The Largest Army of Super Heroes is Back! The highly anticipated sequel to 2006’s Marvel:Ultimate Alliance—heralded as the best Marvel Super Hero game of all time, and selling more than 4 million units worldwide—is finally here with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Inspired by the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, this action-RPG delivers once again on a colossal cast of characters, thrilling gameplay and impassioned alliances. This next-gen gaming experience leaves the fate of the Marvel Universe—and humankind—in your hands.

Activision has confirmed that Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is currently being prepped for release on PS3, PSP, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii and DS.

There’s also a treat waiting for hardcore Marvel fans who get the game: a cameo from legendary comic book creator Stan Lee. Lee apparently lent his voice and likeness to an unrevealed yet significant character in the game.

“I am thrilled to be making my first onscreen videogame cameo in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2,” said Lee. “It’s such a kick to see characters that I’ve helped create come to life in the game and now I’m a part of the Marvel videogame universe!”

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2’s plot? The Marvel Universe is being torn apart. The Superhuman Registration Act becomes law and Super Heroes must register as weapons of mass destruction, becoming licensed government agents. As Civil War is stirred, Iron Man leads the Pro-Registration side while Captain America spearheads the stand on Anti-Registration. The enemies you battle and the missions you accomplish depend on which side you choose.

Complete the FINAL FANTASY VII experience and reunite with the most recognized RPG characters created by world-renowned character designer Tetsuya Nomura with Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII!

Final Fantasy is one of the most respected names in the gaming industry, and the most cherished child of that legacy is Final Fantasy VII. Not only did it prove that RPG’s were capable of being played on consoles, it was one of the best RPG’s of all time. For its tenth anniversary, Square Enix went all out to prove that just as serious, large RPG’s can be played on home consoles, so to can they be properly enjoyed on portable ones.

It’s impossible to argue that Final Fantasy VII is one of gaming’s most recognized and beloved franchises. What was originally designed to be yet another turn-based RPG in the Square Enix line of FF titles quickly took on a life of its own. Through thoughtful and heart-wrenching storytelling, as well as gausplay as deep and rewarding as any RPG before or since, FF VII was able to capture the hearts and minds of gausrs over several generations. Since the introduction of the franchise a decade ago, it has seen a movie (”Advent Children”), a spin-off gaus (the severely underwhelming Dirge of Cerberus).
Now, Square Enix is taking us back to where it all began with Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and this is a journey that all fans need to take.

It’s true. Square Enix has produced many RPG’s on portable consoles, though most of them fall along the lines of Pokemon-styled gameplay, with 2-dimensional maps, poor graphics and the hope of creating that true RPG feel. More often then not they’ve succeeded, but for some these games are simply not enough. They are like board games in comparison to their console brethren, and while board games can be fun, it is not the same experience.

With that aim, we’re glad to say that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII succeeds tremendously. Using the story of what happens before FF7, we play as Zack Fair, a SOLDIER operative working for the Shinra Corporation. Beginning as a 2nd class officer, Zack is trained by Angeal, a 1st class SOLDIER and best friends with returning villains Genesis and Sephiroth. Of course, they don’t begin that way, and through the course of the plot we discover their reasons for turning face.

In typical Final Fantasy fare, the story unfolds properly many a time over the course of the 20+ hours of gameplay. For those familiar with FF7’s story, Crisis Core will undoubtedly be a return to that great decade-old phenomena. That does not mean that anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure to play FF7 will miss out, because Crisis Core stands on it’s own remarkably well. So well, that only at rare moments will scenes genuinely not make sense, and even then they are all explained in due time.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII holds a special place in our heart because it was the RPG that got us hooked on the genre as a whole.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is available now for US $ 19.95.

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is the fourth US release of the franchise, which is itself a translation of the Japanese Monster Hunter Portable 2 G, which was essentially an upgrade of the prior PSP Monster Hunter game, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite/Portable 2. Like the prior games, it’s about going out into the world and ending the lives of gigantic monsters you, by all rights, should be unable to take out. It allows you to go it alone or with friends while still staying incredibly challenging and incredibly rewarding if you can take on that challenge. Despite many similarities, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is still unique enough to be worth a look even if you’ve played the last three US releases to death. Thanks to some rebalanced gear, a whole ton of added content, and a few little tweaks, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is honestly the best game in the series so far, and one of the best games on the PSP to date.

Visually, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is, as were its predecessors, one of the better looking games on the PSP. The character animations are fluid and feature large amounts of detail, the various monstrosities are appropriately awe inspiring and terrifying, and the game environments are lively and well-detailed. The new monsters are as epic and impressive as those that have come before, and the new armor and weapon designs are also quite nice looking. On the other hand, most of the content is repeated from Monster Hunter Freedom Unite 2, so a lot of what you’re seeing here was in that game as well, meaning that if you’ve played that, this will seem a good bit familiar.

The audio is also quite impressive, with some solid and well orchestrated musical tracks and some outstanding sound effects. The monster effects in particular are very powerful. Even from the smaller speakers on the PSP, when a monster discovers you for the first time, their powerful roar is something you’ll feel, thanks to the aural presentation. There’s also a smattering of voice acting here and there, though it’s mostly gibberish, and it sounds fine for what it is.

To be honest, though, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is pretty much one of the best games available on the PSP. It’s absolutely the best version of Monster Hunter available in the US, and if you’re willing to devote some time and patience into learning the mechanics of the experience, it’s well worth the investment. The game is well presented in all respects, the gameplay is solid and satisfying, there’s a ton of content to see and lots to do, and there’s plenty of reasons to play and replay the game for hours upon hours. There’s something of a steep learning corve to the entire franchise, certainly, it can take a good amount of grinding to accomplish certain things, absolutely, the control mechanics can be odd for players to learn, definitely, and it’s depressing that this is more of an expansion pack than a full game and that there’s still no real online support for the game, without a doubt. This doesn’t change the fact that Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Unite is a fantastic game, if you’re willing to commit some time and patience to learning how it works, and anyone who has a PSP would be well served checking it out if they think they have what it takes to take on gigantic dragons and live to talk about it.

Get it now for US $ 27.99 (some saving inside!)

Considering the original LocoRoco stands as one of the best games on PSP – arguably one of the best on any console, in fact – we’re not questioning the arrival of LocoRoco 2. Certainly, the series is among gaming’s most distinctive in terms of a style that has uniqueness stamped all over its Teletubby-bright visuals and diverse nursery rhythm-style chanting tunes.

So there should be no disagreement over the fact that LocoRoco 2 offers more of the same. In fact, the starring characters – the charming LocoRoco themselves – remain exactly the same as before.

Like its predecessor, LocoRoco 2 gets you to use the PSP’s shoulder buttons to tilt its world left and right to guide a friendly blob through a series of pleasingly colourful cartoon mazes. As before, the blobs sing at intervals, split up to negotiate narrow passageways or swirl away on the wind, but this time you can also commandeer special little vehicles. Its essence is the same, though, and provides a joyously simple and beguiling walk in the park for dabblers, while those who like to court repetitive strain injury will uncover myriad secret tunnels leading to an array of increasingly hard to find collectibles. Appealing in the extreme.

The levels in LocoRoco 2 are instantly familiar if you played the original game. And if you did, you have the immediate advantage of knowing that the big snouted Chuppa is going to suck you up and spit you into the air, that secrets lie through evaporating walls everywhere, and that little waving MuiMui men are sleeping in hidden rooms throughout every level waiting to greet you with a new piece of furniture for your MuiMui house. (If you didn’t, don’t worry, this will all make sense after spending a little time in LocoRoco land.)

If there’s one PSP game you should be playing it’s LocoRoco 2.
Any video game whose charm can intoxicate you more comprehensively than countless shots of Baileys should be considered both compulsive and essential.

Get LocoRoco 2 now for less than US $ 20!

The PSP 17 in 1 Starter Kit includes all the necessary accessories to take your gaming to new levels. A viewing dock, carry case, wrist strap, emergency battery, UMD cases, car charger, ear buds, audio splitter, power data cable, screen guard and cleaning cloth are all included in this extremely convenient bundle.

What’s in the kit?

• Viewing Dock: Supports your PSP and allows you to view all of your favorite UMD movies at an ideal viewing angle
• Carrying Case: Designed to store and protect your PSP and UMDs
• Power Data Cable: Power and charge your PSP from any USB power source and transfer data from your computer
• Cleaning Cloth: Safely clean your PSPs screen with the ultra soft cleaning cloth
• Emergency Battery: Power your PSP anytime using 4 “AAA” batteries (not included)
• Car Charger: Power your PSP from any car outlet
• Wrist Strap: Attach to the Carrying case or directly to your PSP
• Audio Splitter: Allows for 2 headphones to be connected at the same time
• Earbuds: Crank up your favorite game or movie and become immersed in stereo sound
• Screen Guard: Protects your PSPs screen from becoming scratched
• 7 UMD Cases: Protect your UMD movies and games

Price for the PSP 17 in 1 Starter Kit is a startling $29.99

Rock Band Unplugged creates a full band experience in the palm of your hand by combining traditional beat match gameplay with key elements from both Rock Band and Rock Band 2, such as overdrive and chords. Your hands are the “peripherals” in Rock Band Unplugged allowing you to take direct control of the lead/bass guitars, drums and vocals.

In addition, players can expect a rich Rock Band experience with fully functional modes like World Tour, Band Survival and Warm Up and a robust character creator for full customization!
Rock Band Unplugged features over 40 master-recordings including nine brand new, exclusive songs for the PSP system for a limited time!

Plus, Rock Band Unplugged includes the first fully-featured in-game store for downloadable content on the PSP system in the North American and European markets, leveraging the PSP system’s wireless capabilities.

The in-game store is powered by PlayStation Network, and players can to use their existing PlayStation Network account to purchase tracks, similar to the Rock Band console experience.
PSP system owners also have the option of purchasing tracks via PlayStation Store on the PC.

Price for Rock Band Unplugged is $39.49, rock on now!

Prototype lets gamers feel the power of being the ultimate shape-shifting weapon
No conspiracy here… we promise…
Activision Publishing, Inc. confirmed that the long-awaited open-world action thriller video game Prototype will ship on June 9th!

You are the PROTOTYPE, Alex Mercer, hiding in human form. You step out onto the streets of New York with no memory, but limitless power. As a terrifying viral epidemic sweeps across Manhattan, top-secret Black Watch Special Forces move in, transforming it into a war zone. Delve into the mysteries of your origin, the true nature of your power and your part in a conspiracy 40 years in the making.

Fast and deadly combat: Shape-shift your body to the situation at hand … from claws to blades to hammers to whips, as you choose the right weapon for the situation. Change to shield or armor for defense or use advanced sensory powers (thermal vision, infected vision) to track your enemies.
Over-the-top locomotion: Seamlessly and fluidly bound from building to building, run up walls, bounce off cars and everything in your path. Adaptive parkour lets you move freely through the open-world environments of New York City.

Unique disguising abilities: Consume anyone at anytime, take on their appearance and assume their memories and special abilities.
Prototype features Deep conspiracy-driven storyline: Wake up with no memory of the past … just mysterious powers and a link to a town in Idaho. Delve into the mysteries of your origin, the true nature of your power and your part in a conspiracy 40 years in the making.

[PG 13 Warning! may not be suitable for under 13]

Price is US $ 59.99, if you dare!

Technogeeks alert: the Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB DDR5 PCI-Express Video Graphics Card provides performance once only seen in cards that were so expensive only a few could afford one.
Here you have a frame busting card for not a lot of money.
The raw performance produced from the Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 is earth shattering considering its price to performance ratio.
PowerColor has once again outdone itself bringing us the HD 4870 video card.

The Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 takes the memory from the previous standard of GDDR3 to the new GDDR5 which, even with lower memory clock speeds, boasts a higher memory bandwidth over GDDR3, all with a 256-bit memory bus versus the 512-bit that the new NVIDIA GTX series cards are using.

Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 feature list include:

• DirectX 10.1 Compatible
• Factory Overclocked Performance
• ATI CrossFireX upgradable
• Made for gaming enthusiasts
• PowerColor Custom Designed

Get the Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB DDR5 PCI-Express Video Graphics Card now for US$ 173.56 (that’s 28% off its price)!

Mother’s Day is May 10th.
And if you don’t have any idea what to get her (don’t worry, we have some clues), then Nintendo has a few ideas.
They always do.

Included in this limited edition bundle is a Nintendo DS Lite Green Spring Bundle including Personal Trainer: Cooking and Carrying Case: Cooking game. Personal Trainer: Cooking brings gourmet cooking from around the globe to your Nintendo DS. It features a DS Chef, your own private cooking instructor who talks you through 245+ recipes from more than 30 countries worldwide. It’s a combination of interactive cookbook and live cooking demonstration that’ll have you cooking like a pro, even if you’ve never lifted a ladle before.

Personal Trainer: Cooking is a training title that brings gourmet cooking from around the globe to your Nintendo DS Lite.
It features a DS Chef, your own private cooking instructor who talks you through 245+ recipes from over 30 countries worldwide. It’s a combination of interactive cookbook and live cooking demonstration that’ll have you cooking like a pro, even if you’ve never lifted a ladle before. Learn from the best. You and the chef will collaborate on a wide variety of recipes with videos of techniques, explanations of ingredients and expert advice. With its innovative interface and the interactivity that only the DS can provide, it’s a perfect learning tool for the budding chef.
Shop with the DS—as you browse recipes, just tap a box to mark ingredients you need to buy.
The Nintendo DS Lite will automatically store them in your in-game shopping list. Later you can take your DS to the store and check off the ingredients as you put them in your cart. What do you want to cook today? Search for recipes by ingredients, calorie count, cooking time, difficulty and more. Talk back to the chef. Hands covered in batter? Keep your DS clean using voice commands to continue to the next page, repeat a step, go back and more.

It’s available now for a limited time for $138.99!

Ninja Blade for XBOX 360 is an action adventure game set within modern day Tokyo. Parasites known as alpha-worms have mysteriously appeared, unleashing a wave of human destruction as they rapidly spread east, reaching the shores of Tokyo. With the future of humankind hanging in the balance, an exclusive and elite team possessing highly specialized skills is formed to eliminate the enemy onslaught, and ultimately save mankind from complete obliteration.

Ninja Blade features unique ninja abilities: Use your Ninja Vision to detect and analyze potential enemy weak points, secret paths, and hidden information within the environment, but be careful, as you are susceptible to extra damage while using your vision. And perform the todomé attack to destroy an enemy’s core (heart), by dealing a fatal wound. Balanced and calculated use of both these abilities will be critical to progressing through the XBox 360 game.

Ninja Blade sports a variety of weapons, tools, and Ninjutsu: Specialized ninja powers offer an enticing array of options. Varied environments force players to think strategically about which set of weapons and tools will be most effective at conquering the different levels. From dual wielding swords to grapple wire hooks to grenades, every item has distinctive features and characteristics, so choose wisely! Ninjutsu is a special power that results in an explosive electrical force to either stun enemies or protect oneself from attack. Only true Ninja Masters can achieve this technique.

Go ‘n’ grab your copy of Ninja Blade for XBox 360!

We love geekery.
We respect venerable good ol’ video games that made history (in one way or the other!).
Here’s a poker of video game history makers, somehow shaped for new challenges and, more important, fitting your pocket so you can retro-play wherever you are.

No more arcades? So what about an all-time classic?
Enter Classic Arcade Space Invaders: 1978-design still intriguing; hordes of swarming hostiles ready to invade us!
(I guess I’ve exterminated zillions of them, don’t tell SETI about it).
Check this MGA’s Classic Arcade Space Invaders
LCD version: small joystick, same threat, same hours spent fighting ‘em.

Remember Missile Command?
Atari’s smash hit featured the very first trackball around and, as coins were spun in, the trackball was spun around tracking down falling missiles from a bunch of soon-to-be-destroyed bases (you, by the way).
MGA’s Classic ArcadeMissile Command even reproduces the same arcade cabinet, without the need for coins alas.

Again, long before PSPs and even Nintendos portable consoles, Mattel was ruling with their pocket games.
By today standards they barely seem laughable, but back then… the LEDs minimalistic-displays were hard to beat and the games were tough.

Take for example Mattel’s Classic Basketball Game: check NBA-style schemes against a processor that maybe doesn’t even reach a MegaHertz clock…
One player or two can try this one.

For a complete and shared experience there’s even a Classics Sports Plug and Play featuring old-school football, baseball or basketball you can play on standard TV sets (no HD-TV allowed!).

Batteries not included, fun is!

The friends at portable-console.com report that gaming giant Nintendo has unveiled its new version of the DS handheld games console - the Nintendo DSi.

The Japanese company said the third version of the console can be used to download games, play music and take photos.

The Nintendo DSi is due to go on sale in the US on April 3 and will cost US $169.99.

Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata said: “We want to change the DS from something that’s in every household to something that’s for every person.”

The company says it has sold nearly 80 million of the consoles around the world since they went on sale in 2004.

A Nintendo DSi short feature list:

World’s largest online retailer offering gift cards in return for old video games.

E-commerce giant Amazon has unveiled a video game trade-in program, offering customers gift cards to the most popular store on the Web in return for old video games.

It’s a move that could position Amazon to better capitalize on one of the healthier media segments: games. Reselling used games also could be potentially lucrative for the world’s largest online retailer, considering that prices on pre-played titles can still remain fairly high while still representing a discount from the $50 and $60 cost of new products.

Amazon is accepting old games from the major console systems, including Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation. The online retail giant is not accepting PC games, however, a move that has garnered criticism in the site’s discussion forum.

Check here for Amazon’s video game trade-in program.

Microsoft has released a new game which finally makes use of the Xbox Vision Camera in You’re in the Movies Xbox 360, which is basically a collection of mini-games to try and put the camera to use on the Xbox 360.

Microsoft is trying to change the path of the Xbox Vision Camera though with You’re in the Movies Xbox 360.

You’re in the Movies Xbox 360 is a collection of mini-games which will have you doing a variety of tasks on-screen. When you take part in all of these tasks, they are then pieced together at the end, and you are presented with a movie trailer of sorts.

You are given certain tasks to do in front of the camera, which will then be recorded and played back to you. If you are in the mood to do a little acting, you can definitely take part in that type of stuff, and it is good fun.

Going beyond the basic acting and instructions you will be given, there are also a variety of mini-games that you are going to be taking part in, such as doing a hula hoop motion, among other things.

There are 30 different sets of these you are going to take part in to create your different movies. There are plenty of different types of films here, such as action movies, sci-fi movies, among other things.

The whole way in which the game is set-up is very interesting, as you have the ability to follow the basic set-ups of films, or take part in the Director Mode to basically allow you to piece together your own scene-creation.

What’s best next to a (already gorgeous) PlayStation 3?
PS3-level accessories and hit games!
Rock Band 2 for PS3, for example!
Rock Band 2 lets you and your friends take your band on an even more expansive and immersive world tour - in person or online - and continue your rock and roll fantasy.
Harmonix, deliver Rock Band 2, the next step to the platform that lets audiences of all ages interact with music in an all-new way. Rock Band 2 lets players vicariously jam out as some of the best guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time.

Featuring a track list with more than 100 on-disc and downloadable tracks from some of the most hallowed bands of the rock pantheon, Rock Band 2 by challenges rockers to master lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals.

Wanna get pro with rock music? Get yourself real instruments such as the Rock Band 2 Double Cymbal Expansion Kit!
Mad Catz Rock Band 2 Double Cymbal Expansion Kit provides the means for you to drum like the pros do with velocity- sensitive Crash, Ride, and Hi-Hat cymbals. With the easy-to-install mounting brackets, you have total control and can setup your drum kit in any configuration you see fit. Once your drum kit has been customized to your standards, you¿ll be all set to attack your song library with new vigor and achieve the next step in drumming perfection.