via IGN


Gamers love cult movies. It was only a matter of time before the '80s classic The Highlander made its way to the videogame realm. The tale of immortals who lop one another's heads off is coming to PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this year courtesy of Eidos.

In Highlander: The Game, you play as Owen MacLeod, ancestor of the feature film's Connor MacLeod. Born in Gaul more than two millennia ago, Owen is the son of a tribal chieftain. As is the popular trend of the times, Owen's village is invaded and he becomes prisoner of the mighty Roman Empire. Forced into gladiatorial combat in Pompeii, Owen gets himself killed. Good news for Owen: he's immortal. Rising from the dead, Owen begins a journey through the centuries, learning to become an incredible fighter (and lopper of immortal heads).

The story eventually lands us in a futuristic New York City, where Owen is being hunted by a mysterious all-powerful immortal. The only way Owen can defeat this nemesis is to find three missing stone fragments that, when placed together, grant the wielder immense power.

Not that Owen doesn't have some serious power sans mystical stone. He is, after all, immortal and can only die if he loses his head. This allows for some interesting combat techniques. Owen can use his body as a conduit for electricity or fire, disarm enemies by purposefully impaling himself on their weapons, and survive great falls. Each time Owen chops the head off an immortal, he experiences The Quickening. Think of it as an mystical orgasm, where the knowledge and power of the victim is consumed by the slayer. Over the length of his journey, Owen learns new combat skills and uses a variety of swords. Expect to heft a claymore, katana and twin gladius as you cut your way from the heart of the Roman Empire to Times Square.


The Highlander is written by David Abramowitz, who also wrote for the TV show. It uses the Unreal Engine, which means it will likely be quite pretty. Look for it later this year.


Screenshots here ...

via Computer and Video Games


New details have come in on the (slightly) anticipated Wii version of The Force Unleashed, which finally brings saber-swinging Jedi antics to Nintendo's console. Unfortunately though, it's sounding like a far cry from the 1:1 saber swinging we were hoping for.

According to the latest Game Informer, The Force Unleashed will not use the WIi Remote for 1:1 lightsaber swinging, but instead your Force Powers will be motion controlled. Force Push, for example, is pulled off by (you guessed it) "pushing" the remote towards the screen.

It's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance with Storm Troopers then. Not that we weren't expecting that.

We've still got our fingers crossed that Lucasarts will give us the beautiful Wii Lightsaber action we've been demanding since Wii's announcement, but at the moment we can only prepare for disappointment.

Guess we'll have to play out our Star Wars fantasies with the toy swords for the time being then... ...

via Computer and Video Games


Konami has confirmed that Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 will be arriving on the Wii in March, 2008.

So far, the main focus of PES 2008 on Wii has been on the baffling controls and whether or not they can possibly work.

Now though, more info has been given out that could divide opinions further. According to Konami, "The Wii game mirrors the real sport's use of open space and the exploitation of defensive lapses and accurate passes essential in creating scoring opportunities". Whatever the hell that means, we don't know.

More understandable is the point and drag system, whereby players use the Wii Remote to guide their characters around the pitch. Pointing at nearby players selects them to receive a pass or latch on to a through-ball.

Shaking the Nunchuk can be used to perform sliding tackles and send the goalkeeper out to clear a ball.

PES 2008 for Wii features six modes, and includes the obligatory RPG-lite experience point system, where players can upgrade their team members after matches and unlock extra skills. It supports Mii's and works online too.

Konami's bringing the game in today, so stay turned for some serious impressions. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has issued a statement to Eurogamer regarding the current lack of songs on the SingStar PS3 SingStore, promising new content on 18th January and more to follow in early February.


The statement comes partly in response to a petition to Sony complaining about network outages, a lack of updates, "false advertising" (namely the "hundreds of songs available to download" image on the in-game interface), and a "lack of community news".

We've asked for comment specifically on the network issues, but we're still waiting on that.

Readers have also reported to us that their plaintive attempts to catch Sony's attention using uploaded video pleas have been ignored, with the videos deleted. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Issue 97 of PSM3 magazine, on sale tomorrow, features the first review of Capcom's much-anticipated Devil May Cry 4.

PSM3 kicks off stating: "If you go into DMC4 with expectations about fairness, checkpoints, structure and rewards that you've got from God Of War, you're going to end up all hurt and confused."

That's because, as PSM3 explains, the game is kick-in-the-balls tough, as series fans will have no-doubt expected.


They go on to say, however, that DMC4 is easier than the third instalment, which is a relief, even if the magazine does point out that the pacing can be "all over the place".


The addition of the new revving sword combo system is "a perfect example of how DMC4 encourages autistic obsessiveness with beautiful combos", says PSM3, but also admits you can play through the game with barely a need to use the new system.


You can read the huge eight page monster review (and check out loads more screens) in issue 97 of PSM3 magazine, on sale Jan 17 (cover pictured below).

Scan of PSM3 magzine front cover here ...

via Computer and Video Games


Rockstar has released twelve new screenshots showing off the significant graphical overhaul in the soon-to-be released Bully: Scholarship Edition.

Originally released on the PS2 as Canis Canem Edit (at least for the UK), Bully went on to sell half a million copies on British shores alone and won a Writers Guild Award in November 2007 for best writing in a game.

The game is set to hit Xbox 360 and Wii consoles on March 7, and includes new missions and modes for those already familiar with the game.

For more information on the upcoming Bully: Scholarship edition, take a look at our exclusive new preview for a first-hand report on game.


Screenshots ...

via Next Generation


The ad for the 18-rated third-person action game featured a prolonged shoot-out between four men. During the gunfight a voiceover stated, "Honour is his code. Vengeance is his mission. Violence is his only option. John Woo presents Stranglehold. The next generation of action gaming has arrived."

The ASA received complaints about the advertisement from at least two viewers. One argued that the commercial “glorified violence and gun crime and that it was a dangerous incitement to susceptible people”, while another challenged whether it was acceptable for transmission before the 9pm watershed.

The agency responsible for the commercial, Picture Production Company, said that it had edited the footage to ensure bullets were seen to be fired into mid-air and did not result in any character or person being shot. It also argued that it was clear to viewers that the ad featured animated game play and not real-life violence.

In its assessment of the advert the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said that that the shooting was almost continuous throughout, and noted the realistic appearance of the violence, even though it was computer-generated.

“We considered the voice-over… suggested that it was honorable to seek revenge and that violence was an acceptable solution to a situation,” said the watchdog.

“We considered the ad was likely to be seen as encouraging and condoning violence. Because the issues raised by the ad could not be addressed with a timing restriction, we considered the only solution was to withdraw the ad from transmission completely.”



Midway declined to comment on the ban when contacted by Next-Gen. ...

via IGN


Silent Hill Origins, the well-received PSP scare-me-up from Climax Studios, could be heading to its chunky PS2 brother if recent postings on retail sites Amazon and Gamefly are to be believed.

While doing a spot of online shopping, website Siliconera spotted mock-ups of PS2 box-art for the game on both sites – and although admittedly even the simplest of Photoshop monkeys could have rustled up the image, both sites have enough conviction to give the game a release date, with Amazon boldly declaring 4 March, and GameFly being a little more modest in their estimate with a street date of 31 March.

We contacted the game's developer Climax for confirmation but were unable to secure any comment. As soon as more concrete news emerges we'll post it here for your delectation. ...

via Games Industry


ith the post-Christmas lull in new key title releases, the charts across Europe are showing no sign of real change, and Nintendo continues to fill the majority of the top ten chart slots in both Spain and Germany.

More Brain Training actually sat top of both charts in the data provided by Media-Control GfK International for the week ending January 6, with Germany putting Super Mario Galaxy in second and Mario & Sonic at the Olympics in third.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was fourth, with Eye Training, Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Mario Party DS following.

Need for Speed ProStreet took eighth, while the original Brain Training was ninth and World of Warcraft made a surprise re-entry to the top ten in tenth place.

Spain's top three also consisted of Nintendo platform titles, with both Brain Training titles in the top two, followed by Super Mario Galaxy in third.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 took fourth place, with Imagine Babyz, WWE Smackdown! vs Raw 2008 and SingStar Latino next in the list.

Assassin's Creed for the PlayStation 3 was in eighth with Need for Speed ProStreet and New Super Mario Bros rounding off the top ten.

The full charts are as follows:

Germany:

1. More Brain Training with Dr Kawashima (DS)
2. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
3. Mario & Sonic at the Olympics (Wii)
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)
5. Eye Training (DS)
6. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
7. Mario Party DS (DS)
8. Need for Speed ProStreet (PS2)
9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
10. World of Warcraft

Spain:

1. More Brain Training with Dr Kawashima (DS)
2. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
3. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)
5. Imagine Babyz (DS)
6. WWE Smackdown! vs Raw 2008 (PS2)
7. SingStar Latino (PS2)
8. Assassin's Creed (PS3)
9. Need for Speed ProStreet (PS2)
10. New Super Mario Bros (DS) ...