This week (July 27th) Harmonix and MTV Games will be releasing the first ever Spanish-Language tracks to feature in a Rock Band game, as new content from Juanes debuts in the Rock Band Store.

“I am thrilled to be the first Spanish-language artist in Rock Band,” Juanes said. “I’m excited for my fans to connect with the songs right in their living rooms and to bring Latin Music to new fans as well.”

No. 1 track ‘Me Enamora’ will be included on the disk in the forthcoming Rock Band 3, scheduled for release Oct 2010.

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “[One of] the world’s biggest rock stars” and described by the Los Angeles Times as “the single most important figure of the past decade in Latin music,” Juanes has become the world’s leading all-Spanish language music artist in terms of both critical respect and global commercial success. Both an electrifying guitarist and gifted songwriter, the Colombian rockstar is often mentioned alongside artists such as Bono and Bruce Springsteen for his belief in the possibility of social change through music.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 system (July 27):

• Juanes – “A Dios le Pido”
• Juanes – “Fíjate Bien”
• Juanes – “Gotas de Agua Dulce”
• Juanes – “La Camisa Negra”
• Juanes – “Mala Gente”
• Juanes – “Yerbatero”

(All tracks are original master recordings)
(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 system July 28)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Juanes Pack01” as well as individual tracks, on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per track
$9.99, £4.99 UK, €7.99 EU (800 Microsoft Points) for Juanes Pack 01
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points^TM) per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

The Alley of the Dolls is the latest installment in the franchise. The game starts in a kind of in media res to where Sam and Max are hiding in Stinky’s diner from a horde of Sam clones. This game is fairly interesting. It takes a kind of zombie apocalyptic setting combined with a mystery of what all is going down. The game focuses more on story than puzzle I feel and is once again not as innovative and new, but the story is really what pushes the game.

I do not like giving out spoilers, but here is basically what happens, after escaping the diner the game basically becomes one large puzzle on how to achieve a certain task, which is a bit different from the task to task puzzle solving of the other games. It makes a much larger puzzle that is cool and innovative. The puzzle really is not too complex though and all in all this episode feels pretty short. The complicated end game did add a bit of challenge and variety to everything overall though.

There is not much I can say about it since well there is not much new to describe at all (read my reviews of the previous episodes). The game is solid though and sets up for what seems like it is going to be an awesome ending to this season.

Sam and Max Season 3 Episode 4 definitely continues the quality of the series. This game really is more about story though and is overall enjoyable. The puzzles are not too challenging but still interesting. The dialog in this game is also quite well done. Overall it is a good installment and I am throughly excited for the closing chapter.

VGTribune gives The Alley of the Dolls an 8.5/10

This review was based on a review copy provided by the developer.

The five-episode season of Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is available on PC, Mac and PlayStation 3 for $34.95, from http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax/thedevilsplayhouse. The Penal Zone is available now on the iPad and can be purchased via the App Store.

After the monthly releases are complete, season customers will have the opportunity to get a Collector’s DVD containing all five games and bonus content, for just the cost of shipping!

When Game Freak comes to mind, most people think of the developer’s work on the Pokemon series for Nintendo. However, before Pokemon, Game Freak worked on a little-known action-platformer for the Sega Genesis entitled Pulseman. The game starred an android named Pulseman, created by the world famous scientist Dr. Yoshiyama in an attempt to merge DNA with an Artificial Intelligence. However, Yoshiyama’s obsession with technology eventually corrupted his mind and transformed him into the evil Dr. Waruyama. Waruyama, in a moment of evil, decides to take over the world and the only thing that can stop him is own creation, the electrifying Pulseman.

Gameplay

Pulseman plays pretty much like any other platformer that was released on the Genesis in the early ’90s. The gameplay is fast-paced (see Sonic the Hedgehog), full of variety and, in some cases, brutally difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. That said, there is one gameplay mechanic that really sticks out as something fresh and original while you are playing the game: “Voltteccer”.

“Voltteccer” is Pulseman’s signature move throughout the game and, when triggered, surrounds him with electricity and allows him to ricochet off of walls like a pinball. Depending on where you aim your bounce, Pulseman will travel through pipes, break through otherwise impenetrable walls, and discover secret areas filled to the brim with power-ups. There is however, a catch to this technique; Pulseman must first charge up enough static electricity to activate it and the only way to go about doing this is by running long straight distances without being hit or jumping. That said, while the “charge up” running technique to activate Voltteccer may seem tedious at first, it soon becomes an integral part of the games’ rule set and players will soon find themselves navigating large, lush environments by running, charging, bouncing, and punching at exactly the right time to rush through the stages at break-neck speeds. When all of the gameplay elements work together precisely as you’d imagine, Pulseman is an exhilarating experience unlike any other platformer out there but, when they don’t, it becomes excruciatingly aggravating.

Take for example Stage 6 in Pulseman, the “Alaska” stage. Up until this one level about halfway through the game, all of the bouncing and running mechanics that the player has picked up on throughout the game work exactly as you’d imagine and, even if the player fails, there is almost always another way to get out of the situation you’re stuck at or you soon realize that the trajectory of the bounce you made was off. This is not the case in the Alaska stage. About three quarters of the way through the level, the player is asked to traverse through a vertical maze by breaking blocks using Voltteccer at precisely the right moment. While this sort platforming puzzle is prevalent in some of the earlier stages, if you accidentally mess up a bounce or a jump, you can always traverse back to where you made the initial launch and try again but in the Alaska stage, if you accidentally press a button other the the “Voltteccer” button during Pulseman’s bounces through the labyrinth, he will fall into a little hole that is impossible to get out of. It’s not long enough hole for Pulseman to run and gain enough static electricity necessary for another jump in and there are no enemies or hazards that can kill Pulseman; he’ll just stand there helpless and dumbfounded until you decide to reset the game and start all the way back at Stage 1.

It’s not an enormous problem because after the first time you get stuck, you’ll realize not to touch a button at that part of the stage. However, the frustration that the player must endure the first time they traverse that level without knowing about that game-breaking glitch is strong enough for me to knock Pulseman down a peg.

Controls

Like most Sega Genesis Virtual Console titles, the game can be controlled using any of the available control schemes the Wii has to offer. A player can use a Classic Controller or even use the Wii Remote on its side to play, the latter of which I used to experience the title. Needless to say,  the controls are very simple; players use the D-pad to control Pulseman’s movement, the 1 button to punch, the 2 button to jump, and the A button to activate Pulseman’s special attack, “Voltteccer”.

Presentation

Easily the most impressive aspect of Pulseman, the game’s presentation aspects are some of the best that I’ve seen in any Genesis game. Each of the game’s sprites from the enemies to the bosses to Pulseman himself are large, finely detailed, and highly polished. This same level for polish goes for each of the environments that Pulseman must traverse throughout the title as well as the anime-inspired cutscenes with full featured English voice acting, a practically non-existent feature of games at the time.

The music in Pulseman is nothing to scoff at either. Each level is given a musical theme perfectly tailored their stages environment. In the futuristic India level, electronic beeps and boops are seamlessly intertwined with the sounds of a sitar and the music in the Australia level adapts based on where Pulseman is within the stage (if he’s underwater, the sound will be muffled, but when he pops back to the surface, the electronic beats bubble up in volume with him).

All in all, Pulseman oozes polish and is an easily recommendable download based on these features alone.

Verdict

Pulseman is the very definition of an “import-friendly” title. The entire game, from the title screen to the menus to the voices of the characters in the anime-inspired cutscenes, is in English and the only hints that this is a Japanese import title come in the form of kanji subtitles that appear near the bottom of the screen during each of movie sequences. Honestly, after playing through the game, I find it very odd that Sega never took the time to bring Pulseman stateside since the localization would not have cost them very much and the game certainly would have appealed to the “in your face” platforming crowd that was so prevalent in the early ’90s. If you were afraid that downloading this import title off of Virtual Console would have required you to learn even basic Japanese, rest easy. The gameplay is thrilling, save for Stage 6, the controls are simple, and the game simply oozes polish. If you’re a fan of Genesis platformers or quality titles that never made it out of Japan, Pulseman is required playing. But, if you hate the genre, Pulseman won’t be changing your mind any time soon.

VGTribune gives Pulseman a 8.0 out of 10.

This review as based on a review copy of Pulseman provided by Nintendo.

Welcome Home Pulseman, Welcome Home.

The Spider-Man game that promises to immerse players into differently themed Spider-Man universes brings us a set of 360 degree screenshots to get a better feel for said universes. Hit the jump to see the second one!

The highly anticipated Rock Band 3 is now available for Pre-Order from retailers. The game will ship Worldwide Oct 26th for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and DS.

Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most Guitar Hero and third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Mad Catz is the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers.

The standalone game is  priced at:

Xbox 360 – $59.99

Playstation 3 – $59.99

Wii – $59.99

DS – $29.99

GameStop Pre-order* Opportunity:
GameStop shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system or Xbox 360 in advance receive three downloadable Rock Band songs at launch:

• Burning Down the House by Talking Heads
• My Own Summer by Deftones
• Blue Monday by New Order

Amazon Pre-order* Opportunity:
Amazon shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360 and Wii in advance will receive access to an exclusive in-game guitar. Additionally, for a limited time only, PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360 owners who pre-order Rock Band 3 in advance on Amazon will receive $10 off a future videogame purchase.

Wal-Mart Pre-order* Opportunity:
Walmart.com shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360 and Wii in advance will receive a $10 eGift card for a limited time.

This weeks Rock Band DLC is going a bit old school Punk, with additions from American Punk Rock Band Bad Religion and Iggy Pop’s The Stooges.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 system (July 20):

• Bad Religion – “New Dark Ages”
• Bad Religion – “No Control” +
• The Stooges – “1969” +
• The Stooges – “I Wanna Be Your Dog” +
• The Stooges – “No Fun” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 system July 21)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “The Stooges Pack 01,” as well as individual tracks, on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Songs marked with “+” will also be available in the family-friendly LEGO^®Rock Band Music Store.
Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per track
$5.49, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 Microsoft Points) for The Stooges Pack 01
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points^TM) per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Legend of Zelda’s producer, Eiji Aonuma, stated that Skyward Sword development is coming along nicely and they hope to release it early next year.

The basis we have now is very solid. Early 2011 is what we’re aiming for.

Skyward Sword is the latest in the Legend of Zelda series. Hopefully, we won’t have a delay on our hands with this one.

Oh, and I assume “early” means January to May.

Since fighting games usually lack the depth a good adventure game has, it’s the amount of immersion that lets you have fun. The game itself gets out of the way and letʼs players dive in. The ability for gamers to start playing and not have to worry about the controls or get distracted by the visuals is the key to a great fighting game. Does Tournament of Legends deliver that kind of experience? Hit the jump to find out!

Story

Tournament of Legends isn’t very heavy in the story department. As players begin the story mode, a voice over tells them that Jupiter the king of the gods has gone away and the god of death Thanatos is the new boss in town. Players beat seven other fighters who wish to kill Thanatos themselves and then challenge Thanatos.

Aside from the initial voiceover with accompanying comic book-like drawings, there are no other story elements.

Gameplay

For the most part, Tournament of Legends provides the standard fighter fare in terms of gameplay. Knock out your opponent three times and you’re deemed the victor. Special attacks that are unique to both characters and weapons are powered by energy bars that are filled when players fight their opponents. At the character select screen players can equip latent power-ups and change their weapons once they’ve unlocked new ones through singleplayer mode.
Tournament of Legends gives players two control styles to choose from: Wii remote or Classic Controller.

Wii Remote

Controlling characters with the Wii remote is fairly simple. Use the analog stick to moe around and double tap it in the direction of your choice to dash that way. Attacks are mapped to the swing of the nunchuk and the Wii remote. Waving the Wii remote will make characters attack with their right hand while moving the nunchuk will have characters swing their weapon or shield in their left hand. Waving the Wii remote horizontally performs horizontal slashes while swinging it vertically produces a vertical chop Hardly one to one motion, but pretty interesting to feel when you first pick it up.

More complicated moves are done while pushing the analog stick up, left, right and down which swinging the Wii remote. When up against easy AI, the controls work relatively well, but players start fighting the controls and not their opponents when the opponents get tougher.

Classic Controller

The left analog stick controls moving, dashing and advanced attacks just like the nunchuk. Instead of waving to attack, “Y” handles characters’ left arm, “A” is linked to the right arm and “B” handles the advanced attacks. Unlike the Wii remote controls, the Classic Controller holds up even against the toughest opponent.

Notable Features

There are a few features included in Tournament of Legends meant to distinguish it from other fighters and I’ve listed a few below.

Range Ring

A red or blue “range ring” on the floor around each character flares up when one reaches striking distance. As small a feature it may be, it is actually quite useful.

Armor Destruction

Not only does your your armor take damage statistically, but it can actually be broken and fall off your character mid-match. While this could be a cool feature, it’s implementation ruins the immersion. In between rounds, players can repair their armor by moving their control sticks clockwise and rapidly shaking the Wii remote. The armor system takes away ire from the gaming experience than it adds.

Interactive Stages

While this may sound like a great idea, in practice it takes players completely out of the game thanks to the technique used to dodge the monsters. Instead of allowing you to have complete control of your character like Super smash Bros. Brawl does while the stage threatens to kill players, Tournament of Legends enters a quick time sequence where players have to move the Wii remote or analog stick in a certain direction to dodge the oncoming attack.

Singleplayer

After watching a short movie laying out the story, players choose their character and compete against 7 other fighters. Singleplayer mode can be beaten with one character comfortably within an hour or less. There’s not much depth to bee seen here.

Characters

In total there are 10 characters, two of those being ones that can be unlocked by playing through single player mode. Who can resist a giant automaton or an Anubis-like figure that can control the power of the Sun? While there is creativity in the character design, there simply aren’t enough characters to choose from to keep gamers coming back for more.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer is where Tournament of Legends, and really every fighter, has the chance to redeem itself for all its wrongs. With friends and cousins invited over to test it out, Tournament of Legends fell flat. While the Wii Remote controls hold up against AI with an easy difficulty level, it degenerates into mindless flailing once you compete with a human that has a decent competency level. Not even the range of attack circles mentioned earlier improve the combat.
The classic controller may improve the situation, but the small number if characters, plain stage design and armor repair mini-games tarnish the experience.
There’s no online multiplayer here, folks. Move along.

Presentation

Originally named Gladiator A.D., Tournament of Legends was set to appeal to the “mature crowd” with a visual style reminiscent of the movie 300 along with a helping of blood and gore. Early screens of the game showed that it’s realistic look had promise, Gladiator A.D. Lost some of that promise after the transition to the mycological style of Tournament of Legends.

As for the rest of the presentation: the voice overs are bordering on corny and the comic book story scenes have their limits. The Wii has seen much better presentation before.

Verdict

Tournament of Legends had some major changes done to it towards the end of development and it shows. The switch from a realistic fighter with Wii Motion Plus support to a budget title didn’t benefit gamers, just development time and the bottom line. Unfortunately, this development choice made Tournament of Legends a lack luster entry into the fighter genre. It was almost great, but almost fun doesnʼt cut it for a hard earned $30.

While Tournament of Legends had some good ideas, their implementation were far from flawless. However, if you have a hankering for a fighting game on the Wii and can ignore some it’s flaws and sparseness, Tournament of Legends might deserve a rental as long as you’r willing to use a classic controller. Other gamers should just hold out until the end of the Summer doldrums with Metroid Other M.

VGTribune gives Tournament of Legends a 6 out of 10.

This review as based on a review copy of Tournament of Legends provided by the developer.

Australian alternative rockers The Vines, and English Pop rockers Sweet Billy Pilgrim will both make their Rock Band debut this week.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 system (July 13):

• Sweet Billy Pilgrim – “Future Perfect Tense”
• The Vines – “Get Out”
• The Vines – “He’s a Rocker”
• The Vines – “Orange Amber”
• The Vines – “Outtathaway”
• The Vines – “Ride”

(All tracks are original master recordings)
(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 system July 14)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “The Vines Pack 01,” as well as individual tracks, on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii.

Price: £.99 UK (160 Microsoft Points) per track
£4.39 UK (680 Microsoft Points) for The Vines Pack 01
200 Wii Points^TM per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

The long-awaited first gameplay trailer for Mistwalker’s Wii exclusive RPG, The Last Story, has finally arrived and needless to say, we here at VGTribune are extremely impressed. This trailer showcases the title’s real-time combat, cover systems and absolutely stunning graphics. Information has been quiet on this title recently, aside from a few pieces of concept art, so it’s nice to see that its development has been progressing so smoothly. The Last Story will be available in Japan this year.