TECMO KOEI AMERICA recently announced the release of Tecmo Bowl ThrowBack coming to Xbox Live Arcade in Spring 2010. And I say it is about time. Anyone who had a NES or an SNES can remember the hours wasted playing your friends or families and the trash talk of who was the best Tecmo Bowl player of all time. I know I have a few personal scores to settle with my brothers. Here is the overview from Tecmo:
TECMO BOWL THROWBACK brings back the gameplay you loved, and stays true to the Tecmo Super Bowl legacy! Challenge friends in online multiplayer mode in either the classic 2D style or in the new, modern 3D graphics. Local and online multiplayer mode is up to two players.
Some of the features included in the new Tecmo Bowl Throwback:
Online Multiplayer
2D and 3D Graphics
Customizable Teams and Rosters
Online Leaderboards
Classic Game Modes
So save up your MS Points and get ready to click and clack your way to victory when Tecmo Bowl Throwback hits Xbox Live Arcade this Spring.
When Ubisoft debuted the Ghost Recon: Future Soldier trailer, we’re pretty sure they had high hopes. Instead, one of the trailer’s key pieces of near-future technology, the optical camo, was almost immediately dubbed the “Harry Potter Cloak” by the internet. With anti-Ubi gamers lining up to take pot-shots at the inclusion, and pro-Ubi’s worried it moves the franchise toward the Halo realm, the French manufacturer wallowed into the muddy mire to set the record straight.
In the statement, posted to their message boards, Ubi said, “In general Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is based on the very real Future Soldier Initiative 2030, which is a U.S. Army R&D program run by the US Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Optical camo, like other technologies in Future Solider, is a near-future reality, and this is why we chose to include it in GRFS.”
As anticipation for the baseball season begins to build, 2K Sports is bringing the heat by unveiling the music soundtrack for Major League Baseball® 2K10, the next iteration of the popular Major League Baseball® 2K series. Featuring an eclectic array of sounds chosen to enhance the virtual baseball experience, the artists selected for this season range from rock legends Pearl Jam* and Social Distortion, to rap pioneers The Sugarhill Gang and Black Sheep, along with popular up-and-coming acts such as Cage the Elephant and Phoenix.
"I couldn’t have put together a better soundtrack that reflects the spirit of baseball fans if I created it myself," said Evan Longoria, All-Star third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays® and cover athlete for Major League Baseball 2K10. "Every game needs a killer soundtrack, and that’s what we definitely have in Major League Baseball 2K10."
First there was Liberty City. Then we had Vice City and San Andreas. Then we had Liberty City again. Now, coming this Summer, Disney•Pixar will bring us an open world adventure to….ANDY’S BEDROOM and you get to create it.
Disney Interactive Studios today officially announced development of Toy Story 3: The Video Game new way to enjoy the Toy Story universe. Unveiled at the American International Toy Fair in New York City by Mary Beech, general manager and vice president of franchise development and marketing for Disney Consumer Products, Toy Story 3: The Video Game will feature film adventures along with Disney’s first open-world gameplay for kids. Inspired by the upcoming Disney•Pixar animated film, Toy Story 3: The Video Game is due on retail shelves June 15, 2010.
At today’s MCW 2010 Press Event, Microsoft announced what may be the most important announcement of the year for Xbox users: full Xbox LIVE integration with Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7. Players will now be able to achieve the same functions as most of the Xbox 360 Dashboard, including: spotlight feed, looking at achievements and gamer profiles, marveling (or mocking) other players’ avatars, and even… *drum roll* being able to play certain Xbox LIVE Games. Check out the video and links below for more information.
Xbox announced a few games today at their X10 event, see the full press release after the break as well as a few more pictures. We can also expect Final Fantasy and it’s Special Edition Console to be released on March 9 for $400. Other games announced at X10 include Fable III, the CES newly-announced Game Room, Halo: Reach, and the Xbox exclusive Modern Warfare 2 Map Pack.
And here would be the “Official Press Release” about Mass Effect 2:
Welcome back Commander Shepard. Prepare to fight for the lost! BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that Mass Effect™ 2, the sequel to the award-winning science-fiction phenomena Mass Effect, has begun shipping to retailers worldwide. Noted for its intense shooter gameplay and deep, hand-crafted story, Mass Effect 2 has received universal acclaim from top media outlets around the world, earning an average review score of 97 based on 29 reviews on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, making the game the second highest rated game for the platform of all time and 95 on PC.*
This includes perfect scores from 360 Magazine (5/5), Destructoid (10/10), Eurogamer (10/10), Eurogamer Italy (10/10), Eurogamer Spain (10/10), G4 TV (5/5), Game Daily (10/10), Gamespy.com (5/5), GamesRadar (10/10), gamesTM (10/10), Official Xbox Magazine UK (10/10), TeamXbox (10/10), Total PC Gaming (10/10), VideoGamer.com (10/10) and X360 Magazine (10/10). Time Magazine says Mass Effect 2 is “the Avatar of video games – except it’s better written”, and USAToday.com says “Mass Effect 2 sets the bar high for 2010.”
Cover athlete Evan Longoria to be joined by seven of the top players in Major League Baseball®
January 7, 2010 – In addition to cover athlete Evan Longoria, third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays®, 2K Sports announced today that they have partnered with seven additional elite baseball superstars to help promote Major League Baseball® 2K10. The players will form an impressive council, who will serve as active spokesmen and invaluable gameplay advisors for the title this season. These seven players were selected not only for their excellence on the baseball diamond, but also for their commitment and desire to help create the most authentic MLB video game to date.
I, for one, will be taking part in this challenge. Even though I’m a Knicks fan at heart, there’s no way their current roster would get me beyond the first round. Look out for me and the Magic!
We’ll be online for an official Xbox community playdate on Wednesday, March 24, starting at 8:00 P.M. ET (5:00 P.M. PT) playing Modern Warfare 2. If you're a Gold Member, send a friend request to one of these gamertags, and we’ll add you to the list! (You’ll also get a friend request from Xbox 360 Digest confirming your interest.) Pkort BillyK128 FlashAK TNT82 Teh Emo Penguin RZAN0L0GY Zayden1620 ...
Review: Greed Corp
The Digest: A unique turn-based strategy game that will either thrill you to the core or make you want to jam freshly-sharpened pencils in your eyes. To put it right out there - Greed Corp is not a game for those new to the strategy genre. While the premise of the game is rather simple, it has many elements that will drive an unseasoned TPS player to madness without a lot of hesitation.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2010
PUBLISHER: Xbox LIVE Arcade
DEVELOPER: Valcon Games LLC / W!Games
ESRB RATING: “E” for Everyone
GENRE: Strategy & Simulation
PRICE: 800 MS Points ($10)
Insane Mass Effect 2 Class Guide
The recommendations in this guide are geared toward the Hardcore/Insanity difficulty. Since almost all enemies have an extra layer of protection or two (Armor/Barrier/Shield), this takes into account which combinations are most effective at stripping away an enemies defense. On the lower level difficulties, where you don’t need to worry about extra defensive layers, then feel free investing points into other abilities such as Pull, Throw, Cryo Blast, etc. When you mainly only need to take into account enemy health, then that’s where classes such as the Adept and Vanguard, shine.
Review: Bioshock 2
The Digest: 2K Marin dives back into the depths of Rapture to experience life like never before, as a Big Daddy. As a giant walking through the depths of the unknown, 2K Marin and Digital Extremes deliver all of the excitement from the original game, while improving it, and add a great multiplayer that will be sure to keep you playing this game for months.
The Fact Sheet
RELEASE DATE: February 9, 2010
PUBLISHER: 2K Games
DEVELOPER: 2K Marin, 2K Australia, Digital Extremes, and 2K China
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
GENRE: Shooter
Review: Bayonetta
The Digest: Somewhere in some secret lab, someone decided to combine the DNA of Dante from Devil May Cry, Ryu Hayabusa of Ninja Gaiden and Kratos from God of War. The result had to be the creation of one bad ass... Witch. I wouldn’t normally picture a witch carrying guns, but carrying guns on her boots? Yeah, only a witch could pull something like that off.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: January 5, 2010
PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Platinum Games
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
GENRE: Action
Bioshock 2 Collector’s Edition Review
The Digest: I'd like to note right away that I won't be talking about the game at all in this review - one of our other team members is taking care of that soon. This review is specifically about the contents of the Collector's Edition set for Bioshock 2 and whether or not it justifies the additional $40 price tag.
In short, the answer is yes. Read on to find out what all it includes, how it is packaged and see photos of the items. This isn't your normal junky bunch of plastic action figures and gimmick items, ...
Indie Review: Creed Arena
The Digest: Like all Indie games, Creed Arena uses a basic premise for the game. This works well as the focus is solely on game play. The dual shooter views come in handy, but they usually cater to the particular weapon you’re wielding. While it is a solid first attempt by developer Safari Studios, there are certainly improvements to be made.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: January 1st, 2010
DEVELOPER: Safari Studios
Platform: Xbox LIVE® Indie Games
GENRE: Shooter
PRICE: 400 MS Points
Review: Mass Effect 2
The Digest: Mass Effect 2 is nothing short of a masterpiece. The days of Square Enix ruling this market are long gone as BioWare continues to set the standard for future RPG’s. Improving upon all facets, while fixing many of the problems that plagued the first, the second chapter is leaps and bounds ahead. Using a combat heavy focus with a plethora of new weapons and powers, I can safely move this into one of my all time favorite games. THE FACT SHEET RELEASE DATE: January 26th, 2010 PUBLISHER: Electronic Arts ...
Review: Konnet Power Pyramid (Controller Charging Station)
Hello All! Today I’ve got another Xbox360 accessory review for you, this one though is for your controllers. Buying the charge and play kits can be expensive, and it’s cheaper to just buy a battery by itself as we know. The problem here is that you’ll need at least one charging cable, and then if you’ve got four controllers you have to share that cable with all of them so charging can take quite a while. Konnet has sent me over the Power Pyramid Xbox360 Controller Charging Station for review today. The Power ...
Review: Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1)
The Digest: Famously known for their Worms franchise, developer Team 17 has gone back to their roots. This remake of the Amiga classic does what the title suggests. While improving upon the originals top-down view with an isometric camera angle and improved graphics and sound, Alien Breed Evolution will have you wishing Ripley was right by your side.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: December 16th, 2009
PUBLISHER: Team 17
DEVELOPER: Team 17
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
GENRE: Action
PRICE: $10 (800MSP)
Most Anticipated in 2010
With 2009 having wrapped up a strong year in gaming, you can expect more of the same in the next 12 months. While there are a plethora of other games that will garner plenty of attention and praise, here’s a list of what we here at Xbox 360 Digest are most excited for.
In chronological order of release date (Confirmed & Expected), hit the jump to see the list.
Review: Xbox 360 Starter Pack
Most of the reviews we’ve done here are games, but I think it’s time we got started with some accessory reviews as well. MobileFun is a company based out of the UK and they carry mobile stuff like phones and accessories. They also carry game related products so they sent me over a nice little, inexpensive starter kit for the Xbox360 for review. It’s aptly named the Xbox 360 Starter Pack and it includes a nice long HDMI cable, full sized headset and a remote that is similar to the Xbox one but only smaller. The price is about $30, ...
Review: Assassin’s Creed II
The Digest: Assassin's Creed II creates a phenomenal sequel, while incorporating the most lethal Italian on this side of the Mushroom Kingdom. The improvements made to the formula established in the first Assassin’s Creed are what will fans of the series playing while bringing new fans into the fold. Now, me writing this review and you reading this review is robbing us of some valuable AC2 time!!
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: November 17th, 2009
PUBLISHER: Ubisoft
DEVELOPER: Ubisoft Montreal
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
GENRE: Action
PRICE: $59.99
Review: Borderlands
The Digest: Borderlands has to be one of, if not THE sleeper game of the year. If you’re not prepared, you’ll see the wrong game coming. This is a game that I felt took inspiration from the original Xbox title Deus EX with its brand of RPG/FPS gameplay or as those in the “know” call it, RPS (Role Playing Shooter). I’m not in the “know”, but it says it on the back of the box.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: October 20th, 2009
PUBLISHER: 2K Games
DEVELOPER: Gearbox Software
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
GENRE: RPS (Role Playing Shooter)
PRICE: $59.99
Review: Forza Motorsport 3
The Digest:
After much hype and promise, the Microsoft gem, Forza, has returned for another generation of simulation goodness. Turn 10 has been hitting hard from the very first Forza, and with this latest release, I can assure you that they’re not showing any signs of slowing down.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2009
PUBLISHER: Microsoft Game Studios
DEVELOPER: Turn 10 Studios
ESRB RATING: “E” for Everyone
GENRE: Racing
PRICE: $59.99
PRODUCT OVERVIEW:
Review: Left 4 Dead 2
The Digest: Alright, fine... I'll put down my controller long enough to type a review...
Today was a prevalent day for Xbox 360 owners, showing us the release of two heavy-hitting sequels. Assassin's Creed 2 was launched, the follow up to the ever-popular and ever-repetitive Crusade action game. Hopes were high that the sequel would retain the joyous elements of the first title, while fixing the things that made it a tedious punch in the face after a few hours.
But alas, I am poor, so I am only here to comment about the other big-time release for today: Left ...
Review: Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
The Digest: Another amazing performance from Rockstar. Grand Theft Auto as usual, with a brand new storyline, weapons and vehicles all set in the massive, detailed Liberty City. For the $39.99 price tag, definitely a must-buy.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: October 29, 2009
PUBLISHER: Rockstar
DEVELOPER: Rockstar
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature 17+
GENRE: Action
PRICE: $39.99
PRODUCT OVERVIEW:
Review: NBA 2K10
The Lowdown: The King is back. Several new layers of realism have been added to create the best basketball experience to ever make it to the console. While some minor technical issues hold this title back from reaching it's full potential, this 10th anniversary edition is the basketball game to own.
THE FACT SHEET
RELEASE DATE: October 6th, 2009
PUBLISHER: Visual Concepts
DEVELOPER: 2K Sports
ESRB RATING: “E” for Everyone
GENRE: Sports Simulation
PRICE: $59.99
TECMO KOEI AMERICA recently announced the release of Tecmo Bowl ThrowBack coming to Xbox Live Arcade in Spring 2010. And I say it is about time. Anyone who had a NES or an SNES can remember the hours wasted playing your friends or families and the trash talk of who was the best Tecmo Bowl player of all time. I know I have a few personal scores to settle with my brothers. Here is the overview from Tecmo:
As anticipation for the baseball season begins to build, 2K Sports is bringing the heat by unveiling the music soundtrack for Major League Baseball® 2K10, the next iteration of the popular Major League Baseball® 2K series. Featuring an eclectic array of sounds chosen to enhance the virtual baseball experience, the artists selected for this season range from rock legends Pearl Jam* and Social Distortion, to rap pioneers The Sugarhill Gang and Black Sheep, along with popular up-and-coming acts such as Cage the Elephant and Phoenix.
