Throughout gaming lore there have been certain games that come in and out of development and dodge deadlines to the dismay of their loyal fans. Starcraft Ghost, Half-Life 3, the mythical Duke Nukem Forever; all these titles have taken their fans heartstrings and thrown them across the room throughout development. Among these titles lies Max Payne 3. When its predecessor ended back in 2003, fans were expecting a swift turnaround for the sequel. However, problems with developer Remedy and publisher Rockstar eventually lead the two teams to split and for Max Payne 3 to be continually delayed. Thankfully, the release date was not a joke thistime around. Max Payne 3 is out and it delivers on the famed action, while providing a dark story sure to satisfy fans of the series.

The game picks up several years after the end of the last game. Max has fallen into a deep hole in his life and the only way to get out is to take on a private security job in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As one would expect, the 8-10 hour story has its share of backstabbing and vendettas, all narrated by Max himself in classic film noire fashion. While the writing is as strong as ever, the game switches between bad guys too quickly near the end of the game. By the time the person who you are really after is revealed, there isn’t that strong a connection or hatred for them considering they weren’t even important earlier in the game. Nonetheless, Max’s constant monologuing and heavy handed use of metaphors is much better penned than before, characterizing him as a much more cynical, yet likable character than in earlier games. His remarks are actually witty and longtime fans of the series are likely to chuckle when they hear Max’s comments on techno music or Facebook statuses. While the story does get needlessly complicated near the end game, Max’s reasons for mass murder are always clear and it delivers a satisfying conclusion to this new chapter in his life.

Either way, as it was in both games before hand, the meat and potatoes of the experience lies in the ridiculous gunplay. Rockstar has implemented a cover system to the game, leading to a more tactical approach than before. The patented Bullet Time system is back, allowing Max to fall into a trance where he is faster than his enemies and has the ability to dodge bullets with ease. Every bullet is individually modeled, leading to a much higher level of realism to this unrealistic mechanic. Unfortunately, the difficulty within the game cancels out some of the overpowering action many fans are used to. Enemies take cover intelligently and have deadly aim, even from long distance. Not to mention that near the end of the game most bad guys will be covering every inch of their body in body armor, turning them into frustrating bullet sponges. While bullet dodging out of cover and through a window is as awesome as it ever was, when it is over you find yourself awkwardly laying on the floor and struggling to get up with a middle aged groan as bullets smack you across the face. Throw in the fact that your health does not regenerate and you need to be in constant search for painkillers and it can seem unfair at times. It is a problem of new meets old that can hold the game back. Enemies have gotten smarter, and the reckless style of play so suited for this kind of game just does not fly anymore.

Yet, when breaking down the mechanics of the action, it is a beautifully made game. The transitions between animations are extremely smooth, such as when you are left on the ground after a bullet dodge and can rain hell on your enemies. Despite the sometimes frustrating painkiller health system, the game finds ways around it with style. If you have a painkiller on you when you are fatally shot, the game will slow down into Bullet Time and direct your aim towards the guilty goon. If you dispatch him then Max will take the painkiller and give you a second breath of health.

Max Payne 3 is powered by Rockstar’s Euphoria physics engine that mixes Havok-style physics with artificial intelligence. This makes empting a clip on someone more realistic than in any other game in recent memory. Add in the fact that bullets damage enemies without censor, making an entry wound that quickly fills with blood and stains anything it touches, and killing someone in Max Payne 3 looks alarmingly close to the real thing. While the game is not the best looking around, the small details are what sell you on the package. Painkillers will not just be littered around the level, you will have to look for them in logical places such as bathrooms and behind some depressed secretary’s desk. Even the fact that every weapon Max is carrying is shown on his person, and when you reload a side arm he will stick the two handed weapon in between his chest and arm so that it won’t fall on the ground, is enough to convince you of the attention to detail Rockstar has put into this. Cutscenes are all done on the game engine and will often lead directly into gameplay, never taking you out of the experience. Max is suffering from a heavy drug addiction and the game will use some distortion effect in the cutscenes to remind you of that. It can get old quickly, but it successfully captures just how out of whack Max’s life is.

In a first for the series, Rockstar has added a full multiplayer suite with a dozen different game modes and fully integrated character customization. Standard modes such as deathmatch and king of the hill serve their purpose but the real bones of the experience lies with the Gang Wars mode. Players are sorted into teams and dropped into scenes ripped from the single player story. The game mode is always random but it will evolve according to who won the last match, linking together each round with cutscenes and voice over. There are five rounds in each match and the variety of game modes makes this some of the most fun you can have with the game. Bullet time is integrated beautifully into the experience. When you activate it any player in your line of sight will slow down until they break that line of sight. This goes without mentioning the implementation of Bursts (read: COD perks) as little additions to your arsenal. Each burst has 3 levels that you build up the same as you would Bullet Time. If you hold off from using it, and can stay alive, long enough to reach level 3 then the payoff is more than worth the wait. Overall, the multiplayer suite is fully stocked and has just as much attention put into it as the single player story.

Blast Factor: What is probably Max Payne 3’s biggest problem is that it does not always feel like a Max Payne game. You will often be forced into cover and have to pick off enemies like in Gears of War or Uncharted. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is sure to strike a nerve for fans that have been waiting years for this sequel. Nonetheless, when it does feel and play like it should, the experience is bar none some of the best action you can find in a game this year. Throw in the fantastic multiplayer offering and the return of the high scoring arcade mode and the game comes stocked with quality features. Much like Max himself, this game can stumble out of the gate and many of its mechanics have not aged gracefully, but at the end of the night, it is one hell of a good time to hang out with.

After you’re doing playing through Max Payne 3‘s campaign mode and before you check out the slew of online maps Rockstar Games has planned for the game, why not check out its Arcade Modes and unlock some goodies while you’re at it?

Making a return from Max Payne and Max Payne 2 is New York Minute, a mode that has you racing the clock to kill as many enemies as possible in 60 seconds. The game’s Score Attack mode is also similar, but gives you more time to enjoy each headshot you make and every kneecap you blow off. Your scores in both of these modes are uploaded to the Rockstar’s Social Club leaderboards and top scores will unlock exclusive multiplayer avatars and XP bonuses.

Max Payne 3 will be out on May 24. In the meantime, check out our preview from PAX East and stay tuned for our full review.

Rockstar today announced its plans to release seven DLC packs for Max Payne 3 starting this summer and ending in the fall. The DLC will focus primarily on the game’s multiplayer, adding new maps, challenges, and multiplayer avatar items.

Similar to what it did last year for L.A. Noire, the developer will also be releasing a Max Payne 3 Rockstar Pass, letting players take advantage of a 35 percent savings on all the planned DLC by purchasing them in advance and redeeming them when they become available. The Pass will be be available for 2400 Microsoft Points or $29.99 on PlayStation Network.

The Local Justice Map Pack will come in June and give players the Police Precinct map for Gang Wars, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Payne Killer multiplayer modes. It will feature new maps for these modes as well as additional challenges.

June 2012
• Local Justice Map Pack

Summer 2012
• Disorganized Crime Map Pack
• Deathmatch Made In Heaven Mode Pack
• Hostage Negotiation Map Pack
• New York Minute Co-Op Pack

Fall 2012
• Painful Memories Map Pack
• Trickle Down Economics Map Pack

Max Payne 3 heads to consoles on May 15 and to PC on May 29.

After what seemed like a century in hiatus, Max Payne has recently seen the light of day in a Rockstar developed and published project. At this year’s PAX East we got our first hands on.

Taking place several years after the end of Max Payne 2, the third installment in the series finds Max as a private security guard for a client in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has drank and painkilled himself into another deep hole of metaphors and soliloquies and is ready to get back into action. As his client’s trophy wife is kidnapped by a rival drug gang, he finds himself in a ton of trouble from which he can only bulletime himself out of.

The level we played starts off in New York City, as Max and his old police academy partner Raul Passos are in the middle of a heated chase. A new component to the Max Payne formula is the addition of a cover system. By pressing X on the 360 controller, Max will hug any piece of cover available to him. However, Rockstar made a point of not marking each level with obvious cover traversal. The cover is there, but Max’s ability to slow down time with his patterned bullet dodge move is the best way to approach each situation. Furthermore, the amount of environmental destruction in each level is such that no object will remain too sturdy after a frenetic firefight.

As the chase continues, and enemies try to stop your path, the ferocity of the combat comes into view. Every bullet is an individual model in the game, meaning they will pierce skin and break bone as they travel through the body. Some cringe worthy deaths were in full display  as headshots piled up. Adding to the realism and intensity of combat is Rockstar’s Euphoria physics engine. Used in GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, this innovative physics system mixes rag doll physics with artificial intelligence to give each character some real weight and believable reactions when getting shot. More importantly, it prevents Max from clipping through any objects in the game as he flies though the air during a dodge. One needs to be careful about where they are dodging, seeing how a a collision with a wall can end your streak of badassness in a heartbeat. However, if you do land wrong, Max will remain on the ground, letting you pivot and twist around while you are shooting, without needing to get up. It needs to be played to fully understand, but it works really well in the heat of battle.

James McCaffrey returns as the voice of Max, this time further embodying the character by providing his likeness as well as some mo-cap work. The is just a fraction of the work done to amp up the presentation. When cut scenes break the action it will be through in-engine comic book style panels, where important events are cut up into frames and dialogue is displayed on the screen. The transition in and out of these is seamless, and when partnered with Max’s classic somber monologues, the film noire atmosphere comes off strong.

As the demo wrapped up we got to play a level further on in the campaign where Max is in a shootout at a Brazilian soccer stadium. Max Payne 3 sticks close to its roots retaining the painkiller driven health system from the previous games. You can gain back part of your health if you use a painkiller, but if you are out you will die a merciless death. Added to this mechanic is a type of “last stand” feature in which if an enemy lands a lethal blow, bullet time will activate, giving you a second chance to finish them. If you manage to kill them, a painkiller will be used with a bit more style than simply pressing up on the d-pad.

It is good to see Max back in action. The game is well on its way to come roaring into next generation consoles and the new additions are set to help enhance an already perfected gameplay mechanic. Hardcore fans are sure to be pleased and newcomers cannot ask for a better time to join. This game better be on your radar.

Max Payne 3 will release on the XBox 360 and PS3 on May 15th and PC on May 29th.

If you have yet to register for Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East or are having second thoughts about going to the biggest gaming expo on the east coast, you better make up your mind fast as Friday and Sunday passes for this weekend’s event are quickly disappearing.

“Only a few hundred Friday passes left. Probably sell out in a 2-3 days at this rate,” announced the official Twitter account for PAX, the three-day event that had sold out its three day passes a couple of months ago.

PAX East and its west coast cousin PAX Prime are one of the only occasions fans can play some big-name games before they are released. Here’s a quick list of some of the games, demos, and previews the big developers and publishers will be showcasing this weekend.

Square Enix (Booth 850)

Sleeping Dogs, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Quantum Conundrum, Heroes of Ruin, Wafku, Risen 2: Dark Waters

Microsoft (Booth 524)

Crimson Dragon, Deadlight, Dust: An Elysian Tail, Trials Evolution, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, Fable: Heroes, Kinect Sports: Season  Two, Kinect Star Wars, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor

Nintendo (Booth 412)

Mario Power Tennis Open, Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Kart 7, Resident Evil Revelations, Ketzal’s Corridors, Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, Pushmo, Dillon’s Rolling Western

2K Games (Booths 924, 936, 1036)

Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Civilization V: Gods & Kings

Rockstar (Booth 912)

Max Payne 3

Sega (Booths 448, 548)

Hell Yeah, Sonic 4 Episode 2, Jet Set Radio, Virtua Fighter 5: Showdown, Virtua Tennis Challenge, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, House of the Dead 4, Aliens Colonial Marines

Ubisoft (Booth 824, 836)

Assassin’s Creed III (footage,) Far Cry 3, Mad Riders, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online, I Am Alive, Babel Rising, Monster Burner, MotoHeroz, Prince of Persia Classic HD

Reverb Publishing (Booth 808)

Girl Fight, Wheels of Destruction, Black Knight Sword, Bang Bang Racing, JAM Live Music Arcade, Primal Carnage (booth 1167,) Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat, Shoot Many Robots (booth 612,) Dungeon Defenders, Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad, Country Dance All Stars,

Paradox Interactive (Booth 368)

War of the Roses, The Showdown Effect

Perfect World (Booth 736)

Neverwinter, Blacklight: Retribution, RaiderZ

Don’t forget too that aside from these studios, other, lesser known, developers will be there as well, so be sure to check them out. You never know what indie game will be the next Journey!

Those of you hoping to end 2012 in Los Santos with Grand Theft Auto V may be a bit disappointed as a top analyst is suggesting that the game will release in March of next year, rather than later on this year as previously thought.

Financial analysts at Sterne Agee are warning potential investors, who look to make more than a sufficient amount of money on the game’s inevitable retail success that Rockstar will take the extra time to polish the game, and a 2012 release is unlikely.  On an interesting note, L.A. Noire, Red Dead Redepmtion and Grand Theft Auto V all launched in the March-May timeframe.

Rockstar has not yet announced a release date for the game.

I really liked L.A. Noire, and more of it is never a bad thing, especially when it comes this quick.

Starting today, players will be able to download a number of add-ons for the game. “The Naked City” DLC case ($4.00 for PSN/320 Microsoft Points), “A Slip of The Tongue” DLC case ($4.00/320 Microsoft Points), Broderick Detective Suit and Gun ($1.00/80 Microsoft Points), Sharpshooter Detective Suit and Gun ($1.00/80 Microsoft Points), The Badge Pursuit Challenge ($2.00/160 Microsoft Points), and Chicago Piano Machine Gun (free community unlock) are all available.

On June 21st, The “Nicholson Electroplating Disaster” DLC will launch, with “Reefer Madness” hitting on July 12.

“With its blend of real crime influences and noir atmosphere, L.A. Noire contains boundless potential for new stories and new cases,” said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, in an official press release received by Blast. “The four new cases are strong standalone stories that sit perfectly alongside the main game.”

Don’t want to pay for each piece of DLC separately? The Rockstar Pass, which costs only $10 is now available and allows users to pick up all of the DLC as it becomes available; netting you a 50% savings. After this week, the pass goes up to $12.

Go get ‘em detective.

Reviewers by nature are known for hyperbole. It seems like every game, movie and album is “fantastic” and the “best thing ever.” As a personal rule, I try not to use these words very often. I say this not as some weird form of bravado, but to make sure you know that I mean this next statement whole heartedly.

L.A. Noire is one of the most impressive gaming experiences I’ve ever encountered. Rockstar’s latest combines cutting edge technology with a new and novel gameplay system to create a truly memorable and thrilling experience. Does it have its fair share of problems? Sure, but throughout my time with the game, these problems weren’t enough to take away from what made L.A. Noire so memorable in the first place. Simply put – there’s absolutely nothing like L.A. Noire.

It’s 1947 in Los Angeles, and you’re Officer Cole Phelps, just back from World War II. It’s your job to police the city, be it via chasing down random street crime perps, or investigating gruesome murders. As a Rockstar game, you probably already expecting that this process involves stealing cars, speeding down the streets and gun fights. Sure, all of that stuff is in there (note: you never actually steal a car, you borrow it for “police business”), it’s a lot less than you’d think. L.A. Noire asks players to use the brain and think not as gamers, but as detectives in order to advance through the game.

Here’s how your standard case works in L.A. Noire, you get a briefing from your department superior (sections are broken up into traffic, homicide, arson and vice desks), travel to the scene and investigate. From there, you’re pretty much free to solve the case anyway you want. Do you search the crime scene for evidence? Question the witness? Finding different leads and clues is incredibly fun, (if not too easy, but a bit more on that later) It’s all up to you, and the result is incredibly rewarding and immersive. To put it into perspective, while playing Red Dead Redemption, I never lost sight of the fact that I’m a guy playing as a cowboy, in L.A. Noire, I actually felt like a detective.

Undoubtedly, the first thing anyone will notice when checking out L.A. Noire is the amazing facial animations sported throughout the game. Using a revolutionary technology called Motion Scan,  L.A. Noire features undoubtedly the most impressive and realistic faces ever to grace a video game, and goes a long way in making the world of L.A. Noire believable. It’s not all for looks though, as the new technology plays a major role in the way L.A. Noire plays out. A major part of solving the crimes in L.A. Noire is the interrogation process. Essentially, you’ll question everyone from witnesses, to suspects of persons of interest by listening to their story and judging if you think they’re telling the truth, if you doubt them or if they’re straight up lying. Every movement, from not being able to look you in the eye to how they’re sitting needs to be observed, and if you guess wrong, it could have a huge impact on just how the case plays out. Granted, you’ll still end up at the same point at the end of the case regardless, but its how you get there that’s important.

While solving cases will take up the majority of your time in L.A. Noire, there’s also unassigned street cases you’ll be able to solve, these pretty much all involve catching purse snatchers or bank robbers (or in one case, a guy in his underwear wearing a metal pan on his head). These unassigned cases are where the game most resembles a traditional Rockstar game, you’ll weave in and out of traffic to chase down a suspect. The major issue with these cases though is that they’ll continuously pop up, and once you’ve done a number of them, you’ll often find yourself repeating them. There’s also a number of hidden cars to collect (which interestingly enough, the game doesn’t have a garage feature, so you’ll just find the car, and can’t keep it anywhere for easy access) and newspapers and film reels to collect. Much like previous Rockstar games, L.A. Noire is a completionsist’s heaven.

Possibly the most impressive aspect of L.A. Noire, above all else is the attention to detail in recreating 40s era Hollywood. The development team combed archives, interviewed experts and did a ton of research to get even the smallest details perfect, and the result isn’t a game, but a time machine that acts as a love letter to an era by-gone. Don’t want to solve any crimes? Take a cruise down Sunset Boulevard and take in the sights. If you really want an interesting ride, switch the game over to black and white to give it that extra old time Hollywood charm.

The Blast Factor: With L.A. Noire, Rockstar cements its place not only as a definitive game maker, but as a story teller. L.A. Noire is a risky, daring and novel approach to a game that pays off in spades. By focusing the experience on the police work, the result is a truly immersive thrill ride of a game that everyone should play. The tech is incredibly cool, and the entire experience is one that cements Rockstar as one of this generation’s premier story tellers. Simply put – there’s absolutely nothing like L.A. Noire.

Rockstar hasn’t even officially announced Grand Theft Auto V yet, but that hasn’t stopped Gamestop Germany from giving it a January 2012 release date.

Rumors have been circulating for months that Rockstar will be unveiling the latest installment in the blockbuster series after a job posting for a game that sounded an awful lot like it could be set in Liberty City was spotted.

Stick with Blast for more info on GTA V and all of the big rumors leading up to E3 in June.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a game than I have been about Rockstar and Team Bondi’s L.A. Noire. Due out on May 17 for the PS3 an Xbox 360. Check out the newest trailer above.

Meet David Cage. He created Heavy Rain. He’s also really, really proud of it. So much so that he’s willing to put it over other games in interviews, even games that haven’t come out yet. Games like rockstar’s  L.A. Noire.

Specifically, Cage said that he was “unimpressed” with the facial scan technology in L.A. Noire during a recent interview with CVG.

“What to say about L.A Noire? I think it’s an interesting solution to a problem for now. But it’s also an interesting dead end,” said Cage. “That’s exactly what I feel. Their technique is incredibly expensive and they will never be able to shoot body and face at the same time.”

So just what does Cage think is the future? Why the motion capture that his studio, Quantic Dream is doing of course!  Apparently their new tech does both head and body, as opposed to the L.A. Noire tech which only scans the face.

“We are doing that now [at Quantic], and our next games will be shot with performance capture,” he explained. “We see a huge difference between shooting the face and body separately and shooting everything at the same time. Suddenly you’ve got a real sense of acting that is consistent. You can’t imagine how related what you say with your face is to what your body does.”

Well that was unexpected. This morning, Rockstar tweeted two new Max Payne 3 screenshots, and the words “He’s coming.” Looks like we’re getting a reveal soon.

These are the first new screenshots in almost two years. When the game was unveiled in 2009, series die hards weren’t too happy with the new, balder, fatter and…beardier…version of the noir detective. Do these screens show Payne with hair?

Stick with Blast for more information on Max Payne 3.

I started prepping today for Blast’s end of the year game awards. One of the games that made the list for best of the year? Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar’s western opus is one hell of a fun game, but I can’t help but think that it’s missing something. Zombies!

Just in time for Halloween, we get our first glimpse of Red Dead’s latest expansion pack “Undead Nightmare,” which inrtroduces zombies into the fold and oh man, does it look awesome.

Though not many specifics are known as to story or content, it is known that the DLC will add to the game’s already lengthy single player campaign in the form of new weapons, animals and a new location. Expect Undead Nightmare to hit sometime before the end of the month.

Check out the trailer below!

It’s suffered a delay and introduced a ambitious multiplayer component, but Rockstar’s Red Dead: Redemption is almost here.

Due out next week is the Western epic and, if you haven’t already, you may want to work on the fake sick cough for the boss, as you’ll want to play this one sooner than later.

Rockstar released a new trailer today today for the game. Titled “Revolution,” the video takes us south of the border to Mexico where main character John Marston becomes entrenched in some “tumultuous times,” as Rockstar puts it.

Whatever the case, we’re excited for game and can’t wait to play it when it hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

Rockstar Games have named and dated post-launch downloadable content for the upcoming Red Dead: Redemption today.

While the full retail game doesn’t come to Xbox 360 and PS3 until May 18, the publisher has DLC planned and ready for release in June.

It’s called Outlaws to the End and it’s a co-op themed package, that’ll be free when it releases in June on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live simultaneously.

It’s composed of six multiplayer missions that have players doing everything from riding a raft down a riving guns blazing to storming Mexican army gates and taking control of a mining camp full of gold…that’s rigged to explode!

“Multiplayer in Red Dead Redemption offers players a whole new way to encounter the massive open world we’ve created, but we felt the experience would not be complete without co-op game play,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “With these missions, we wanted to create new ways for players to share in the experience of engaging with this amazing landscape.”

The DLC will release sometime in June, Rockstar says. Red Dead: Redemption hits PS3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

Check out the DLC’s first screenshots below and read more on the DLC at the Rockstar Newswire.

Rockstar Games have huge hopes for their upcoming wild west third-person action game Red Dead: Redemption.

While details surrounding the game’s campaign have remained largely under wraps, its multiplayer, which we already knew a little about, today is exposed further.

Today’s trailer, narrated in an intriguing History Channel type manner, speaks at length about game-modes, weapons and everything else you could want to know about multiplayer in Red Dead: Redemption.

What might be most exciting about multiplayer is the way matches can start; with Mexican standoffs. In this beginning moment, you’ll stand in a circle, around your foes, fire your pistols at each other, and who’s left standing gets a head start in the game to to anything they wish, but as Rockstar reminds us, should probably head to a great sniper lookout.

Game-types mentioned in the trailer are numerous and include “Shootout” (deathmatch), “Gang Shootout” (team deathmatch) as well as a slew of other objective types like “Hold Your Own” Grab Your Bag” and “Gold Rush.”

Red Dead: Redemption comes to Xbox 360 and PS3 May 18.

Rockstar Games, in less than a month, will unleash a mighty beast of a game in the form of the Wild West action game Red Dead: Redemption.

It’s officially due out May 18 and today the publisher unleashed four new screenshots from the game’s Mexican province of Nuevo Paraiso.

Take a trip south of the border and have a look at these gorgeous shots, teasing what looks to be a truly excellent title.

For the first time in the history of Rockstar open-world games, a difficulty setting will find its way into the final product.

Rockstar’s “Gun” spiritual successor, “Red Dead: Redemption,” will feature three difficulty settings; casual, normal and expert.

The varying difficulty settings extend only to the game’s aiming mechanics, not AI intelligence or any other such places.

Here’s how Rockstar says each will play out:

Casual - Full auto-aim and faster health regenerating.

Normal - “Snap-to-target with precise aiming using the right stick.”

Expert - Free aim with no lock-on whatsover.

Rockstar says it’s the first time they’ve ever tried implementing a difficulty setting and is eager to hear back from the community about the differences between each.

“Red Dead: Redemption” comes to PS3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

Source: Rockstar Q+A

Rockstar Games today revealed what multiplayer in the wildly ambitious Red Dead: Redemption will look like.

Debuting today is the game’s Free Roam multiplayer mode, in which the entire single player game world is open for gamers to literally do whatever they hell they wish in. Hunt animals, fight criminals, become a criminal, jump into a deathmatch or just ride your house aimlessly into the sunset.

Best of all, Free Roam is just one of the game’s multiplayer options.

While many had quibbles with with Rockstar’s implementation of free roaming multiplayer in Grand Theft Auto: IV, I loved every second of it, and am glad to see it return to the Wild West, where I’m sure it’ll be that much more fun.

Red Dead: Redemption comes to PS3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

Life in the West was a brutal affair, or so Rockstar and Red Dead: Redemption tell us.

In the game’s latest trailer, released late last night on the latest episode of GameTrailersTV, we get a deeper look at the game’s open world and its dynamic make up.

Like the others before it, the trailer is narrated in the familiar, welcoming, and totally rad History Channel manner. In it are details about the game’s morality system, side  missions, enemies, shoot outs, and is packed full of gameplay. Needless to say, it’s nothing short of fantastic.

Red Dead: Redemption comes to PS3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

At PAX East this weekend, we got our filthy, grubby hands all over the violent, open-world action game Red Dead: Redemption and it looked pretty, but not like this.

Rockstar Games released a handful of new shots from the game today and needless to say, they’re gorgeous.

Horseshoes

We don't hold hands

Good choice.

You dead

Buckin'

Look for Red Dead: Redemption on Xbox 360 and PS3 May 18.

Rockstar Games’ upcoming Wild West action/adventure game, “Red Dead: Redemption” got its finalized box art style today and it’s a menacing beast.

The cover shows main character John Marston, wielding some sort of double barreled shotgun with rallying horses and a flag draped across the background; kickass.

Red Dead: Redemption comes to PS3 and Xbox 360 May 18.

Rockstar Games’ “Red Dead: Redemption” got delayed a month, but it’s not all bad news, as the game continues to look stellar.

The development studio released a new trailer for the game today. And, similar to previous entries, it’s narrated like a History Channel program and this one details “Life In The West.”

Without giving a heck of a lot away, the game will afford its users a host of opportunities both sinister and kind. The choice, as in any Rockstar game, is yours.

Rockstar Games released a handful of shots from the upcoming Red Dead: Redemption today detailing even further, the game’s environment, people and overall magnificence.

Though the game was delayed a month to May, if that equates to an extra month of polish, I won’t be too upset.

Whoa there cowbody, you’re gonna have to wait, as Rockstar Games today pushed the release date of the hotly-hyped Red Dead: Redemption back a month to May 18.

Take-Two, the game’s publisher, CEO Ben Feder explained the reasoning behind the delay of game in a financial call today.

“We shifted the launch of the game by several weeks into the third quarter. We believe this is the optimal time frame to release what is being hailed as the next generation of sandbox games.”

Well, RDR was number one (outside of Halo: Reach) for 2010, and yeah, it still is, just a month later. Delay of games, they hurt, huh?

And you thought your girlfriend was mad when your forgot her birthday, at least she didn’t stab you in the chest with a 12 inch knife or fill your gut with lead from a handgun.

Rockstar Games released a new trailer for the upcoming open-world action adventure game “Red Dead: Redemption today” and this time around, instead of focusing on weapons, death and The Law, it centers on women. Dangerous women.

Have a look. “Red Dead: Redemption” comes to Xbox 360 and PS3 April 27.

Team Bondi’s 1940s open-world game L.A. Noire is apparently one of Rockstar’s “most ambitious” titles to date. That’s a heck of a statement to make, but today we’re given the first-ever look into the world of the game.

Thanks to exclusive shots given to GameInformer we see just how colorful the 1940s can be.

L.A. Noire does not use Rockstar’s RAGE engine, instead employing Team Bondi’s proprietary engine to render hit detection and the like.

We won’t steal GameInformer’s thunder and post the shots here, so hop over to GameInformer to see the handful of images from L.A. Noire and check out the latest issue of GI for a full story on the game.

It’s not all fun and games in the world of Red Dead Redemption. Killing, robbing and scheming have consequences. Consequences enforced by authoritative forces known as The Law.

These enforcers; a Marshall, Deputies and a Detective will stop at nothing to keep you in line, as you gallivant through the Wild West.

No word on whether or not Red Dead Redemption will employ a mechanic similar to that of GTA: IV‘s wanted system, i.e., the more havoc you wreak, the harder and faster the tail, but we can probably expect something similar, in one form or another.

Below is the video and look for the game April 27 on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Need another reason to be excited about Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto of the Wild West? You already have many, but today the developer released a 5-pack of screenshots showing off the many uses of the lasso in Red Dead Redemption.

The images show John Marston, the game’s main character, using his pile of rope in many ways including wrangling a wild horse, subduing a bad guy, and possibly, if you like, to apply some “frontier justice” and drag him or her through the sandy desert.

More information at Rockstar Games’ Facebook page.

Rockstar Games today announced that Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City is finally confirmed for release on Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Windows Live.

The episodes

When March 30, 2010 rolls around, the double pack Episodes From Liberty City will appear at retail everywhere and also as individual episodes, Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost And Damned on the PlayStation Network and Windows Live marketplace.

Now, some PS3 owners might be thinking “too little too late.” And understandably, because the time these episodes arrive, GTA:IV will be nearly two years-old, but Rockstar has yet to say anything about the next core GTA title, so it could be years off, leaving you more than enough time to enjoy these truly terrific expansions.

Read more about this, and lots more, at the Rockstar Newswire

As promised, Rockstar Games released an iPhone/iPod Touch version of the award-winning portable Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars this week and it looks and sounds like a winner.

For $9.99, yes, a penny less than an even $10, you can score yourself the same game available for PSP and DS, and then some.

New to the iPhone/iPod Touch version is Independence FM, an in-game radio station that allows you to import iTunes playlists to enjoy during the game, enhanced 480×320 resolution, multi-touch controls, adjusted difficulty levels, and more.

Enough words. Here’s the action.

The Rockstar Games studios know a thing or two about trouble. They make games about death, destruction and killing prostitutes after all, but this is a mess the company might have a hard time surmounting.

Rockstar San Diego’s Red Dead Redemption is the game in question this time around, and its fate is certainly uncertain.

Troubled times.

Sources speaking with gaming-blog Joystiq say the game is in huge trouble, including one source who said the game “was a complete disaster for most of 2009 and previous … it has since turned around a little bit, but there are huge problems with it still.”

But it gets worse, yet another source said: “Red Dead has been in production for six years (mainly because of horrible management/lack of direction due to fear of disrespecting Rockstar NY) and it will never get the money back in sales it cost to create for those six years.”

A final tipster remarked of just what Red Dead has to accomplish, from a sales point, to make all of the development costs worth it.

“It will take 5 million sales at full price to recoup the development costs of Red Dead. The good news is they are not expecting to make money with Red Dead Redemption.”

So the studio isn’t planning on turning a profit on this one, that’s fine, seeing as the Rockstar label is so large, but maybe it’s just me, but I just want a fine product in front of me when I play and don’t want to hear about the prior drama.

Source: Joystiq

Rockstar Games released four new, exciting teasing screenshots today for the upcoming Wild West action/adventure/kill everything/everyone game Red Dead Redemption.

The shots show off a stagecoach, a fiery explosion, a possibly-fiery encounter with a woman, a shipwrecked steamboat, and an overlook of the town of Escelera.

Oh, Red Dead is easily my most anticipated game of 2010, but that’s just me.

Would you look at that, today is indeed December 7, which means Rockstar Games released Beaterator for Apple portable devices today.

Available for both iPhone and iPod touch for $4.99 in the App Store or on iTunes, the game, though it’s more like a tool, allows enthusiasts to manipulate a “massive library of sounds,” many of which were constructed by hip hop legend Timbaland, and morph them into original beats. Yo.

According to Rockstar, Beaterator for iPhone/iPod Touch has been streamlined and optimized, when compared to its PC and PSP counterparts.

"We’re happy to bring Beaterator to Apple’s platforms for an entirely new audience to experience its unique music-making capabilities," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "The entire application has been revamped to provide an extremely accessible and innovative experience for iPhone and iPod touch owners."

Happy beat-making!

In a bit of sad news, publisher Take-Two today, in an earnings and projection report, revealed that Max Payne 3, the latest, greatest, and grittiest, Max Payne to date, won’t come to retail until late 2010.

Two guns are better than none are better than one

The game is now due out in Q4 of 2010, but what that means to people who don’t speak fractions, is that the title will hit anytime in the August–October, 2010 months. The title was schedules to hit during the Holiday season of this year, but clearly, that’s not true anymore.

So far, all we’ve seen of Max is this maybe-real trailer, leaked in October.

Delays of game are never fun, so let’s just brush this under the rug and forget to remember it even happened.

Source: Joystiq

Rockstar Games today announced a unique partnership with Adult Swim set to grant a free downloadable mix tape to any and all.

That’s right, anyone who visits AdultSwim.com beginning Dec. 7 through Dec. 31 at midnight, when 2009 becomes 2010, can download a 17-track mix tape compiled by Rockstar and Adult Swim.

The cuts are said to feature “up and coming artists and original remixes”  and two of them, "Hello Miss" and "Is That You God?" can be downloaded for use in Beaterator, Rockstar’s portable music-making game/application for the PSP.

1. Young Jeezy — I Got This (El-P remix)
2. Rich Kids — Patna Dem (Mad Decent Patna’s remix by DJA)
3. Dem Getaway Boyz – Imma G (Memory Tapes remix)
4. Good Time Guys — Is That You God? (Dabrye remix)
5. Young Dro — Take Off (Michna remix)
6. Cee-Lo — Hello Miss (Armani XXXChange remix)
7. Lil Jon feat. Kee — Give It All You Got (Danger Beach remix)
8. Gucci Mane — Photoshoot (Flying Lotus remix)
9. Gorilla Zoe — Lost (Starkey remix)
10. Shawty Lo — Dey Know (Prefuse 73 remix)
11. Kollosus — Breakin’ Bread (Phaseone remix)
12. Pill — Lookin’ (Chris Devoe remix)
13. B.o.B. – Satellite (Hudson Mohawke remix)
14. Playboy Tre- Sideways (SALEM Drag Chop remix)
15. OJ Da Juiceman feat. Gucci Mane — Good Night (HEALTH remix)
16. Lil Jon feat. Kee — Give It All You Got (Drums of Death remix)
17. Hollyweerd — Have You Ever Made Love to a Weerdo? (Dam-Funk remix)

I despise rap, so sadly, I won’t be picking up this freebie, but for the rest of you, have at it, here’s the album’s cover art too.

After playing Grand Theft Auto IV for the first time, the first thing I said to myself was, “You know what this game needs?  More drugs, violence and storylines!”

Of course, this was clearly an exercise of sarcasm as Grand Theft Auto IV was a perfect representation of how to develop a game.  Yet, it seems that the people at Rockstar went ahead and fulfilled my request anyway with their release of Episodes from Liberty City.

This stand-alone title, available for around $40, allows veterans and new fans of the series to play the add-ons for GTA IV, the critically acclaimed Lost and the Damned and the highly anticipated release of The Ballad of Gay Tony, without actually having to own a copy of the original game.  This set-up is perfect for those who played Grand Theft Auto IV as a rental or just never bothered to download the additional episodes, combined with the drop of The Ballad of Gay Tony and a fair price (costing as much as downloading the two separate add-ons in the Xbox Live Marketplace) make Episodes from Liberty City a very intriguing title heading into the holiday season.

First, let’s briefly go over The Lost and the Damned before we focus on The Ballad of Gay Tony and then review the complete package of Episodes of Liberty City as a whole.  (For our more in-depth review of The Lost and the Damned, check out this link). The Lost and the Damned allows players to take control of Johnny Klebitz, a member of the biker gang called The Lost.  Johnny, vice president of the club, is tasked with spending most of his time fixing the mistakes of the president, Billy, who has been in rehab for narcotics possession for a long while.  Of course, upon the release of Billy from rehab, the club is divided by those who prefer Johnny as their leader and those who prefer Billy.  Now, players must find a way to reunite the club, while also dealing with controlling Billy’s out-of-control behavior, gang wars, jail raids and other craziness.  Like The Ballad of Gay Tony, The Lost of the Damned has plenty of mini games and multiplayer modes unique to the add-on.  By itself, The Lost and the Damned is worth downloading due to its unique story and decent amount of gameplay, but how will it look when combined with another add-on?

The Ballad of Gay Tony is the newest release from the folks at Rockstar, which will be available both in downloadable and hardcopy format as found in Episodes From Liberty City, which we’ve been focusing on in this article.  This add-on has a completely different vibe than the previously described The Lost and the Damned episode, which should not really come as a surprise.  Instead of being centered around the gritty activities and conflicts of a biker gang, The Ballad of Gay Tony focuses on the not-so-glamorous life behind the velvet ropes and glitz of the Liberty City club scene.

Players take control of Luis Lopez, a juvenile delinquent turned club-owner body guard.  Luis is introduced as Gay Tony’s (AKA Tony Price) confidant, muscle and eventual business partner.  Of course, coming from a childhood of crime and mischief, Luis has plenty of profitable and questionable connections and opportunities with his life back home as well.  Throughout the game, Mr. Lopez will have to deal with the struggles of balancing business with family in order to become the biggest success he can be.  Plenty of in-game decisions will have to be made by the player, so be prepared to have to make some moral choices as you try to make it to the top.

The Ballad of Gay Tony begins with a funky intro; the term “funky” meaning filled with 70′s and 80′s style of music, complete with synthesizers and heavy bass slaps…. not strange or odorous.  Anyway, the point is that The Ballad of Gay Tony lets you know right from the start that this episode is not like any other Grand Theft Auto title that you’ve seen.  This installment will be filled with a new level of flamboyancy and classiness that players have only gotten mere tastes of in the previous games.  However, rest assured that there are plenty of drugs, swearing, murders and conflicts in this episode, which will surely keep the GTA purists satisfied to a reasonable extent.

In a move that surprised many, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars came exclusively to the Nintendo DS earlier this year. All these months later though, PSP owners finally have the chance to get their hands on one of handheld gaming’s most critically acclaimed titles. The PSP edition of the game features the same core title, with some new bells and whistles on the graphical side, as well as some new missions. There are other new additions, and not all of those work as well as we would like, but this is still a fantastic game and a necessary addition to any PSP owner’s library.

You play as Huang Lee, a member of the Triads whose father has just been killed in Hong Kong. He’s in Liberty City to deliver a sword–Yu Jian–to his Uncle Kenny, who is vying to become the new leader of the Triads. Huang is ambushed by unknown assailants along the way, and is thought to be dead. You are tasked with finding out where the sword has gone and who killed your father, and like in any Grand Theft Auto game, you will meet a cast of characters with missions for you to carry out on your way to reaching these goals.

While the story is good enough, it’s certainly one of the weaker parts of the title, especially when compared to other recent GTA games. “Weaker” is a relative term though, as almost everything else works incredibly, and there is so much to do outside of the story that you would be forgiven for ignoring your Uncle Kenny’s wishes for hours at a time. The characters you meet are also entertaining, so it’s not like this is a blight on the game or anything–there have just been better GTA yarns to spin in the past.

Despite what screens have led you to believe, this game is fully 3D, and seen from an aerial perspective. The camera rotates at 360 degrees, showing off the 3D models and interactive environment. The little things, like mail boxes, street signs and lamp posts all use realistic physics to react to your crashing and bumping into them. You will crash into a car, and that car will flip through the air just like it would on a home console–this is the moment where you realize just how powerful Chinatown Wars is graphically. It was impressive on the DS, but on the PSP, with a wider screen and higher resolution, the game’s graphics and physics stand out even more. Rockstar Leeds also went back and added some lighting effects, which are especially noticeable at night or when you’re driving around the city.

Chinatown Wars uses a semi cel-shaded style that works very well on the system, and cutscenes, though told through text and character portraits, have that trademark GTA art style down, and they work effectively. The PSP version cut down on the thick black lines that some of the DS characters had around them, and also presents the cutscenes in a much higher resolution that makes the images much, much cleaner. My one issue on the graphical side of things is that occasionally it feels like the game can’t load the road in front of you fast enough when you’re speeding–the entire road just sort of appears in front of you out of a mass of black nothingness. It doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen, and it resulted in a few crashes into cop cars I couldn’t see until I was literally on top of them. This wasn’t an issue with the DS version, so this may just be a UMD issue.

Though characters and cars may appear small at first, you shouldn’t lost track of what’s going on, and you can tell what is happening on screen. Driving, for example, is easier than you think it would be given you are using a single analog stick; your car can auto-align to center itself, and you can use the shoulder buttons as brakes to make turns more effectively. You can also set your GPS routes to appear on the city roads themselves, which is useful while learning your way around the city–I know I’m always overwhelmed the first few times I boot up a GTA game and have to find my way around.

Rockstar promised this would be the most action-intensive GTA we have seen, and they were not lying. Everything happens very fast, with more arcade influence than some of the game’s console cousins; there are tons of explosions, bullets, police officers, gang members, fires–if it’s dangerous, there’s a lot of it around Liberty City. Ridiculous weapons like the flamethrower and chainsaws are back, and they are a blast to use, especially when you start to get cornered by gang members jumping out of speedy cars. Missions will see you accomplishing a variety of tasks, but there is an emphasis on taking down entire groups of gang members before they can get you, as well as high speed car chases where guns are fired and Molotov Cocktails are tossed out windows to slow your pursuers. If it’s action you are looking for, I’m happy to report that Chinatown Wars delivers in spades. Even better, you can now replay any mission you have completed by checking out the white board in your apartment; you are able to improve your times and scores on these missions from here, which can then be uploaded, along with the rest of your stats, to the Rockstar Social Club, where Rockstar will hold contests for prizes. Those who participate in the Rockstar Social Club will also have access to some exclusive missions down the line, a nice bonus and incentive to keep playing.

What really ups the action in Chinatown Wars though is the new police evasion system. Rather than simply outrun the cops when you cause trouble, you must now actively engage them to impede their chase. When you get a single star (or are back down to one star) you can utilize the old system of laying low, but you will find yourself in far more trouble than that given the level of action in this game. In those cases, you will need to “disable” the cop cars by ramming into them, causing them to crash into buildings, walls, other cars, or just smashing them around with your vehicle while at high speeds. This kind of turns things around, making you more of the hunter than you are used to. Remember, the goal is not to blow up or destroy the cars, so don’t think you will be off the hook by tossing hand grenades out the window at oncoming cruisers. Instead, you just need to get rid of those who are chasing you by taking out their vehicles–they can’t very well catch up with you if they are on foot and you are in a sports car.

Rockstar Games today unleashed a video depicting some of the multiplayer BASE jumping challenges scattered throughout the expanses of our fair Liberty City.

These challenges can only be played in the game’s “Free Mode” multiplayer game mode and will test participants’ ability to seek out, and jump from, the 9 “unique” locations.

Now, if your buddy doesn’t want you to succeed, he or she can always whip out an RPG and kindly violently, tell you to “come down from there.”

Additionally, the new game mode is fully supported by the Rockstar Social Club, and according to the press release will track “total completion time for all 9 jumps, distance to ground upon opening the chute, time spent gliding, and more.”

Take a look at the video for the new multiplayer component embedded below, and look for GTA:Episodes from Liberty City on shelves Oct. 29.