Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - Debut Trailer

O, Brother Where Art Thou? 

I have extremely high hopes for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. This indie adventure has tastes of Journey sprinkled throughout it, with the focus on co-op in order to reach your goal. Only this time, you will be controlling both brothers at the same time, using each analog stick to control them.

The story is simple: your father is dying and the only thing that can save him is "the water of life", which you must retrieve by controlling the brothers. Simple, to the point, and with the power of the Unreal Engine, Brothers has the components to be the next great indie title.

But let's take a look at this trailer for a moment. First off, what is up with that horrible screeching wail being played over everything else? It was a very poor choice for music, while I understand they wanted to go for an "epic" feel I'm sure something less intrusive could have been found. We finally got a decent sized chunk of co-op gameplay for the last few seconds but it always leaves you wanting more.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
PC, XBLA, PSN, Steam
Release: Out Now! 
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Starbreeze Studios

The Walking Dead: 400 Days - Launch Trailer

Coming to a television near you...

That second title was only half a joke. What's amazing about Telltales's The Walking Dead series is how each episode truly feels like a gamified version of the television show. Only in the game you get to make difficult choices that truly makes the story compelling. But who's keeping track?

In 400 Days, we get a trailer that feels more like a trailer for the next episode of a TV series, which goes along very well with the overall feel of the game. It's always refreshing to see a focus on the story above everything. If you haven't played through this series yet, it's high time to do so.

The Walking Dead: 400 Days
PSN, XBLA, PC/Mac, iOS
Release: July 2 - 11, 2013
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Defiance - Launch Trailer

Welcome to the new age

Man, that song just gets in your head and doesn't let go. Let's be honest here for a second: Defiance isn't getting stellar reviews. I wasn't blown away by the gameplay (or much of the game at all) when playing it at E3, but it's amazing how a well cut trailer can make something look playable. What this shows is the promise that Defiance carries; warring factions, huge aliens, special weapons and abilities, a giant MMO world, and the first game to coincide its story with a television show. Something must have gone wrong in the execution, but I'd still be curious to see how this story translates from the silver screen to your home consoles.

Defiance
PC/Xbox 360/PS3
Release: Out now!
Publisher: Trion Worlds Visceral Productions
Developer: Logicware Inc. Trion Worlds

Dead Space 3 - "Take Down The Terror" Launch Trailer

It's all been a pack of lies

While it may look and play very similarly to its first two installments, Dead Space 3 is a far cry from what the series used to be. Bringing AAA action and co-op to the forefront of the features, today's Isaac is a much different man from when he first stepped into the spotlight.

Dead Space, like many games these days, are looking to move more copies with every title that is launched. This trailer, showing a man on a mission to destroy evil rather than escaping it will hopefully create some interest among gamers that have never tried the series out. Using a Phil Collins song in the trailer doesn't hurt either.

Dead Space 3
Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release: Feb 5th, 2013
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Visceral Games

DmC: Devil May Cry - Launch Trailer

I want to play it. I don't know why. 

That wasn't sarcasm up there. I literally have no idea what happened in that launch trailer. But I was able to absorb the fact that you, as Dante (circa teenage angst years, I assume Nirvana is involved) are in fact half angel and half demon, and are the only thing that can kill whatever is going to destroy the universe. Like I said, only a little bit of this stuck the first time around. 

Anyhow, DmC isn't pulling terrible scores and was a ton of fun to pick up at E3. If you're looking for some steampunk button mashing ridiculousness then consider picking this teeny heartthrob up.

DmC: Devil May Cry

PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release: Jan 14, 2013 (out now!)

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Ninja Theory Ltd.

Call of Duty Black Ops 2 - Live Action Launch Trailer

I laughed, I cried, I COD'ed. That sounds dirty.

Oh hey look, Halo and Call of Duty employed the same marketing tactics. Again. Okay, well not exactly the same, but they did release live action trailers directed by pretty famous people (Guy Ritchie in this case). Here's the difference: while Halo catered to the Halo fan, COD catered to, well, everyone that knows what a video game is. And much to my surprise, it totally works.

Everyone who has ever played COD knows that the online multiplayer is a total sh*t fest. You run around, shoot everything in sight, get killed from an unknown direction, respawn, rinse wash repeat. It's organized chaos, but damn do people have fun playing it. So why not try and market towards as many gamers as possible by making a trailer with big booms, big guns, and Robert Downey Jr.? It didn't take itself too seriously, and that will get people to line up for its release.

Oh, and FPS Russia FOR THE WIN. Good to see this guy getting some camera time outside of the youtubes.

Also, zombies.

Assassin's Creed III - Launch Trailer

Finally, the time is at hand

All of the waiting, all of the anticipating, it is finally coming to an end. Assassin's Creed III drops today and I for one could not be more exciting. Combine this with the best trailer the franchise has ever released, and I'm contemplating a trip to my nearest GameStop at 9 am.

I've never seen such fluidity of action in an Assassin's Creed trailer (let alone the game itself), which means that we're hopefully going to see the best looking and smoothest AC yet. But just to put the tomahawk in the proverbial red coat:

"What is your name?"

"Why do you ask?"

"...So I can find you."

Enough said.

Halo 4 - "Scanned" Launch Trailer

There is WAY too much ancient evil in the universe

I don't think people realize how big of a deal it is that David Fincher and Tim Miller were involved in the production of this trailer. The director of Fight Club and The Social Network doesn't team up with a visual effects lead of X-Men and Where the Wild Things Are for anything. This goes to show that video games are really starting to break into the Hollywood workforce as a medium that is beneficial to work in. It's no surprise; with video games being one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world, it's surprising that we haven't seen more big names in the credits for trailers or the games themselves.

This CGI/live action short shows us that Halo is a big deal. Big enough that some serious players in the industry are willing to attach their names to it. Or that they'll do anything for the right price. I'm going with the first option.

NBA 2K13 - Launch Trailer

Did I mention Jay-Z is the EP?

First off, let's get something straight. Much like the film industry, when the box says that NBA 2K13 is "executive produced by Jay-Z" it actually means "Jay-Z gave us a lot of money so we had to put his name on the title". I'm sure that he had a hand in the production (see: the soundtrack) but for all intensive purposes, that's pretty much his entire role.

Anyhow, to the game. the 2K franchise has struck gold with their NBA effort ever since '11 hit the shelves, and the gameplay looks smoother and more realistic as the years go on. I was loving the signature moves being shown, Larry Bird and The Truth specifically if I'm going to have any kind of bias. And who doesn't love to see a Houston-clad Jeremy Lin getting crossed up? I'm curious to when 2K will go after a physics overhaul ala Madden, but as of right now if it ain't broke then let Jay-Z pay for it.

Okay, that was the last jab. If you like sports games and the NBA, 2K13 is going to be tops.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance - Launch Trailer

Four More Years! Four More Years!

I fell in love with the original Kingdom Hearts just over ten years ago. It was the perfect combination of Final Fantasy and Disney, and I was enthralled from start to finish. Looking past the awkward Square Enix signature dialogue and wonky camera, I had found my favorite game until the sequel was slated for release. Enter Kingdom Hearts 2: Where the camera stuff was (mostly) fixed, action commands became just as prominent in combat as button mashing, and Aerith still had a really strange voice. Needless to say, the prospect of a third (and I assume final) entry to the trilogy interested me just a little bit.

But then we started getting different KH games. Chain of Memories was the start of it, a full length card turn based handheld title, where not playing the game technically didn't make you miss anything with the main story line. Instead of just doing one or two filler games for extra content, Square Enix kept pumping them out. Not only are we continuing to get handheld titles that convolute and confuse the gamers to what exactly is happening in the KH saga, but we don't even have a clue on when KH3 is going to grace our consoles.

That brings us to Dream Drop Distance, the newest title coming to the Nintendo 3DS. I got a chance to play the demo at E3, and I can solidly say that I no longer have any clue what is going on in this series. Donald and Goofy don't know who you are, you bounce around with a giant elephant and mouse, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame looks really strange in 3D. Whether you decide to confuse yourself farther with Dream Drop Distance is up to you, but if you're anything like me, you're quickly becoming very skeptical about how good KH3 could possibly be at this point. And that breaks my twelve year old heart.

Spec Ops: The Line Launch Trailer

We've been set up... 

Talk about an adrenaline rush. Tomorrow store shelves will be graced with Spec Ops: The Line from 2K Studios. Considering Boderlands is up there on my "Favorite shooters ever" list, the hopes are high for this latest effort. Tossing the camera back into third person and sending a near-futuristic marine into the jowls of hell (or in this case, Dubai) may yield some interesting results.

As for the trailer itself, it felt more like a trailer for an action movie than a video game, which is the point I guess. I was reminded a lot of the GTA4 trailer that made such waves with one shot of Niko walking toward the camera while the scenes changed around him. The story is very hazy though: which side is our guy on? Who set up who? He seems American, but this doesn't necessarily seem like formal military.

Needless to say, I'm rooting for you 2K.

NBA 2K12: Legends Showcase DLC Launch Trailer

As if I need another excuse to keep playing this game

Unless you've been playing Skyrim so much that you haven't seen the sun for a few days, you probably know that the NBA season has been saved (for now) and will be starting on Christmas Day. And if that wasn't good enough news for you ball fans, NBA 2K12 has released some new DLC titled "Legends Showcase". It's exactly like it sounds: 150 NBA legends on a blacktop court in Time Square, cell shaded to perfection. 

With game modes like HORSE, 21, and teammate challenge, this is going to be a pretty awesome multiplayer experience for those hardcore ballers. Throw in unlockable current NBA stars, and you've got yourself one hefty piece of DLC. How many people do you think are going to make the monSTAR team from Space Jam? You can count at least one because that's the first thing I'm going to do.

F1 2011 - Launch Trailer

Proving that slow-mo makes everything more epic

A solid 90% of this trailer is in slow motion, and I'm being very conservative with that number. There's an explanation though: I've always felt as if there is some sort of majestic undertone to Formula 1 racing, like it's a more formal and righteous way to race than most other forms of professional racing. I mostly get that feeling because it's true, compare European fans of this sport to fans of Nascar and there's about a 15 beer difference between them. That being said, the style in which this launch trailer is set shows some of that majesty in the beauty of the cars and how smoothly they seem to perform.

F1 2001 is at a disadvantage from the start. It rides in the shadow of Need for Speed, which just released a game this week with it's arcade antics and Michael Bay trailers. But it's real competition is with the Forza series, which releases racing sims that are called "the most realistic driving experiences possible" with every title. That's a high bar for F1 to live up to. But from the smooth corners these high speed racers are taking, they're sure as hell going to try to reach it.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Launch Trailer

Bring on the remakes, baby

Out of nowhere, HD remakes have become a new trend in gaming. We've seen 3DS ports of Star Fox 64 and Ocarina of Time, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus go to PS3, and now Halo is getting a fresh makeover on the Xbox 360. I for one couldn't be happier about it. Halo may not have started the FPS movement, but it sure did launch it into the glory that we know today.

The first part of the trailer is actually all footage from Halo: Reach because Halo: CE is essentially a direct sequel to the latest Halo title. As Noble 6 you helped the Pillar of Autumn off of the doomed planet, and during the credits you see the ship approaching the first Halo. If I just spoiled some of Reach for you, get over it, you must live under a rock.

The second part shows the original Halo as we knew and loved it, just with super awesome graphics that come with the Xbox 360. The campaign is completely intact and the original maps will be available to play in online multiplayer (Hang 'em High, anyone?). One of the cooler features of the game allows the player to switch back and forth between the old original graphics and the current visuals, making it really interesting to see what they've changed. Halo, you had me from hello. Now get in my Xbox.

Battlefield 3 - Live Action TV Launch Trailer

Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow!

Now THIS is what I'm talking about. I'm a fan of live action trailers in general (the Halo: Reach live action trailer gets me every time) and this one delivered literally with a bang. The transition from real life into the gameplay was smooth and didn't feel forced. The action was heart pounding, and the escalating of the conflict made it feel like the game would be rife with intense action. 

Scores for Battlefield 3 are already coming out, and like I thought, this game is going to be nothing short than stellar. The Frostbite engine looks amazing (pending you actually download the patch and have an HD capable television) and it looks like we have a great FPS on our hands. Whether it will beat COD, we'll just have to wait a week to see. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Launch Trailer

Watch out, bold statements ahead

Oh boy, looks like Activision is pulling out the big guns in this trailer. And by big guns I mean a completely ridiculous statement that isn't backed up by any facts anywhere. The most anticipated game of all time? Are you kidding me? I'm cool with games trying to create hype around themselves, but this is just extreme. I can name plenty of games that I'm way more excited about playing, and I'm certain lots of other people can do the same. That gives me an idea for a Top Five Tuesday: the top five games that I'm anticipating way more than Modern Warfare 3.

Look, I really am pumped to play this. I've been a Modern Warfare fan since day one, I consider Captain Price as a father figure of sorts, but please just let your game do the talking. The sad part is, the action shown in this trailer would have spoken for itself. It's the same mistake that Battlefield made by putting the "60 awards" thing at the beginning of their trailer. I get that they're duking it out for the better game, but the truth of the matter is that most people will probably get both, granted they can afford it. And the better game will be recognized when they come out. At this point, I honestly don't know which will be better. Also, no multiplayer in the trailer? For same, COD.

Battlefield 3 - Launch Trailer

Heeeeeeeeere's JONNY!

I really dislike being broke because this game is going to be the bomb diggity. Now that I've gotten my random 90's moment of the day out of the way (rhyme alert!) I can actually talk about what I saw here. The trailer starts with a groan. 60 video game awards? I get that you're still trying to kill Call of Duty, but come on, who REALLY cares?


On to the good stuff: we actually get some semblance of narrative in the trailer, and it went in a totally different direction then I expected. I guess watching trailers solely composed of huge battles just made me think that it was all the game was going to be. But of course we have captured soldiers, corruption, and everything else that seems to come standard with modern day war games. I can't say I hate it though, I have a feeling that Battlefield has pulled off something magical here. Not to mention the graphics look AMAZING. I can't wait to get my hands on this game.


Is Battlefield going to be on your shelf this Tuesday? Leave it here!

Batman: Arkham City - Launch Trailer

Da-na nuh-na nuh-na nuh-na Batman!

The sequel to the greatest superhero game of all time launches in four days, and the launch trailer is here to make us salivate one more time before the release. A large chunk of Gotham has been turned into a giant Arkham, and everything is still being run by the inmates. What's new is that the Joker isn't running the show this time, Hugo Strange has somehow managed to take control of the entire "city". There are tons of super villains in Arkham City trying to take over in their own way, though. They include, but aren't limited to, The Joker, Penguin, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, and many others. Bring on the boss fights.

A couple of things jumped out at me while watching the trailer. First was at about 1:35, you see Batman fighting with a juiced up Bane. If you played Arkham Asylum, you remember beating the tar out of Bane, but I guess he's on your side now. This is kind of funny considering Bane has been announced as one of the main villains in the upcoming Batman flick. Irony at its finest. The second pleasant surprise was seeing a flash of Robin towards the end (not in that way, you pervs). I really hope he becomes a playable character soon.

Anyhow, Arkham City promises to be bigger and badder (in a good way) than Arkham Asylum, and I couldn't be more excited to get my hands on it. Until then I'll be humming the theme song to myself.