Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII announced

At the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) which took place earlier this month in Seattle, Square Enix unveiled new details about Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, which will focus on Lightning as the sole playable character.

Taking place long after the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2, players will be able to explore Novus Partus, a world consisting of four separate islands that are joined together via a monorail.

While the company further revealed that the game will have a singular, happy ending, the setting is is more reminiscent of a Jack Bauer type of scenario, with a doomsday clock that counts down to the imminent end of the world in thirteen days.

Time, apparently, really will become of the essence, as players’ actions and choice could consume vital minutes from an ever-present clock which will serve as a constant reminder of the approaching deadline.

According to Computerandvideogames.com, one of the defining features of the game is that it is world driven, meaning that players will have to carefully consider how they interact with the world around them. This is a change from the first Final Fantasy XIII, which was story drive, while Final Fantasy XIII-2 was character driven.

Another change is that the game is apparently meant to be played through multiple times (presumably making different choices each time), while Square Enix added that each playthrough would not take tens of hours to complete.

The game is due for release next year, on Xbox 360 and the PS3.

 

 

Biggest Legend of Zelda to date rumoured to be heading to the Wii U

Some good news for Legend of Zelda fans, who took one look at the Wii U and wondered whether and when a Legend of Zelda would be made for it. According to Wii U Daily, Nintendo is working on its biggest, most ambitious Zelda game to date for its forthcoming console.

 

Apparently though, the company is sticking with the art direction epitomised in the more recent Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which was considerably more painterly and less dark than other entries, such as Twilight Princess.

The website, which quoted an unnamed source in Japan, also reported that Nintendo had marshalled “the biggest team ever” to work on the game, adding that the game was two years into its four year development cycle. That means that the game would likely only be released in 2014.

However, all indications are the wait will be worth it, as the as yet unnamed title will apparently boast the same amount of dungeons, but each dungeon would be considerably larger in their scope and significantly different from one another.

One such dungeon, according to the report, is an entire forest, larger than Hyrule field in Ocarina of Time. More importantly though, Wii U Daily’s source revealed that “everything in the game is built around the controller and its unique abilities, and every single feature in the controller is used to its full potential.” 

 

 

Ubisoft calls cowboy fans out with Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

Ubisoft this week revealed that the next iteration in the Wild West inspired series Call of Juarez will shoot its way onto the Xbox Live Arcade network, Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) and Windows PC at the beginning of next year.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is being developed by Techland and will see gamers filling the cowboy boots of a bounty hunter looking to make a name for himself. He will do this by rounding up some of the most notorious gunslingers such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James.

Players will be able to utilise an array of pistols and rifles during “ruthless, all out gun battles” and eventually “gun down multiple enemies in split seconds.” Check out the announcement trailer posted below.

 

 

Iron Mike Tyson provides ear full of info on his WWE ‘13 involvement

At the end of November, the latest game in the WWE series, WWE ‘13, will enter the fighting- and sports game arena.  This title will not only see the regular line-up of wrestlers stepping into the ring, but also the former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion (and ear-muncher)of the world , Iron Mike Tyson. In the interview posted below Tyson touches on his boxing career, the so-called “Attitude Era” of the WWE, as well as his involvement with the forthcoming title.