It’s within the game’s formula of being a twin-stick shooter where it sets itself apart from latter, as well as other games of such a commonly used narrative. While the intentions here are mediocre at best, the story is passable since the player’s attention should be entirely focused on its gameplay. Where the game chooses to utilize cut-scenes for specific moments within the game, they are kept to a brief minimum, hoping to place the player back into the action as soon as possible. Given the game’s lack of concentration to its characters and story, this is something I can appreciate.

" While the intentions here are mediocre at best, the story is passable since the player’s attention should be entirely focused on its gameplay."

Right from the beginning of the game there’s a selection of four characters to choose from, and as the player makes their way throughout the game additional characters will be available, each providing new ways of play thanks to their class-based skills. Where Cactus for example comes armed with an assault rifle and a flamethrower, others such as Lemon, Coral, and Holly come equipped with lasers, shotguns, missile launchers and so on. One thing in particular that I found to be enjoyable within these selection of weapons lies within its supercharge mechanic.

Also known as Mega Weapons, it’s function is an obvious one: Destroy your foe, your weapons gets buffed, unleash chaos. Simple yet effective. Had the game not made use of this, I feel it’s safe to say that things would have become rather stale. It has to be said that although my connection to these characters felt limited at best, they should carry enough personality to keep players amused and engaged throughout their experience with the game. Something along the lines of a children’s television show produced by the likes of Cartoon Network is where these characters hold reminiscence.

With that being said, it carries a slight familiar charm to that of Platinum Games’ The Wonderful 101, along with similar gameplay mechanics of Sierra Entertainment’s Geometry Wars 3. Where the former gets away with enough diverse gameplay and exciting action sequences, and the latter to that of a competitive nature with a killer aesthetic design, this game doesn’t quite manage to reach such varied levels of entertainment. Gameplay takes an approach that’s geared towards those who enjoy competition and difficulty. Providing the player with what is essentially two distinct health bars, the first corresponds to the character’s battery pack, which in turn represents the character’s life.

"With that being said, it carries a slight familiar charm to that of Platinum Games’ The Wonderful 101, along with similar gameplay mechanics of Sierra Entertainment’s Geometry Wars 3."

As this battery pack continuously depletes over the duration of gameplay time, the player must remain on top of their game and replenish its sources by defeating enemies. The second being provided to the player is one that I consider to be rather pointless to say the least. Representing the character’s health status, this is where enemies inflict their damage. Should the player be deprived of their health, they can simply mash away at the buttons and respawn to full regeneration, so long as their battery pack contains enough charge. As the game’s progression system works via a series of hubs, each with their own set of levels to take part in, each of these levels contain stages which play-out as a series of horde modes.

Clearing out each of these levels grants access to each of the game’s many boss battles, who then grant further access to the next hub world. As mentioned previously, the game plays out as a top-down twin-stick shooter, and while it’s satisfying to play with a mouse and keyboard, the nature of the game recommends you play with a controller from the comfort of your sofa. It’s not by any means mandatory, but as indicated by the local-cooperative choice of one to four players, the developer’s intentions seem rather clear.

"Should the player be deprived of their health, they can simply mash away at the buttons and respawn to full regeneration, so long as their battery pack contains enough charge."

Although the game’s combat mechanics are solid and provide a fair amount of diversity given the core mechanics of the game being a twin-stick shooter, one thing in particular I wasn’t to keen on was the game’s visual restriction in level design. While the game is by no means bland, it would do well in mixing up its level design in the way how things are played. It’s worth keeping in mind that the core mechanic of gameplay functions as a horde-based, twin-stick shooter, but the inclusion of an on-rails, bullet-hell sequence would’ve been a welcomed addition.

Similarity is too much of a common theme, as the similarities that exist within each level becomes one that’s expected upon entering the upcoming stage. Given the environment of the game is bound to that of a spaceship it would have been nice to see alternative stages, as opposed to just elevators, boarding platforms, and hallways. The game’s aesthetic design is best described as cartoonish science-fiction dipped in a shiny metallic rainbow.

Where the game manages to make use of these limiting environments is done so in a technique that’s actually quite clever. As the player battles against hordes of enemy robots which thankfully are quite varied, the battle stage constantly rotates, shifts, and transforms adding a new sense of space without actually transitioning to a new area. This visual overhaul is appreciated as it attempts to disrupt and diversify the player’s traversal, therefore providing challenge which the player must adapt to. It’s here where the similarities to Geometry Wars 3 prove strong, something of an explosive dance floor that thankfully puts a restriction on the use of dubstep.

"The game’s aesthetic design is best described as cartoonish science-fiction dipped in a shiny metallic rainbow."

Think Geometry Wars with bobble heads. With that being said, the game’s soundtrack is pleasing to listen to. Audio design is of an arcade nature, keeping in line with the tone of the game, which can also be listened to from the game’s main menu. Outside of the game’s campaign mode which in itself does provide enough satisfactory replay value, there’s also a community-based skill mode by the name of Daily Drive, and a challenge-based horde mode known as Infinity Drive, both of which are designed to push players to their limits, applying the pressure and stretching their endurance.

Should the game receive downloadable content within the near future, more of the same would be very much appreciated. Assault Android Cactus is a fun and challenging game, striking the right balance between difficulty and enjoyment. Solid in its gameplay and pleasing on the eyes, it’s great to play solo but it’s clearly at its best when played with additional players. This is where the game hits its high-points and will undoubtedly hold relevance in the time which follows its release.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

The full soundtrack for Rockstar’s blockbuster game Grand Theft Auto V is now available on the iTunes store. The soundtrack can either be purchased as three distinct albums for $9.99 each, or as a consolidated set for $23.99.

The first volume, Original Music, is a collection of brand new music from a wide array of artists including Wavves, Twin Shadow and Tyler, The Creator. The second volume, The Score, includes all the music from GTA V specifically composed for its dynamic soundtrack in game.

Volume 3 is The Soundtrack, and possibly the star of the show, features select songs from the full selection available across GTA V’s seventeen distinct radio stations. It fetures tracks by Bootsy Collins, Flying Lotus, Bob Seger, Jai Paul, Toro y Moi, Waylon Jennings and more.

The full track listings for each of the three volumes can, of course, be viewed on the compilation’s iTunes pages.

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V released recently to massive critical and commercial acclaim on Xbox 360 and PS3. A PC release for the title is widely expected.

However, there’s always one specific theme that most games are associated with. When you thinks of games like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Halo or God of War, a few particular themes always immediately spring to mind. And thus, we’re here to compile a list of what we think are the ten best main themes in recent video game OSTs.

Be warned, you won’t see many games that were released before 2010 on this list, because then there would just be too much content to cover, and we wanted to make a Top 10 list, not a Top 80 list.

Also, please note that this list is not about soundtracks in general. It is about main themes. Also, only the main themes from OSTs are being listed, not any other tracks.

Only one game per series is being listed.

So let’s begin!

God of War 3

God of War has always had epic music, matching the games themselves perfectly. Though “Overture” doesn’t manage to outdo the excellent, adrenaline shock inducing “The End Begins” of God of War 2 and Ghost of Sparta, it still manages to prepare you, right from the game’s menu itself, for what is an epic, unforgettable ride through mythological Greece. This surely ranks as one of the best themes for a game, ever.

Assassin’s Creed 2

“It is a good life we lead, brother.”

“The best. May it never change.”

“And may it never change us.”

This is how Ubisoft introduces us to the wonderful game that is Assassin’s Creed 2, accompanied with a breathtaking Florence skyline and the striking, memorable music that has now become anonymous with the Assassin’s Creed franchise and even Ezio himself. Sure, Ubisoft may have delivered a perfectly decent main theme with Assassin’s Creed 3’s “Lorne Balfe” but I doubt they will ever outmatch “Ezio’s Family”.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

We’ve heard different renditions of “Nate’s Theme” four times now, with each Uncharted installment, and while some might say that Uncharted 2’s version is better, Uncharted 3’s “Nate’s Theme 3.0” actually makes some slight improvements that makes it sound somehow more grand and sweeping. Everytime you boot up your Uncharted 3 disc, you’re greeted by this wonderful music in the main menu itself. That’s the best gift a Naughty Dog fan could ask for. And a good game, of course.

Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is one hell of a game, and it deserves to have excellent music. Thankfully, it does. The main theme itself sets the mood for the rest of the game- epic, large in scope, thrilling. It’s what you want a main theme to do- you want it to describe the mood of the game, and this one does it perfectly. Also, it serves as perfect background music when you’re doing your math sums.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/top-10-main-themes-in-video-games-in-recent-years/feed 1 123521 https://gamingbolt.com/supremacy-mma-adds-more-metal-music https://gamingbolt.com/supremacy-mma-adds-more-metal-music#respond Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:56:00 +0000 http://gamingbolt.com/?p=47676

Supremacy MMA is adding a whole bunch of new tracks to the game and of course they will be that underground power metal that drives you to bash someones skull in.  Underground music for an underground MMA scene, seems quite suitable to me.  This also gives these underground, unsigned metal artists a chance to get their music out there with the help of 505 Games and Fung Fu Factory.  Supremacy MMA will also be hitting the PS Vita once the handheld console is launched as well, so look out for that.

Back to the roster of metal musicians which the ones that are already signed are courtesy of Victory Records and Sumerian Records. Director of the games developer Kung Fu Factory, Ricci Rukavina, says “This collection of songs represents a great variety of what metal has to offer, delivering a powerful and passionate music line-up for the Supremacy MMA underground fighter storylines”. The Final In-Game Track List will include:

A Thousand Shades of Cold –“Bullet Train to Tokyo”

A Thousand Shades of Cold – “Suddenly”

A Thousand Shades of Cold – “Running Dry”

Aenimus – “The Grasp of Ruin”

Etched in Stone – “Birth of Unknown”

Journal – “Conducting With Passion From The Grave”

Journal – “Undisputed”

MOAB – “Fembot”

Rings of Saturn – “Seized and Devoured”

Slant – “Lying and Bleeding”

Slant – “No Regrets”

Slant – “Another Day”

The Rose Line – “The More We Struggle, The More We Sink”

The Rose Line – “Words”

The Rose Line – “Despite All Reasons”

The Rose Line – “Become the Hunted”

Composer Akira Yamaoka and Grasshopper Manufacture have  announced the release of the Original Soundtrack of Shadows of the Damned.

“I wanted to craft a soundtrack that was more than just a collection of the most popular songs from Damned. I set out to create an experience that would take players back to the game, as if they were “watching” a movie,” Yamaoka explains, talking about the soundtrack.  The soundtrack is limited to only 1000 pressings.

And as special bonus, Yamaoka will sign the first 300 sold to international customers. The OST is available on the GhM WebStore. In addition to the soundtrack starting September 9th, Kurayami, the official Shadows of the Damned companion art book by manga artist and Shadows of the Damned Boss Concept Artist Q-Hayashida (Dorohedoro), will go on sale.

The art book containsconcept art of Flemming and his Damned, a special Damned manga, and conversation with Suda 51 & Q-Hayashida (in Japanese).

SHADOWS OF THE DAMNED OST TRACK LIST

1. An Ordinary Life
2. Take Me To Hell (Broken Dream)
3. Cannibal Carnival
4. What a Wonderful World
5. Riders of the Lost Heart
6. It’s a Bughunt
7. My Dying Concubine
8. As Evil As Dead
9. The Bird’s Nest
10. The Big Boner
11. Great Demon World Village
12. Ghost Hunter
13. Great Demon World Forest
14. Suburban Nightmares
15. Justine for All
16. Twelve Feet Under
17. Different Perspectives
18. The Castle of Hassle
19. The Final Chapter
20. Til Death Do Us Part
21. Shadows of the Damned (ft. The Damned)

The infamous King of Fighters game has its latest edition coming out, King of Fighters 13.  Atlus has announced that there will be a 4 CD Soundtrack Set available with the game.  View the latest gameplay trailer and the official press release below.  Developed by SNK Playmore the standard arcade edition retails for $49.99 and will be available this October for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — JULY 29, 2011 — ATLUS today unveiled a tremendous offer for fans who pre-order their copy of THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII, the latest entry in the legendary fighting franchise, for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system (PS3™) and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

At participating retailers while supplies last, fans who reserve KOF XIII will receive a 4-CD soundtrack compilation with music spanning the 15+ year history of the famed series, certain to be one of the best collectible extras in franchise history.  Fans are strongly advised to reserve their copy as soon as possible at participating retailers to guarantee themselves the bonus soundtrack compilation!

Alongside news of the pre-order only 4-CD bonus, ATLUS also today shared new information regarding the console release of KOF XIII, detailing a host of game modes exclusive to the home version.

• In STORY mode, players can view events from multiple characters’ perspectives, including Ash, Heidern, and Adelheid.  In addition, the story will be influenced by the player’s choices and battle results.  All of this is presented through a wealth of new visuals and animations that fans cannot afford to miss!
• ONLINE VERSUS mode will feature three different match types, each allowing players to challenge other rivals worldwide: RANKED MATCH, PLAYER MATCH, and FRIEND MATCH/XBOX LIVE PARTY.  RANKED MATCH follows strict rules, reflecting players’ records in official rankings. Unranked PLAYER MATCH fights allow for custom rules, letting players enjoy more relaxed battles with more freedom to experiment with new strategies.  FRIEND MATCH/XBOX LIVE PARTY lets players invite online challengers.
• MISSION mode offers three challenging objectives to help players practice and improve their fighting skills!  Beat all the CPU-controlled characters as fast as possible to record the best time in TIME ATTACK.  See how many CPU-controlled characters you can defeat before your life gauge is depleted to zero in SURVIVAL.  Take on special challenges for each character in TRIAL Mode.
• Series newcomers or fans looking to improve their skills can turn to the TUTORIAL mode, in which  tournament organizer Rose Bernstein explains the different basic controls for each character and the importance of each gauge.
• Other modes available in the console version of KOF XIII include ARCADE, VERSUS, PRACTICE, REPLAY, GALLERY, and CUSTOMIZE.  More details will be made available regarding these modes at a later date!

ATLUS also invited fans to join them at EVO 2K and Otakon (7/29-31).  With a playable early version of the console release open to the public, plus a panel with KOF XIII’s director at EVO 2K (7/30 at 10:00am PDT), the shows offer the perfect opportunity for the community to get a sneak peek at the game in action and ask their most pressing questions.

THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII is scheduled to release in October for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems.  For more info, visit http://www.atlus.com/kofxiii.

As the game itself in not funny enough, you can now take it’s ridiculous soundtrack with you for free.  That’s the Splosion Man sequel I’m talking about, Ms. Splosion Man which is just as hilarious and difficult as the first one if not more.  Don’t let the lady fool you… she’s insane.  Download Soundtrack on the Official Site here.

Valve oh Valve , what a wonderful developer you are as, they have just released volume one of the Portal 2 soundtrack for download for free.  Head over to the official OST page to get your turret humming, glados, electro genre music and yes I just made that up.  They have even conveniently setup Android and iPhone versions for you.  So get to it now!  Oh and for the people that think this is just a preview of the soundtrack… the download link is to the bottom left.

By pre-ordering Shadows of the Damned at most retailers you will receive the soundtrack along with it for free.  Pre-ordering it at GameStop, Amazon.com or the EA Store will get you the soundtrack while other retailers might have jumped in on the offer those ones are for sure.  It will be a digital download of the game’s 12 original songs composed by Akira Yamaoka also know for his famous work on the Silent Hill series.  The action-horror title, Shadows of the Damned which is being dubbed things like punk rock horror will release on June 21st in North America and June 24th in the UK for the Xbox 360 as well as the Playstation 3.  The 12 tracks are as follows:

1. Theme of Shadows of the Damned (featuring the English gothic punk band, The Damned)
2. Shedding Stars
3. Walk if Off
4. Last Stop, Windows Up
5. This Way Comes
6. Fathomer
7. Smile for a Broken Dawn
8. Showdown at High Moon
9. Cold Turkey
10. Broken Bones, Broken Promises
11. Dropped Off Between Stops
12. Clawing at the Veil

We have all come to love certain songs in video games most notably the original Portal song by Jonathan Coulton call ‘Still Alive’.  Now you can download his new song in Portal 2 during the ending credits called ‘Want You Gone’ right here.  (Right click and save as) If that is not enough for you how about the classic Duke Nukem song remixed for the upcoming Duke Nukem Forever game out in early June, right here (Update: The link no longer woks so we have removed it).