Hot new Blood of Bahamut promotional trailer: characters and game play [update]

[Update: We’ve added a better video (above). You can check out the older one after the jump.] We ain’t gonna lie — we’re hot for Square Enix’s upcoming DS RPGBlood of Bahamut. Granted, it’s only a Japanese release so far, and it may never come here (like some other Bahamut-titled game from Square), but we’re still excited. Maybe for nothing. Anyway, this new promotional video, fresh from Square Enix’s JF event in Japan, highlights some of the main characters from this epic looking and epic sounding RPG....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 144 words · Robert Harrison

How do you make a Halo fan play an RTS? Grenades, apparently

Strategy games have always been something of a niche genre, but it seems that the only thing stopping it from having total mainstream appeal was the ability to throw grenades. At least, that’s the only thingHaloplayersseemed to care aboutwhen Ensemble Studios was focus testing the upcoming RTSHalo Wars. “It seemed like a really funny thing to get out of the control test,” explains Ensemble’s Graeme Devine. “But they all would come up and say, “This trigger needs to throw grenades!...

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 117 words · Courtney Walker

How to opt out of Sony’s ‘no sue’ PSN clause

Sony’s new PSN terms of service doesn’t quite sit right with some gamers, since it asks them to waive their consumer rights in order to use the service. Fortunately, there’s a get-out clause that Sony has deftly provided. It takes a little effort, but you’ll have the thrill of knowing you did somethingAmerican! In order to opt out of the class action waiver, you need to confirm it with Sony — in writing — within thirty days....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 155 words · Lorraine Phillips PhD

Immortal Empire: Free to play, surprisingly good!

You’ve probably never heard of Jesse Attard, but he’s a man with a pedigree. After all, he was the project lead onBioShock 2‘s multiplayer. With that game now wrapped up, Attard has founded Tactic Studios, a new developer that has just launched its first ever title,Immortal Empire. Immortal Empireis a completely free strategy game, playable in one’s browser, similar to games likeEvony. However, unlikeEvony,Immortal Empireis actually rather good. It’s similar toDawn of Warin that it’s about a few powerful units as opposed to grand armies, but it’s a turn-based affair....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 198 words · William Willis

Impressions: Darkest of Days demo

Darkest of Days has been on my radar for quite some time now, albeit with some reservations. Any game that could reasonably be described as “Quantum Leapwith assault weaponry and no Dean Stockwell” tends to have that sort of effect. The premise is almost too good, too easy to screw up: your character travel through time to right chronological wrongs, relying primarily on era-specific weaponry and tactics (save for the occasional, anachronistic assault rifle rampage)....

June 5, 2025 · 5 min · 945 words · Alexander Ortega II

Industry peeps share their first gaming memories

It has not been a good day for me and news, Dtoid. It seems like every tip I got was old disguised as new, not interesting enough, or the news equivalent of a raccoon’s bunghole. They say when you can’t get it right, do something else. Since I aim is to please, I am going to try to point your attention in a direction that I cannot possibly mutiliate and hope tomorrow I get out of the bed on the right side....

June 5, 2025 · 2 min · 221 words · Debra Stephens

Insomniac loves sequels, so it should MARRY them

Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price has beensharing his appreciationfor the most well trodden of videogame ground, the ever-present sequel. Price declares that sequels allow developers to “hit the ground running,” making for better games by cutting out all the preliminary fuss associated with a fresh IP. “Developers can hit the ground running with sequels. The game’s story and art style have a solid base, the tech and tools are stable and the basic gameplay mechanics have gone through plenty of tuning in the first game....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 187 words · Eric Valdez

It Came from Japan! Rhythm Tengoku

[It Came from Japan!is a series where I seek out and review the weirdest, most original and enjoyable titles that never left the Land of the Rising Sun.] Japanese games often possess a delirious quality that leaves some people scratching their heads and others delighting in the madness.Rhythm Tengoku, filled with characters and personality that are uniquely Japanese, is one such game. Yet, all the quirky characters and scenarios feel like they occupy a coherent world, one where the offbeat antics of theWarioWareseries successfully merge with the rhythm genre to form a portable classic that never made it to the States....

June 5, 2025 · 7 min · 1463 words · Aaron Parker

Journalist reflects on Brandon Crisp case, says his CoD4 playing was ‘awful’

TheBrandon Crisp casewas a very twisted one indeed. 15-year-old Brand Crisp ran away from his Ontario home after being banned from playing Call of Duty 4. As the press started to masturbate at the thought of demonizing videogames again, it was speculated that Crisp had been “lured by gamers” and eventually, a body was found. It later transpired that, rather than getting himself murdered by an evil gamer, Crisp had died simply falling from a tree....

June 5, 2025 · 2 min · 404 words · Teresa Cohen

Katamari XBLA rumor squashed before it can grow legs

EGM gave us hope, and Microsoft crushed the dreams:Katamarifor Xbox Live Arcade is not happening. What would have been an automatic best-seller for the 360’s online service, is now just a distant memory thanks to the cold,hard responseby Worldwide Xbox Live Arcade Games Portfolio Manager, Ross Erickson. A forum post: According to the latest Quartermann section in EGM magazine, a new Katamari Damacy is coming to Wii, PS3 and Xbox Live Arcade....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 124 words · Megan Gomez

King of Fighters XII: fighter videos of Athena and friends

We may not have morefresh moose knucklefor you today, but these videos are still hot in a videogame-y and non-sexy way. While pictures are nice, seeing this hand-drawn game in action is a true joy. I think that seeing it in motion has the power to draw in gamers and fighting game freaks that were never reallyKing of Fightersfans. And of course, series fans are already salivating. We’ve got a few new videos to tease us and hold us over until the July 7th release date on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 126 words · Shawn Morris

Lips: Number One Hits will feature Lady Gaga and more

I really dig singing games, but I will admit that I never got around to picking upLipsfor the 360. What can I say — I know I don’t listen to much of the norm when it comes to popular music, but I just wasn’t that attracted to the track list. The newest installment,Lips: Number One Hits, appeals to me a bit mroe though — especially now that I now there’ s afew of my favorites on there....

June 5, 2025 · 5 min · 919 words · Amy Huber

Lucky Star learns videogame music

[As originally posted onJapanator] Now, I know that your typical Destructoid reader isn’t as up on the world of anime as thekids next door, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate the videogame ties in these insane videos. Either that, or you’ll want to kill yourself. The Japanese side of the internet has no shortage of video tributes to the slice-of-life anime and manga seriesLucky Star. Usually they’re the same old song and dance (literally)....

June 5, 2025 · 1 min · 200 words · Laura Taylor