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Big Download awards 2009's vaporware

by Xav de Matos { Dec 23rd 2009 at 11:30PM }

In response to Wired's own 2009 vaporware awards, our pals at BigDownload have complied their own list of software and hardware that woulda, coulda and shoulda seen the light of day this year. Topping the list is the streaming service OnLive, which was slated to release in "winter 2009," following a healthy dose of beta testing. While reception for the service has been mostly positive, OnLive's claims have yet to be tested on a global stage (during E3 2009, OnLive was previewed for select media via a cable modem connection to the service's California-based headquarters).

Other nods go to Gearbox Software's oft-delayed -- we'll believe it when we see it -- Aliens: Colonial Marines, Obsidian's "oh, by the way, it's not coming out today" Alpha Protocol, and Midway's This Is ~~Canceled~~ Vegas. Sadly, Duke Nukem Forever failed to win an award for what would have been a record twelfth-straight year.

Aliens vs. Predator Hunter Edition to violently hug your face

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 23rd 2009 at 11:30AM }

It's official -- the new trend for video game special editions is the inclusion of things to put right on your face. For Modern Warfare 2, it was the ever-practical night-vision goggles. For Halo 3, it was a Spartan helmet, which offered cranial protection to the small-of-head. The Aliens vs. Predator Hunter Edition, which was announced for Europe earlier this month but confirmed for a U.S. release earlier today, includes one of the franchise's "facehugger" aliens, which ... well, we bet it serves some utility as well.

For instance, say you've had a really large, luxurious beard for most of your life, then for circumstances beyond your control, you have to shave it. Your face will be so cold and lonely -- but not once it knows the fleshy embrace of the facehugger's unrelenting grasp. Oh, there's other stuff in the special edition too, such as a graphic novel, four extra multiplayer maps and a Weyland Yutani sleeve badge -- but can these bonuses comfort your recently shorn visage? No, they cannot. Check past the jump for the full image of the bundle.

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Resonance of Fate demo available on Xbox Live and PSN in Japan

by JC Fletcher { Dec 23rd 2009 at 6:00AM }

Interested in Resonance of Fate but afraid of being burned by another tri-Ace RPG? If you have access to a Japanese PlayStation Network account or (less likely) a Japanese Xbox 360, you can sample the game today. Sega released a demo of the gunplay RPG in Japan, with a tutorial that Siliconera reports is easy enough to follow along with even in Japanese. We were able to suss out the mechanics during TGS with little issue, but we doubt the downloadable demo includes a Sega rep, as our TGS demo did.

What won't be easy to follow along with is the story and dialogue -- but referring once again to Star Ocean 4, maybe that's not the worst thing.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Christmas trailer is kinda creepy

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 23rd 2009 at 1:00AM }

To be fair, the above trailer isn't terribly creepy in and of itself. It's a fairly straightforward illustration of what gamers can expect from Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. That is to say, it's a kart racing game with a cast of colorful characters (and Ryo Hazuki, for some reason) and nifty power-ups. Frankly, we think most gamers can get behind the idea of transforming into Super Sonic in order to mow down the competition and win the race, so all of that is pretty acceptable.

The creepy part, you see, is the music behind the trailer. Specifically, it's a parody of the classic holiday tune, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." What's so creepy about that, you ask? We're not exactly sure. Maybe it's just how earnestly it's being sung. Watch for yourself and maybe you'll see what we mean.

PSN Tuesday: PSN and Sega sales

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 22nd 2009 at 8:35PM }

The final PSN update of 2009 is all about the sales, with PSN and Sega DLC getting price cuts. There will be no update next week due to the holiday. Also, for all you epic space-opera shooter fans, Wing Commander IV is available as a PSone Classic for $6 -- the thing weighs in at 2.25GB. Check out the full PSN update after the break.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

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Video of Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll's minigames

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 22nd 2009 at 8:15PM }

Sega has released a new trailer showcasing some of the minigames to be featured in Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll. Favorite games make a return, namely the target drop game that's been around since the original Super Monkey Ball on GameCube. There are several other games in the mix, including a firefighting game, a ninja star deflection game, skydiving and ... erm ... hip wrestling. Yeah, that's it. Hip wrestling. See it all in the trailer above.

Expect the game to roll onto North American shores February 9.

Metareview: Bayonetta

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 22nd 2009 at 7:30PM }

We may still have a few more weeks before the hair-based weapon wielding Bayonetta arrives on US shores, but that doesn't mean that reviewers haven't gotten their hands on the region-free, fully translated PlayStation 3 Japanese release (and the lucky folks at Official Xbox Magazine seem to have secured an extra early Xbox 360 review copy). Regardless of the downright silly nature of the game's story and characters, Bayonetta has thus far received universal acclaim from the critics. Here's what some had to say.

Edge (100/100): "A beautiful and graceful fighting game that lets imagination loose, and winks before slapping Dante, Kratos and every other hero back to the drawing board."
Eurogamer (9/10): "It's in combat that Bayonetta's splendour is fully revealed ... a blast of creative brilliance, both technically accomplished, strategically deep and infused with rare imagination, Bayonetta represents the pinnacle of its chosen niche."
Official Xbox Magazine (90/100): "Every one of these dazzling battles is thrilling without overstaying its welcome - and also challenges you without being cheap"
Play.tm (95%): "Bayonetta could - and should - breathe fresh life into the ailing Japanese action genre ... an unrivalled showcase of imagination and creativity."

Source 1 - Metacritic PS3
Source 2 - Metacritic Xbox 360

Gallery: Bayonetta

Sega discounting select Virtual Console titles for the holidays

by Xav de Matos { Dec 22nd 2009 at 7:15PM }

Sega and Nintendo have teamed up to offer players a few holiday VC deals, announcing on Sega's UK blog that select Virtual Console titles will be discounted for a limited time. From December 24, 2009, until January 6, 2010, select titles will be reduced to 500 Wii Points each from down from 800 Wii Points.

Titles getting the 40% off treatment include such Genesis classics as ToeJam & Earl, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Gunstar Heroes, Puyo Puyo 2, Golden Axe, Shining Force and Streets of Rage. Also, for the lump of coal types, Sega has discounted the "admit it, it stinks" brawler, Altered Beast. It's a great offer for new Wii owners, or those looking to relive their lost youth.

Sega games & DLC discounted 40% on PSN today

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 22nd 2009 at 5:30PM }

Sega has unwrapped a special holiday treat for PlayStation Network users today. Until January 7, all Sega downloads for PS3 and PSP from the PlayStation Store will be marked down 40 percent. Yes! That Sonic Unleashed DLC is finally within reach!

In all seriousness, this is a prime opportunity to stock up on some decent PSP games, like Crush ($9.59). Or, haven't nabbed the Valkyria Chronicles DLC yet? Now you have no excuse! The full list of discounted games and add-ons is posted after the break.

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New Aliens vs. Predator trailer says it's about story, actually about gutting

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 22nd 2009 at 1:00PM }

This is one of those situations where we wish we could just call up Mr. Sega (that's who runs Sega, right?) and ask him what he was thinking. How could he have possibly claimed this latest Aliens vs. Predator trailer has something to do with "story?"

Here's the entire plot: There are humans, there are also Aliens, as well as a Predator. That's it! What else do you need, folks? Much like the snake and the mongoose (or 50 Cent and helicopters), these factions are natural enemies of each other. No story is required for them to make with the murdalizing -- they just do. Check out the trailer above for further confirmation of our position on the subject.

Gallery: Aliens vs Predator

Bayonetta trailer invents unsettling new term: 'hair moves'

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 18th 2009 at 8:38PM }

Thus far, Bayonetta has exposed us to a litany of disturbing oddities. First we were exposed to the expression "non-stop climax action." Then came the uncomfortable revelation of Bayonetta's "sexy" dancing. And now, we must forever live with the term "hair moves." As the ancient Egyptians figured out long ago, hair is gross. Short of the occasional Rita Hayworth hair toss, hair really shouldn't be moving at all. And it certainly shouldn't be transforming into giant boots, fists or demons.

Alas, this is the proposition you face should you desire to play Bayonetta. You've been warned.

Banjo-Kazooie hit the track in Sega All-Stars Racing trailer

by David Hinkle { Dec 18th 2009 at 12:15PM }

Rare's bear and backpacked bird make their debut in this latest Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing trailer. The Banjo-Kazooie team tear up the track big-truck style -- mainly because they're in a big friggin' truck. The trailer also takes care to remind us Avatars will be playable in the Xbox 360 version of the game -- but, really, who cares? Banjo and Kazooie are in a big friggin' truck!

Sega: Aliens vs. Predator reclassified in Australia without edits

by JC Fletcher { Dec 18th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Sega has announced its victory in the fight over whether or not Australians will get to (legally) play Aliens vs. Predator. According to a statement given to Kotaku, Sega has successfully appealed the OFLC's decision to refuse classification to the FPS and has secured the game a rating of MA-15+, which has yet to be reflected in the OFLC database.

"We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever," Sega Australia general manager Darren Macbeth told Kotaku. "This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians".

We now urge our Australian friends not to do anything that might appear even the least bit inspired by this game. If you see a ravenous, monstrous alien, let it go unblasted.

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll gameplay trailer

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 16th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll is something of a troubling proposition. Sure, it might be fun at first -- something we can attest to -- but it could very easily become the most maddening experience in video games. Remember all the times you fell off the old Monkey Ball levels while using the precision inputs of a controller? Yeah, that's probably going to happen a lot more with the Balance Board. That said, after watching the above video, we'll be darned if we don't wanna give it a try.

Banjo & Kazooie spotted on Xbox version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 15th 2009 at 7:39PM }

One of these box arts is not like the others. Yep, you'll notice that the Xbox 360 version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing has two added bonuses: Banjo and Kazooie. At first, we were quick to dismiss the image as nothing more than a fan mock-up. However, TSSZ discovered that all of these box arts can be seen on Sega's server (Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii).

If the addition of Banjo and Kazooie to Sega's kart racer sounds familiar, it's because it was part of a Sega leak earlier this year that contemplated this exact partnership. Revisiting the supposedly leaked Sega document reveals a number of bullet points that have already come true: the PS3 price drop, Alpha Protocol's delay and Yakuza's localization. The addition of Banjo & Kazooie to the Sonic racer is a nice bonus; however, should other aspects of the Sega document come true, it could mean PS2 and Dreamcast games are coming to PSN.

[Thanks Tristan!]