FiringSquad:The multiplayer modes in Guitar Hero II are going to be the big draw this time out. What can you tell us about them and how hard was it to get the design of the game to accept new multiplayer modes?
Bryan Lam: In Guitar Hero II, the multiplayer modes will be Face-off, Pro Face-off, and Co-op. Face-off is your classic versus mode where players battle against each other while trading off sections of the lead guitar track. Pro face-off is slightly different, as players can now compete head-to-head with both individuals ripping through full lead guitar tracks. Co-op is definitely the most significant key feature we have added this year, and to help complete the entire rock band experience, players will now be able to play the lead, and bass or rhythm guitars. Each player will be able to select their own difficulty, and all specific measurements are now shared from the total score to rock meter to multipliers. Further, to activate Star Power, they’ll both have to be in sync and lift their guitars at the same time in order to unleash the full power of RAWK!
FiringSquad:What new power ups and other features have been added to Guitar Hero II?
Bryan Lam: Players will certainly notice in Guitar Hero II, the hammer-ons and pull-offs have been mildly tweaked to be more gamer-friendly. Trying to rip through ridiculous solos in the first game was an achievement only for the experts. So we decided to widen the parameters for greater accessibility and a more exciting experience for others. Don’t get us wrong though, if you think Guitar Hero II will be any easier than the first, then you better think again, because the length and difficulty of each song in this year’s game, along with the intense amount of finger-numbing solos, will absolutely blow your mind!
FiringSquad:Visually does the game have a different look than the original title?
Bryan Lam: Most definitely! Fans will notice the graphics and textures of the characters, venues, and instruments are all quite sharper than before, and the new animations will add further flare and drama to the whole experience when rockin’ out. You’ll just have to play some of the encore tracks to really understand what I mean.
FiringSquad:The song list for the game is, of course, hugely important. How hard was it to get the kinds of songs that the team wanted to be included in Guitar Hero II?
Bryan Lam: More difficult than actually getting the songs, was debating which ones would end up in the final game. Our selection committee consists of different folks from both our developer, Harmonix, and RedOctane, and considering each of us are on total opposite coasts of the country, there was undoubtedly different tastes in music. Though in the end, we were able to put together what we believe is an amazing list of legendary and popular bands that feature some of the greatest rock n’ roll songs of all time.
FiringSquad:We know its early but what can you tell us about the extra features that will be in the upcoming Xbox 360 version of the game?
Bryan Lam: Well, the details regarding the Xbox 360 version are slim at the moment, as we’re still in the process of confirming our feature set and content. Though we can report that there will be a new X-Plorer controller that is designed specifically for the platform, and exclusive downloadable content will be available through Xbox Live Marketplace. Being able to keep the content fresh and exciting is definitely a top priority for us, and when we’re able to make further announcements, we know everyone will be more than thrilled to hear what we have in store.
FiringSquad:Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Guitar Hero II?
Bryan Lam: You need to immediately stop reading this interview, drop anything you’re doing, and run as fast as you can to your local store to purchase a thousand copies of Guitar Hero II. Really, I mean it…you won’t regret it…Go!!
Batman: Arkham City PC Review Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to 2009’s smash-hit action game Batman: Arkham Asylum. As the name suggests, you will be reprising your role as the Caped Crusader and going against an even larger 'prison' filled with Gotham's criminals and villains. A textbook example on how to do a proper sequel, Arkham City takes what worked in the original, excised or improved upon what didn’t, and elevated everything to an even greater scope. The PC version suffered from a few months of delay, but in that time, Rocksteady worked closely to NVIDIA to implement some familiar technologies from the last game, such as PhysX and 3D Vision, along with new DirectX 11 optimizations. But how well was the whole package executed? Read on to find out!
Saints Row: The Third PC Review Saints Row is one of most unique series of games to build upon the open-world action template forged by Grand Theft Auto, and has met with plenty of critical and commercial success since it began on consoles back in 2006. This latest iteration, titled Saints Row: The Third promises the most outlandish fun and freedom of customization of them all, and in a much more PC-friendly package than its predecessor. Does it live up to those expectations and, more importantly, is it worth the price of admission? Find out in Will's latest review!
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC Review The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is Bethesda Softworks’ latest offering in their series of epic fantasy RPGs, as well as one of the most highly-anticipated PC titles of 2011. As the Dovahkiin, or Dragonborn, prepare to take the fight to the mythical beasts that have returned to the realm after centuries of slumber, all the while exploring a huge and highly-detailed open world.
The PC version of the game promises enhanced graphical fidelity, standard RPG trimmings such as hotkeys and quick-save, as well as unbridled mod support, something we’ll all be thankful for once they release that SDK. Skyrim has already sold millions of copies and set records for play-time on Steam... Find out why in today's review, which happens to be one of the biggest and most in-depth articles on the subject out there!
L.A. Noire Complete Edition PC Review L.A. Noire, as the name clearly states, is a video game built on the tropes of one of the greatest periods of American cinema: film noir. Developed by the now defunct Australian developer Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games, this title has been out on consoles for a full six months before finally making its way to the PC. This “Complete Edition” of the game features improved graphics, keyboard/mouse controls, and every bit of previously-released DLC for free. But was it truly worth the wait? Read on and find out!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Xbox 360 Review
The self-appointed "most anticipated game in history" launched worldwide this past Tuesday. Why, it's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, of course (of course), what else? Unsurprisingly, the military FPS debate between this and Battlefield 3 rages on, but now that both have been released, surely we can take a look and objectively evaluate them both? Luke's taken the Xbox version of MW3 for a spin this week, so to find out what he thinks of it in today's review!
Stronghold 3 Review
The latest sequel in the long-running real-time strategy franchise from FireFly Studios, Stronghold 3 is all about building your dream castle and defending it against sieging enemies. Almost exactly one decade after the first game was released, this new title promises a return to the classic and well-received gameplay that has been strayed so far from in more recent iterations. Does it live up to those expectations? Will (AKA Synchronous Failure) tells us all about it in his first official FiringSquad review, so read on!
Battlefield 3 PC Review - Single-player Impressions
One of the most highly-anticipated PC games of the year is upon us; Battlefield 3 is now available in North America! EA/DICE have finally delivered a sequel to the core Battlefield franchise, a proper follow-up to BF2. Having played through the game's single-player campaign already, ahead of the multiplayer festivities kicking off around midnight, I figured I'd share my impressions ASAP. Is it really a worthy addition to the core Battlefield series, or just another bullet point on the back of the box? Read on and find out!
Wrecked: Revenge Revisited Supersonic Software Interview
Following up on our hands-on preview from earlier this month, here's an interview with Supersonic Software, creators of Wrecked: Revenge Revisited. The game's coming out on XBLA and PSN in a matter of weeks, but for now, Luke chats with the developer about its predecessors Mashed and Micro Machines, how difficult it can be to get an indie game published, the closure of Codemasters' Guildford branch, and more!
Orcs Must Die! PC Review Orcs Must Die! is the first release from an independent developer named Robot Entertainment. Fans of classic real-time strategy games may have heard that name before, as the outfit is comprised of many veterans from Ensemble Studios, creators of the Age of Empires series.
Equal parts action and strategy, this is a tower defense game that not only puts you in command, but on the front lines of combat, as well. Slaughter thousands of orcs, ogres and other vile creatures of fantasy that invade your fortresses through 24 levels of the story-based campaign. With high levels of replayability thanks to its scoring and leaderboard functionality, multiple difficulty levels, and various styles of play, it sounds a steal at only $15. Does it deliver on all that’s promised, though? Read on and find out!
Wrecked: Revenge Revisited Hands-on Preview
FiringSquad’s new correspondent from across the pond, Luke Kaile, takes us hands-on with Supersonic Software’s upcoming downloadable racing combat game Wrecked: Revenge Revisited. Coming soon to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, this charming 4-player free-for-all is the spiritual successor to cult classic Mashed, released seven years ago for PC, PS2, and Xbox.
![Guitar Hero II Interview [ @ 576 x 404 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/04-s.jpg)
![Guitar Hero II Interview [ @ 576 x 614 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/05-s.jpg)
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