News Features
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TITLE: LEFT 4 DEAD 2
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/ PLATFORMS: VALVE/ VALVE/ PC & 360
FUN FACT: While many of the most violent video games are no exception, Left 4 Dead 2 found itself being played with much bloody and gory enjoyment except for Australia which put a ban on the much anticipated sequel.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: While we’re fans of first person shooters, what’s the point of buying the same “run for your fucking life” game? Not having played the first Left 4 Dead and really only being fans of the Zombie Nazis mini game in Call of Duty, we stepped into the Left 4 Dead 2 world with a little bit of skepticism but left with a lot of smilies- and some new underwear.
STORY: Well like we said, it’s survival. Infected people running around trying to kill you and your friends and kill you. Of course every character has their background story but the main objective of the game is to live and reach a final extraction point.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW…
We know, we’re dropping “Best of the 2000s” lists on you like rappers drop “at the end of the day” on us. But at the end of the day, you guys are clickin’ so we’re going to keep it going. In light of our most recent countdown, The Top 100 Video Games of the 2000s, we’ve decided that there needs to be a tribute to the consoles that allow us to put our procrastination skills to good work. While it seems more than obvious which consoles have come out, no one has crowned a king just yet. Fortunately for you we like to push the envelope and press buttons. So hate it or love it, here are our The Top 10 Video Game Consoles of the Decade…
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We’ve been doing some pretty extensive Best Of The 2000s lists lately—oh, you haven’t noticed? Try: Top 100 T-Shirts | Top 100 Girls | Top 100 Albums | Top 100 Sneakers | Top 100 Movies | Top 100 Internet Videos. Whew. But among all consumable goods, no other product has been as consistently successful (and recession-proof) as the almighty video game. We should probably dig up some nifty stat to insert here, but suffice to say, video-game companies continue to make shitloads of money while other industries struggle to stay up. Thank you, couch potatoes!
The 2000s saw the emergence (and subsequent death) of multiple generations of consoles as well as the advancement of video-game design into a veritable art form. We waded through the titles to produce our definitive list of the 100 Best Video Games of the decade. Grab your controller, hit start, and get ready to be mad…
• CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP 100 VIDEO GAMES OF THE DECADE!
Yesterday, a little video game called Brütal Legend hit stores (click here to read Complex’s full review), the latest creation from Tim Schafer, the man behind fan favorites like Psychonauts and Grim Fandango. The new game is an homage to classic heavy metal culture, centering around a roadie on a mission to save the universe.
And of course, given his own proclivity for all things metal, Jack Black signed on to star as the game’s protagonist. To celebrate his transition into the gaming world, Complex interviewed the actor in our October/November issue for our regular feature called “The Shotcaller.” We just posted the story online, so click the link below to hear Black talking about getting down with Brütal Legend, his first metal concert and the real-life inspiration behind his roadie hero…
• CLICK HERE TO READ JACK BLACK’S FULL “SHOTCALLER” INTERVIEW!
TITLE: BRÜTAL LEGEND
DEVELOPER/ PUBLISHER/ PLATFORMS:
Double Fine Productions/Electronic Arts/360 & PS3
FUN FACT: Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango, Psychonauts) created main character Eddie Riggs (voiced by Jack Black) after being inspired by a Megadeth roadie.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: This thunderous action-adventure (with some surprising RTS influences) game is unique for its style, story line and gameplay. Throughout the game there are multiple cameos by real heavy-metal legends (Shout out to Ozzy!) and it’s filled with plenty of humor, middle fingers, and foul language. Thank you, Jack Black!
STORY: Upon insertion (ayo!), the game doesn’t have a load screen, but an actual full-screen movie—featuring Jack Black at a record store—that sets up the storyline for the game. As the greatest roadie of all time transported to a fantastical heavy-metal realm, your task is to a) liberate the land from the evil Lord Doviculus and b) rock the fuck out whenever possible.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
TITLE: SAW
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Zombie Studios/Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc./360, PS3, PC
FUN FACT: Based on a treatment by creators of the SAW movie franchise, Leigh Whannell and James Wan, and voiced by the man who made Jigsaw a horror icon, Tobin Bell.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: Games based on movie franchises are almost always instant fails. SAW manages to bring you through a story that’s compelling and relevant in an environment that never lacks for tension—and amazingly enough does it more successfully than the past four big-screen sequels combined.
STORY: You have the misfortune of playing the detective who spent his career obsessing on hunting and taking down Jigsaw. The consummation of your mission is also your imminent downfall with your friends and family broken, hurt, or killed in the process…and now Jigsaw is here to punish you for it. Locked in an asylum, you are not only forced to outwit Jigsaw at every turn but he has also implanted something in your stomach (ayo!): the key that will free the other unfortunate souls locked in here with you…
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
TITLE: Dexter: The GameDEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS: Icarus Studios/Marc Ecko Entertainment/iPhone
FUN FACT: Michael C. Hall, star of the Showtime series, lends his voice to the game while series writer Tim Schlattmann crafted an original storyline. Doesn’t get any more official than that.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: Because as the first phone to provide a worthwhile gaming experience, the iPhone is awesome. We just wish there were more serious games available. We love playing Crash Bandicoot and Trism, but besides Metal Gear Solid and Assassin’s Creed, there aren’t that many mature, serious games available. And Dexter: The Game seems to be pretty serious. Based on the Emmy-award winning Showtime series about a serial killer that kills other killers (we guess two wrongs do make a right), the game puts you in the shoes of the show’s main character Dexter Morgan as he tries to solve murders just like he does in the show. If you haven’t been able to catch the show, you’ll start DVR’ing it once you play the game.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
While fans eagerly await the return of Showtime’s Dexter (Season 4 debuts September 27), Complex’s sister company Marc Ecko Entertainment has developed a sick 3D iPhone/iTouch game that will serve as perfect hold-over. Dexter: The Game puts you in the shoes of part time serial killer Dexter Morgan as he analyzes bloody crime scenes for the Miami PD (his day job) and stalks his unsuspecting human prey (his night job). Even if you aren’t familiar with the series, the game features enough innovative graphics and serial killin’ to keep you entertained on your long commute. Watch the trailer below, then hit the iTunes store (HERE!) to cop the game for $5.99…
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TITLE: Batman: Arkham Asylum
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS: Rocksteady Studios/ Edios Interactive/PC, PS3, XBOX 360
FUN FACT: Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles as the voices of Joker and Batman.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: Let’s be honest, 99% of superhero-based video games suck. After the super noob-friendly Batman Begins game and the awful Superman Returns game, it was looking down hill for DC. But much like the newest Batman film, the Dark Knight is here to save them. To put it in simplest terms, Batman: Akrham Asylum is not only a fanboy’s wet dream but it also holds its ground as one of the best titles of this year.
STORY: Screw Sherlock, the Dark Knight will always be the greatest detective of all time. While most other superhero games stick close to the comics, BAA is original while still paying respect to comic history. The new plot, which focuses on Batman battling everyone he’s locked up in the past, is an interesting and new idea, but it’s the dynamic gameplay that’s most impressive…
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Whether coin-op or console, people have been wringing their hands over video-game violence since before Pac-Man was devouring ghosts whole (ayo!). It’s true that video games have always indulged our adolescent fantasies, and none more so than those revolving around playing with guns—and in some people’s cases, playing with hatchets, chainsaws, and cars. In today’s Grand Theft Auto era, nothing is virtually sacred, but it took a whole lot of trailblazing to get this far. So we at Complex took it upon ourselves to count down The 25 Most Violent Video Games Of All Time. What incited protests in the ’80s may seem quaint now, but don’t forget that rock ‘n’ roll was once the anti-Christ. Let the blame game begin!
• CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE COUNTDOWN…
