Trailer - Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II - 16/05/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 16TH MAY 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a look at the launch trailer for -

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4: EPISODE 2.

Sonic is a game series that has struggled over recent years - most major releases were utterly terrible, cheap shite that just devalued the franchise further and further.

Then recently I got the chance to play a bit of Sonic 4: Ep. 1 and was amazed to find that it was actually quite good. Fun, colourful, intense platforming - just how Sonic should be!

So when I find that the next instalment is out right now - I had to take a look.

The game looks like it's following the same formula - no fancy 3D crap, no newfangled side characters to bring that "cutesy" edge - just classic Sonic action.

It's out today on PSN and XBLA -

expect a review in the near future.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!  
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/gametrailers

Video - Perpetual Testing Initiative - 12/05/12 [DAILY DOSE]

SATURDAY 12TH MAY 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a look at -

THE PERPETUAL TESTING INITIATIVE.

This is a huge level-editing kit that has just been released for Portal 2. Fully integrated with the Steam workshop, this kit allows players to make their own devious test chambers.


Sadly, I am currently lacking a PC (or PC copy of Portal 2) - or else I would be wasting many happy hours creating tricky light bridge challenges for my friends.


The trailer above (presented by the great Cave Johnson) got me excited at the prospect of user-generated test chamber fun - but the full explanatory video by Gamespot shows off how easy-to-use and feature-rich the P.T.I. really is.


Can't wait to get my hands on this....
Let the testing commence.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/gamespot
http://www.youtube.com/user/Valve

Trailer - Quantum Conundrum - 09/05/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 9TH MAY 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a look at the trailer for this -

QUANTUM CONUNDRUM.


The game is not dissimilar to Portal, and was penned by Kim Swift - who used to work for Valve before moving over to join Airtight Games and develop this beauty.


The idea here is that you are a young boy trapped in your scientist uncle's mansion - and the only way to get out is to make use of special batteries - each having a different effect on the environment (such as making everything super-light).


The game looks fun, is written to be accessible - but most of all has that charming physics puzzler atmosphere that I love.

The game was announced a while ago (originally due for release towards the end of 2012) but now rumours are swirling that we may see the game released sometime this Summer.


Just to whet your appetite further, I've added a 7 minute gameplay demo - narrated by Kim Swift - to give you a feel for the puzzles on offer here.


I'll see you guys in the fluffy dimension.

Gameplay Demo - with Kim Swift

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!


Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/gamespot

Trailer - The Dark Knight Rises - 07/05/12 [DAILY DOSE]

MONDAY 7TH MAY 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Another film trailer for today's DAILY DOSE -

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

This most recent trailer may be the last we get before the release on July 20th.


There's some spectacular action on show here - plenty of big setpieces (involving dismantling a plane in mid-air by the looks of things) and some road vehicle chases as well.


Seeing the finale of this excellent trilogy of Batman films is going to be a big event in my Summer - and of course I'll get a review up as soon as I've seen it!


Anyone else psyched for more Christian Bale in a leather suit?


Or maybe Anne Hathaway?


Or some Joseph Gordon-Levitt?


And just in case you missed the earlier trailers, I've been so kind as to add them below - Enjoy!

Trailer #1

Trailer #2

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/ClevverMovies

Trailer - Marvel's Avengers Assemble - 05/05/12 [DAILY DOSE]

SATURDAY 5TH MAY 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Well, I just had to devote a DAILY DOSE to this -

MARVEL'S AVENGERS ASSEMBLE.

Starring a whole bunch of greats -
 such as Robert Downey Jnr., Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson - 
as well as being written and directed by 
Joss Whedon!
(of Buffy,  Firefly and Dollhouse fame)


The set-up does seem to be slightly odd, even for a comic book movie, but the action looks intense and the dialogue should be great.

It's out in cinemas now - so if you like a big-budget action comic/fantasy mash-up extravaganza (which, let's face it, we all do) then go watch it!

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/MarvelUK

Special - Bioshock Infinite - 25/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 25TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a special preview of -

BIOSHOCK INFINITE.

For those of you who may have missed them, the Bioshock series has been a real game-changer in the games industry. The first game had one of the most realised worlds, characters and stories of most fiction - never mind gaming fiction!

The story took place in Rapture - a city under the sea - where the inhabitants had foregone ideas of morality and restraint in their scientific and technological progress and advanced far too quickly. Within a few years, humans had augmented their minds and bodies with chemical cocktails known as plasmids - and led to society tearing itself apart.

It was a masterpiece in gaming - truly incredible.

I even liked the second one - which retained the setting but moved the story on a few years. Rather than uber-capitalism run rife, you had a communist dictatorship which offered another (albeit much less awesome) chapter in Rapture's dark history.

Now comes some video previews for the next game in the series, Infinite, which takes the player into the skies - on a floating city called Columbia.

FULL 15 MINUTE GAMEPLAY TRAILER

It's all very well explained in the videos - the 15 minute gameplay video above shows off one of the games introductory scenes, while the videos that follow give some details on the factions, environments and enemies of Columbia.

The team is clearly talented - the environments and enemies look stunning and are well thought-out - but it's the skylines that have me interested. 

Does anyone else get a little rush of excitement just watching those things in action? 

I'm going to be foaming at the mouth on the approach to release day (sometime in late 2012) in anticipation of flinging myself through a floating frikkin' city on a skyrail  frikkin' rollercoaster. Oh yeah...

WORLD AND ENEMIES

FACTIONS AT WAR

TEARS INTO OTHER WORLDS

ABOUT SKYLINES

HEAVY HITTERS 1 - MOTORIZED PATRIOT

HEAVY HITTERS 2 - HANDYMAN

HEAVY HITTERS 3 - BOYS OF SILENCE

HEAVY HITTERS 4 - SIRENS

As a final note - although people may not have read this far down - I am going on holiday!

So, sadly, there will be no DAILY DOSES or ECLECTIC REVIEWS for the rest of this week... *sobs*

However - I'll be back with

A MASSIVE SPECIAL EXTRAVAGANZA

on THURSDAY 3RD MAY!

It's going to be big - 

a very special DAILY DOSE, 

a hot CD review, 

2 new GAMES reviews 

AND a FILM review too! 

(I really spoil you guys).

PLUS - a special announcement about an upcoming ECLECTIC EVENT!

Big things are happening in May - come back soon to see what's happening!

So.... see you all in a week!

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!

Any images are copyright of their respective owners and are from: http://www.bioshockinfinite.com/downloads

Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/IGNentertainment

http://www.youtube.com/user/Games

Trailer - Dark Shadows - 23/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

MONDAY 23RD APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a look at the upcoming film -

DARK SHADOWS.

Now when I heard about this film I really only took in 3 pieces of information:

1. Tim Burton is directing it... and so it's a Gothic Comedy.
2. Therefore we'll have Helena Bonham-Carter (obvs)
3. and Johnny Depp in the lead playing a weirdo (who else?).

But then I took a look at the trailer. Go on - watch it now.


Actually, it made me chuckle quite a bit. 


A vampire in 1972? 
Chloe Moretz as a scathing teenager?
Eva Green as an evil witch?


Awesome sauce.


So, as textbook as all the elements seem, I will probably go and see this film and laugh the whole way through. 


This funkadelic vampire flick hits cinemas on May 11th 2012.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!


Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/warnerbrosuktrailers

Pictures - Crysis 3 - 20/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

FRIDAY 20th APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a look at some early photos for the upcoming uber-gorgeous sci-fi shooter -

CRYSIS 3.

This time round you're some sort of elite mecha-ninja-hunter.... awesome.

Developers Crytek have just released a few details and pictures about their upcoming title - the big reveal being that this time you're fighting through a New York City that's become overgrown so much that it now resembles a jungle.


Crytek say that Crysis 3 will feature 7 distinct environments (known as the Seven Wonders) which exists within an evil corporation's "Nano-Dome".


To make your way through these 7 districts, Prophet (the series' protagonist) must make use of new weaponry - like the incredible bow shown in the picture above!

Of course, you still march round in you nano-suit with guns... if you'd prefer...

The environments look amazing - ruined buildings and plant life entwined.

UPDATE - FIRST TRAILER RELEASED!
And they've also just posted a very small snippet of a trailer - full gameplay trailer due out on 24th April!

And to round things off, Crytek have just released a demo video for the latest game engine build - CryENGINE3.


This shows off some of the technical developments they have made - and what we can expect to see coming up in their new game. 


Crysis 3 won't be in shops until 2013 - so there's a bit of a wait before we get to engage our "Maximum Armour" once more.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any images in this review are subject to relevant copyrights and are kindly provided by: 
http://kotaku.com/5902261/crysis-3-transforms-new-york-city-in-2013/gallery/1
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: 
http://www.youtube.com/user/IGNentertainment
http://www.youtube.com/user/Crysis

Trailer - Dishonored - 18/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 18th APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for the new Bethesda Softworks title -

DISHONORED.

Have you had a watch of the trailer?
Are you excited yet?
If not - what precisely is wrong with you?

This is the latest title from epic RPG merchants Bethesda - and they're doing steampunk. 


Epic assassin stalking, gadgets and weaponry a-plenty as you explore this awesome dark environment. No specific features have been announced yet, save for dropping plenty of hints about stealth gameplay and the overarching story uncovering details about "The Outsider", who is the cause of magic within the world.


They've certainly got the talent to pull this off. Created by the studio that brought us the incredible "Dark Messiah of Might and Magic", with one of the guys behind "Deus Ex" and "Thief - Deadly Shadows" on the case - coupled with Bethesda's track record for making engrossing and awesome games - this is definitely on my watch list.



Finally, as that is the American spelling, I wonder if the UK version will get an extra "u"? 
Anyway, for the time being that's what it's called.



The game is due out at some point in 2012 - and if you can't wait that long then here's a few more pics.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any images in this review are subject to relevant copyrights and are kindly provided by: 
http://www.dishonored.com/
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/machinima

Trailer - Lost Planet 3 "Captivate" - 16/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

MONDAY 16TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is the trailer for the new sci-fi shooter - LOST PLANET 3.

The first 2 Lost Planet titles were good games at points - they stood out from the rest of the generic shooters by being the most OTT, epic, giant-alien blasters that you have ever player. Better than that, the second had 4-player co-op that kicked ass.


Sadly there were serious problems with both, particularly Lost Planet 2's difficulty level if you had no human players in your squad, and the confusing and harsh boss battles later in the game.


The series has been taken over by a new studio (because the first two titles were a financial failure) so are now being headed up by Spark Entertainment, the peeps that brought us Legendary and Turning Point: Fall of Liberty. These games had issues of their own (I have heard) however I've only played demos and I can say that they certainly could pull of tense setpieces - something perfectly fitting with the Lost Planet atmosphere.


So this game could be the "third time lucky" and offer: 
a compelling and epic single story that keeps you on the edge of your seat for at least 15 hours 
AND
 an aweome multi-player experience in the genre of - 
"take giant mech, smash uber-giant alien into squishy bits.... with mates".


If they can pull it off - I'm telling you - this could be the ultimate co-op gaming night game. 
I really hope they do a good mecha multiplayer.....

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by:  http://www.youtube.com/user/LostPlanetOfficial

Trailer - DmC "Captivate" - 13/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE (lucky you... ba dum tish) is a trailer for an upcoming game that I'm getting more interested in as time goes on -

DmC - the new Devil May Cry.

The series' original hero - Dante - has undergone an emo makeover and is now sporting a new hairstyle and attitude. Gone are the days of cool, classy one-liners and now we are just given the finger.... nice.

This trailer shows off a "Carnival" level, where new Dante tears demons a new one to the backdrop of helter skelters and ferris wheels. The action is looking just as tight and brutal as we've come to expect from the DMC series, and as long as new Dante doesn't annoy the crap out of me too much then I may really enjoy this game.

The original gameplay trailer release a few months ago is below too - so you can see emo Dante beating demons to crap in a slightly more sunlit setting.

No release date has been confirmed but it's likely we'll be seeing new Dante's new adventure sometime in the second half of 2012.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/devilmaycry
http://www.youtube.com/user/gamespot

Trailer - Battleship - 12/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

THURSDAY 12TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for a film that was released in cinemas yesterday -

BATTLESHIP - THE MOVIE.

Now on the face of it, this sounds utterly rubbish. 

You've got several big stars - Liam Neeson, Rihanna and Alexander Skarsgård - and some really OTT special effects. How this has anything to do with the old game "Battleships" other than the title - I do not know.

Basically, it looks like "Transformers At Sea", and so I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I have been wrong on occasions, and if they manage to keep the special effects to a reasonable level and spin them through a solid story, this may actually work (a-la Iron Man).

Thoughts anyone?

Will it be total crap? 

Or a spectacular spectacle?

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/universalpicturesuk

Trailer - Resident Evil 6 Captivate - 11/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 10TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a new trailer for the upcoming game -
RESIDENT EVIL 6.


This trailer, dubbed the "Captivate" trailer, hints at more of the story in Resi6 - and I have to admit that the story teasers shown here grabbed my interest.


Information left on a VHS (seriously?) shows that a new bio-weapon has been released upon the world, the C-Virus. Probably the most interesting detail is that the bloke who's been running round punching zombies in the face is none other than Albert Wesker's son (dum dum duhm!).


Sadly, there is no in-game footage or any more info released about the actual gameplay (the bit that will make-or-break the game for me). The story has always been bizarre but interesting, however it is the gameplay that actually makes the games enjoyable.


The first trailer released did show some gameplay action and I was quite intrigued - intense fast-paced shooting, some brutal zombie melee and the possibility of really good co-op teamwork (all sounding alright to me).


This first trailer is shown below.


With the revelations about a zombie president, Wesker's son beating up zombs and some action/shooter gameplay that could really work... Resi6 could well be a return to glory for the series.


It sounds as though the release date has been moved forward too - so we may be battling a zombie army as early as the 2nd October 2012!

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/ResidentEvil

Trailer - Brave - 10/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

TUESDAY 10TH APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for a film that is due for release this Summer -
 BRAVE by Disney Pixar.

These films can generally be relied upon to provide some laughs through crude and silly humour (which works for me!) so I'm looking forward to another animated adventure blockbuster this year.

Went to see "Pirates! in an Adventure with Scientists" yesterday so have got a review for that one coming up this Thursday 12th April - check back for how I thought this latest Aardman animation fared.

Brave's European premiere is on June 30th 2012 and so expect a review some time in July!

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPixar

Trailer - Total Recall - 03/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

TUESDAY 3RD APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for an upcoming film that I think I need some community consensus on 

- a remake of TOTAL RECALL.

Now I love the original. 

It had everything: 

80s Arnie, Sci-Fi Plot, Psychic Mutants 

and Triple-Boobed Prostitutes!

This remake seems to be taking all of the plot and major scenes and simply reshooting them in HD.

It's going to take some serious innovation, creativity or clever homage to the original for this to not feel like another Hollywood cash-in (which it clearly is anyway).

If they had it so that the events of this film are a recall, and this somehow links into the events of the original - that could possibly work. 

Where you aren't sure if the plot shown is real, a fabrication or a continuation of previous recalls?

So I put it to YOU!

Is this a good idea?

Could it work?

Is it doomed from the start?

Comments in the box below.

The final verdict can be given on the 3rd August 2012, when Total Recall is released in cinemas.

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyPictures

Trailer - Hitman: Absolution - 02/04/12 [DAILY DOSE]

MONDAY 2ND APRIL 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for an upcoming video game - HITMAN: ABSOLUTION!

Hitman is a game series where you take on the role of "Agent 47", an elite assassin who works for the "Agency" and takes on jobs that other people just couldn't complete. This often involves taking out high-value targets, completing missions in dangerous territories, or stealing clothes and assuming someone's identity.

This new trailer is dubbed "She Must Be Special", as we hear two baddies discussing a woman they intend to kidnap who is of particular value to their financiers.

This is an extension of the first trailer "A Personal Contract" (below), in that the action taking place is the same - only now it is played out with actual in-game play rather than just cinematics.

The Hitman series has always been dark, brutal and stealthy but now we are seeing the open-ended missions offer even more flexibility - 

do you sneak around knifing the guards silently?

or do you risk alerting the others when you smash a guard square in the chest with an axe?

The choice is yours. 


Welcome back, Agent 47. I'm looking forward to getting back into that sharp black suit and dealing with problems the only way you know how - with lots of stealthy murder!

The game has not had a confirmed release date - however there is speculation that we will be accepting our new contracts sometime in late 2012. 

Watch this space for more updates!

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHitmanSeries

Trailer - The Dictator - 28/03/12 [DAILY DOSE]

WEDNESDAY 28TH MARCH 2012 - DAILY DOSE

Today's DAILY DOSE is another film trailer - this one for THE DICTATOR, Sacha Baron Cohen's latest release.

After entertaining audiences as Ali-G, shocking them as Borat.... and then waving a penis at them in Bruno - now our favourite character comedian tries his hand at a fictional Middle-Eastern dictator!

Cohen has always tread a fine line between satirically-sharp and tastelessly-tacky - and this film is no doubt going to continue on that path. Whether his antics will amuse or offend remains to be seen...

The Dictator is out in cinemas on 18th May 2012 (UK).

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/ClevverMovies

Trailer - Borderlands 2 - 27/03/12 [DAILY DOSE]

TUESDAY 27TH MARCH 2012 - DAILY DOSE

WARNING: THIS TRAILER CONTAINS DUBSTEP

Today's DAILY DOSE is a trailer for a game due out this Autumn - BORDERLANDS 2.

The first Borderlands had its heart in the right place - it had a good RPG/shooter mechanic, a cel-shaded style that worked well with the environments, and best-of-all 4 player co-op!

The only problems I had was that the environments got a bit same-y (just lots of deserts, caves and run down bases) and that some of the missions could be a bit lame (Go shoot a windmill after the last mission had me blowing up a town full of monsters? Get someone else to do it!)

Borderlands 2 hopes to turn all that around, with a huge variety of settings (snow, jungle, industrial city) and so, so many guns that I may have a wargasm. Very excited to take 3 friends out into world and cause some carnage!

Borderlands 2 is due out on the 21st September 2012 (EU).

Feel free to post comments or contributions to improve the experience!
Any videos in this review are from Youtube and are subject to relevant copyrights. They are kindly provided by: http://www.youtube.com/user/gamespot