As if that didn’t make it unique and wacky enough, the game actually requires two players to play, er speak – one shoots, while the other one makes “jetpack sounds” to control the hero’s movement. Here’s the game in action at the Global Game Jam 2011:

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The game is compatible with Rock Band microphones as well as the Xbox 360 headsets. Ready to get pew pewing? You’ll have to wait a little while, because as of this writing the game is still up for review.

[via Dvice via GeekSugar]

On display at the recent AOU 2011 Expo in Japan, SEGA showed off Let’s Go Island 3D, a 3D version of the on-rails shooter. The game will hit Japanese arcades this coming summer, introducing arcade players not only to an entertaining game, but drawing them into the 3D world without those annoying glasses. To enhance the 3D immersion, they’ve even got a compressed air cannon that blasts air at you at various times during the game. I could definitely see that technology put to use for evil, with the right deviant mind behind the programming.

Now before you get too excited – I’ve witnessed numerous glasses-free 3D displays, and while the effect is much more compelling than ever, I’m gonna bet that lengthy gameplay sessions will be just as headache-inducing as the glasses. That’s because no matter how hard we try to reproduce the illusion of 3D, it’s just that, and illusion – and illusions cause your brain and eyes to do extra, abnormal work  to process the faux 3D imagery that it doesn’t need to do with real 3D objects.

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Over time, glasses-free 3D technologies will improve, and they’ll find even better ways to fool our eyes and brains, but I’m still unconvinced we’ll be sitting in front of 3D devices for nearly much time as we use our 2D devices anytime soon. I guess it’s a good thing that most arcade gaming sessions only last a few minutes.

[via DigInfo.TV]

According to the developers, they’ve fine-tuned the character animations to much more accurately react to context. Instead of just having a set of generic animations for the main characters, they’ll have nuanced variants for each scenario they encounter. So for instancei, if Drake steps on fire, he stomps his foot to put put it out. Or if he’s walking towards an open flame, he shields himself from the heat and light. Different levels and scenes will have different contextual animations. It’s all very subtle stuff, but if you watch the example in the demo footage below, you can see the improvements if you’ve got a good eye.

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Sure, it doesn’t seem like an earth-shattering innovation, but it’s this type of attention to detail that makes the difference between a good game and a great one. Plus, it’s just great to see a little bit of the game play footage any time I can get it. I for one am really looking forward to playing Uncharted 3 when it hits stores next November.

The unusual controller comes with two components – a left-hand control pod which provides directional movements, and a right-hand mouse for accurate aiming and firing. The left side offers a D-pad as well as shoulder buttons, and the mouse has conveniently placed buttons which can be easily triggered by your thumb.

The Piranha offers customizeable button mapping, an adjustable rapid-fire mode, adjustable analog button sensitivity and the abillity to adjust mouse sensitivity on-the-fly. While all of those features sound cool, personally, I wouldn’t have a use for this thing. The idea that I need to be sitting at a desk to use my PS3 is foreign to me. I’m usually on the couch with my feet up on the ottoman – definitely not mousing territory. But that said, if you have your PS3 set up on desktop, I could see this being an interesting choice for shooters.

If you’re more comfortable with a mouse than a SIXAXIS controller, you can get your hands on the FragFX Piranha over at Amazon for $49.95 (USD).

As its name implies, FPS Trainer is a new company that claims that they can help people excel in FPS games. Their words: “The objective of the game is for players to rapidly improve their FPS skills based on sound training principles, in order to become more competitive at any online multiplayer FPS, such as Quake Live, Halo and Call of Duty. Skills will be directly transferable from our game to other FPS’s.”

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So I guess if FPS Trainer really does have expert tips, then users may be able to progress significantly faster than if they just practiced on their own. I personally would never pay to be taught how to play a video game, but whatever floats your boat.

If FPS Trainer does take off, here’s what we should do next: Since FPS Trainer is also an FPS game, we should stay a step ahead of everyone and make… FPS Trainer Trainer. I provided the idea so you guys pony up the cash and figure out all the other stuff. Deal? No? Dammit. Check out FPS Trainer then reconsider my offer.

[via Destructoid]

The world of Hero Core is a large Metroid map. Insane Skilled gamers are free to go straight to Cruiser Tetron’s base, or kill some or all of the bosses scattered about the map to gain experience before heading for the final battle. The game features two difficulty modes, the option to turn the map off, and offers bonus game modes and maps to those who finish it.

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Hero Core is actually the sequel to Hero, which Remar made back in 2005. You can download Hero for free at Remar’s website; I’m assuming you can download Hero Core there as well when it’s released on May 1.

[via Bytejacker]

On the other hand, arcade shmups like the Time Crisis and House of the Dead series have managed to incorporate multiple weapons, reload and a cover system using only a light gun and a pedal, so maybe XCM can still find a way to sexify this ugly mutant.

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Although the video above demonstrated the light gun’s sensor’s capabilities, in the gameplay video below the demonstrator uses the controller in the exact same way as you would a normal PS3 controller, i.e. using the two analog sticks, which kinda makes the point of a light gun moot.

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I’m not a fan of FPS games so I’m not too excited about this accessory, and I don’t think that its current form is comfortable enough to use for long periods of time. What do you guys think?

[via Maxconsole]

Xona Games’ Decimation X is best described as Space Invaders on steroids meth. The game consists of round after round of descending pixelated aliens and other retro-fantastic characters attacking you in what seems like an endless hail of bullets. Thankfully, your spaceship can be powered-up with plenty of defense and weapons upgrades, including an insane multi-fire attack, capable of annihilating dozens of enemies at once. The game even features a four-player mode where you and your friends can attack the aliens at the same time – sort of like a co-op mode, but you’re competing against each other for the high score.

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If you’re into retro gaming, you owe it to yourself to check out Decimation X. It’s available now over on the Xbox Live Marketplace for just 80 Microsoft points (or for those of you who pay with actual money, just one buck).

While both images in the CTA booth were labeled as Sniper Guns, the Wii version is the more nondescript than the PS3 model that’s supposed to be based on an AK-47 (although I don’t see the resemblance). Never mind the fact that the sniper scopes are just there for show, “not gaming accuracy.” The Wii version incorporates your own Wii-mote (including Wii Motion Plus attachment), while the PS3 has its own built-in joystick, D-pad and buttons on the side of the controller and doesn’t require any additional hardware. The Wii version features a removable stock, barrel, sniper scope and stand, while the PS3 model appears to be a single unit.

They’re both good for inflicting serious damage in games like the Call of Duty, Medal of Honor or Bioshock franchises, although I’d like to see what happens if you try and play New Super Mario Bros. or Little Big Planet with one. Here’s some video footage I grabbed of a couple of guys who had absolutely no clue how to play an FPS.

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Controllers 2, Players 0. At least the old guy on the Wii hit a couple of targets, but I have no idea where the guy on the PS3 was aiming.

No word yet on when you’ll be able to grab the PS3 version, but I found the Wii one available for pre-order over on Amazon for $39.99 (USD). They start shipping on 1/20.

Here’s the trailer, go pass out:

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You can download the beta release of MechWarrior: Living Legends via torrent, or check out the mod’s official site for direct download mirrors. Regardless of your chosen method of downloading the mod, you should still poke around the site because it has installation details as well as a key map/control guide, the mastery of which is a feat in itself as it appears to be as complicated as the controls for heavy machinery. Seriously there are like 12 commands mapped to the mouse alone.

[via QJ]

The gun-shaped CrossFire pistol is perfect for playing FPS and other games that require firearms. The controller seamlessly integrates all of the features of a standard Wii-mote (accelerometers, IR controller, speaker, rumble), and provides easy access to a D-Pad and 1/2 buttons on the back of the gun. The gun trigger acts as a “B” button while there’s a conveniently placed “A” button on the side of the gun. There’s also a hidden Nunchuck attachment port in the butt of the gun, but you can’t connect a MotionPlus add-on there.

Nintendo Life has a review of the CrossFire remote up on their site, and you can purchase the gun over at Amazon for $39.99 (USD), which is basically the price of a standalone Wii-mote. If you’re into FPS and other shooter games, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

[via NeoGAF]

In Inversion, your primary weapon is the Grappler – which is like a Gravity Gun on steroids. Wielding the Grappler, you can move massive environmental objects, changing the landscape of the gameplay arena with a pull of the trigger. And while you can manipulate objects with your Grappler, you’ll also encounter zero gravity and other gravitational anomalies in the environment, which should make for some unique combat situations. You’ll also need to use your gravity manipulation skills to solve a variety of puzzles that keep you from reaching your objectives.

Think your opponent is crouching behind that bus? Just pick it up and move it out of the way. Or better yet, drop the bus on his head. Or just toss him aside like yesterday’s garbage.

Inversion is also one of the first games to feature Havok’s new Destruction physics engine, which provides incredible destructible environments – woo hoo! The game is being developed by Saber Interactive – best known for the time-manipulation shooter TimeShift.

Expect Inversion to land on Xbox 360s and PS3s some time in 2010. Keep an eye out for this one. Just don’t try and hide behind anything. I’ll find you and drop a bus (or two) on your ass.

You know the drill: you have to kill the zombie that pops out or it eats a human hostage. Don’t ask why the zombies don’t just eat the hostages outright, or why the rifle looks like it’s almost half as big as the zombie hideout. What matter is you get to kill zombies. And you better bring your A-game because the zombies will pop in and out increasingly more faster better harder stronger.

You can get the Zombie Shooting Gallery at ThinkGeekfor $35 (USD). Needs 9 AA batteries and a quick trigger finger.

Then the grinding starts. You play a generic space shooter – I don’t know why – to earn the money to upgrade the game. But of course you can also upgrade your spaceship. The funny thing about the space shooter is that you cannot fail. At least not in the first few upgrades.

As you can see my upgraded ship – which is so loaded with upgrades that one of its parts isn’t even on the ship anymore – is much more awesome when viewed in upgraded graphics. My (un)journalistic duties once again prevented me from spending too much time with the game, but you have the power to finish it! Just go to Kongregate or Armor Games and play for free. Tell me what happens at the end okay?

[via Boing Boing]

The game draws on the phone’s camera and a special game map to create a 3D city filled with zombies that need killing and survivors that need saving. Move the phone, and the view changes. Sounds like ARhrrrr has some pretty amazing potential.

Unfortunately the idea is a little ahead of smart phone tech, though the folks behind the demo, Georgia Tech’s Augmented Environments Lab (AEL) and SCAD-Atlanta’s Interactive Design & Game Development department, say they’d love to see it in production when that changes… and they’re not alone!

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[AEL via Super Punch]

Crash Course may not be free for Xbox 360 players, but for only 560 Microsoft points ($7 in real money), you get an entire campaign as well as some other goodies. The new campaign, postered above, “bridges the gap” between the first campaign, No Mercy, and the original second, Death Toll. Considering the title, I’m guessing that No Mercy’s escape helicopter may not have been long for that zombie-riddled world.

The pack also includes a shorter and sweeter version of Versus mode that can be completed in only half an hour. I love Left 4 Dead like ice cream, but completing a campaign does take a significant chunk of time, so this is definitely good news.

Download it next month!

[via GameGirl]

Does the game need more development time? That’s part of the story. The other? Money. Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick admitted that the company expects that next year will provide “a better performing product in the marketplace.”

So suck it up, gamers. No BioShock for you yet. At least one group of people might be pleased at the delay: BioShock-obsessed crafters. More time to work on those elaborate projects before the game’s release, at least.

[via Shacknews]

One player gets the bottom of the screen, and while the second is in a mirrored position at the top… so watch out for those shots that slip through the ranks of alien ships.

I can hear it now: But wait! Hasn’t this been done before? Indeed, but Midway’s Space Invaders II is hardly a favorite among the long-running franchise’s games, so it’s nice to have an alternative. Everyone is an Invader is a simple, no-frills approach to two-player invading, and that makes it a worthwhile experience. Why not try it for yourself? You can grab a copy of the game here (Windows .EXE Download).

[via Some Gaming Required via auntie pixelante]

In Kissma, crazy pixelated heads fly toward your own disembodied noggin, and your massive protruding lips are  your own defense. Sessions last sixty seconds, and in that time, you’ve got to plant your lips with abandon if you want to work your way up the scoring charts. Twice each game, a kisskey bottle floats in amongst the heads, and if you drink up, you get a special ability.

If you’re still not quite sure how this horizontal scrolling kisser really works, there’s a handy video with some footage, or you could simply go give it a try.

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[Kissma via IndieGames and Mouse No!]

Pachinko machines, of course, are the wildly popular Japanese slots-style games, except they’re everywhere and even more addictive. This particular pachinko machine is home a robot family… and a lot of dungeons. Ah, the pitfalls of gambling.

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Planet Pachinko will debut on WiiWare next Monday for the price of 500 Nintendo points, which is the equivalent of five dollars.

[WiiWare World via NWF]