Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Tale of Despereaux Video Game

Brash Entertainment today announced development for The Tale of Despereaux, an interactive game based on Universal Pictures’ animated adventure of the same name.  The game shares the fairy-tale look and feel of the upcoming film about a chivalrous mouse, full of courage and honor.  The Tale of Despereaux game—created through a licensing agreement with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group—will release in conjunction with the film, which arrives in theatres on December 19, 2008.

 

Directed by Sam Fell & Rob Stevenhagen and produced by Gary Ross and Allison Thomas, The Tale of Despereaux features the voice talent of Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Frances Conroy, Tony Hale, Ciaran Hinds, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, Christopher Lloyd, William H. Macy, James Nesbitt, Stanley Tucci, Tracey Ullman, Emma Watson and Sigourney Weaver.   

 

The game will follow and extend the film’s storyline in adventures spanning from the magical kitchen and colorful rooms of the castle to the dark dungeons of the rat lairs.  An introductory training mode, mouse-centric unique abilities, upgradeable skills and objects, and a lot of courage, will help Despereaux face off against a multitude of animal enemies and human foes on his quest to save Princess Pea.  Multiple difficulty settings will ensure that a wide range of adventurers can enjoy Despereaux’s heroics again and again.

 

“Whether charmed by the book or newly introduced to the characters via the film, children of all ages can expand on their love for Despereaux with this title,” said Mitch Davis, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Brash Entertainment.  “We’re excited and proud to be translating this classic into an exciting, engaging and enriching game. “

 

“With its focus on publishing film-based games, Brash was the clear partner to develop the interactive adventure that would accompany the film and bring Despereaux to life on gaming screens,” said Bill Kispert, VP and General Manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.  “The game’s attention to detail will allow players to explore all the nooks and crannies of the whimsical Kingdom of Dor. ” 

 

The Tale of Despereaux will be available for the XBOX™ 360, PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system, the Wii™ videogame system from Nintendo, and PC, and is set to scurry onto shelves this winter.
Posted by Beckett Gaming at 16:15:30 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

PS2 GAME REVIEW: GOD OF WAR II

God of War 2 (M = Mature 17+)


REVIEWER #1

I had the privilege of sampling an advanced copy of the much anticipated PS2 release of God of War II, and I assure you it lived up to expectations.  The second installment to one of the most popular PS2 titles starts out right where it left off with Kratos installed as the ruling minion of the blade.  From step one you are thrown into a battle scene with a giant Colossus type figure who in a multitude of scenes tries to smash you to dust.  The brutal attacks are just as gory as the last game and will surely please the mob scene for this title.  PlayStation kept the controls consistent with the first game making the progression into this new chapter in the saga of Kratos a breeze.  The gameplay is slightly limited due to the restrictions on the console, and I would love to have seen what they could have accomplished on the PS3 or 360 platforms.  Game play is also constrained by not being able to rotate a full 360 degrees with the main character.  Due to this going backwards into areas you have already been through is a bit difficult, and at times feels like you are running blindly into sections.  I would give this game a 9 out of 10 overall.

- Brett Robertson

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REVIEWER #2

The graphics and sound were awesome.
It's a lot of fun decapitating bad dudes and watching them explode into pieces. The Colossus is very cool when he comes alive and you're forced to face him. I thought it was cool how you have to power up the cattapult to launch yourself onto the Colossus.
Overall, God of War 2 was very fun to play and deserves a 9 rating out of 10.

- Eric Knagg

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REVIEWER #3

I definitely have to agree with Brett and Eric. This game rocks! I was blown away by the strength of the Spartan warrior Kratos. He takes on hundreds of men that are coming at him in every direction and slices and dices them into pieces. You can also see him pick the guys up and smash them down to the ground with incredible force. He jumps onto ledges, rocks and windows, climbs ladders and walls, swings Spider-Man style, swims deep in water and does so many other things as well. The biggest test was Kratos taking on the huge Colossus marble statue dude. WOW! That is by far one of the coolest areas I've ever seen in a video game. The only negative side to the game was not being able to turn a 360 when Kratos is searching the rooms in the buildings. Other than that, this game is a MUST BUY for anyone (17+) with a PS2 or PS3 system. I give God of War II a 9 out of 10!

- Doug Kale, Editorial Director

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Posted by Beckett Gaming at 14:36:50 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |