog isn't the house that Drake built, but the one that Jak built. When Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy landed on the PS2 in 2001, all other 3D action adventure franchises were officially put on notice. While they had built a strong following with the Crash Bandicoot franchise the generation before, the Jak and Daxter series marked Naughty Dog's unquestionable entry into the elite echelon of development studios.
Not to be outdone by the likes of Kratos and Solid Snake, Jak and his long time running buddy Daxter decided they deserve an HD collection of their own. The Jak and Daxter Collection includes all three of the dynamic duo's classic adventures, each remastered in high definition and with stereoscopic 3D to boot. Sorry kart fans, no Jack X: Combat Racing. Maybe they're saving it for a Naughty Dog Kart Kollection...you know, AFTER Uncharted: Sahara Kart Rumble comes out. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON IT NAUGHTY DOG! YOUR RESTRAINING ORDER WONT STOP ME FROM UNCOVERING THE TRUTH!!!
[The Darkness 2]
The follow-up to developer Starbreeze's surprise hit of 2007 finally hits store shelves this week. Inspired by the Top Cow comic of the same name, The Darkness 2 follows the ongoing story of Jackie Estacado as he tries to come to terms with the horrible tragedy he suffered in the first game, and the dark path of revenge it led him down.
I won't give away more than that because frankly, I feel that the personal trials Jackie went through in the first game stand among some of the most well realized examples of character development in the medium and should not be spoiled for anyone. I would go so far as to say that, if at all possible, you should try to play the original before starting the sequel, as this is the rare case where playing them in order will not only enhance your understanding of the story, but will greatly increase your level of emotional investment in the main character.
That said, if pathos isn't your thing, The Darkness 2 appears to have no shortage of sex, violence and all around demonic bad-assery either. Developer Digital Extremes has chosen to do an interesting visual overhaul that brings the game's look - for better or worse - very much in line with the original comics upon which it was based.
They also dropped in some new gameplay systems, including a branching skill tree to beef Jackie up as you see fit, and a pretty sweet “quad wielding” system that allows you to independently control both shooting hands AND both of Jackie's tentacle arms simultaneously. It's actually a lot more fun and a lot less gimmicky than it sounds, trust me. Or don’t. You can just download the demo on PSN, or go grab a copy off store shelves and see for yourself!
[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning]
Finally, 38 Studios' debut offering is on store shelves (and sitting on my coffee table anxiously waiting to be opened and played). If you would have told me 4 years ago that the legendary MLB pitcher, Curt Schilling was going to start a video game company and that their first game was going to be a single player western RPG of near Elder Scrolls scale and depth, there would be no accounting for how I might have reacted. Winged ferrets, Bea Arthur, and a case of Four Loko might have been involved in the proceedings.
And yet, here we are.
Featuring a world brimming with lore conceived and written by NY Times best selling author, R.A. Salvatore, and visual designs by comic book icon, Todd McFarlane, the game has been spoiled with creative riches. Put all that talent under the veteran leadership of Ken Rolston of Morrowind and Oblivion fame and you have a recipe for RPG greatness.
It's a confluence of inter-medium talent you don't see often in any creative forum, let alone gaming. On that level alone, it should be interesting to see how it all pans out. If you love free roaming RPG's but hate the clunky combat that often comes with them, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning could be just what the doctor ordered.
[Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition]
Speaking of sprawling western RPG's with clunky combat (heyooooooo!) Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition hits this week and is actually a great deal for those who missed out on New Vegas when it came out a little over a year ago. You get the full game, all four of the major DLC episodes, and access to the gear and guns from the newer Courier's Stash and Gun Runner's Arsenal add-ons as well.
Cheap shots about the combat aside, that's a ton of content for what I thought was a terrific game. If you never got around to playing it or, like me, you started it, got distracted, and never went back to finish it or check out the expansions, give Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition a look.
[Playstation Network]
[Shank 2]
I never got around to playing Shank but I always thought the art style and combat system sure seemed dandy. It's good to see a smaller project like this get a sequel, especially given how crowded the side scrolling action genre is getting in the digital download space.
With the capability to aim in all directions around you, as well as the ability to brutally counter your opponents attacks, Shank 2's combat looks even more fluid and gratifying than it's predecessor's. The game also features a horde-esque two player co-op mode where you can team up with a friend to mercilessly shank (sorry, too easy) waves upon waves of enemies. As a fan of The Dishwasher series, I'm looking forward to playing and reviewing this one in the near future. Shank 2 is available for download right now!
[Gotham City Imposters]
Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought to yourself, “Self, I really wish we could find a team based, multiplayer shooter where we constantly get WTFpwnt by people named 'fAtman420' or 'xJ00o0ker69x'”? What's that? You have? Congratulations! YOUR SCHIZOPHRENIC!
Prior to checking yourself into Arkham, you may want to check out Gotham City Imposters. The hook is that you can either join team Batman or team Joker and, much like their imposters featured in The Dark Knight film, you get to dress and customize your adorable counterfeit superhero/villain to your heart's content. Sneaky use of the wide range of available gadgetry is a key part of the experience, making it a bit more interesting than simply running about popping caps in asses. I had the chance to play it briefly at PAX last year, but sadly I was still too comatose from waiting 6 hours for my 10 minute demo of Skyrim to really take any of it in. Be sure to talk it up in the forums and let us know what you think. Gotham City Imposters should be available today.
Shout outs to me for making it through that entire segment without making a single mention of hockey pants! Oh wait...
And that's a wrap! Quite the release week, huh? Apparently a few publishers didn't read the memo about this being the slow time of year. Our wallets just never seem to get a vacation. Oh well. Until next time folks. Keep paying and keep playing!
Publishers! If you would like to have your games added to the list of weekly Shipping Out releases, just add News (at) TotalPlayStation (dot) com to your PR blasts and we'll make sure it's added here.
