1.29.2010

God of War III Ultimate Edition Revealed

I knew to expect something spectacular for the "God of War III" Ultimate Edition, but consider me completely taken by surprise. The Ultimate Edition has got it all for GOW fans and what better way to see off the final chapter of the GOW trilogy. The ghost of Sparta is back and he bringeth us gifts from the Gods. Enter the Ultimate Edition...

Along with the game, and an artbook that's sure to please, fans will also get a nice helping of exclusive digital content including: God of War Combat Arena containing an exclusive environment and seven challenges; Premium Dominus Kratos skin; Full-length movie documentary called "God of War: Unearthing the Legend;" The GOW trilogy soundtrack; and the GOW: Blood and Metal EP - a heavy metal homage.

And for the "piece de resistance," all this comes in your very own high-end sculpted Pandora's box. And if you pre-order from Amazon now, you get access to the E3 2009 demo and well as an in-game Apollo Skin. The Ultimate Edition is due out March 16th and is retailed at $100.

So do you dare open Pandora's Box?

1.28.2010

Vocaloid Toeto Vinyl Figure

Warning...the following you are about to witness holds an incredible degree of cuteness not for the faint of heart...

The popular character 'Toeto', created as a spin-off from 'Character Vocal Series 03: Luka Megurine', is a bashful, cuter version of Luka wearing an adorable cat hat - and now she is getting her very own big soft vinyl figure care of Good Smile Company. Pre-orders are open with a release date of April 2010 and a price tag of 3,500 yen.

Hard to resist? Then reserve yours at Hobby Search and AmiAmi. [Source: Good Smile Company]

1.20.2010

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Welcome back to Silent Hill. And when I say "back" I mean back to the roots that started it all, to the beginning of what made Silent Hill fans hooked, back to what it meant to roam the streets of Silent Hill, but with a new twist. For long time fans, gameplay will seem familar yet refreshingly new and updated.

Psychological terror. The power to instill the most fear is indeed self-inflicted, and Shattered Memories puts you in the hot seat. Literally. You are immediately greeted with a warning that "this game plays you as much as you play it." By the end of the game, you gain insight to yourself as Shattered Memories psychologically profiles you.

In this nightmare, the heavy fog is replaced with snow and just like in a dream you are helpless to defend against any abominations. That's right, you can't fight back, all you can do from preventing your inevitable end is to run. And all this running most definitely adds to the hype and fear of what lurks around every corner. In short, the game focuses on providing the most perfect atmosphere for great psychological storytelling.

Harry Mason's world begins to take a turn for the worse, when he loses control of his car in a town called Silent Hill and awakens to discover that his 7-year-old daughter, Cheryl, is missing. As he sets off searching for Cheryl and piecing together the fragments of the memory of the accident, his path crosses several residents.

Shattered Memories does a great job in pacing and has a nice blend of perspectives. You may find yourself roaming the stormy streets of Silent Hill, and then suddenly confronted with the "other side" of Silent Hill, trapped in a maze of puzzles and nightmares. You'll also find yourself in several first-person sequences as you and your therapist hash it out during your sessions. You'll be asked to complete simple exercises and answer uncomfortable personal questions about fear and sexuality. There's even a fun little exercise where you color a picture. Without giving away too much, the answers you give affect the characters you'll encounter and the story that unfolds.

I have very little negative criticism to offer. Firstly, Shattered Memories is incredibly short. Though the pacing was on point and the storyline solid, the game is not very long at all. In fact, the first play through took me about 7 hours and subsequent plays took no more than 6 hours. Other than that, the nightmare mazes can seem a bit redundant, daunting, and frankly, pretty frustrating. There were at least 2 mazes that required several attempts. Nevertheless, these shortcomings don't hinder gameplay. Shattered Memories is a refreshing addition to the Silent Hill franchise and pays homage to its roots of psychological terror.

1.19.2010

Square Enix Digital Clock Give-away

If you are anything like me, you have a profound adoration for all things Square Enix...or perhaps, all things Final Fantasy. The Square Enix Shop has always been a favorite of mine -- that hard-to-find piece of merchandise with prices that match the high-quality straight from the source.

Well as a special thanks for Square Enix customers, the online shop is offering a Square Enix Digital Clock to customers placing orders exceeding $100.00 (excluding tax and S&H) between January 19th and February 19th. This free gift is only available while supplies last. This comes in perfect timing with the arrivals of some very stunning Final Fantasy XIII collectibles.

So if there's something you've been meaning to get, perhaps now might be the right time...