The Order: 1886 Exclusive Gameplay Trailer - playstation4.co.uk - February 26, 2014

The Order: 1886 Exclusive Gameplay Trailer

Sony has just unveiled The Order: 1886 exclusive gameplay trailer. In development at Ready at Dawn, The Order is shaping up to be the muscle when it comes to showing off what the Playstation 4 is capable of.

In the trailer you can see Galahad and Percival in action, though the content in the trailer is what we have already seen of the game, just having it in video form makes the game look even more spectacular. Though the use of the same content is worrying, considering this game is slated for the end of 2014 release we still have yet to see anything from the game. This could be a clever way of hyping the game and keeping all the spoilers out of the public eye. But this has been done before in recent years by some big games and almost all of them have failed to make an impact on players.

Following the release of the trailer Sony posted about the things player need to know about The Order: 1886, the first explain on the melee combat which is vey different to other shooters. As we know from the screenshots and the trailers gunplay will be a key component of The Order 1886′s gameplay, but close combat melee encounters are also going to be integral to the experience. Ready at Dawn is taking a fresh approach here, incorporating split decision paths fights can play out in a number of ways, in the trailer Galahad goes for the knife, but it’s not the only way to respond to the situation.

“For melee, we’re leveraging some of the things we’ve learned in the peat, even from the platformer days. We want to supplement ranged combat with something the players don’t expect. You’ll see more melee modes that will give you some complex  options,” Creative Director Ru Weerasuriya hinted.

At its core The Order: 1886 is a third person action game, complete with cover shooting mechanics. While you might think you’ve seen these before, Ready at Dawn is putting it’s own twist on the convention.

“Yes there is cover as you might have seen in other games, but we’ve added traversal modes,” says Ru “You’ll go seamlessly from ‘full cover’ into ‘soft cover’ as you move away from the object. Imagine you’re in cover, you’re shooting at something and you want to pop out. You don’t just your head up, right? You’d stay low. So we’ve tried to build a bit more reality into the cover system.”

Alongside an arsenal of weaponry that offers huge customisation of combat options, you’ll also have a number of gadget at your disposal. In the trailer, Galahad is surveying Neo-Victorian London with a monocular in search of a fire fight.

“The Monocular was built for multipurpose use,” Ru explained. “We haven’t talked about all the different modes of gameplay in which it will be implemented, but what we have showed in the latest demo is it being used as a looking glass. It can also be use to send a Morse code to flash your signal to the airship above to give your location.”

The Order: 1886 is shaping up to be the spearhead for Sony and the Playstation 4 and if they can pull off everything they are saying then it will be one to watch out for, keep checking back for everything on The Order: 1886 as it drops.

Original post on Playstation4.co.uk - http://www.playstation4.co.uk/order-1886-exclusive-gameplay-trailer

Evolve: Hunting the Beast - playstation4.co.uk - February 13, 2014

Hunting the beast in Evolve sounds easy enough, pitting four players against the one. It's an age old argument that numbers always prevail, however, Turtle Rock Studios the team behind Left 4 Dead are changing this.

Scouring through the thick of the jungle, four hunters muttering warnings and checking sound spikes for activity are searching for the beast. The beast has been feeding, a burst cocoon betrays the monsters recent attempt of a stealthy evolution. For most games this would be a massive opening cutscene, but for Evolve this is just a tiny part of the gameplay.

Evolve is founded on thrilling boss fights. Where most games would want you to get to the boss and have you upgrade having found out that particular bosses weaknesses, Evolve will make you stretch the limits of your gameplay to even make a scratch in the thick husk of the gargantuan monster.

As a hunters players pick between four different classes. Each class is vital to success, the idea being that teamwork is key to survival. To that end though, no match can roll in with two or three members, a team has to comprise one of each class.

Players taking on the role of the hunters play in a first person perspective. The four teammates must work together to track down the monster and ideally take it down before it evolves, however at the same time they must always be aware of the wildlife of the planet as there is always more unsavoury wildlife wanting to join in with taking out the hunters.

Evolution is key to winning as the monster which is played in a third person perspective. From what has been shown so far only the Goliath monster has been unveiled but there are more types of monster which should keep the gameplay fresh. The Goliath bears it's name for exactly the right reasons as the intimidating brute starts off with two player selected abilities, and gains another after each level of evolution. Goliath is relatively vulnerable when the match begins, but when maxed out and evolution level three he is a terrifying threat to the hunters. For monster players careful navigation and combat tactics are required.

Evolve blends together a number of different multiplayer elements to make something very unique. It has both cooperative and competitive gameplay, it has MOBA like character management and ability growth and has insane action set pieces. This unusual cocktail of play types has a refreshing taste that promises to bring life and new strategy to multiplayer shooters.

Evolve is scheduled to launch later this year on PS4, for everything else on Evolve keep checking back for our updates on the game. But for now below is the debut gameplay trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpXcMvFZIY

Original post on Playstation4.co.uk - http://www.playstation4.co.uk/evolve-hunting-beast

Bungie's Destiny won't feature animal mounts - playstation4.co.uk - February 4, 2014

Destiny, the all new ambitious space shooter from Halo creator Bungie, will not feature animal mounts, the studio revealed.
"We considered animal mounts, but the weight-load of the Titan’s heavy armour kept breaking their backs, and we knew that PETA would go absolutely berserk," Bungie said as part of the weekly updates.

It's worth pointing out the PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have previously spoken out about the way animals are treated in video games before by creating parodies of titles like Mario and Pokemon.

Animal mounts aren't completely foreign to Sci-fi  experiences, some would say they even help with the lore of the different universes, Star Wars fans will undoubtedly remember the Tauntaun in Empire Strikes Back, this helped give a sense of life to the planet Hoth and gave that extra Sci-fi experience to Star Wars. Though Bungie has always stayed clear of them. Like Halo before it, Destiny will allow players to find a host of standard vehicles to ride and attack enemies from.

Also in the weekly update Bungie stated like many other studios, Destiny will be getting second screen functionality. The Companion as Bungie calls it will be available through the Bungie mobile app which is available now on iOS and Andriod.

Bungie did not comment on what features will be available to players through The Companion but no doubt like many other titles it will have maps and different information about the area in which the player is in, something like the Assassins Creed: Black Flag app with it's interactive maps. Companion apps are becoming more commonplace and typically afford users a variety of features like inventory management or the ability to learn about the virtual world around them.

Destiny launches for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on September 9. A beta for the game will be available this summer first to Playstation platforms. Preordering the game will guarantee you access to the pre-release trial period. Be sure to check back for more coverage of Destiny over the coming months but until then check out the gameplay trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyVHxzlhrp8

Original post on Playstation4.co.uk - http://www.playstation4.co.uk/bungies-destiny-wont-feature-animal-mounts

New Middle Earth game multiplayer and app detailed - playstation4.co.uk - February 3, 2014

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is in development "wholly as a single player experience"

The upcoming Lord of the rings prequel will not include any multiplayer and is skipping it's release on the WiiU Monolith has confirmed.

"Alas, no co-op. Shadow of Mordor is being crafted wholly as a single-player experience," the Studio stated on twitter.

Regarding platforms Monolith also took to twitter to explain, "Shadow of Mordor will launch on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and of course, the PC. We've got you covered." The developers did not explain why they game is not coming to WiiU but a safe bet would be due to the platforms shortcomings.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is Monolith's second game based on J.R.R Tolkien's epic fantasy series, following the 2012 release of the MOBa Guardians of Middle Earth, Shadow of Mordor takes play exclusively in Mordor and has gamers playing as Talion a ranger of Gondor with the traits of a wraith.

Also available to download now for free from the App Store is the companion app aptly named Palantir. Developed in conjunction with Warner Bros, the app was designed for iPad to give the fan community ways to collaborate on the world they know and love. Players can create content that is useful for specific parts of the game. Also included in the app is audio sync technology, community content that is related to the player's in game surroundings will be automatically displayed while playing the game.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor launches later this year next to The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age 3. 2014 is shaping up to be a huge year for Western RPG's. For everything Playstation 4, RPG and Middle Earth keep checking back on the site for more coverage and if you haven't checked it out yet here is the reveal of the Nemesis System revealed a few weeks ago.

PS Plus Subscriptions Triple Following PS4 Launch - playstation4.co.uk - January 31, 2014

Following the Launch of the PS4, Playstation Plus subscriptions tripled Sony has announced.

The news came from Sony UK Boss Fergal Gara, who made the reveal at the PS Vita Slim event yesterday. 

While Gara pointed out the needing PS Plus was needed in order to play PS4 games online no doubt played a part in this, he also expressed his confidence that the value offered by the service was the driving force behind the increased numbers.

These numbers can at no great shock, as the value that is offered is unrivalled, the free games given each month is a huge incentive to subscribe to the service. If you are an owner of the whole Playstation eco system paying only a mere £40 a year for 60 games is a bargain.

Elsewhere in the briefing, Gara also stated that currently there are 1.5 Ps4 consoles in the UK to every Xbox One. This is very good news for Sony as they seem to have the upper hand at this point and it looks like as long as they keep targeting the players directly and keep the focus on game they will keep this lead over Microsoft.

Sony has still to pull its trump card for PS Plus owners with them still stating when Driveclub is released PS Plus subscribers will get the game for free, but even with it being absent from the list at launch and no clear date on when it will be available Sony is still getting numbers higher at which the first might have thought.

If you haven't picked up Playstation Plus yet check out this months free games, and judge for yourself the amazing value. The big highlight this month is the terrifying Outlast coming 5th February to PS4 owners, its worth noting that Bioshock Infinite and Metro: Last Light on PS3 where two of the biggest games last year and should not be missed.

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn (PS4 Dated and Detailed) - playstation4.co.uk - January 25, 2014

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn (PS4 Dated and Detailed):

Earlier today Square Enix held one of their regular life-streams outlining what's coming soon to the new MMO on today's list was the PS4 version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

The first announcement they made on the platform is that the Beta for PS4 players would be starting on 22nd February, players who already have a PS3 version will be automatically allowed to download the PS4 version, nothing was stated on how new players will be able to join so expect some news on that soon.

Next they shared details on the collectors edition of the game. The contents of the collectors edition will be the same as the PS3 and PC, this edition includes

• The Art of Eorzea - A Realm Reimagined
• The Waning of the Sixth Sun - Bonus Disc
• The Sounds of Eorzea
• One Time Password, additional security key
• Exclusive In-game Items, including

Helm of Light -
Become one of the fabled warriors of light when you equip this exclusive helmet.

Baby Behemoth Minion -
Summon this cute, but ferocious miniature version of Behemoth and watch him roar with excitement as you adventure through Eorzea.

Coeurl Mount -
Only the bravest of warriors are able to tame and ride the mighty coeurl.  Show off your prowess with this exclusive mount.

Behemoth Barding -
Customise your Chocobo with the fearsome Behemoth Chocobo Armour and charge in to battle.

along with these extras those who pick up the collectors edition for PS4 will also get a Moogle Minion and a Fat Chocobo Mount, though producer Naoki Yoshida asked PC and PS3 players not to worry as if they had already paid for the collectors edition they would get for free upon upgrading to PS4 either via the PSN digital upgrade or purchasing a standard edition of the game.

Collectors Edition Items

Lastly the most important announcement was made, after the Beta tests are complete players can expect the game to be released on April 14, there will be no delays as this date is set it stone, this could be worrying depending how the beta tests go, as when the game was first released it had a rocky start for the first two weeks, save the date and keep looking for more information on the PS4 version as we move closer to launch, below is the launch trailer for those still sitting on the fence about this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFRYEpH1d-U

Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor Nemesis System - playstation4.co.uk - January 25 2014

Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor Nemesis System:

You don't have to play a lot of games to find expendable enemies, in fact the first game you think of will have them in, these cannon fodder serve to delay you, distract you and to absorb whatever you throw at them, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is trying to change this method up by promoting the pawns.

The player takes on the role of Talion, one of the rangers of Gondor tasked with standing guard at the Black Gate of Mordor, set after the events of The Hobbit when Sauron and his black captains return to Mordor and kill everyone there. Talion is kept alive by a mysterious spirit which allows him to switch into a wraith being at will, much like Bilbo and Frodo could with the ring. Such a being is new to the world of Tolkien and such seems custom tailored to be a lead protagonist.

Mordor is a huge open world, think Arkham City crossed with Dishonoured, and so will have many different enemies, but as well all know Mordor is full of Orcs, so how has Monolith made the game to keep it fresh. With the new Nemesis System they look to change up how even the smallest of enemies can quickly change the outcome of the story.

During your adventure some enemies may flee, survive or even kill you, when this happens the Nemesis system kicks in, figures out what has happened and changes what that enemy is, the can rise through the ranks of the orcs and hold one serious grudge against you. Nemeses gain names, titles, new followers and maybe even new physical appearances deepening on how the outcome of the fight went the last time you met them.

Both the navigation of Mordor and the battle take advantage of Talions abilities, normal combat and climbing are done in the human form, while as a wraith you can fire your bow, distract enemies with sounds or even teleport instantly to an enemy. Teleporting is a great way to take down an archer atop a building where you can then plan your assassination from a vantage point, with these elements it's where the Batman Arkham games and Dishonoured  styles show off, the teleporting is very reminiscent of the abilities in Dishonoured where as the normal combat is like something you would find in the Arkham games. And like both games traversing the environment and planning your attacks is much better than sprinting in to a pack of orcs with a death wish.

Talion is only one person, yet with his wraith abilities he is able to dominate and spread influence across Mordor's various lands, when he catches enemies he can use his abilities to turn them into his minion by turning all ethereal and scary he can take control of their minds and give them tasks, whether it be to go on a recon mission to spy on an orc leader or to attempt an assassination to give Talion that moment of surprise. Whats really interesting about the options is that it caters to all different play styles, you could just kill the captive and not have to deal with them again or send him on his way and never see him again.

Winning a fight though isn't always about positioning gathering intelligence can offer a huge advantage, some targets are specifically afraid of fire or troll, others are immune to ranged attacks or have several bodyguards, this new style of play give a strong incentive to the Nemesis System, do your research and save yourself from going into a battle tactically blind. Whats really interesting about this fights is that they can be done at any time so they wont bog you down between doing story quest.

Shadow's of Mordor is looking more and more impressive each time i see it, and now with this new system for tackling the same type of enemies should mix things up a bit, its still a wonder about Talion's origins and whether the story will be satisfactroy but as the game is still early in development I'm sure we will get some answers as time goes on.

For more on Middle Earth: Shadow's of Mordor keep checking back but for now here is the gameplay trailer showing off the Nemesis System.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl9J_ewx3Rg