Source: videogamesblogger.com

Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is almost upon us! The game releases on November 25th, 2008 for Xbox 360 and PS3 via their corresponding download networks (Xbox Live and PlayStation Network).

However if you peep the official PlayStation Blog you’ll notice a lot of people complaining about the fact that Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix won’t include support for Trophies upon it’s release. Which comes as an incentive to download the Xbox 360 version over the PS3 version, since the 360 version has Achievements that you can unlock.

But now Capcom has “Hadouken!” those fools in the back with a new announcement:

Gamers who purchase the PlayStation Network version of Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix will receive an exclusive album called “Street Fighter Underground Remix” that they can download for FREE! The album is seperate from the game, but will include hip-hop remixes of classic Street Fighter II songs from the likes of Redman, Hieroglyphics, DJ Qbert, DJ Toure, Zion I, Mistah F.A.B. and Oh No.

So now the dilemma has shifted a bit: If you buy the Xbox 360 version you can unlock Achievements to add to your GamerScore. But if you buy the PS3 version you will get the above exclusive soundtrack. OH THE HUMANITY! Of course, I’m sure Capcom would be happy if you just purchased both.

Capcom also released the second trailer featuring the classic Karate Kid song “You’re the Best”:

Check out the first You’re the Best Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix trailer if you missed it.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

You may recall us covering the Prince of Persia Stories & Secrets Storybook when it was announced. If you haven’t heard of the online graphic novel, it is a collaboration between Penny Arcade’s Gabe & Tyco and Ubisoft as a really cool promotion for their upcoming hit game, Prince of Persia (which releases on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on December 2nd).

The storybook serves several purposes, not only does it add to the universe by giving us a prequel to the game’s main story revolving around Elika, but the book also is simply a great excuse to let Gabe and Tyco run wild with their own interpretations and artistic realizations of the Prince of Persia world. And last but not least, it’s a treat for fans of Penny Arcade who are some of the most rabid gamers around.

In this video we get to see behind-the-scenes speed drawing by Gabe (along with commentary on the collaboration between Ubisoft and Penny Arcade) of one of the pages of the online Prince of Persia storybook, which is getting new pages added leading up to Prince of Persia’s release on December 2nd (so far ten pages have been released, including the cover).

In addition, Ubisoft has posted an incredible artistic introduction to Prince of Persia which you can watch on the Official Prince of Persia web-site. The intro is AMAZING and is like a pop-up book coming to life. I am not sure either if it’s the actual game intro or just something put up for the web-site. So if you want to avoid all spoilers (although it’s nothing that hasn’t already been said) then you may want to hold off on watching it.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The fifth expansion pack for EverQuest II, entitled EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey, released for the PC yesterday and thus is out now. The newest expansion follows in the success of the award-winning, best-selling previous expansion, EverQuest II: Rise of the Kunark.

The new pack will take players both new and veteran alike on a journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk.

Check out the launch trailer for the game.

In an age long passed, a band of extraordinary heroes embarked on a journey to free Norrath from the clutches of a shrouded threat.

Key features of EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey include:

* New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp
* Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen
* Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines
* Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
* Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added
* Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
* Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
* New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath
* Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Lots of PC Expansion Packs just hit store shelves, including Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, which just released yesterday, November 18th, for the PC.

There have been several interesting blogs posted by the developers of the game, particularly this one about Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir’s orchestral musical score. So be sure to check those out.

About the game:
In the aftermath of the defeat of the King of Shadows, the Sword Coast is in the midst of an uneasy economic recovery. Trade syndicates have sprung up to exploit the post-war confusion for their own ends and the players’ party will wade into this uncertain environment. In order to increase their own fortunes, they can either ally with a syndicate to create a trade empire, or cut their own path through Faerun by preying upon caravans and selling the goods on the black market. As they attempt to extend their influence, players will become aware of a new faction working behind the scenes: the evil, shape-shifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.

In addition to trading and economic manipulation, the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Overland Map allows players to explore the Chultan Peninsula and Sword Coast in a non-linear manner never before seen in any of the Neverwinter Nights games. Exploration will take players from well-known locations, like Neverwinter and Crossroad Keep, to more exotic areas, such as the xenophobic jungle nation of Samarach. Groups of highwaymen and monsters populate the Overland Map and the farther from civilization the player roams, the more difficult the encounters become. The 15-hour campaign in Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is also packed with new classes, spells, creatures, and playable races.

Key Features of Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir include:
* Travel the Sword Coast and Samarach using the open-ended exploration of the new Overland Map. Use skills like Spot and Survival while on the Overland Map to avoid ambushes and even find hidden locales and lost artifacts
* Create your own full party of adventurers. Devastate your foes with a squad of fireball-flinging Sorcerers, form a solid wall of steel with a party of Fighters, or strike the perfect balance in your party by spreading out the classes you choose for your characters
* Improved party gameplay including streamlined party conversations, a new Teamwork Benefit System, and powerful party feats
* The world’s economy reacts to your adventures and choices. And, through trading and quests, you can expand your merchant company into a massive trading empire

Last but not least, here is a developer interview from E3 2008.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The expansion pack for Gothic 3, Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods, for the PC, is out now and ready to purchase on store shelves.

Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods is a third-person RPG expansion pack that offers a new episode for a new glimpse into the amazing world of Gothic. Forsaken Gods includes new quests, new monsters and many of the old friends whom gamers around the world got to know in previous episodes.

Features of Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods include:

* Lively and interactive environment which reacts to the player’s actions, creating a very intense and realistic atmosphere
* Improved graphics quality thanks to updated engine technology
* Enhanced user interface
* 15-20 intense hours of gameplay
* Improved combat system with new combat rules
* Plenty of new weapons, armor, monsters and quests

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Afro Samurai for Xbox 360 and PS3 (scheduled for release on January 27th 2009) is based on the popular hip-hop infused anime that stars the voice work of Samuel L. Jackson as Afro and Ninja Ninja.

The game is an action adventure with a focus on combat, and uses a striking art-style so that the game looks pretty comparable to the anime series and beautiful in it’s own right.

The latest Beat Box trailer for the game, while it doesn’t contain any actual beat boxing (just rapping), it does give you a good look at the game’s combat and animation, which has hopefully tightened up since our last look at the gameplay in motion, which seemed off as Afro slide around the environments and the combat looked pretty clunky.

Features of Afro Samuari include:

* Unparalleled Star Power – Samuel L. Jackson stars as the voice of Afro Samurai and Ninja alongside Ron Pearlman and Kelly Hu reprising their roles as Justice and Okiku
* Funky Hip Hop Beats – A hip hop inspired soundtrack with new tracks created by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame
* A Tale of Revenge – Afro Samurai follows the exploits of the original series and includes new material and background for fans of the series and newcomers alike
* Blood is Beautiful – A striking art style, shading and texturing that give Afro Samurai a truly unique look and feel
* Style and Rhythm – Innovative gameplay system where the music affects the enemy AI and the tone of the gameplay
* Elegant Violence – A balanced experience between stylistic combat and acrobatic platforming with the ability to dynamically slice and dismember enemies with ease

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sonic Unleashed has been released (hey that rhymes) today for the Wii and the PlayStation 2. The other versions of the game will come later, with the Xbox 360 version scheduled for release on November 24th with the PS3 version hitting on December 12th.
The Wii version will include motion controls support with the Wii and Nunchuck (such as shaking the Wii Remote to activate boost and homing attacks) and will also include support for the GameCube and Classic Controllers. Both the PS2 and Wii versions will include modified versions of the levels in the PS3 and Xbox 360 version with lower-end graphics based on an existing Sonic engine, instead of the all-new engine used in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game for next-gen visuals.

In Sonic Unleashed, everyone’s favorite hedgehog breaks new ground yet maintains his roots in a game that combines amazing next gen capabilities with classic Sonic 2D gameplay! Developed by renowned studio Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed utilizes the powerful “Hedgehog Engine” to mesh seamless 3D and classic 2D camera transitions, whilst delivering a rich and expansive world with multiple paths to choose from.

Having been broken apart by the evil Dr Eggman, it’s down to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds. In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic’s amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!

Features of Sonic Unleashed include:

* Sonic can engage in different ways during the day and night time levels, bringing a completely original way of playing the beloved series
* Sonic the Werehog makes his debut!
* Nine beautiful stages based on real-life locations
* In addition to running at high speeds in classic Sonic style, combat fighting will become possible
* Includes classic Sonic elements such as loops and corkscrews
* Super quick Sonic’s speed skills is highlighted by four new modes, whilst the all new combat, movement and functional abilities offer depth and variety to the game

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria is the first expansion pack for The Lord of the Rings Online, the MMORPG game based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (i.e., NOT based on the flims). Like all expansions packs, the game will add a bunch of new content for players of the subscription based MMO. The game was released today for PC.

The game is available in a normal as well as Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition includes:

*Unique premium book packaging
* 3 in-game item tokens
* Exclusive 22” x 22” premium cloth map of the Mines of Moria
* Exclusive special gold plated replica of The One Ring complete with chain and pouch
* Mines of Moria poster
* Middle-Earth map
* Exclusive The Lord of the Rings Online Art and Music Collection with the official Mines of Moria Soundtrack
* Full color Collector’s Edition Starter Guide
* Exclusive Online Community Badge for The Lord of the Rings Online forums

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria expands the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin’s Bane, and more.

Here is a list of features in the expansion:

* Speak Friend, and Enter – Moria, called Khazad-dum by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments
* The Epic Continues — The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of Durin’s Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more
* Increased Level Cap — Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items
* Discover Two New Classes — The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways
* Forge Legendary Items – The Mines of Moria will introduce Turbine’s new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo’s Sting and Gandalf’s Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the item’s virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Castlevania Judgment releases exclusively for the Nintendo Wii today, November 18th, and is the first bona-fide fighting game in the Castelvania franchise.

Although the game is a fighter, it looks to play more like a hybrid, similar to Power Stone, Super Smash Bros. Brawl or the upcoming Final Fantasy Dissidia, with a liberal does of Soul Calibur IV thrown in for good measure.

You are able to run around the game’s environments in 3D and there are hazards aplenty to both help or hinder you as you beat down your opponent with special moves and powerful magic attacks, some that are so insane looking that they wouldn’t be out of place in a Final Fantasy title.

Take a look at this 5 minutes launch trailer for Castlevania Judgment, which gives you a good look at all the game’s main characters as well as extensive cut-scene and gameplay footage.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Shaun White Snowboarding is out now on Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS and PC. Like Tony Hawk before him, Shaun White (the most successful snowboarder in the history of the sport) hopes to carve out a niche in the snowboarding genre by offering a game in which you have complete freedom to choose when, where, how and with whom you want to play with. And for the Wii the game was built from the ground up and includes support for the Wii Balance Board.

Key features of Shuan White Snowboarding include:
* Open World Mountains: Choose how you ride in open-world mountains across the world. Conquer extreme peak conditions, create your own paths in the back country, or compete with fellow riders in the terrain parks
* Your Friends Are Always Around: Play in a world where your friends are always around. Do your own runs on mountains populated by real gamers, or join your friends for a quick session from any mountain
* More than Just Snowboarding: Have fun with your friends on and off the board! Throw snowballs, hike to access secret spots, film your friends doing ripping tricks. You can also upload your videos online to share with the world
* Ride Your Way: Express yourself through tricks, riding styles, and highly customizable avatars – both in single-player and in the online world. Use the intuitive dual analog control to pull off a huge variety of tricks that express your style
* Next-Gen Technology: Built on the Assassin’s Creed engine, this game creates a massive world with gorgeous visuals and realistic NPC interactions. This is also the first time a snowboarding game is completely driven by physics instead of animation
* Authentic Snowboarding: Ubisoft has worked closely with Shaun White to infuse the gaming experience with authenticity, personality and humor. Shaun is a friend and mentor in the game, and will help you with your skills. And, if you are deemed worthy, you may even be able to play as Shaun in the game.