Do you feel like living through a full-fledged Metroid experience, but can't be bothered to do all that item-hunting? No, you couldn't care less about those stray E-Tanks and absent missile expansions -- you care about the deep, rich lore of Samus' Zebesian struggle. Metroid: Other M will contain a menu option suited to your bizarre desires: Theater mode, which compiles the game's cutscenes into a streamlined, two-hour, non-interactive story.

The series' godfather, Yoshio Sakamoto, explained to 1UP that the mode, which unlocks after completing the game, would allow returning players to soak in all the dialogue and events of the story without having to replay the whole thing over again. Why, that sounds a heck of a lot like the full-length Shenmue movie which accompanied the game's sequel. Only -- and this is just a wild assumption, mind you -- we think Metroid: Other M: The Movie will have way, way fewer sailors.

Metroid: Other M's cutscenes compiled into two-hour movie in 'theater mode' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The competitive multiplayer of the first Tom Clancy's HAWX game was limited to a single deathmatch-type experience. In Tom Clancy's HAWX 2: HAWX HARDER, there will be a full-on multiplayer mode in addition to the four-player co-op capabilities of the campaign, survival, free-flight and arcade modes, providing players with the opportunity to play the Goose to their friend's Maverick through local and online multiplayer.

Eurogamer has the goods on the new feature, which will see up to eight players take to the virtual skies for six different mission types in any of the game's 32 selectable planes -- play won't be limited to just your usual deathmatch variant this time around. Sadly, Ubisoft wasn't showing anything beyond team deathmatch, so there's little else to report. In the meanwhile, we suggest you gather some buds and kill time like real pilots.

HAWX 2 flies the unfriendly skies on September 7 in the US.

HAWX 2 recruits your friends for multiplayer dogfights originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SimCity Deluxe, the replacement for regular SimCity on iPhone/iPod Touch (which is now missing from the App Store), is ready for mobile mayors who divert $6.99 of their household budget to the app. According to EA, the new version includes "bigger buttons, better flow and more accessible items" than the original release. The game has also received some graphics work and a frame rate enhancement to bring it a little bit more in-line with SimCity 4.

The game also features seven scenarios and starter cities, along with the four seasons in which to play. If you download SimCity Deluxe and have "meaty sausage fingers," leave a comment on how this one handles.

SimCity torn down, available now as SimCity Deluxe on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Oh, man. We'll be the first to admit that we know less than nothing about the apparently radical world of professional Mexican wrestling, but after reading the recently revealed list of of fighters in Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring, it would be irresponsible for us not to get involved. Por ejemplo, included on this 31-strong line-up are three different wrestlers by the names of Killer Clown, Psycho Clown and Zombie Clown. That is bananacakes, and we are so, so down with it.

Check out the rosters for the 360, PS3 and Wii versions of the wrestling title posted after the jump, and try to decide which of the Clown triplets you're going to throw your support behind.

Continue reading Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed

Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Transformers: War for Cybertron developer High Moon Studios is offering two distinct ways to accrue extra experience through the game this weekend. The first is by doubling all XP players earn in the game's multiplayer component from tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET until Monday at 3 a.m. ET.

Continue reading Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend

Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lordy! Another Worms game already? That seems to be the case, as UK dev house Team17 just revealed a solid release date for Worms Reloaded -- August 26 -- and even handed over a rather wormey trailer, found just after the break.

Continue reading Worms Reloaded tunneling 'exclusively' to PC on August 26

Worms Reloaded tunneling 'exclusively' to PC on August 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Life is full of mysteries.  Is there a higher power?  What’s up with Area 51?  What would it look like if a Spartan was hell-bent on dismembering a Pirate while dodging pistol fire and well-placed grenades?  Thanks to the new guys on the block, Spike Games, you’ll be able to scratch that last one off your list.

Deadliest Warrior is a game based off the tv series of the same title.  If you’re not familiar, the show pits the greatest warriors of all time, such as Apaches, Vikings, and Ninjas, up against one another to determine who would’ve been history’s most lethal fighter.  The game takes the exact same concept and translates it into a fighting game.  Not exactly the world’s most mind-blowingly innovative notion, but it definitely works.

In my experience, most modern fighting games have a certain learning curve that enthusiasts of the genre seem to revel in, while more casual, all-around gamers get turned off by.  Deadliest Warrior takes this curve and throws it out the window.  The game is incredibly easy to learn, and the toughest part is determining which warrior fits your style perfectly.  It’s a refreshing change from the titles that require absolute perfection to succeed, let alone excel.

The fighting mechanics work well, and appear to be molded so that the game remains fun, first and foremost.  Each warrior has a short-range and mid-range weapon, as well as a projectile.  This arsenal proves plenty adequate to take down even the toughest opponent.  Combos are relatively simple to string together, and most of them will knock down your enemy, if not severing an arm or leg.  The most interesting thing about the fighting is that it seems whomever gains the upper hand first has a clear-cut advantage for the rest of the fight.  However, it does add to the realism in the sense that the wounded will have a tougher time coming back and besting their opponent.  My biggest problem with the fighting is the one-hit projectile kills at the beginning of rounds.  It makes sense that a javelin to the skull will probably kill most warriors, but at the same time it feels like a cheap win (or loss), although it never grows old to witness.

There are a few different game modes, but Arcade is the one where you’ll spend all your single-player time.  It’s a hard-fought battle through all 8 warriors in the game (Apache, Centurion, Knight, Ninja, Pirate, Samurai, Spartan, Viking), with a few mini-games sprinkled in to unlock new weapons.  It’s fun and serves it’s purpose, but these kind of games are all about the online play.  There’s nothing quite like that sense of beating an actual human opponent.  The multiplayer works quite well – there don’t seem to be any lag issues, and it doesn’t appear as if there’s a strategy that people have found to lead to sure-fire wins every time.  The characters are incredibly well-balanced, which means that you’ll never run into a foe that’s impossible to beat.  However, the game doesn’t penalize for rage quitting, but an update will roll out soon that will fix this issue.

The bottom line on Deadliest Warrior is that it’s a semi-stripped down fighter that provides hours of entertainment.  With a core of a challenging single-player mode and an addictive multiplayer experience, Pipeworks went above and beyond most’s expectations for the title.  Deadliest Warrior is loads of fun and should appeal to all types of gamers, because, let’s face it – watching Ninjas and Pirates do battle never gets old.

We've seen DC Universe Online several times now over the course of its development, and it's failed to much impress us. Still, the game continues to generate interest, if only because Sony Online Entertainment is bringing it to the PS3, and many gamers have been waiting for a new console MMO, polished or otherwise, for a long time.

Last week at Comic-Con, SOE showed off the latest build of DCU and spotlighted a new feature with the awkward name "Play as Iconic." ("Iconic" is what the licensed DC comics characters are referred to as in the game.) In the main game, you will play as your own custom characters, getting guidance and help from established veterans like Batman and Superman. But, as you've probably deduced, in the Play as Iconic bonus mode, you'll get to play as DC heroes (or villains) in a 2-on-2 PvP match.

Continue reading Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode

Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony will release "fully localized" versions of Killzone 3 (in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese) and inFamous 2 (in Spanish) in Latin America next year. According to the company, the localization will include "actors, action, dialog, effects and every inch of gameplay." We have no idea how "action" and "effects" are different in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, but it sounds fascinating. Speaking specifically about inFamous 2, Sony states localization for the region will create new elements that will "allow gamers to discover this open world in a relevant and unique way."

Also set for Latin American release: a pair of "Gamer Kit" bundles for PS2 and PSP this August. The PS2 bundle includes a system, two DualShocks, an 8MB memory card and "three top games." The PSP one features the handheld, a travel case and "three popular games." The announcements come a year and a half after Sony expanded into the other half of the Americas with PlayStation products, which, according to it, are now available in 18 countries on the same day as the US and Canada.

Continue reading Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America

Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Amazon's upping the ante to try and move more units of its recently discounted Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 bundle. According to the retailer's Twitter account, the $300 package will come with free copies of UFC Undisputed 2010 and BioShock 2 when purchased this coming Monday.

Continue reading Amazon's FFXIII 360 bundle to include UFC 2010 and Bioshock 2 on August 2

Amazon's FFXIII 360 bundle to include UFC 2010 and Bioshock 2 on August 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments