Star Hawk PlayStation 3

Released on 11-May-2012

• PlayStation 3 Hands-On - Sorcery and Starhawk

  
  

  Last week we were lucky enough to have our friends from SONY stop by and let us have a preview of a couple of their upcoming PlayStation 3 releases - Starhawk and Sorcery.

  

  Starhawk

  This sci-fi/western hybrid was action-packed to say the least. The game boils down to two rival factions fighting over 'rift energy', which can not only power technology but people, too. In the story mode, you play as Emmet, a man caught in the middle and who works as a very accessible entry point to the conflict. We sampled the first of nine mission, and it certainly got us pumped for more.

  The third-person controls worked more or less as you'd imagine, with the classic cover-based tactics intact, in both the rocky deserts and the frontier-like settlements dotted around it, and boy do you need it when the enemies come rolling in from all directions, including crashing down from drop ships above.

  Fortunately, you have air support yourself and can call down everything from pre-fab mining bases to automatic gun turrets to help you out with your missions. This 'Build and Battle' function really helps shape the battlefield to your advantage... in theory at least - we made the rookie mistake of turning our newly-arrived wall into a gate. Not the best defensive strategy, and one we won't repeat next time!

  

  The space frontier setting really seemed to set this apart from other shooters, with the golden deserts and blue skies of the planet lightyears away from the industrial cities of other shooters. And it's a fairly open-world to explore as well, with plenty of the planet to explore and danger luring around almost every corner. The music was also a stand-out, too, with bluesy steel guitars further cementing the western mood.

  This really whet our appetites for the release of the game on 11th May. If you want to have a similar test, the Beta version is on PSN now.

  

  Sorcery

  We then took a trip to the Faerie kingdom to try out this hot new fantasy title, specially crafted for the PlayStation Move - and a game that really takes advantage of the Move controller by using it as a magic wand. And boy did we have fun with that, zapping away and turning sheep into pigs, squelching away pumpkins, moving rubble out of the way and taking out reanimated skeletons.

  The game is set in a lush fantasy world inspired by Celtic mythology, with a quirky, animated style that's part Lord of the Rings, part Shrek. The main character is Finn, an ambitious sorcerer's apprentice who is goaded into action by his sarcastic magical cat, Erline. There are five realms to travel through, each with a different boss and assorted enemies to conquer.

  

  Again, we only sampled a small part of his adventures from his first experiments with the wand to his overconfident trip to retrieve a magical ingredient that took him into a Banshee's tomb. But we picked up three of the six "core spells" needed throughout the game in that short time, as well as learning valuable skills and tactics for defeating opponents where timing and combination of spells - as well as accuracy with your Move controller - is key.

  This really feels like the game Move was made for, and the confidence that SONY have in the game showed in every aspect, from the astounding visuals, to the characters and their development, to the puzzles and action of the gameplay itself. Even overcoming the smallest of challenges filled us with delight, and, quite frankly, we could have gladly played all day!

  Sorcery really looks like the kind of game you would not tire of playing, and we're heartily looking forward to picking up our copies when it's released on 25th May.

  Published: 25/04/2012

• Starhawk multiplayer details emerge

  Sony has provided fans of the high-flying combat game Warhawk with new details of what to expect from the forthcoming sci-fi sequel Starhawk.

  Florence Kum, senior producer for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told the official PlayStation Blog that the new PlayStation 3 title will feature a number of modes that allow two friends to enjoy multiplayer mayhem on the same console.

  A revamped two-player splitscreen mode lets gamers duke it out side-by-side, with an improved aspect ratio and radar map system making it easier to enjoy the action.

  Meanwhile, two people will also be able to sign into their PlayStation Network profiles on the same console simultaneously, ensuring that both players can gain XP and level up.

  For those who prefer online gaming, Starhawk also offers up a frantic 32-player online mode, Ms Kum added.

  Starhawk will arrive exclusively on PlayStation 3 and combines robust multiplayer options with an in-depth story mode.
  

  Published: 22/03/2012

• PS3 Games We Can't Wait To Play In 2012

  2011 was a fantastic year for PlayStation 3 exclusive games, featuring the likes of Killzone 3, Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, Uncharted 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2, to name just a few. 2012 will also offer a number of great-looking games only available on Sony's home console, which you'll find in our Best PS3 Games of 2012 list below.

  Dust 514

  Dust 514 is a sci-fi first person shooter focused on strategic planetary conquest through fierce ground combat augmented by powerful vehicles. Uniquely, the game is set in and directly connected to the persistent universe of PC massively multiplayer online game EVE Online, allowing players to form mercenary corporations across the two titles and work together to gain control of entire star systems.

  God of War 4

  While it has yet to be announced, the latest entry in Sony's flagship action adventure series is heavily tipped to launch in 2012. There are no official details, but reports claim it'll be the first game in the franchise to feature co-operative and online modes, with players taking control of Kratos and his brother Deimos as they try to escape the Afterlife in another brutal tale of revenge loosely based on Greek mythology.

  Tekken Hybrid

  Perfect for series fans and newcomers alike, Tekken Hybrid is a 3-in-1 fighting game package featuring a high-definition version of the PS2 classic Tekken Tag Tournament, an exclusive early taste of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 in demo form, plus Tekken Blood Vengeance, a full-length, computer generated and 3D compatible feature film that delves into the world of the King of Iron First tournament.

  Sly Cooper Thieves in Time

  Lovable raccoon and master thief Sly Cooper returns after a seven year break for another round of platforming and stealth gameplay. Featuring a humorous time travel storyline, engaging puzzles and eye-popping 3D visuals, this adventure sees players bidding to recover the missing pages of the Thieves Raccoonus, a book chronicling the Cooper family line and thieving secrets, before their legacy is destroyed forever.

  Sorcery

  Fantasy adventure game Sorcery sees players step into the robe of a young sorcerer's apprentice who must use his newly acquired magic skills to vanquish the evil Nightmare Queen and her minions. It makes full use of the PlayStation Move motion controller, mirroring real world movements in-game as players conjure spells, mix potions, solve puzzles and locate exotic treasure in a bid to save the Faerie Kingdom.

  Starhawk

  A third person shooter from the creators of Warhawk, Starhawk depicts a future in which humanity's last hope lies in the lawless frontier of space, where factions battle over the universe's precious resources. Blending intense ground, air and vehicular combat across ever-changing battlefields, the game features a single player campaign, epic 32 player online battles, and a range of offline and online co-op modes.

  The Last of Us

  Billed as a genre-defining experience that blends survival and action elements, The Last of Us is the latest game from Naughty Dog, creator of the critically acclaimed Uncharted series. Featuring a cinematic, character driven story about a population ravaged by a modern plague, it sees players guiding two survivors on a dangerous journey across what remains of the United States in a search of a better tomorrow.

  The Last Guardian

  It may be shrouded in mystery, but as the latest title from the creators of PS2 classics Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian is perhaps the most feverishly anticipated PS3 game yet. Combining action adventure, puzzle and exploration elements, players assume the role of a young boy who must befriend a giant, feathered beast if he's to escape from a setting resembling the ruins of an expansive castle in a fantastic, high fantasy world.

  Twisted Metal

  The infamous Twisted Metal tournament takes driving madness and destruction to new levels in 2012's revival of the vehicle combat series, as players get behind the wheel of the most twisted rides imaginable and battle to the death until only one man is left standing. Cause chaos offline in the single player campaign or release your road rage in various game modes supporting four player split-screen and 16 players online.

  Yakuza: Dead Souls

  Popular free-roaming action series Yakuza takes some bizarre and deadly new twists with the Yakuza: Dead Souls, introducing of a wide array of guns and zombies into a nightmarish depiction of Tokyo's red light district. As the city descends into terror, four playable characters rise up to take back the streets, kicking, sniping, batting and bulldozing their way through the undead hordes to save Japan from the zombie apocalypse.

  Published: 24/01/2012

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