Much-hyped iPhone, iPad game debuts

Much-hyped iPhone, iPad game debuts, Infinity Blade II cuts above any other game available on Apple’s iDevices. Amazing graphics made the original Infinity Blade a hit for the Apple phone and tablet. The most anticipated game of the year for Apple’s iDevices will literally give players a workout. In terms of graphics, gameplay and story, Infinity Blade II - which is out now - is the best looking game to date for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Earlier this week, Infinity Blade II developer ChAIR and publisher Epic Games released a list of “finger workouts” players could do to prepare for the release of the game.

Little did we know that the video wasn’t a joke – Infinity Blade II is about four times the size of its predecessor, and that’s a whole lot of finger-swiping swordplay.

The original Infinity Blade made a huge splash on the iPhone and iPad when it was released, in very large part because it showed off the power of Apple’s devices (and Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 graphics software) in a very real and surprising way. Infinity Blade is gorgeous. It looks amazing, and what’s more, it looks amazing on a telephone. That was kind of mind-blowing in 2010, and Infinity Blade set a visual standard for games on the platform.

Infinity Blade II is one of the first games optimized for the iPhone 4S and leverages the extent of Apple’s new A5 dual-core processor, which is available only in the latest-generation iPhones and the iPad 2. And once again, ChAIR and Epic have set the standard for mobile gaming in terms of graphics. Infinity Blade II is stunning and huge, taking what was started with its predecessor and adding more of everything. Huge, sweeping vistas. Massive structures. Imposing enemies with tons more animations. Visually, Infinity Blade II is beautiful and sets a new high-water mark for graphics among mobile games.

Fans of the original game will definitely want to download Infinity II right away. And while the game understandably performs the best on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, it is still a worthy download on older devices. The game is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, the third and fourth generation iPod Touches and both iPads. Apple’s iOS 3.2 software or above also needs to be installed on the device.

In terms of gameplay, players who loved Infinity Blade will find even more to love in Infinity Blade II. Everything that made Infinity Blade interesting – namely, its fairly tight touch controls and often-intense sword-dueling action – is back and made bigger and better than before.

The primary thrust of the game is still sword-to-sword action against a single opponent, although ChAIR has added a few new abilities to the mix. As in the original, you take on opponents in Infinity Blade and avoid their attacks either by dodging them with a pair of left and right buttons, blocking with a shield or parrying by swiping at the screen in the opposite direction of the enemy attack. But instead of being limited to a sword and shield, you can now carry a pair of weapons, one in each hand. That limits your blocking ability, obviously, but adds to your ability to chain together massive combos as you slice away at your opponent. You can also opt for a big two-handed weapon that’s quite a bit slower, but much more powerful.

The biggest criticism leveled against the first Infinity Blade was how repetitive the title could be. Sword fights were interesting, but often boiled down to memorization of an enemy’s attack patterns. Over-reliance on the dodge button could take quite a bit of the challenge out of the game, with every fight boiling down to “dodge, dodge, attack.” ChAIR has adjusted things in Infinity Blade II to lessen that ability and make fights more difficult and deadly. Your dodging ability is limited by a stamina meter now, and overusing the dodge causes your character to tire and start taking glancing blows as he tires and fails to get out of the way, which can really add up over time. The touch controls in general are much more responsive this time out.

Also remaining from the original but with lots of additional depth is the big reliance on finding and purchasing new weapons, armor and items, as well as new abilities, to increase your character’s stats. ChAIR has added new elements to this system – like gems you can buy to give your weapons special effects – but at its core, the system remains the same and will give fans of collecting everything a lot to do.

But the biggest addition to Infinity Blade II, and perhaps the most welcome, is the addition of a coherent and interesting story. Plot was fairly minimal in Infinity Blade, with a few elements coming to the fore over time but with most of it just being tidbits divined by the player. The goal was to kill a creature known as the God-King, and while the whole story mixed fantasy with a bit of science fiction, all it really did was leave a whole lot of questions about what the heck was going on.

This time, ChAIR has added more to the world while keeping things subtle. You learn a little bit more about why you’re doomed to fight duels endlessly (even if you’re killed), and it adds a new drive to the game that goes beyond just enjoying the fights and collecting all the equipment that you can.

But Infinity Blade II doesn’t stray far from the path that its predecessor created, and that’s mostly a good thing. The one complaint about the original’s repetitive nature has mostly been answered here with a lot more content: a bigger game with more enemies and more to discover. The core of the game remains relatively simple, though, and those few players who didn’t get into the original probably won’t get much out of the sequel.

For the legions of sword-wielding Infinity Blade fans, however, this sequel is pretty close to perfection. It continues to look great and offers more of everything that made Infinity Blade a hit, with even more polish. Expect to spend quite a bit of time swiping away at your phone after you download this one.

Tasty: A huge new Infinity Blade adventure that offers a much deeper experience

Bummer: Some (very) slight framerate issues even on the iPad 2

Cool: Dual swords, giant axes and a coherent story – plus more awesome graphics

via: yahoo

Great ways to beat Thanksgiving boredom - When spending time with your family gets old, these games and apps may save you.Games and apps to beat Thanksgiving boredom. Turkey, stuffing, football, the Macy's parade: there's a lot to love about Thanksgiving. But spending the better part of a week cooped up with just your family for company can get pretty old -- and pretty dull.

Since you can't just hop in the car and leave your relatives behind, you'll need to find ways to have fun without upsetting the guests. These games and apps should do the trick.

Trivia games are all well and good -- provided you know a fair share of the answers. But even the most general-knowledge deficient guest can have a good time playing Wits & Wagers.

Unlike other trivia games, if you don't know the answer, you can just back someone else's. This "family" version ditches the original game's gambling mechanic, simplifies the gameplay, and has questions more suitable for a wide range of ages. It's also built to be played in 20-minute bursts rather than those endless Trivial Pursuit matches.

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of creating a national Thanksgiving Day? Or that there are no fewer than three towns in the U.S. named "Turkey"? Or that turkeys have been known to suffer heart attacks at nearby loud noises? Now you do -- and these, together with many more pointless yet entertaining Thanksgiving facts, await you in this handy app. Perfect for filling those awkward silences after Uncle Mark says something inappropriate.

Play 'The First Thanksgiving' right here on Yahoo! Games

Got a dancer in your family? You will after firing up the ridiculous, stupid, and totally fun Just Dance 3. It's available on Wii, Xbox Kinect, and Playstation Move and includes a wonderfully eclectic track list, but no matter the version, it's got something other dance games don't: support for four-player simultaneous dancing. That means fewer wallflowers -- and a lot more fun.

ESPN ScoreCenter App

For millions of football fanatics, Thanksgiving Day isn't official unless it includes watching some pigskin -- and this year, loads of college games and three NFL matchups will make it hard to stay away from the tube.

But since putting the game(s) on the big screen is a surefire way to irritate the non-sports fans in the family, scratch your itch with this app from ESPN that'll nudge you with push alerts every time your team scores. Hopefully obsessively checking your phone will be less annoying than monopolizing the TV.

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Drawing its content from the last three Potter books (or the final four movies, if you prefer), Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is the best Lego video game in years.

As luck would have it, it's the best Harry Potter game in years, too.

This happy coincidence comes to you complete with the co-operative, family-friendly gameplay that's been the hallmark of the Lego series. It even handles the final act's somewhat mature subject matter thoughtfully, making it a great choice for kids and adults to play together.


"Turkey Trot"


It simply wouldn't be Thanksgiving without overeating. Limit the inevitable waistline damage with this outdoor kids game that'll get your legs moving. First, make yourself some turkeys -- use brown paper bags stuffed with newspaper, tape heads and wings to footballs, or just use turkey-shaped toys. Form teams of two, stand back-to-back with your partner, link arms, and have someone pass you a turkey. First pair to reach the other side of the yard (without dropping their turkey) wins.


Beat the Parents


Think you're smarter than your kids? Sure you do -- but we suspect they don't agree. Find out who's really on top with trivia game Beat the Parents.

Perfect for post-dinner, pan-generational socializing, it sets old folks against young 'uns with sets of questions that won't bore (or bewilder) either. One caveat: it's best for parents with at least a passing interest in pop culture. You better know your Beyonce.

via: yahoo

PETA slams Mario over use of a fur suit

PETA slams Mario over use of a fur suit - Controversy hits new Super Mario game. PETA decries an aspect of Super Mario 3D Land that gives the character enhanced powers. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals might be barking up the wrong mushroom. On Monday, the controversial organization issued a press release attacking iconic Nintendo mascot Mario for wearing a 'Tanooki' suit in his latest adventure, the Nintendo 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, which hit shelves on Sunday.

"Tanooki may be just a "suit" in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur," PETA says.

The raccoon-like suit, which grants Mario the ability to glide across the screen, has been a part of the franchise since first appearing as a power-up in 1988's Super Mario Bros. 3. In the new game, Mario acquires the suit not by doing something lousy to a Tanooki, but by snagging a Super Leaf.

Still, PETA insists this encourages animal abuse.

"Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA's undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free."

To help prove their point, PETA has even commissioned a crude parody video game called "Super Tanooki Skin 2D" in which players try to re-capture their skin from a flying Mario (Warning: Kind of disturbing, and totally not fun.)

It's just the latest in a long line of PETA game complaints. In 2008 they went after Cooking Mama for not being a vegetarian, while just last year they parodied challenging downloadable platform hit Super Meat Boy for starring a piece of raw meat.

Nintendo has yet to comment, though we're pretty sure it will sound like a hand slapping a forehead.

via: yahoo

Can Super Mario turn around the 3DS?

Can Super Mario turn around the 3DS? - The initial criticisms surrounding Nintendo's 3DS handheld were pretty straightforward: The price was too high and there was a paucity of good games. Nintendo took care of the pricing problem in August. Now, it's taking on the quality concerns.

PETA Attacks Mario For Wearing Tanooki Fur

PETA Attacks Mario For Wearing Tanooki Fur - Beloved videogame star Mario is back in action this week following the November 13 release of Super Mario 3D Land. Now animal rights group PETA is attacking the hero plumber for wearing “fur” –the Tanooki Suit, a frequent power-up in Mario games that grants the ability to fly.

In a press release, PETA says:

Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur. We created our game to help inform people that in real life, Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn’t give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception.

Of course, Mario’s Tanooki Suit is just that –a suit, a costume, not actually a skinned animal. And of course, PETA is just attempting to grab some publicity on the back of a major video game release, which is why I’m not linking to their game.

I have asked Nintendo for comment and will update if they have a response.

via: forbes

PETA slams Mario over use of a fur suit

PETA slams Mario over use of a fur suit - Controversy hits new Super Mario game. PETA decries an aspect of Super Mario 3D Land that gives the character enhanced powers. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals might be barking up the wrong mushroom.

On Monday, the controversial organization issued a press release attacking iconic Nintendo mascot Mario for wearing a 'Tanooki' suit in his latest adventure, the Nintendo 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, which hit shelves on Sunday.

"Tanooki may be just a "suit" in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur," PETA says.

The raccoon-like suit, which grants Mario the ability to glide across the screen, has been a part of the franchise since first appearing as a power-up in 1988's Super Mario Bros. 3. In the new game, Mario acquires the suit not by doing something lousy to a Tanooki, but by snagging a Super Leaf.

Still, PETA insists this encourages animal abuse.

"Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA's undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free."

To help prove their point, PETA has even commissioned a crude parody video game called "Super Tanooki Skin 2D" in which players try to re-capture their skin from a flying Mario (Warning: Kind of disturbing, and totally not fun.)

It's just the latest in a long line of PETA game complaints. In 2008 they went after Cooking Mama for not being a vegetarian, while just last year they parodied challenging downloadable platform hit Super Meat Boy for starring a piece of raw meat.

Nintendo has yet to comment, though we're pretty sure it will sound like a hand slapping a forehead.

via: yahoo

Gaming's seven toughest challenges

Gaming's seven toughest challenges - Mad skills: Can you handle seven of gaming’s toughest challenges?. Playing video games can be a punishing hobby. From the grueling difficulty of old legends like Contra to the fiendish trials of new nightmares like Dark Souls, gaming is rife with moments that make even the most dedicated player wonder why, for the love of Mario, they put themselves through this.

That doubt, of course, is erased the moment you make it through a seemingly impossible segment or unlock an achievement that few others can manage. It may be fleeting, but that natural high is the stuff gamers live for. If you're looking for such a rush -- and believe you have the skills to handle any game -- try testing your might against these seven insane challenges.

Intended to eat up quarters, classic coin-op arcade games weren't built with endless replay in mind. Several games, like Pac-Man, Dig Dug and Donkey Kong, featured a programming error that would cause the game to freeze or crash once you hit a certain level. This was eventually called the "kill screen" since it prevented you from playing any more.

These days, reaching a kill screen is a sign of superior skills. Make it to level 256 in Pac-Man and you'll see the jumbled code -- and gain a lifetime's worth of geek respect.

Metal band DragonForce has been around since 1999, but they didn't appear on gamer radars until 2007, when their blazing track "Through the Fire and the Flames" melted the faces off everyone playing Guitar Hero III. Performing the song flawlessly in Easy mode is hard enough, but if you can nail its barrage of insane riffs without missing a note on Expert mode (it's not impossible, you know), we who wish we could rock salute you.

Kotaku calls this the toughest achievement on the Xbox 360 -- and they're not exaggerating.

Players must reach rank 100 and earn all of the game's Onyx medals (6,000 kills with each of the game's 5 weapons), take 1,500 enemy leaders captive and be an MVP in competitive combat five times. And that's just for starters! The list ultimately has over a dozen requirements -- each more brutal than the last.

The game itself only received lukewarm reviews, but when one player racked up a series of combos and moves on the PC version that took over nine minutes to complete, he walked away with over 2 billion points. That's a lot of kickflips, though it's since been topped. But don't worry about setting a new record; "simply" scoring 2 billion is reason enough to be proud.

To earn this beast of a medal, you'll need to take out 10 opponents in just 36 seconds, with the 10th (and final) kill coming within 4 seconds of your 9th. In other words, it's kind of a crapshoot, though it also requires some supreme fragging skills. It's the hardest medal to achieve in the Halo universe.

Gamers will argue for ages over which game, technically speaking, is the hardest ever made. Ninja Gaiden? Ghosts and Goblins? No matter the list, NES classic Battletoads is bound to appear near the top. With nigh-impossible jumps, loads of things to dodge and no save system, it's an excruciating experience. If you managed to beat the game with your sanity intact, you're one of the few.

During the Copenhagen eSport Challenge on April 13, 2009, Henrik Lindholm of Denmark went on a rampage when playing Grand Theft Auto IV. That, in itself, is unremarkable, but Lindholm's spree earned him a 6-star wanted level, which is a bit more notable. But when he managed to fight off and evade the game's police, snipers and helicopter gunship for 16 minutes and 16 seconds, it was a record-setter. If you find a way to last anywhere near that long, consider yourself a seriously smooth criminal.

via: yahoo

Call of Duty shatters records

Call of Duty shatters records - ‘Modern Warfare 3′ sets day-one entertainment record. It's a three-peat. Modern Warfare 3, the latest installment in Activision's juggernaut shooter franchise, has set a new entertainment industry record for the biggest product launch of all time, selling 6.5 million copies in the U.S. and U.K. in its first 24 hours and earning $400 million in the process.

That tops the $360 million Call of Duty: Black Ops made last year in its first 24 hours and the $310 million Modern Warfare 2 took in during its first day in 2009.

"We believe the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest entertainment launch of all time in any medium, and we achieved this record with sales from only two territories," said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. "Other than Call of Duty, there has never been another entertainment franchise that has set opening day records three years in a row."

Kotick also points out that overall sales for the Call of Duty franchise now "exceed worldwide theatrical box office for 'Star Wars' and 'Lord of the Rings,' two of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time."

Analysts expect Modern Warfare 3 to sell nearly 20 million units by the end of the calendar year, generating roughly $1.2 billion in revenue. Black Ops cracked the $1 billion mark in six months.

Pre-orders for the game were also the biggest on record, and given that the last two installments of Modern Warfare previously held the launch record, this achievement isn't exactly a shocking one.

It's still notable, though, given the competition Modern Warfare 3 faces this year from EA's Battlefield 3, which sold 5 million copies in its first week. Some also thought Call of Duty's numbers could be hampered by lingering negative feeling among core gamers following the abrupt dismissal of series creators Jason West and Vince Zampella after the release of Modern Warfare 2.

Both factors put Modern Warfare 3 under the microscope, but the success of the game certainly backs up what analysts have been saying all along: Most players are more concerned about the game, rather than the developers behind it. And with so many people buying a copy, even those who held a grudge or resented the game because of its success, still purchased (and will likely purchase) the game so they can play with the people on their friends list.

"Call of Duty is more than a game," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "It's become a major part of the pop cultural landscape. It is a game that core enthusiasts love, but that also consistently draws new people into the medium."

Activision also announced that they've donated $3 million of the game's sales to the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit corporation that seeks to provide job placement and training for veterans.

via: yahoo

New Call of Duty wins raves

New Call of Duty wins raves - Formulaic ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′ still a critical hit. Another year, another Call of Duty. In what's become an annual whirlwind of marketing blitzes, midnight launches and millions of sudden sick days, a new entry in Activision's best-selling shooter franchise has arrived.

This time it's Modern Warfare 3, the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Modern Warfare 2, which set all sorts of sales records when it was released in 2009. Most of those were broken last year by Call of Duty: Black Ops, and it's a pretty safe bet that Modern Warfare 3 will in turn shatter those.

Really only a handful of events could stop that from happening. A rival game could steal away sales (Battlefield 3 is great, but not that great), technical glitches could mar its launch (so far, so good), or, you know, the game could just outright stink.

According to critics, that's not the case, either.

Averaging a healthy 90 at Metacritic, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 delivers another sumptuous, globetrotting rollercoaster ride while polishing its legendary multiplayer to a high sheen. Just don't expect it to reinvent the machine gun.

"Modern Warfare 3 is a shining example of refinement and improvement," gushes The Telegraph in a perfect 5/5 review. "It's familiar, sure, but here familiarity doesn't breed contempt, just respect and reward for those who've dedicated so much time to the series."

To many, however, that familiarity is a bit of a double-edged sword. The game boasts a tight single-player campaign that picks up right where Modern Warfare 2 left off, hurtling players to hotspots around the world as they try to stop a terrorist organization from doing lousy things to good people. Massive, exploding set-pieces, fiercely linear missions — yeah, it's pretty much what you did in the last game, too.

"Modern Warfare 3 doesn't stray from the oft-emulated Call of Duty 4 formula," points out Game Informer. "This large-scale, linear, global, and sometimes controversial campaign can be finished in less than six hours." They go on to note that while the core gameplay has remained "fundamentally unchanged," it still "serves as a great example of how many subtle tweaks can add up to an improved overall product." The score? A 9/10.

That's the same score awarded by IGN, who marvel at its scope while bemoaning the game's single-player déjà vu.

"While Call of Duty games have become formulaic at this point, as evidenced by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's muddled narrative and at times frustrating design, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have refined and polished the Modern Warfare experience to produce the best of the series with the third installment."

Of course, most players are going to jump right past the solo play and hop directly into Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer warzones. And if indeed that's your plan, you're in for a treat. Boasting a new point system (killstreaks have been replaced with the much friendlier "pointstreaks") that rewards different play styles, it's packed to the gills with new modes and refined features -- though again, it's not exactly new.

"Rather than risk a reinvention — or even a major evolution — of the most popular competitive gaming of the current generation, Modern Warfare 3 wisely stays with what's working, then adds and adds and adds," says Games Radar, which doles out another 9/10.

The folks at Giant Bomb, however, are a little fed up with the subtle tweaks.

"The whole thing feels old at this point," says reviewer Jeff Gerstmann. "The new tricks feel more like a distraction designed to make you forget how revolutionary Call of Duty 4 was… It makes you wonder if the franchise's best days are truly behind it." An 8/10 is the call, though he also considers it "still one of the best first-person shooters of the year."

So should you get it? With pre-orders through the roof (Amazon claims that Modern Warfare 3 is their best-selling video game pre-order of all time), you probably already did. Fence sitters, however, should feel safe to hop off and hop in. It might not change the battlefield, but it looks destined to win the war.

via: yahoo