'God of War' Prepares for some 'Mortal Kombat'

Before the first great Console War of 2005, I enjoyed many an hour of brutal, blood-soaked gaming courtesy of a certain undying son of Sparta (psst, his name is Kratos). I won't even make mention of another PS-exclusive franchise (*cough*MetalGearSolid*cough*) that I miss. Anyway, once I made the jump from Sony's Playstation 2 to Microsoft's much more attractive XBOX 360 I had to bid a bitter farewell to the God of War franchise in exchange for a more diverse catalog of games (hey, XBOX did have DOOM at the time).

Ever since then my gaming has been regrettably Kratos-less and unfortunately that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon. Revealed at Spike TV's VGA (Video Game Awards) show this past weekend, those crazy awesome bastards at Netherrealm Studios (formerly Midway Chicago) are pulling a Soul Caliber move with the reveal of Kratos as a PS3 playable exclusive (see footage above). All I'm left to wonder is where is the XBOX love people?

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Splatterhouse: Behind the Blood Featurette

Bet you thought the Splatterhouse brew-ha-ha was over, eh? Despite critical reviews by some of the internet's largest gaming sites (go suck an egg IGN and Kotaku), my passion for splattering is far from extinguished. Luckily, Namco Bandai is more than willing to feed my need with two new videos they released this past Friday featuring a behind the scenes look at both the art and history of Splatterhouse.

You might recognize Dave Wilkins (Art Director) who was kind enough to stop by and lay some knowledge of the game on us way back in July (click here to see that interview). Dan Tovar has also been a driving force behind the new game as Producer. It's a shame what happened to this stellar team of creators (if you haven't heard, Namco sent 90 employees packing recently including the entire Splatterhouse dev team), and there's absolutely no reason for it to be garnering such bad reviews. On the bright side, reader reviews on many of these same sites seem almost entirely positive.

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Head Games: Splatterhouse (2010)

"You've got red on you."

With an epic quest that began a little over a decade ago, the King of Carnage has returned to us in better shape than ever in a blood-drenched redux driven by revenge, ultra-violence and a whole lot of badassery. Full of abhorred mutations from another dimension and a mask with questionable (but very helpful) intentions, Splatterhouse begins as it typically does... with Rick Taylor reborn in blood and fueled by hate thanks to the mysterious Terror Mask.

Of course, one of the many things this new version of Splatterhouse does well is provide a plethora of more background information than previous entries in the franchise, essentially combining the storylines of all three games into a singular mythology.

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Splatterhouse Vixen Jennifer Willis "Revealed" in Playboy Spread

UPDATE: For the full view of Jennifer's spread in addition to Playboy's review of the game, visit Playboy.com. 

So you think one Splatterhouse update is enough? Think again! Yours truly was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Playboy's latest cross promotion for game heads with a full page spread featuring none other than Namco's Splatterhouse lade in distress: Jennifer Willis.

Although I can't show the full spread here due to the variety of age groups that hang out at the clubhouse, you can check it out in the December issue of Playboy magazine on stands now. And let me tell you... if you're a fan of video games and beautiful women, it's well worth the price of admission. Really a precursor to the often lauded bonus material available in the new game in which players can collect fragments of Jennifer's "all natural" auteur self portraits, this promotion is sure to stir the blood(flow) in any diehard Splatterhouse fan. What I can share, however, is Jennifer's bio page which offers a few references to the horror genre for the eagle-eyed fan. Yes, Rick's main squeeze sure has come a long way from being that 8-bit brunette we all remember way back when.

Wonder if this means she's legal now...

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Splatterhouse Retrospective Part III: The End?

Splatterhouse 3/Splatterhouse Part 3 (Namco: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 1993)

"As long as that Mask remains... it can happen again." - Rick Taylor, Splatterhouse 2

A glittering red crystal slowly rotates in the darkness as eerie music begins to play. Without warning, ghostly heads appear all around it, roaring as they fade away. More appear, all roaring as the crystal spins serenely. The heads and the crystal are replaced by a flickering light, an ominous shadow the only thing that can be seen. Its red eyes pierce the darkness, shining steadily through the strobing lights.

And from the right, a familiar bloody logo begins to scroll past your eyes.

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New 'Splatterhouse' Art, Alternative Terror Masks PLUS New Footage

Well it seems that Namco still has some sneak freaks left for us Splatter-fans in preparation of the upcoming release on November 23rd. Perhaps the most exciting news being that there will apparently be alternative Terror Masks that you can unlock as depicted in the screenshots below. Alternative masks?! How freaking awesome!! It seems as though they're even referencing some of the original concept for the masks as well.

And if that's not enough to send you shrieking into the night like an excited lemming, Fearnet has some new footage with Dan Tovar discussing the game's Splatterkill system (see above) AND Namco has also released details about a Survival Arenas. According the official press release these are

unlockable 20 rounds of unending horror which enable players to take on ever increasing waves of grotesque monsters in a test of endurance and strength. Players start off with full health and an empty Necro Meter and must slay their way past each round, building their Necro Energy, purchasing Necro Moves, and relying on the Splatter Siphon healing ability.

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Splatterhouse Website Relaunches PLUS New Footage

As promised a week or so back the official Splatterhouse site has relaunched with a slightly overhauled look and tons of new content. There are some new streaming audio tracks and a section dedicated to the bands from the game's OST, a new media section with some new goodies, features list, and even character profiles that reveal a bit more of the storyline.

Of course who could look past that prominent "Buy Now" button which takes you to a section that shows off all of the incentives for pre-ordering the game. Personally I've got mine on pre-order from Game Stop so I can get that sweet looking "Mask" statuette, but to be honest that all sound pretty awesome. You'll also be able to play the original Splatterhouse on your mobile phone (iPhone or Android) soon too! November can't come soon enough.

UPDATE: It would seems yesterday's post was a little shy of missing this killer preview game footage courtesy of Gametrailers (see above)! This only fuels my excitement for what I anticipate to be Strange Kid's Game of the Year. Forget the turkey... this November it's all about squishy aberrations of science!

This article is part of the Countdown to Halloween blogathon, a month-long blogging marathon dedicated to honoring the Halloween season. For more information and a full list of participating sites, please visit www.countdowntohalloween.com.

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New Splatter Sightings! New Screenshots + Original Concept Art

Though the game is still a month away now (due to it being delayed until November 23), that doesn't mean the team behind the game will leave us for want. Seems as though there are a few new screen shots floating around and might I say they are rather gorgeous (in a totally gory, platonic sort of way of course). You can scope out all 10 screenshots after the jump.

The official site for the game has also promised tons of new content on the way PLUS a brand new site design within the month. However, if that's not enough to satiate your bloodlust, the Splatter Archivist himself has posted a crap ton of juicy pics over at West Mansion including some original Bottle Rocket concept art! If you've never visited West Mansion and you're a fan of Splatterhouse... be prepared to peel your excitable bits off the wall.

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Geek Shriek: A Look Behind the New Devil May Cry (DMC)

Last week saw the return of Capcom's Devil May Cry franchise, albeit in a highly stylized way courtesy of game studio Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword). This week, Gametrailers gives us a (slightly) intimate look behind the reboot and where some of the new game developer's artistic direction is coming from including the new look, sound and even some hints to a different fighting mechanic than in previous incarnations.

The good news is that it would seem that Ninja Theory is working closely with Capcom to ensure that the essential elements of the series are not "lost in translation." On the other hand, it would seem that this title is still deep in production with the creators teasing that it's too soon to reveal any specifics regarding either the storyline or the new fighting style. While I can't agree that the initial design of Dante is "outdated," I am interested to see the new direction Ninja Theory takes with DMC and if, in the end, it will still ring true with fans of the previous games. I think this gamer summed it up rather nicely:

"Imagine them changing Mario to a blue-suited Mexican plumber or Metroid to a man! That would suck right? I don't mind changing the story but don't change the [character's] image."

[via Gametrailers]

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Geek Shriek: A New Look for Capcom's 'Devil May Cry'

Apparently, Marvel's Daredevil isn't the only "Devil" being ousted from his own title. Announced at Capcom's latest Tokyo Games Show in Japan, UK-based game studio Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword) will be helming a reboot of the Devil May Cry franchise with what appears to be a completely overhauled visual look to the game and, in particular, it's protagonist (who at this point I can only speculate to be Dante).

Labeled DMC: Devil May Cry, the only information that has been released so far is this teaser trailer and an assortment of screenshots (see below), both showing a much younger, darker haired (anti)hero who looks as though he's dripping in teenage angst (not to mention demonic puppets). Interestingly enough, the trailer almost makes it seem as if the new Dante is either hallucinating or has been imprisoned. There's also a new weapon of sorts in the form a versatile sword/whip "thing." The one thing that hasn't changed? There's still plenty of high-octane action and bad-ass attitude.

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Head Games: Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Get the hot girl. Defeat her evil exes. Hit love where it hurts.

Despite its poor box office earnings I found Scott Pilgrim vs The World to be a really entertaining and fun film that, seemed to possess the necessary mix of glammed-out special effects and fight sequences while maintaining some solid storytelling and characterization. Having since taken my daughter to see the film she's been devouring the original graphic novels as well as expressing an interest in playing the appropriately titled video game tie-in, Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Video Game. I have to say, much like the film, it's tons of retro-inspired fun.

A somewhat separate (but familiar) storyline than either the books or the film adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Video Game is a cleverly constructed homage to many of the greatest 8-bit games of my misspent youth sitting in front of a Super Nintendo. Everything from all 3 Mario Bros. games to Sonic the Hedgehog is referenced here from its beat'em-up style of gameplay to the different ways in which each character exits the level.

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Head Games: Radioactive Teddy Bear Zombies

As the name implies, Radioactive Teddy Bear Zombies by AdultSwim.com is a solid platforming/action game in which you play as Cody Durkin, a "misfit survivalist with violent tendencies" whose newfound mission in life is to kick the gooey stuffing out of a horde of... well, radioactive teddy bear zombies (among other creatures such as rabbits, horse heads, elephants and a few T-Rex) When a strange outbreak hits the local Friendly Hugs Plush factory, Cody's father (Sheriff Durkin) is dispatched to investigate. Mysteriously, Sheriff Durkin doesn't return and now a horde of mutated, puss-riden plush monsters have invaded the city. Being the tough tyke that he is, Cody ventures into town to set things straight and rescue his father.

Aside from these anchor points, I have to admit that I didn't follow too much of the story as I was having much more fun blasting apart these hideous, stuffed freaks with an assortment of guns, flame throwers and rocket launchers. You'll soon discover that the "how" and "why" rationale of these weapons being "left behind," along with tons of gold coins, aren't really relevant to the zombie smashing fun. In face, having clocked in at just under 2-3 hours of gameplay I can't really even remember what caused the outbreak to begin with. However, I do know that it's a lot of fun to see an overgrown, zombied cat explode into bits after you nail it with a few well-placed shot of your maxed-out heat seeking rockets.

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Head Games Preview: NeverDead

50% Devil May Cry. 50% Katamari Damacy. 100% Awesome.

Announced earlier this summer at E3, NeverDead is a title being developed by Rebellion Studios (Aliens vs Predator: The Video Game) in conjunction with Konami (home of the Metal Gear franchise) that no one really knows too much about. Even with the premiere of a new trailer at GamesCon this past week, specific details on the gameplay dynamics or storyline is still very much under wraps.

What little has been revealed seems to indicate the the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic France and features a seemingly immortal protagonist, Bryce, who is able to reattach severed limbs in a way most similar to a katamari ball. Accompanied by a straight-laced (yet sexy) partner, Bryce's wicked sense of humor seems to be well balanced. Honestly, it looks pretty freaking cool and I kinda like the advantage of not having to restart a game because I'm dead. It does, however, beg the question if such a mechanic could lessen the sense of excitement but with monsters the size of bulldozers running around I'm sure it equals out.

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Head Games: Cletus Clay

A wild and crazy, no-holds-barred, rootin’ tootin’ varmint shootin’ side-scrolling platform brawler.

You remember Play-Doh, right? That squeezable, multi-colored dough in a can from childhood that touted endless possibilities of 3D sculpted fun? Well, for some, the fun never ends and they manage to turn what's become known as claymation into a full-time career. I've always found it to be a more "genuine" method of animating in 3D myself, cartoonish naysayers aside. From Ray Harryhausen to Nicholas Park (Wallace and Gromit) the art of breathing life into rolls of plasticine models is one of the most admirable jobs of any kid ages 8-12 past or present.

As much as Hollywood would have us believe that traditional effects are "obsolete" in today's digital landscape, it would seem that a few talented game designers are out to prove that playing with clay still has its charm. The studio in mention is indie developers Tuna and their clay-concocted creation is Cletus Clay, a zany backwoods 3rd person platformer currently slated for an undisclosed date on XBOX Live Arcade.

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Gamer Blips: Dead Rising... The Movie?

Apparently this one flew completely under my radar, but there seems to be a Dead Rising film in the works (since at least early January) according to gaming mega-news site Kotaku.

For those of you who are unaware, Dead Rising is an addictive zombie free-for-all first released in August of 2006 to much acclaim for horror fans looking for an excuse to use anything at arms reach to kill some freakin' zombies. Set in a mall, much like George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, players could literally use just about anything in their immediate as a weapon to dispatch the seemingly endless undead hordes that the game served up. This ranged from plastic light sabers to bar stools and even a giant LEGO heads... yeah.

The game proved so successful that it garnered several industry awards and has spawned a sequel, Dead Rising 2, that's due to be released later this year in September. Which brings us back to the film, directed by Dead Rising designer (and creator of Mega-Man) Keiji Inafune. The trailer (see above) was first released at the beginning of 2010 and reveals a completely different cast than the game, yet equally insane hack 'n slash action (did you SEE that wheelchair?!).

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Head Games: MadWorld (2009)

So after a good year of procrastination I finally decided to give Sega's ultra-violent MadWorld a spin. Was it worth the wait?

The short answer is yes, yes it was, but not for all the right reasons. As a Wii-exclusive, MadWorld is one of the only games on that system to feature over-the-top violence and shameless gore which I for one applaud. The presentation of the game is highly stylized, granting the player a give glimpse of what Miller's Sin City might look like in pixel-form. The comparisons between the two properties really ends at the visual level, however, as MadWorld's zany cast of Road Warrior inhabitants are either killed, maimed, or disemboweled quicker than they can "respawn" leaving little room for you to take any interest in them beyond shoving a chainsaw down their gullet.

Now, I'm all for mindless violence and destruction, but I admittedly felt disoriented not only by the rapid pace by which both enemies and task are dealt out, but with the black and white color palette which offers little distinction to the untrained eye between environment, power-ups and enemies. I can see how the red fountains of henchman render much more artistically under these circumstances, but when you can hardly tell them apart in the first place it begins to make little difference how gruesome their fatalities may be.

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Gory, Gory Hallelujah! Even More E3 Splatterhouse Gameplay Footage

Mindless, bloody gaming fun at its best.

Despite some murmurs of a few glitches during the demo concerning frame rates, I am still way amped to get my hands on a working copy of the game and eagerly awaiting its October release date (Oct. 26). In the meantime, make sure to check out these two new cam videos from Namco Bandai's demo of Splatterhouse at last week's E3 PLUS a kick-ass look at the life-size statue that the crew featured at the booth. It's a good time to be a gorehound gaming fan.

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Head Games: Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage

Kenshiro + punches = bloody explosions.

No doubt one of the more brutal games to come out of E3 this week, Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage is a beat 'em up action style game based on the Fist of the North Star manga. I'll admit that I've never read the book, but I have seen a few of the animated episodes and movies and if there's one thing that I learned its that Kenshiro is the manliest man to have ever lived (take that Sonny Chiba). These aren't your ordinary haymakers that 'ole Ken is dishing out, no sir, these are bonafide death bombs guaranteed to reduce any living (or nonliving) thing into a pulpy mass of flesh and muscle. Wicked cool.

If the video game is anything like the Fist movies I've seen, gorehounds players will be plenty satisfied with the high blood to boobs ratio and filled with a spastic desire to inflict as much damage to your opponents as humanly possible. For a better taste of the whoop-ass that's in store, make sure you check out the gameplay footage below.



[via PlayScope]

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New E3 Gameplay of Splatterhouse! (NSFW)

Things are about to get a whole lot bloodier before they get... well, bloody.

There has been a lot of exciting news to come out of E3 thus far, not the least of which for me has been Nintendo's mysterious Gameboy 3DS (still waiting to see how that works with no glasses) and, of course, Namco's upcoming Splatterhouse.

Despite not being able to attend the event, the glorious invention of the internets has allowed me to still feel as though I can partake in some of the gaming goodness as with this new Splatterhouse gameplay footage. So break out your raincoat, prop your feet up on your cubicle desk, and get ready for a forecast of 100% pain.

[via PlayScope]

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Head Games: Ghoul Patrol (1994)

Ever wonder what happened to Zeke and Julie after Zombies Ate My Neighbors?

Well just like Macaulay Culkin after the success of Home Alone, they went out and partied hard for a year before making their next-gen comeback. Of course, unlike Home Alone 2, Ghoul Patrol was actually a worthy successor to the franchise. Perhaps my second favorite game series (behind Splatterhouse), Ghoul Patrol is a top-down side scroller that picks up more or less after the events of Zombies Ate My Neighbors and features the return of the previous game's young protagonists.

Having grown a little since their last monster-bashing escapade, Zeke and Julie are set against a horde of slightly tougher-looking zombies, ninjas, aliens, ghouls and giant demons than before. Thankfully, their tools have also received an upgrade and are pretty generously scattered throughout each level. Speaking of levels, Ghoul Patrol sees its 16bit heroes traveling not just through the neighborhood but entire universes thanks to the mysterious and magical book of Ghosts & Demons.

The gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has ever played the original game and the graphics are really only slighter richer despite having been upgraded from the Nintendo to the Super Nintendo. That doesn't make the game any less fun; however, and I recently discovered (yes, I know now its been out for awhile) that the game has been made available on the Wii as downloadable content which means plenty of hours will be spent on the couch this weekend reliving the ghoul-squashing glory of killing a horde of corpse grinders with nothing but a gun that shoots bubbles.

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