Ben-DutkaWell, it's Memorial Day Weekend, and the past week saw plenty of interesting developments and news, so I'll get ya updated on my thoughts a day early.
So Ubisoft is doing a Beowulf game
Thanks to that Ubidays press event, we learned about a lot of upcoming projects from this huge publisher, and one of them was their Beowulf game . Now, this probably intrigues me more than it does other people, so let me explain why: I don't know about anyone else, but I read the epic poem, "Beowulf," in high school and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much, I went and voluntarily read the book based on that poem, "Grendel," which is the story told from the monster's perspective (one of the best books I've ever read, by the way). I also liked The 13th Warrior , even though it really didn't have anything to do with the poem; in the poem, Grendel was a single monster and Beowulf battled him (and his mother, I believe) to the depths of the ocean for three days. Fantastical, yes, but that was the point.
Thing is, I know this is an awesome concept for a game, but I just hope Ubisoft tries to make their title at least somewhat similar to the poem. Those of you who have read it know what I mean; that literary piece is almost perfect for a video game! Do it good, Ubi, do it good…
Warhawk Beta Live, I'm Invited
So we told you the Warhawk beta was now available on the Network if you were selected. The sign-up process was simple, and it appears I'll be taking to the skies ASAP to check things out. Now, I'm not a big flight game fan, and I really don't know what to expect…but I do know this could be a really solid title, provided Incognito actually came through. I've heard some early feedback, and so far, it's mostly positive with a few fairly significant exceptions. I won't get into them, because they're hardly trusted sources, but I'll be sure to post my own impressions. I'll let y'all know how things went during my own beta testing of Warhawk , and don't worry: if it sucks, I'll say so. It's my duty as a beta tester, isn't it? 😉
I have to wonder how some games get made
So my last review was for Legend of the Dragon , and while I didn't know much about the cartoon, I hadn't played a fighting game in a while, and I was interested. As you can see, it turned out to be a truly horrendous title, one with absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever. Hot on the heels of that almost-as-terrible ScoCross 2 game, I'm starting to wonder how these games even get made. We had plenty of low-budget laugh-fests back in the 8-bit and 16-bit days, but I honestly thought we were beyond that. I just refuse to believe The Game Factory has zero development talent and no QA process; something is amiss, here. What do we have to do to keep this from happening?
Well, we probably can't do anything about it. I just don't understand how this game would sell even one copy, let alone enough for the publisher to turn a profit. And if this continues to happen, how does the trash continue to endure? Oh well, it's just a part of every entertainment industry, I guess, but I still think it's a little strange.
DMC 4 Slips To 2008… 'cries'
Aw, damn. So Devil May Cry 4 has been delayed until next year, which is bad news. First MGS 4, now DMC 4? And the 2007 holiday season was looking so good, too. 🙁 We can still look forward to GTA IV and Halo 3 (and supposedly, maybe Final Fantasy XIII ), but I was hoping for my hot action fix; Devil May Cry always kicks much ass. Now, I'm seriously considering a Ninja Gaiden Sigma purchase, simply because it would serve as a worthy replacement. I still don't like the idea of shelling out $60 for a game I've already played, even though I'm well aware of all the additions and enhancements. I just like the DMC series better, anyway, and I was really looking forward to DMC 4 this year.
Life goes on, I guess. And besides, it'll be good to have such a huge title come out in early 2008; traditionally, January and February are veritable software wastelands.
Personal Gaming Update
I'm still playing Kingdom Hearts II , but I also picked up Odin Sphere , as I said I would last week. I've been very encouraged by the positive reviews it has received thus far – despite the significant slowdown issue I'm well aware of – so I want to dive into that ASAP. Of course, KH II has to be completed first, and I still have to give that Warhawk beta a whirl. Beyond that, I'm looking closer and closer at The Darkness in late June; it just seems like it has a ton of potential. Starbreeze, remember? Chronicles of Riddick ? Yeah, with that game under their belt, I've got plenty of confidence in that developer.
Oh, and the faster Level 5 can bring us White Knight Story , the better. That video is just plain awesome .