Above all else at the .Hack presentation by Atari and Bandai, it was clear that the latter are very proud of their RPG series with a difference. And from what we saw, they have good reason to be..Hack (that's dot Hack, in case you were wondering) will be released in four instalments, the first being .Hack//Infection, which will be available for PS2 in March. While .Hack is, in many ways, a traditional Japanese turn-based RPG, the game structure promises something that hasn't been done quite
In the original .hack saga, The World is a massive online game played around the globe. The trouble is that it contained a terrible secret - players would fall into comas after playing the game. Fortunately, two players known as Kite and BlackRose, among others, battled the malicious entities living in the game world and brought safe play to everyone. In the aftermath, the game itself was completely destroyed.
But companies can't resist dicing with fate when money hangs in the balance,
Step into the future
.hack//G.U. is unique because it straddles two worlds. There's the real world - the one we live in... 11 years in the future, 2017. It's a future that already feels familiar: in which network gaming is universal, thanks to advanced technology and a game-friendly society.
The backdrop to the events of .hack//G.U. is a massively multiplayer RPG, known as The World R:2, built literally on the ashes of the troubled online game that served as the backdrop to the .hack story
Of all the RPGs coming out this fall, .hack//G.U. is one of the most original. Just as the original series did in 2003 and 2004, it simulates an online world without forcing you to deal with the hassles - other players, lack of story - that come part and parcel with MMOs. But if you listen to the words of the creative minds behind it, that's about all it shares with the original games: it's been improved in every way.
Our interview blows the doors off the information you need to make a go of
One of the most crucial aspects of any online game is its combat. And while you must know by now that .hack//G.U. isn't truly an online game, it also draws its inspiration from them. As you traverse The World you'll run into a host of characters, each wielding a powerful weapon. Here, we give you a peek into the choices at your fingertips, along with expert advice straight from publisher Namco Bandai on how these weapons are best used.
Make sure to check out the video below for a showcase of
No Babes Week would be complete without a look back at the ladies of 007. James Bond is the original womanizer, using his debonair good looks to charm his way into the pants of slinky double agents or bored (and possibly kidnapped) heiresses. We’ll take a look at how the girls have evolved over time, comparing their appearances across game titles and hardware generations. We’ll also evaluate the videogame versions against the
Next week sees the release of another James Bond game, continuing one of the longest-running game franchises of all time. Come take a trip down memory lane as we delve into 007's past...
The release of 007 Legends is right around the corner, and we've put together a hefty quiz this week to test your knowledge of the greatest spy series of all-time...
After the gaming blizzard that was October and November, publishers are winding down the year with only a handful of releases in December. Still, a month that features Far Cry 3 and Hawken can't be completely forgettable, can it?
