Diablo III Preview

System: PC

Dev: Blizzard Entertainment

Pub: Blizzard Entertainment

Release: May 15, 2012

Players: 1

Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

Dungeon Crawler

It's not every year that we get a new Diablo game—in fact, it's been more than a decade since Diablo II and its expansion. So action-RPG fans are understandably stoked that Diablo III is only about a month away. Here's what to expect when you return to Sanctuary to scour dungeons for loot, hack and slash through enemies, develop a character, and manage your inventory on May 15.

In the game world, twenty years have passed since the events of Diablo II, and two Lesser Evils who survived the previous assault—Azmodan and Belial—pose a serious threat to Sanctuary. A falling star destroys a cathedral, setting off what is apparently the End of Days; the dead are rising, and it's time for you to make them dead again. Also, thanks to the events of the Diablo II expansion Lord of Destruction, the world's geography has shifted, a development that allows the world to feel new and familiar at the same time.

Aliens: Colonial Marines Preview

 

 

Aliens, Continued
by Robert VerBruggen

It doesn't look like Borderlands creator Gearbox Software is going to do anything crazy with Aliens: Colonial Marines. In fact, the most intriguing gameplay feature thought to be included—squad-based tactics—has been dropped in favor of a more typical first-person shooter experience. However, the upcoming game promises modern FPS gameplay and a new story set in the Aliens universe, and if that doesn't pique your interest, you don't have a pulse. 

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Preview

 

 

I Want To Believe

When it was announced that the next XCOM game would be a first-person shooter, the series faithful flipped out, and the game was delayed. But a second XCOM title is also in the works, and it's sure to please those fans who hope the franchise never departs from its strategy roots.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a remake—and a re-imagining—of a 1994 PC classic that has been released under a whole slew of names, including UFO: Enemy Unknown, XCOM: UFO Defense, and even XCOM: Enemy Unknown. In the original game, a plotline that is now familiar to all gamers unfolds: An alien race slowly starts to take over the Earth, and you, our hero, are assigned the task of beating back the threat by controlling a bunch of beefy space marines. Eventually, as the leader of the paramilitary group XCOM, you're responsible for building and deploying a team to Mars to eradicate the threat once and for all. The original game won a loyal fan base not only thanks to its compelling gameplay, but also because of its fear-inducing X-Files vibe. 

Darksiders II Preview

Take A Ride On The Darkside

In January, THQ walked us through a short demonstration of Darksiders II, introducing us to its new protagonist, Death. In the time since, details have come forth on the title's release date, its pre-order incentives, and its Limited and Collector's editions. Then came Monday, when the developers finally felt comfortable putting the controller in our hands and letting us have our first taste of the upcoming action-adventure-with-light-RPG-elements mash-up.

The demo was set near the end of the first act, we were told (the game takes place over four major areas, each of them purported to be as large as the entire map for the first game), and the basics of control were explained to us. Then we were off. It turned out that our journey would begin just after where the previous demonstration had ended, with Death striding past a massive hammer on his way deeper into a dungeon. Exploring the temple led to its center, where the massive, guardian construct we were tasked with awakening stood dormant, demanding three "heartstones" before it would come to life and help rid the Makers' Realm of the Corruption. 

Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai Review

The Samurai Succumb To Total War

Last year, Total War: Shogun 2 managed to reunite the Total War faithful after a series of controversial games in the franchise. And now there's been a welcome development: Those who didn't get enough of Shogun 2 can try out a new expansion, Fall of the Samurai. The expansion doesn't require the original game to play, and it's a fascinating new take on the series, so it's a great buy for just about anyone.

To be sure, Fall of the Samurai doesn't mess with the basics of Total War—in fact, it doesn't even mess with the basics of Shogun 2. You'll be looking at the same beautiful graphics, hearing similar high-quality sound effects, playing through the same cycles of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics, enjoying the same kind of multiplayer battles, and unfortunately even dealing with the same load times and A.I. that you did before.