Some New Portal 2 & Child of Eden Footage...

This seems to be the opening for Portal 2 along with some other footage as well from PAX East. I haven't been paying attention to this game that much as I should, but its out next month and looks like Valve retained the charm and mystery the first game was known for being the cult hit it was.

Giant Bomb had a new quick look for my most wanted game Child of Eden, which is now coming out June 14 for the 360/Kinect. Its still my only reason to get a Kinect and so far it looks as amazing as I expected it to be. Ubisoft and Q! Entertainment are still quiet about the PS3 version, which I think is coming out a little later after the 360 version (timed exclusivity makes sense especially with it being a big Kinect game). The Kinect controls seem to work now with the latest builds of the game as I like how both hands are used for different shot styles. Anyway, if you're wandering why I'm still excited for Child of Eden, just watch the video above or check out my Rez HD review.

Jill & Shuma Day 1/2 Combo Videos...

I have been messing around with Jill & Shuma-Gorath (this week's DLC characters for Marvel vs. Capcom 3) and here's some combo videos featuring the two of them showcasing what they're capable of. I like both characters for fun as they have potential to do damage, but me playing them at tourney level needs more work. I'm trying to make it happen with Sentinel as the obvious anchor and of course drones assist works well as a way for both to get in. Jill's low health is indeed a problem as she is pretty much dead in two combos, but once she's in there, the mixups and sheninegans take shape especially with her Feral stance (telport crossups for example). I also love her overhead which can lead to her air knees (similar to Cammy's Cannon Strike dive kick somewhat) as a startup to another combo. Jill's level 3 is useless for me at the moment as I need to find something other than randomly going nuts without thinking at all. Shuma can air dash, but not tri dash so his Mystic Smash is pretty key to getting in (well for me). He can also OTG super with his Hyper Mystic Ray for some damage, but not much. Of course, there's his level 3 Chaos Dimension setups to have fun with as well, but Shuma is a fun character that can both zone (not as well) and deal damage once in range. Would I main these characters right now? Sure, I probably would since they're fresh as all of us figure out the matchups as the days and weeks go on. I'm still sticking with BnB material for the both of them until I know I can tack on the crazy technology in actual matches. For now, everyone that has Marvel 3 should give them a shot (both are 5 bucks each unless you got the Collector's Edition code) and see if they fit your playstyle and team synergy.

Today in the World of Shooters for 3/16/11

While most shooter fans are realizing how overhyped and disappointing Homefront is this week, here's another glimpse to the future for the genre.

Prey 2 was just announced several days ago and now we have an interesting live-action teaser for a game that's coming next year. As someone who played the first game on the 360, I didn't see any resemblance to it in this teaser regarding characters besides the glowing blue thingy. Some say Human Head is "dude-broing" the franchise, which is bad considering how much of a cliche that is for shooters these days, but we'll see how this shapes out since little to nothing has been revealed even after watching this teaser.

The next part in a series of Battlefield 3 videos came out this morning as the squad marches down to take down a sniper in a methodical approach. This is definitely a more realistic method and all of a sudden you use a rocket launcher to destroy the building the sniper, which is definitely video game logic to me. Anyway, this is still one, or perhaps the best looking shooter fans are looking forward to, as the series continues at the end of this month.

The Gameplay Debut Clip for Batman: Arkham City

If you're not hyped for Batman: Arkham City yet, this new clip which finally shows off some gameplay will change your mind for the good. So far, it looks like Rocksteady is ready to avoid the sophomore slump.

New Music Roundup!!! (feat. Chris Breezy & Britney)

Haven't done this in a while, so its time once again for a little music roundup featuring two big albums by mainstream stars.

First up is the latest with Chris Brown called F.A.M.E. This was originally slated to come out late last year, but the delays have been worth it for a more complete album featuring some of the biggest hits in the past year. Starting off with the megahit "Dueces" is a pretty good idea as the rest of the album mixes the fast and slow tempo R&B (such as "No Bull****")/pop songs well. Even Breezy wants to kick in the rap in his current single "Look at Me Now" which features Busta Rhymes' ridiculously fast flow with his verse (nearly Twista-like) and Lil' Wayne. It turned to be my personal favorites in the album and continues to show off Chris's wide skillset he has been known for years. There's also the clubby pop stuff with his smash hit, "Yeah 3x," and the Benny Benassi produced "Beautiful People" which serve their purpose in the album exceptionally well. What I didn't expect in the album at first and will probably end up as a future single is "Next 2 You" featuring one Justin Bieber. Personally, I expect that to be big if it makes it to radio stations. After the whole Rihanna incident, it seemed like it was end of the line for Chris Brown to me, but he turned it around significantly doing what he does best as F.A.M.E. is his best album post RiRi. Its safe to say we are all past that and he's able to put out a successful record that will be on top of the mainstream charts for a while.

This came out to the internets earlier than I thought it would and of course I had to get it right away. Its safe to say that Britney Spears has been through a lot lately with her career and her personal life. After her successful Circus album being somewhat her comeback to pop royalty, there is nowhere to go but up for her latest Femme Fatale. Going up was probably the right mindset as Britney took no prisoners to make the album as good as it is. Of course, I started listening to this album with little to no expectations, but I'm amazingly surprised (and shocked) that is a full album with basically no filler tracks at all. This is arguably Britney's best album yet, which at first isn't saying much considering her track record over the years, but it is actually that good which the majority of the songs having single potential. Sure, it is still catchy pop at its core, but this is Britney being the pop queen she is. "Till the World Ends" and "Hold It Against Me," her current singles are still getting radio playback like no other as you can't listen to the mainstream stations without hearing Brit once every hour and also great starters for the album. The rest of the album though is what surprised me the most becoming the full album it is. "Inside Out" and "I Wanna Go" are high in rotation and among my favorites so far. Britney dabbled with the clubby pop first with her Blackout album, the sleeper favorite among fans, and still messed around with it for Circus, but it is increased to eleven for Femme Fatale to the point she entered dubstep territory. The dub influences have been spread out throughout the album, as a friend of mine called it "popstep," so we'll see if Britney is setting a new standard for other pop artists to dabble with dubstep because we all know music artists these days want to be trendy just to stay relevant. The one personal stinker for me with this album is "Big Fat Bass" because count on Will.I.Am to ruin things with his production and annoying vocals. Then again, I'm still on my hate phase for him and the rest of the BEP currently. Even the one slow track at the end, "Criminal," is pretty good and shows signs of old school Britney. All in all, Femme Fatale is Britney's statement to take pop supermacy once again and it is one very good statement she made. Now I'm looking more forward to Lady Gaga's new album to see she is able to keep the crown.

Some Brief Time w/ the 3DS...

Note - This is the Kotaku video of Pilotwings Resort in action from the 3DS event a couple months ago. After the video is my brief thoughts with the handheld.

I stopped by my local Best Buy earlier today to see if they have a playable 3DS kiosk and I was right. Pilotwings Resort is the only game playable in demo form as Nintendo pretty much made the flight parts of Wii Sports Resort into its own game with the Pilotwings name along with some additional stuff that wasn't in the Wii game. I think the island is nearly the same from that game as you fly around with various vehicles completing missions. From planes, jetpacks, to hang gliders, there is a sense of variety of flight in the game, but it definitely looks like a launch game content-wise. The missions in the demo had me flying through rings in expected Pilotwings fashion and shooting targets (also from the Wii game). As a launch game, Pilotwings Resort seems fine to me, but not really killer-app (or must get) worthy during this window.

As for the handheld itself, I'm happy how similar it is the normal DS other than the significant additions. Of course, there is the 3D, which is the selling point, as you can use the slider to toggle between 2D and 3D. Most importantly, the 3D effect works for the most part without glasses, which is proof that the concept can work. Besides that, I didn't really notice any crazy 3D stuff playing Pilotwings, but the screen is indeed functional. The analog pad also seems to be a fine addition to the handheld for primary movement. I'm curious how Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition will be handled with that since the d-pad is under the analog pad as I would be rather using the d-pad for execution purposes. I can see why putting your eyes close to the screen can get a little tiresome after hours of playing as Nintendo does tell you the ideal distance to play it at the kiosk for safety precautions. Also, not to rag on my Best Buy, but for such an upcoming device like the 3DS, you would put it somewhere front and center rather than be hidden somewhere in the back to increase promotion and get people interested if they're not sure.

After my brief time with the 3DS, the handheld seems fine as they kept what was necessary from the normal DS Lites along with adding the 3D and the analog pad. Pilotwings Resort seems to be okay for a tech demo, but nothing else. Also these kiosks are not designed for tall people like me as it is more catered to kids, so its weird to me to play it bending a little bit to see everything. I still want to try out other games like SSFIV3D before coming up with a better opinion. Plus, the launch lineup is still pretty bare bones when the thing comes out on the 27th, but I'm expecting to sell like hotcakes at the gate since its still a well made handheld by Nintendo and the name alone would be enough for people to get it right away. We just to have to wait a little longer for better games that will take advantage what the system is capable off in the coming months, but at least its another excuse to play more Pokemon Black & White.

Quick Hands-On with the Motorstorm: Apocalypse Demo

A demo for Motorstorm: Apocalypse is out on the European Playstation Store, which the final game will came out there next week and next month here at the States. This is the third game in Sony's intense racing franchise and Evolution Studios decided to ditch the treacherous and mountainous landscapes of the previous games for a post-apocalyptic modern setting with modern looking cars. It is about time that it decides to mess around with more urbanized environments, but it is still Motorstorm at its core. Apocalypse is basically a combination of Motorstorm and Split Second with how it handles destructible environments to change up the track you're racing on as it maintains the control and intensity the franchise is known for. As an arcade racer, this is still one of the intense racing games you'll play this generation with opponents being aggressive to the point they want to take you out and rubberband A.I. that keeps the action down to the wire as one screw up can lead to defeat. The core controls are still the same with accelerating and boosting, but Motorstorm games have their own physics of how the vehicles control. Even the supercar that is available in the demo can feel a little weird at times, so players have to adjust to the physics the franchise has had throughout its existence again. Other than the supercar playable, there is a motorbike also to try out in the demo and its similar to previous bike experiences in past games in the one track that this demo offers.

As I mentioned before, the destructible environments play a significant role in later parts of the race as a context sensitive button press opens up the track in a bit for more alternative routes as seen in last year's Split Second. Unlike that game though, these events unfold at certain parts of the track rather than saving up a meter to make a certain piece of environment explode for example in order to take out an opposing vehicle and open up a new route. You can still wreck opponents that way, but the opportunities are limited unlike Split Second and you can still ram down opponents Burnout style as well. After playing through the demo, Motorstorm Apocalypse is shaping up to be another worthy addition to the franchise changing things up a bit while keeping the core racing fundamentals it has been known for intact. The final game will have a story mode, which I'm curious how that will turn out, but besides that big addition, its more Motorstorm, and as someone who likes arcade racers, I do need that fix after grinding it out with Gran Turismo 5 several months back.