Complex Blog » Video Games

Wake N’ Watch: ‘Tony Hawk: Ride’ Gameplay Video

ebaker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:55 +0000

Back in the day, kids actually had to go outside to skateboard. Tony Hawk: Ride, which hits stores in exactly one week, is set to bring the experience to your living room. We won’t pretend like an infrared sensor-equipped peripheral will ever replace the real thing, but this game does look kinda cool. The virtual pavement experience is yours for $120.

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

Best of the 2000’s: The Top 10 Video Game Consoles

intern — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:18:00 +0000

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…

10) PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
LAUNCH DATE: March 24, 2005
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $249.99
KEY GAMES: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Lumines
PROS: A PlayStation 2 in your pocket (pretty much)! The PSP was ambitious. With few awesome titles and an unmatched number of features that we’ve only seen on home consoles, we were pretty happy with the little homie.
CONS: Unfortunately the Nintendo DS just had a better choice of games and while SONY consoles are great, no one wants a huge, low grade, 250 dollar mp3/DVD player.

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9) PLAYSTATION 3
LAUNCH DATE: November 11, 2006
PRICE AT LANCH: $499.99 (20GB) and $599.99 (60GB)
KEY GAMES: Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of Patriots
PROS: To be honest, the PS3 was looking like a true contender. Memory for days, wireless remotes, online play with the PlayStation Network, and the hype of somehow making the PS2 better. Not to mention some of the best graphics we’ve seen ever.
CONS: All that stuff came with a price, well two actually. The launch prices were $499.99 and $599.99. For some reason, the folks at SONY didn’t get the memo that no one was going to pay that much for anything that didn’t come with a happy ending. Despite all the hype, PS3 has been one of gaming’s biggest disappointments. All those bells and whistles and we still can’t name 10 decent exclusive titles.

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8) GAMEBOY ADVANCE
LAUNCH DATE: June 11, 2001
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $149.99
KEY GAMES: Super Mario Advance, Metroid Fusion, Advanced Wars
PROS: The GameBoy is probably one of the greatest things to hit gaming, actually make that life. The GBA offered better graphics, two extra buttons at the top, and game titles galore. With the release of Super Mario Advance rookies and veterans alike went nuts over the handheld. (pause?)
CONS: The only bad thing we can say about the GBA was the ton of cash we spent on those attachable screen lights because you couldn’t really see shit if you didn’t have perfect lighting.

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7) NINTENDO GAMECUBE
LAUNCH DATE: November 18, 2001
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $199.99
KEY GAMES: Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
PROS: The Gamecube was Nintendo’s attempt at keeping up with the Sony and Microsoft consoles. It had upgraded graphics–well besides that, it’s weird remotes, and it’s small discs, that’s all it had.
CONS: Sometimes it’s better to be simple then complicated, but this is an example of being too simple. The Gamecube pretty much got tossed aside as that thing you buy for the kids because of its immaturity.

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6) XBOX
LAUNCH DATE: November 15, 2001
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $299.99
KEY GAMES: Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
PROS: The Xbox was Microsoft’s foot in the door of gaming. With a small following and no predecessors like the PS2 or Nintendo Consoles, Microsoft held its own by bringing gamer’s the Halo titles. With that, Xbox really took over shooter games and landed a place in the hearts of nerds that really only comes second to Olivia Munn.
CONS: Other than Halo the Xbox didn’t really have anything that the PS2 didn’t. Oh and the fact that it weighed a ton and was the size of a VCR didn’t help very much either.

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5) SEGA DREAMCAST
LAUNCH DATE: September 9, 1999
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $199.99
KEY GAMES: Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, NBA 2K2
PROS: Ah, Dreamcast, we hardly knew ye. SEGA’S attempt at staying afloat was pretty awesome and in a way, ahead of it’s time. The graphics were on point, the games were awesome, and the memory cards were like Tamagotchi’s! *Cough, cough* except you know, manlier and for adults.
CONS: There was nothing really wrong with the Dreamcast, in fact we still have ours. It was simply a victim of poor timing. A little after its release, SONY launched the PS2 and it was just- you know, better.

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4) NINTENDO Wii
LAUNCH DATE: November 19, 2006
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $249.99
KEY GAMES: Wii Sports, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl
PROS: What Nintendo did with the Wii was innovative in gaming. Up until the Wii was actually released most people thought it would be Nintendo’s downfall in the Next Gen. era. Turns out most people were wrong. Gamers found themselves completely stunned by the level of interactive gaming Nintendo presented and hey, the graphics weren’t bad either.
CONS: Ask the millions of broken television sets, windows, walls and oh, not to mention that one girl who got a black eye from a flying remote. The Wii was a little too interactive and everyone really just started accidentally breaking their furniture.

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3) NINTENDO DS
LAUNCH DATE: November 21, 2004
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $149.99
KEY GAMES: Trauma Center: Under the Knife, Grand Theft Auto: China Town Wars, Brain Age
PROS: Probably the best hand-held system we’ll ever see. A truly phenomenal piece of technology that doesn’t present any flaws. Nintendo DS brought gamers two screens (one touch screen), a familiar button lay out, refreshing original titles, the ability to play GBA titles, and online gaming. ‘Nuff said.
CONS: It’s the king of hand-helds, fall back.

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2) PLAYSTATION 2
LAUNCH DATE: October 26, 2000
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $299.99
KEY GAMES: Grand Theft Auto III, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Kingdom Hearts
PROS: With the release PS2, SONY set the bar for gaming. In a time where gamers wanted more realism the PS2 reigned supreme in the graphics department. If we’re talking games, SONY had everyone else playing follow the leader (much like Complex does) and it’s blueprint for success is one to be followed (much like ours at Complex).
CONS: Even though dudes are still playing PS2s, we off that.

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1) XBOX 360
LAUNCH DATE: November 22, 2005
PRICE AT LAUNCH: $299.99 (Core System) and $399.99 (Premium Edition)
KEY GAMES: Fight Night Round 3, Gears of War, Halo 3
PROS: Microsoft’s new product was looking a little weak until Fight Night Round 3 was released, but nothing that comes without struggle is worth having. Yes, the 360 has awesome graphics, games, sounds, and all those other console pre-requisites. However, the 360 expanded the function of consoles. Don’t front, the Xbox’s Netflix streaming, DVD/ CD players, memory for videos and MP3’s, and internet access make cable boxes and other electronics obsolete. Everything you really need in one system. Microsoft developed a console that is about more then gaming- it’s about lifestyle. All hail the King, noobs.
CONS: FUCKIN’ RED RINGS!!!

Best of the 2000’s: The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls

intern — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:46:36 +0000

Okay, you probably saw this one coming. If you’ve been following our Best of the 2000s series, then you already know that we just dropped our countdown of the Top 100 Video Games of the decade. And a few weeks ago, we went internet Diamond with our list of the Top 100 Hottest Girls. But what about girls who are also video games?

Sure, Laura Croft was that chick in the ’90s, but what about the digital girls (no Jamie Foxx) who have captured our hearts over the last 10 years? Get to know our 10 favorite video game vixens below…

10. THE GIRLS OF FINAL FANTASY
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine are basically the Charlie’s Angels of the RPG, but none are as dumpy as Drew Barrymore. Sorry Drew.

9. NARIKO OF HEAVENLY SWORD
She uses her heavenly sword to cut through the losers to get to the hero. We wouldn’t mind yanking that red hair.

8. CANDY SUXXX OF GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY
As her name suggests, she suxxx and blows. No, really. She’s a lady of the evening in the city where you might want to lock your Honda Accord and invest in LoJack.

7. RAYNE OF BLOODRAYNE
Watch out for this dhampir! She’s out for blood!

6. SHEVA ALOMAR OF RESIDENT EVIL: ZERO
A nice body, and she knows how to work a firearm. Is she Latina? Black? Cassie? You know we cut for the racially ambiguous chicks.

5. SAMUS OF METROID
Now she might be worth getting “Enter-Galactic” with. Suit off, of course!

4. JOANNA DARK OF PERFECT DARK
She posed for FHM, but we won’t hold that against her.

3. NINA WILLIAMS OF TEKKEN 6
The embodiment of sexiness and cold-killer all in one. Damn!

2. THE GIRLS OF DEAD OR ALIVE
The picture says it all. And what does it say? Bukkake.

1. C. VIPER OF STREET FIGHTER
She’s one of the leaders of Street Fighter’s new school. Shorty should be dancing in a Weezy video.

Wake N’ Watch: ‘God Of War Collection’ Video Game Trailer

ebaker — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:48 +0000

Anyone who takes their gaming seriously should be familiar with the God Of War franchise. Most PS2 heads remember it for having some of the best games on the system and those who never played still know that it’s an A-list series. Now PS3-owning fans and newcomers alike can revisit the classics (God Of War, God Of War II) when God Of War Collection hits stores next month. Both games have been remastered in full HD and come on a single Blu-ray disc. Even better, Collection will only run you $40 and it comes with a voucher for a God Of War III demo, which is still a ways off. This one’s a no-brainer pickup for sure.

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

Complex Presents: The 100 Best Video Games of the 2000’s

donniek — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:01:05 +0000

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!

Jack Black x Complex: The “Shotcaller” Interview

bfred — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:16:39 +0000

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!

Wake N’ Watch: ‘Modern Warfare 2′ Video Game Trailer

ebaker — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:08:54 +0000

Mark your calendars for November 10. It’s the day that Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 comes out and the day that your social life goes out the window. If this game turns out to be half as good as this trailer makes it seem (it will) then we won’t feel the least bit bad about ignoring work obligations and not returning calls from the girlfriend. We’re not cool with the idea of real military attacks on our home soil, but we’ll be damned if letting off rounds in an under-attack Washington D.C. doesn’t look like the funnest thing ever and we’re sure that millions of gamers agree. We suggest taking the next month to get important things done and clear the schedule, because once this one drops, not much else is going to matter.

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

Interview: Derrick Rose Talks NBA 2K10 & Playing Kanye

intern — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:48:36 +0000

We have to admit, we’re slightly jealous of you. NBA 2K10 dropped yesterday (as did NBA Live 10) and while most of you broke night playing it, we’re at work. But now it’s your turn to be jealous because while you sat at home enjoying your brand new 2K10 game (and your now weed plate 2K9 case), we were kicking it with 2K rep Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Rose is not a man of many words, but who needs words when you’re Rookie of the Year? His stats do all the talking.

Since we obviously couldn’t challenge his real-life game, we had to check his gamer credibility. We chatted Derrick up about NBA 2K10, his thoughts on the unlockable player Kanye West, and his team’s plans for next season. If you haven’t already purchased NBA 2K10, peep Derrick’s trailer after the jump. Oh and make sure you’ve got 60 bucks in your wallet, because yeah, it’s that good…

Interview by Andrew Rivera

Complex: Are you a big fan of the NBA 2K series?

Derrick Rose: Yeah, I’ve always been a fan, I’ve been playing it for a long time. That’s probably the only game I really play right now.

Complex: Did you have any particular favorite growing up?

Derrick Rose: No I didn’t really have any growing up. I had a lot of adventure games growing up, but I caught myself up on 2K games.

Complex: Since you’re on the Bulls, we’d guess you probably use them more now, but did you ever have a preferred team?

Derrick Rose: I actually don’t play with the Bulls, I play with the Lakers and I guess my fans play with the Bulls.

Complex: The draft feature is a big deal. Everyone is buzzing about making their own character and in a way raise it through the summer camps and D-Leagues. How close is the game to the real-life experience?

Derrick: Oh it’s real close. Its kind of like personal on the game. You actually do stuff that you really do in the combine. Really I didn’t have to do that much because I think that the top five or six players don’t really have to do that much but on the game you play against each other in scrimmage, work on your skills, and hopefully you’ll get drafted. On the game, if your player’s that good you can transfer him over to the 2K10 game.

Complex: Other than the draft, what would you say is your favorite aspect about 2K10?

Derrick Rose: I played it a little bit and I like my jump shot on there now.

Complex: Was there a problem with it? Did they not make it up to your standards?

Derrick Rose: Nah, it wasn’t great at all last year. [Laughs.] This year it’s following my style a little more so I’m happy about it.

Complex: Does it look better or does it play better?

Derrick Rose: Everything is better. Looks better, the play style is better, and the visual on there you can tell they really put some work on there. Like they made my jumper better but they changed my crossover a little bit more. They put some crossovers there that I did in the game and I like it. I go up in the hole, you can change your lay-ups a little bit more in the game. Pull up below the shoulders, you can do all that stuff in the game.

Complex: That’s cool. You had mentioned before that you don’t play with the Bulls, so what’s it like when you have to play against yourself in the game? Is that a conflict for you?

Derrick: Yeah, it is kind of hard. You want to see yourself be good but I still want to win the game. So if like somebody dunks on with me with myself I’m kind of mad about it, I’ll probably have to stop for a little bit. [Laughs.]

Complex: You use the Lakers, so how about when it’s you playing as Kobe and you have to dunk on yourself?

Derrick Rose: Its funny only because when I’m playing the game it’s amusing. [Laughs.] But you gotta know it’s just a video game. In real life I won’t ever jump early for the block.

Complex: There are some unlockable players in the game, including The Game, Wale, and Kanye West—rappers who all claim they play a fair amount of ball. How do you think a one-on-one game with you and Kanye West would go? In real life, would you just destroy him?

Derrick Rose: Yes! [Laughs.]

Complex: But he’s Kanye. His hometown is Chicago, the same town you play for. Can’t you take it easy on him?

Derrick: [Laughs] Nah, it doesn’t matter, it’s over. That’s not his field. That’s like my going into the booth and trying to write 16 bars to go against his.

Complex: So basically it’s a stay-in-your-lane thing?

Derrick Rose: Yes. Absolutely.

Complex: You were on the cover of Kicks magazine. Do you have any favorite kicks of all time?

Derrick Rose: Of all time? Nah, I don’t have any of all time. Adidas are putting some out right now that I like. I like all shell-toes and they really have some hot ones coming out that everyone is going to really enjoy I think. But other then that I don’t really mess with sneakers.

Complex: Who is the most famous celebrity that you’ve played NBA 2K10 or the previous 2K games against?

Derrick Rose: I’m about to play Kobe later on today actually.

Complex: What are your predictions?

Derrick Rose: I think I’m going to win. You know he has too much stuff going on right now. [Laughs.] Shit, he’s gotta worry about being the best in the NBA and all this other stuff. Me, I’ve only got to worry about the games. I’m only 20—I don’t got no chicks, he’s got a wife and all that stuff. So there’s way more stuff to worry about.

Complex: So isn’t it going to be awkward when you try and play him with the Lakers?

Derrick Rose: No, I’m going to go with the Bulls on this one but if I wasn’t, it would be the Lakers of course. I will dunk on him though, as me in the game.

Complex: [Laughs.] Good to know. So what else have you been doing before the NBA season starts?

Derrick Rose: Right now my biggest thing is to improve my all-around game. Gotta get back as quickly as possible to my team so we can get can start things early so we can try to jell quick. Our biggest thing as an organization right now is winning. If you don’t win, something’s wrong. Winning takes care of everything, so our biggest thing is winning.

VIDEO: NBA 2K10 Game Trailer

Video Game of the Week: SAW

donniek — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:09:45 +0000

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…

GAMEPLAY: In a matter of minutes, we had the controls locked down and were well on our way maneuvering through Jigsaw’s most extensive traps yet, using a welcome combination of wits, fast reaction, exploration, puzzle-solving and holy-fuck-what-is-that escape tactics. All of this came easy with an intuitive third-person control layout with only minimal hiccups in the combat…or maybe that’s because we were nervously tapping buttons trying to smack a bitch up quick before we became just another stain on the floor.

GRAPHICS: Steeped heavy in the grime and blood-saturated visuals that made the films a hit, no detail is left untouched, as you sneak down halls with your Zippo flickering, creeping through nightmarish environments that excel beyond our expectations of depravity. Thankfully there’s enough down time to really soak in the bloody brilliant set designs.

DOWNSIDE: Unfortunately we didn’t get to play all the way through to the end, so the only downfall to this game we can predict is a short game length—which could easily be solved with downloadable content. So, in other words, this is a game that defied all our negative expectations and delivered a great gaming experience that moved beyond the trappings of survival horror clichés.

CLICK HERE TO BUY SAW FOR $56.99

VIDEO: SAW Video Game Trailer

The Complex 7: Dwight Howard

donniek — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:27:59 +0000

It’s kinda fitting how the covers for the two major NBA video games worked out this year. 2K Sports recruited Kobe Bryant—he of the defending champion L.A. Lakers—to rep for NBA 2K10. As for NBA Live 10? Well, EA Sports enlisted Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard, the star of last year’s NBA bridesmaids. And that about sums up the state of the competition between the two franchises in 2009-10. The 2K series has dominated basketball gaming for almost the entire decade, while Live has struggled to keep pace.

But don’t count Live out just yet—EA has essentially acknowledged the weaknesses of its recent NBA offerings by proclaiming this year’s edition as the franchise’s comeback. And it looks the part: NBA Live 10 (which drops today on 360, PS3, and PSP) has been rebuilt from the floor up, with more realistic gameplay and sim features as well as “Dynamic DNA,” which wirelessly updates player and team info throughout the season. Over the summer, we visited the EA Canada headquarters near Vancouver to get an early look at Live 10 and chat with its cover athlete. Read on for Dwight Howard’s candid responses to The Complex 7 as well as a look at the Live trailer and Buy It Now links…

#1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Dwight says: For me, somebody that’s nagging. I don’t like somebody that’s nagging for attention. She’s gonna get my attention but she doesn’t have to nag for it. I prefer laidback—just let me do my thing and when they wanna get together, all right.

#2: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SNEAKER OF ALL TIME?

Dwight says: I’ve always liked Jordans, the way they feel. [Ed. note—Dwight is an adidas athlete. Zoinks!] I’ve only played in one pair and I can’t remember the name.

Complex says: So I guess you’re not a real Jordan head if you can’t remember which one.

Dwight says: No, not like that. But I did like his shoes, they look good. But the most comfortable pair I ever worn is the Air Force 1. They just feel good.

#3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Dwight says:: A couple of weeks after the Finals. I was watching a special on a local station about our season and they were showing a review and talking to different players and they showed some highlights and I thought about some good times and getting far in our run for the championship. I started thinking about all that stuff and got some tears in my eyes.

Complex says: The emotions are still kinda raw from that, huh?

Dwight says: Oh yeah, you know it’ll be in my mind for a while. That was a big moment in my life, playing in the NBA Finals.

#4: IF YOU HAD A WEEK HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Dwight says: I’d probably be somewhere resting getting a good massage. I like coming up here to Vancouver. It’s a beautiful place. I been here kinda low-key for the past three years, just staying at a hotel to chill and get my mind off basketball.

#5: WHAT HAS GOT TO BE IN YOUR FRIDGE AT ALL TIMES?

Dwight says: Something…it’s a sports drink, I’ll say that. Can’t say what. [Ed. note—Dwight is sponsored by Vitaminwater. Zoinks!]

#6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Dwight says: I’m very emotional and I love relationships and sharing time with my significant other. I don’t think I’ve had any bad breakups that I caused, but I would say the worst way I broke up was I had one of my homeboys do it for me. I was in the 9th grade. We had gotten in the classroom, and he wrote on the chalkboard, “It’s over.” All my classmates came in and said, “It’s over!” And she still didn’t get it.

#7: WHAT’S THE MOST EMBARRASSING PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU’VE EVER WORN?

Dwight says: Well, I’m not embarrassed about clothing. Growing up we always had Tacky Day, so I’ve worn just about anything. So I wouldn’t say I’ve had any embarrassing moments wearing clothes.

VIDEO: NBA LIVE 10 trailer

• CLICK TO BUY NBA LIVE 10 FOR THE XBOX 360; PLAYSTATION 3; AND PSP!

• CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE “COMPLEX 7″ INTERVIEWS

Video Game of the Week: Dexter: The Game

dscott — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:13:46 +0000

TITLE: Dexter: The Game

DEVELOPER/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.

STORY: As we said up top, Tim Schlattmann, a writer from the show jumped on board to mold the story of the game so that it really felt as if you were in the show. While the games story line is original, it follows the same premise as the show: Dexter Morgan (played by you), blood splatter analyst for the Miami PD, takes justice into his own hands by investigating homicide scenes and looking for the killer himself.

GAMEPLAY: When it comes to iPhone gaming controls, you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. We happen to love them. Dexter: The Game gives you the option of using on screen toggles or the accelerometer to move your character around the various crime scenes. Everything is very fluid, giving you full control of your environment. If you need to look around, all you do is swipe your finger across the screen in the direction you want to look. Everything you need to access during the game is available at a touch of the screen.

Dexter: The Game also gives you a number of choices while playing. As you encounter other characters during the game, you’re able to choose Dexter’s responses so as to not give away the fact that he’s secretly murking criminals in his spare time. You can even decide whether or not the courts should handle the bad guys or if they should take a dirt nap. If you do choose to off a guy (pause) you get to cut ‘em up! Always fun. When you’re not committing the cardinal sin, you can occupy your time by playing some of the mini games like solving Blood Splatter puzzles to see what weapon was used and how.

GRAPHICS: We knew the iPhone could deliver powerful gaming graphics, Dexter: The Game really pushes the envelope with graphics that could compete with Sony’s PSP. If only the iPhones email capabilities were as good.

DOWNSIDE: The only downside we saw the length of gameplay. While there is a ton of stuff to do while you solve each case, with only five cases to solve, It leaves you wanting more. But what do you want for $5.99?

Dexter iPhone Game Launches Today

Joe — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:46:14 +0000

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…

Wake N’ Watch: ‘Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad Of Gay Tony’ Video Game Trailer

ebaker — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:00:25 +0000

Rockstar is injecting one final dosage of life into Grand Theft Auto IV and bringing the franchise’s brand of quirky humor and graphic violence to the shimmery nightclubs of ~~NYC~~ Liberty City. The Ballad Of Gay Tony drops on October 29 and this trailer has us so hyped that we won’t even pause that title. Here’s to future sleepless nights filled with junk food and frustrating failed mission attempts.

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

Video Game Of The Week: Batman: Arkham Asylum

intern — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:44:54 +0000

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…

GAMEPLAY: Stiff-moving and generic trademark attacks are the hallmark of horrible movie-to-game adaptations (we see you Fantasic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer). Arkham Asylum isn’t flashy, and Batman just kicks ass like any other non-superhuman. Aside from basic button-mashing, the game gives a certain amount of freedom to players. Although there are a lot of options available on how to dispose of enemies, the game’s most difficult setting provides a challenge even for serious gamers. We suggest you start out playing on the normal mode, then work your way up instead of acting like one of those I-start-playing-on-the-hardest-level dickheads.

GRAPHICS: While the movie version of Arkham Asylum was…eh…okay, the graphics of this game do a great service to Gotham’s little slice of hell. Featuring broken furniture, scribbles on the walls, and disgusting housekeeping, BAA provides players that disconcerting “Where the hell am I?” feeling that isn’t seen in games anymore.

DOWNSIDE: The only really bad thing that we can say about BAA is an overdrawn introduction with the Joker being taken inside Arkham. We get it, he’s crazy, he’s going to do something that starts the game, blah, blah, blah. After that though, it’s smooth sailing all the way to the end of the game.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME FOR PS3!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME FOR XBOX 360!

Complex Presents The 25 Most Violent Video Games Ever

prubin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:27:42 +0000

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…

Style & Design 2009: The Top 10 Handheld Video Games of All Time

donniek — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:40:03 +0000

Twenty years after Game Boy, the variety and strength of dedicated gaming handhelds has turned a novelty into a viable industry. The Game Boy’s distant cousin the Nintendo DSi ($169) is still on top, but Sony’s new PSP Go ($249) eschews hard media for downloadable games, and Linux-based units like the Pandora ($330) and Gamepark’s GP2X Wiz ($179) are as open-source as it gets for the homebrew and emulation community. Throw one in your bag and bring the arcade wherever you go.

As an addendum to our glimpse into the future of mobile gaming in the 2009 Style & Design package from our latest issue, we’re taking a look back at the 10 best handheld games of all time…

TITLE: Football (1977)
SYSTEM: Mattel Football
• (Move left.) BEEP! (Move right.) BEEP! (Move to the middle.) BEEP! BEEEEEEEP! Damn! Lost again! We all know and love the frustrating yet classic Football…even if it does look like a free Happy Meal toy.

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TITLE: Donkey Kong (1982)
SYSTEM: Game & Watch (Multi-Screen)
• Don’t be fooled by the title. This is an old-school game where you play as Mario trying to rescue Princess Peach from Donkey Kong. The DS looks like its modeled after Game & Watch, but thankfully the DS doesn’t run on those tiny-ass watch batteries that you can’t find anywhere.

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TITLE: Tetris (1989)
SYSTEM: Nintendo Game Boy
• Definitely changed the game in ‘89: long bricks smashing into open slots, AYO!

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TITLE: Super Mario Land (1989)
SYSTEM: Nintendo Game Boy
• With the release of the Game Boy, Mario’s adventure to save Princess Peach got a little more complicated than jumping over barrels. On his quest he fights monsters and Goombas, collects money, and faces Bowser, his greatest nemesis…and all he gets is a G-rated kiss?! Back to the dragon, ma!

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TITLE: Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (1992)
SYSTEM:Sega Game Gear
• Sonic runs (for a very long time, holla at that Gold Bond homie!) and fights to save his broski Tails. The Game Gear was kind of wack and took six AA batteries to power, but you can’t front on this classic.

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TITLE: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) SYSTEM: Nintendo Game Boy
• This version of the legendary franchise has only a brief mention of Princess Zelda and doesn’t take place in Hyrule at all. In this one, Link awakens in another man’s home, talks to an owl who tells him his destiny, and has to defeat nightmare monsters to play the Wind Fish a song. And you thought Mario was the only dude taking ’shrooms.

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TITLE: Pokemon Blue and Red (1998)
SYSTEM: Nintendo Game Boy
• Please don’t hate or think you’re too cool to have ever played this, we know you did. Like you, we spent weeks and months training and trying to capture all 151 Pokemon. Oh, and we didn’t use the item cheat. Cheaters!

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TITLE: Mario Kart DS (2005)
SYSTEM: Nintendo DS
• Now we’re very aware that Mario Kart Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance was good, and you loved it, and blah blah blah. But this one is newer and better. End of discussion.

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TITLE: God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)
SYSTEM: Sony PSP
• Kratos is back with his hack-and-slash killing sprees! Chains of Olympus is the prequel to the original God of War. Kinda like the X-Men Origins game—except you know, good.

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TITLE: GTA: China Town Wars (2009)
SYSTEM: Nintendo DS
• Handheld or not, this is one of our favorite games of 2009. Same concept as all the other ones, folks: rise to power. Only this time, you better listen: “No tickey, no laundry!” And if you have a problem with that, you’re going to die. Seriously though, we like this one because it has original gameplay, making good use of all the DS’s abilities. Guaranteed to waste plenty of your precious time.

Wake N’ Watch: “Where The Wild Things Are” Video Game Trailer

bfred — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:44 +0000

You already know you’re gonna watch Spike Jonze’s big-screen adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are when it hits theaters in October. But there’s something extra dope about actually being able to play Maurice Sendak’s timeless childhood classic from the ’60s. In the video game, which comes out on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii. and DS around the same time as the movie, you assume the role of Max, “King Of All Wild Things,” who teams up the giant furry creatures to find a way to safety and battle the island’s enemies and rugged terrain. Sold. [via Joystiq]

Tune in to Complex.com every morning at 8 AM for your daily “Wake N’ Watch” video.

Celebrate Madden Day! The 8 Worst Types of Madden Players

donniek — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Madden Day is finally here, which means that our next few months are about to be filled with marathon sessions of Madden 10 (EA Sports). Early reviews are touting the game as awesome and fun—but really, what the fuck did you expect? It’s Madden, son. Madden!!! This year, EA has added a dope online franchise mode, meaning that instead of geeking out by yourself on the living room couch…well, you’ll still be geeking out by yourself on the living room couch, but at least you’ll be connecting with real-life opponents via the Internet. And we all know playing Madden is like having sex—it can be pretty fun solo but nothing beats testing your skills with a real-life human.

Of course, not all Madden opponents are created equal, and over the years we’ve identified recurring archetypes of dickhead players. Here’s our list of the 8 worst types of Madden competitors. If you fit one of these profiles, then please put the controller down before you come fuck with us…

CAPTAIN AUDIBLE
• Relax on the shifting, homie. What are you doing over there, dialing international numbers?

MR. CONSERVATIVE
• Punts on 4th and 1, runs out the clock when he’s winning. This is a game, dude; who is you, Marty Schottenheimer?

xXRAGEQUITXx
• The online dickhead whose cheap tactics and mic abuse are only outdouched by the fact that he’ll log off once he’s behind.

One-Trick Pony
• He’s got one “money play” that he repeats over and over and over (and over and over) again. Real fun, fuck boy.

MR. RECKLESS
• The opposite of Mr. Conservative: The dude who goes for it on 4th and 20 from his own goal-line and throws into triple-coverage with the lead. Who is you, Steve Spurrier?

THE GLORY HUNTER
• He’s always played the Steelers. Except last year, when he was the Giants. And the year before that, when he was the Colts…

THE BLAME GAME
• Yo, on the real: Calling little animated football dudes “faggot” ain’t gonna magically make them play better. Hate the player—i.e. yourself, dickhead—not the game.

THE NOOB
• How is you 26 years old and never played a game of Madden in your life? Is you a female or somethin’?

Winding Down: Katie Cassidy Keeps It Classy

intern — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:09:07 +0000

If Katie Cassidy isn’t on your radar yet, she will be when the new Melrose Place starts up. [Moe Jackson]

Even after the infamous fall, Drake still hit his hometown stage. [Nah Right]

Check out the five video games you must play this Fall. [Coed Mag]

Our current cover star Kid Cudi sits down with Karmaloop for the second part of their video interview. [KarmaloopTV]

Entourage homie ~~Ari Gold~~ Jeremy Piven stopped by The Tonight Show. [PopCrunch]

Celebs are great but these girls-next-door are just as hot and even wilder. [Double Viking]

Being a real DJ has never been easier than with this iPod mixer. [Daily Drop]

Top Model winner Adrianne Curry looks smoking hot in this gallery. [Holy Taco]

Find out how much time the average guy spends checking out chicks. [Flisted]

8 Moments You Won’t See In The “World Of Warcraft” Movie

intern — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:46:39 +0000

Nerds everywhere, rejoice! World Of Warcraft is coming to the big screen. Of course, you h4rdc0r3 fans knew that already, but the project got one step closer to reality today when Sam Raimi (Spiderman, Drag Me To Hell) signed on to direct. Given Raimi’s experience with big franchises, we’re sure the WoW flick will have plenty of wild moments, but here are Eight Warcraft Moments that definitely won’t wind up in the movie…

When Warcraft Subscriptions Get Cancelled, Kids FREAK OUT:

Nerds Plot, Leeeee-ROOOOOY Jenkins Doesn’t Give A Damn:

Your Wife Is In Labor, Why Not Go Home And Play Warcraft For A Few Hours?

Warcraft Helps In The Fight Against Childhood Obesity:

We’re Sure Someone Has Really Done This Over WoW:

Who Said Warcraft Players Couldn’t Get Laid?:

No Slacking During The WoW Tourney. Get On Game!:

Don’t Just Stand There, Bust A Move: