Thursday, November 18, 2010

Rage HD (iPhone) review


What, has Id Software's new video game been leaked a year before the release!? No, but you will get a great preview on your iPhone.

John Carmack is a genius. What he does with his programming is nothing you can teach or even force out. He has a very rare talent whom few have. We have seen the results of it ever since Id Software became famous with Doom, revolutionized multiplayer with Quake and won every German game award for "Most Polygons" with the third game about the horrors of hell. Now, he intends to change the mobile market.

I read an interview with Carmack a few years ago where he described the happiness of finding his way back to his code roots, siting alone with a project and let your fingers do the magic with very limited basis. He also said that it would be very difficult to do a good shooter for mobile phones but with Rage HD he surprises everyone, probably also himself.

Rage HD is a full blown gaming experience and with classic Id-style, they push the technology without mercy. The nameless and always silent main character moves by himself, leaving you to control the sight which is done at the absolute best way I've ever experienced on the platform. To tilt the phone and let the gyro do the work sounds like a bad solution in advance, but once you get started, it feels very natural. It's also possible to control the sight by dragging your finger, which works great as well. In the corners of the screen, you will find buttons to shoot, reload and switch weapons. Simple but very effective.

With that information, you're ready to participate in the show Mutant Bash TV. The game is based on that show, and each track is a new episode. At launch, there're three levels: an apartment complex, a madhouse and a bunker. I wouldn't be surprised if more is released in a future update. On paper, the content may seem slim but since you are looking for high scores and reviews rather than to clear the tracks, although that in itself can be a challenge at first, it will last for a very long time.

Points can be scored, not surprisingly, by shooting the mutants that will crawl and jump out of all possible places. There're bags to pick, ammunition to collect and stationary targets to hit so you can count on that you will be busy from the start. During my first play-through I didn't do much more than shoot mutants. The entire process is on time so if you want to end up at the top charts you need to hit everything at a very fast rate. It simply smells Id and it's a taste I'll never get tired of.

The Texas company also shows tremendous confidence when they release Rage first on mobile phones, we're after all one year away from seeing their first major game in 14 years.

Overall: Rage HD is a must have for all that wants to play an awesome FPS on their iDevices. With great controls and impressive graphics make this one of the best games on the iPhone.

Review: Rage HD (iPhone) XXXX [4/5].

Friday, November 12, 2010

LP Underground X: Demos CD Track Listing

The track list of LPUX has surfaced the Internet. The CD was sold at the LPU Summit in London, so it's just a matter of time before it leaks.

Last years LPU CD was very good, I gave it five out five "X" (read my review here). I think this years CD is going to be even better. All the tracks look interesting except the "What I've Done" remix, but hopefully it's a different remix from the one we've already heard.

You can see the entire track listing below.

LP Underground X: Demos

01. "Unfortunate" (Unreleased Demo 2002)
02. "What We Don't Know" (
Unreleased Demo 2007)
03. "Oh No" (Points of Authority Demo)
04. "I Have Not Begun" (
Unreleased Demo 2009)
05. "Pale" (
Unreleased Demo 2006)
06. "Pretend To Be" (
Unreleased Demo 2008)
07. "Divided" (
Unreleased Demo 2005)
08. "What I've Done" (M.Shinoda Remix)
09. "Coal" (
Unreleased Demo 1997)
10. "Halo" (
Unreleased Demo 2002)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

New L.A. Noire trailer released


Rockstar has finally released a new trailer of L.A. Noire. The first trailer, which looked pre-rendered, was released 2006 and contained very few colors. This time it's in-game footage and contains bright colors. It also shows the most realistic facial animations since Heavy Rain.

L.A. Noire will be released Spring 2011. We will hopefully receive more information before that. This video game is a must-have because I know it's going to be awesome! Another "masterpiece" to my PlayStation 3 collection.

Watch the new trailer below!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Linkin Park Underground X launches

Year ten of Linkin Park Underground launches today. There will be a few differences this year. Be sure to check the new LPU site for further details. You can read the post from the LPU headquarters below.

We’re excited to announce that starting today, you will be able to active your LPUX membership pre-order or transfer your LPU9 membership. Please be on the lookout for an email from Linkin Park with the subject “Redeem Your LPUX Membership NOW” which includes a unique code you will use to activate membership to LPUX. It is your responsibility to redeem this code IMMEDIATELY to continue your current subscription.

This is the first part of the LPUX roll out where you will ONLY be activating your membership or transferring your LPU9 membership over. LPUX community features, downloads, merch and more will be rolling out in the coming weeks.

The main focus of LPUX is all about giving you more (and better) Linkin Park experiences than ever before. As part of LPUX, we have already given you the opportunity to attend special events like the laser light show featuring a Q&A with Linkin Park, access to LP’s VMA’s performance, the New York City release show, the EMA’s, 2010 LP tour presales, and the upcoming LPU Summit. We’ve also opened up the LPU meet & greets at shows to include even more fans and all 6 members of Linkin Park.

We hope you’re as excited as we are about LPUX. The main goal is to give you the opportunity to take part in exciting experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Thanks for your continued support and patience through this transition. Join LPUX today.

-LPUHQ

P.S. If you do not receive an email with your unique code (make sure to check your spam/junk folders) by Friday, November 5 or have any issues redeeming, please submit a support ticket at https://app.topspin.net/account/help_public.

"With this, the 10th edition of the Linkin Park Underground, we commit to you a renewed, re-energized version of the LPU experience. This is no longer a fan club; this is a membership to our inner circle."

-MIKE SHINODA