Manhunt 2 Ratings Trouble:

Shocking or not? Manhunt 2 has been slapped with an “Adults Only” rating, the harshest it can getfrom the ESRB ratings board. Rockstar has 30 days to resubmit the game or appeal the rating. Manhunt 2 was set to appear on Wii, PS2, and PSP in early July, but both Sony and Nintendo have stated they will bar the game if it keeps the AO rating.

Rockstar released the statement, “Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive a mature rating. We are exploring our options with regard to the rating.”

Prototype Preview:

Prototype follows Alex Mercer who wakes up from an experiment with no memory. As he wanders into NY City, his powers become clear. He can kill people and take their memories, abilities, and even their appearance. He can uses this power to figure out a location, how to pilot a helicopter, and more. He also learns how to morph his body into weapons or indestructible armor.

That is not all. Alex reacts perfectly with the environment. If there is a fire escape hanging above, Alex will run and jump onto it. If there is a car in the path he is walking, he will automatically jump right over it. As the game progresses, he will simply smash right through it. If given a target, Alex will destroy anything in his path to beat down his foe or split the person in two.

One preview scene had Alex take the shape of a military commander. He walks right up to a soldier and alerts others that the bystander is the prototype. While gunfire is unleashed onto the innocent soldier, Alex slips inside their protected hive unnoticed.

The game developers boast fluid movements and glitch-free gameplay, so let’s hope they are right. Two player mode is available when playing online. Release is set for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2008.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot Latest News:

Fans of the first Condemned have been excited for the sequel, mostly because of the ambiguous ending. Producer David Hasle says, “We’re picking up from the storyline one year later. Character Ethan Thomas has really hit rock bottom. The events that drove him out of the SCU will still continue to haunt him. He’s now out for payback and he will definitely be playing by his own rules.”

As far as changes in gameplay, fist fighting has been expanded with new swings, finishing moves now include more interactive options, and you now have the ability to throw weapons. Some new moves include throwing someone headfirst into a TV, breaking their back on a bookshelf, or shoving their head into a toilet before snapping their neck. But be warned- whatever you can do, the AI can do too.

The forensic crime scene has been expanded as well. You can choose if you want to bother investigating at all and if so, are provided with new tools. You have the option to zoom in, make observations to determine cause/ time of death, and then go through a series of questions to solve the crime.

A multiplayer mode is in the works, but is under wraps for now. Release is set for PS3 and Xbox 360 in Spring 2008.

Beowulf Preview:

The video game Beowulf is based on the movie coming this fall where hero Beowulf must battle Grendel and his mother. The game will followed a detailed 20 year period and Beowulf will fight other beasts.

Beowulf will be a “hack n’ lead” game with involvement of up to 20 of Beowulf’s followers. They can defend positions, movie obstacles, and row ships. Beowulf will also have an internal struggle with his carnal and heroic tendencies. By using his carnal abilities (like a berserker rage), Beowulf can better himself, while his heroic tasks (like good team management) benefit the group as a whole.

Release is set for PS3 and Xbox 360 in November 2007.

Darksiders Preview:

Darksiders is a new game that deals with the Apocalypse. You will play War, one of the fabled Four Horseman. The game chronicles War’s journey to regain his powers and seek revenge on an ancient beast named Abaddon. The other three horsemen come into play as allies or NPCs. Traditionally, the four Horsemen were War, Death, Famine, and Pestilence. But in Darksiders, Famine and Pestilence have changed to Fury and Strife.

Comic book icon and Darksiders creative director, Joe Madureira says, “We wanted it to be our own fiction, and not follow the Bible or get religious with t. We are calling it a comic book adaptation of the book of Revelation. They are more like super heroes.”

The gameplay will be intense with War using anything as a means of weapon. For example, if War comes across a downed military helicopter, he can tear the machine gun from its wing and wield it like a Gatling gun. He can pick up other items like a full length bus and smash it into enemies. And the weapons will be on a larger scale too with rocket launchers instead of pistols.

Release for PS3 and Xbox 360 in Fall 2008.

Molly Celaschi