Quick Impressions: 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'

I don't know how they did it, but Raven Software has created one of the most enticing (if not brief) gaming experiences I've had in a long time.

It's hard for my brain to even register the idea that I liked the Xbox 360 version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. But here's the thing - I loved it. It was amazing. Granted I only played one level in a hurried scenario, but it made me want to play the entire thing.



On one hand, it's unfortunate to see the otherwise fairly chivalrous and good Wolverine hack up hundreds of men, creatures and robots. On the other hand, it's so fun. The guy's got those claws for a reason. Usually, he just brandishes them, gives a mean look and then runs at the enemy right before the camera/frame cuts to another mutant fighting another bad guy. But here? Blood a-plenty.

The game utilizes everything awesome about the Wolverine character: his healing powers, his feral senses and his ever-awesome adamantium skeleton and claws. The first level of the game is one of the best modern beat-em-ups I've played since God of War.

And the lunge ability in the game? Incredible. While red shirts across the way shoot at you with their do-nothing bullets, you can lunge over at them and stab them in one fell swoop. Great stuff.

If you can rent it today, do it now. I, in the meantime, will be finding a way to scrounge the money and buy it.

Wash yourself with a Space Invader, PlayStation controller

Etsy is a wonderful place. It's the only place online that you can get a customized and hand-made James Brown mugshot cigarette holder. There are also dozens of things for nerds. Enter Digital Soaps.

Yes, Digital Soaps sells soap in the shape of video games and electronics. But come on, look at that. That's a work of art. Dare you sully it by washing yourself? The nerve of you to turn half of an SNES controller into a colorless nub.

'Aliens vs. Predator' teaser up

It ain't much, but it exists. SEGA is producing a long-awaited Aliens vs. Predator game, and today they released a teaser trailer in anticipation of the game. Just be sure to turn up your speakers as loud as possible for full effect.



Got the shivers? Me neither. But maybe if we get a gameplay trailer, shivers will ensue.

You got your 'Team Fortress 2' in my 'Super Smash Bros.'

There are a few things that instantly bring to mind my middle school days: giant T-shirts, crippling embarrassment and discomfort and Super Smash Bros. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to find this video on Joystiq this morning: a mash-up of Team Fortress 2 with the opening sequence from the original Super Smash.



The only way this could have been better? If they would've snuck Jigglypuff in there.

Sega's 'Resonance of Fate' gets U.S. trailer

I love a good video game trailer. Take Resonance of Fate, for example. It's high action, high drama and a lot of great CG effects. The problem? The music. Behold.



It's like they got a guy who was locked in his room since 1985, listening only to Van Halen, to shred a few lines here and there. Then, they added it to this trailer. What? Either way, it's an interesting looking game. We should be seeing the game in Spring 2010.

This year in games I'm looking forward to playing

It ain't easy to wade through a sea of upcoming games just to see dozens of titles that look wholly unappealing. So let's take a look at ten hopefuls for this year in video games.

1) Ghostbusters: The Video Game (June 16, all consoles) - Penned by Ramis and Aakroyd, voiced by the original cast and a theme by Ray Parker, Jr. Now if the game isn't bad, everybody's happy.

2) I Am Alive (August, PC/360/PS3) - There's no gameplay footage to show what this is going to be like, but I'm certainly excited to see what a decimated Chicago will look like. (This is assuming that this game is actually released this year.)

3) Brutal Legend (October 13, 360/PS3) - The heavy metal platformer starring Jack Black. I don't need any more information to make me intrigued in this one.

4) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (out now, all consoles) - Surprisingly enough, I'd like to take this game for a spin. It's not necessarily going to be a great game by any means, but I'm still pretty intrigued by the comparisons that have been drawn between this one and God of War. Plus, I've heard that it's actually better than the movie.

5) Batman: Arkham Asylum (Sept. 1, PC/360/PS3) - A Batman game that looks legitimately good. What?

6) Assassin's Creed II (Christmas, all consoles) - I loved the first one, so I'm really looking forward to this game based in Renaissance-era Italy. This should be awesome.

7) Rock Band Unplugged (June 9, PSP) - It's not your traditional Rock Band, that's for sure. This game is a sequel to the great Frequency or Amplitude. And on that note...

8) The Beatles Rock Band (Sept. 9, 360/PS3/Wii) - You get to play the songs of The Beatles. Sold.

9) Uncharted 2 (Fall, PS3) - Never played the first one, but I'm really curious to play both that one and this hotly anticipated sequel.

10) God of War 3 (TBA at E3, PS3) - I'm sorry, but I think I'll take the audacity to say that these games are the finest beat-'em-ups of the next generation systems. I can't wait to play this one.

Do you guys have any more to add to the list?

Dropping the ball

Hey everybody. It's me, the disappointment blogger. So I haven't been posting very frequently. Sorry about that. See, there's this bi-annual tradition that I have called finals week where I don't post very frequently.

I've realized lately two things:

1 - I don't have any time to play lengthy games at the moment. As a matter of fact, I think I might trade out my copy of Blue Dragon. There is nothing rewarding about playing that game. There's a lot of running and hitting "attack," but there's nothing about the story, the characters or the three discs that I care to explore any more.

2 - I don't have any handheld games that I particularly enjoy playing these days (on the bus and the like).

3 - I only really want to play Left 4 Dead and Peggle. Uh-oh.

So here's the plan: I'll make a list of games coming out this year that I'm legitimately looking forward to playing and post them here.

I'll be back to my hard-news-and-culture coverage later. Thanks for your patience.

Prince talks 'Guitar Hero' with Tavis

In high school, I was an outspokenly huge rock 'n' roll nerd. Therefore, there were lunch room fights that would break out between my friends and I.

Friend 1: What are you talking about? The Eagles are a great band.
Me: No, they're not a great band. They're good musicians who make OK music.
Friend 1: That's crap!

It was at this point that another friend would step in.

Friend 2: Guys! What do you think about Prince?
Me: Oh, Prince is amazing.
Friend 1: Oh yeah, I love Prince.

Prince was our middle ground, our ambassador of peace. He's an amazing artist, an incredible guitarist and an icon.

The man sat down with Tavis Smiley and talked about his life, his music and Guitar Hero.

I hear it made, like, $2 billion and they came to us and offered us a very small portion of that. But I just think it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar. It's a tough instrument -- it's not easy. It took me a long time, and it was frustrating at first. And you just have to stick with it, and it's cool for people who don't have time to learn the chords or ain't interested in it, but to play music is one of the greatest things.

To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings, and I would -- I don't know, I wish it upon everybody. It's heaven.

Hear that? Prince wants you to learn how to play actual guitar. And he's right. Playing guitar and creating your own work is a wonderful thing.

But don't be alarmed. He's not dissing the game. He just thinks there's a better way to waste his time. To each his own. Now where are my plastic instruments?