United Front Gaming

SSX

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00

Reviewed by: Bryant Crawley
System: Xbox 360 (Also on PS3)
Genre: Sports
Rated: E
Players: 1-4 (2-4 Online)
Cost: $59.99
Release Date: 03/01/2012
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada

The SSX series has arguably been at the top of the snowboarding-game mountain since it first iteration way back in 2001. After a pretty long hiatus this latest entry was shown off in a somewhat gritty and realistic trailer at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2010; it was known as SSX Deadly Descents at that time. This new direction that EA was taking the series got canned due to epic amounts of fan rage and plans were changed with the aim of creating a more traditional, over-the-top SSX experience like we’re all used to. Was decision to change the game a smart one? Let’s find out!

The core game mode see’s Team SSX venture out to conquer the nine deadliest descents on the planet, something kept from those original plans for the game, before their ex-team member Griff. It’s a simple enough premise and it does the job for a game that really doesn’t rely on a story to get by. One thing that really grated on me throughout the game however is the fact that somehow Team SSX, a team of nine of the best snowboarders in the world, think they “win” if they, as a team of the nine world-class snowboarders, can tackle the nine deadly descents before Griff. So that’s just Griff on his own going down all nine mountains. It’s a little baffling to say the least but as I said a game like this is all about the actual gameplay contained in the story so let’s move on to that!

Throughout the story you’ll be playing as each member of the team across nine different areas of the world, tackling each deadly descent one by one. Before you tackle each descent you’ll compete in a small set (usually around three) of either races or trick events against other members of your team in order to “train” for your big descent. These events are all enjoyable enough and help to flesh the core game mode out, which if it were just the deadly descents themselves, would last around an hour at best.

It’s the descents themselves that are the stars of the show though. They really help to turn a good but perhaps a little formulaic game into something truly new and original. Each descent has its own gimmick that creates its own special gameplay. The Fitz Roy Mountain in Patagonia stands out as the most exciting to play with its exhilarating wing suit-based descent. That said, some of the others manage to stand out for other reasons; reasons that are almost at odds with the rest of the SSX package on offer here. For example the tense trek through Mount Kilimanjaro is really well put together and remains perhaps the best designed of all of the descents on offer, with the player being equipped with only a headlamp in complete darkness to help guide their way.

Putting the descents aside the game shines in its “Trick It” mode also, which is simply a contest to score the most points down a course. The control scheme makes it really simple to put together ridiculous tricks, requiring nothing more than a flick of the right analogue stick to grab and a movement of the left stick to add flips and spins to it. It’s really easy to pick up and learn quickly meaning it won’t be long until you’re pulling off some insane 2700 degree, 10 front flip super-grabs!

The “Race It” mode, which makes up the other half of the non-deadly descent missions tends to be decidedly less enjoyable. This is mainly due to the fact that the process behind winning a race tends to go against just about everything fun that SSX offers. No longer are you trying to grab huge air for your crazy tricks, now it’s more of a challenge to grab the least air possible to ensure you find your way down the mountain in the fastest time possible. These races still can have their moments and are by no means boring, but they just don’t stand up well next to the other two great game modes.

Once you’ve completed the Deadly Descents story mode, something which should take around 6 hours, you’ll be moving on to the explore mode if you want to get the most out of the game. Explore challenges the player to essentially go around every course in the game in both race and trick modes and to get a gold medal by beating computer scores which are already set. The mode can be fun for a while but I found myself getting bored rather quickly by it all due to the been-there-done-that feeling. Explore mode does use the Autolog system created way back in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit though. This means that if you have a big friends list of players playing the game all their scores and ghosts will be found in explore mode ready for you to beat. The greater your friend has done the higher bounty the game will pay out to you if you beat them! This all really helps to breathe extra life into SSX, particularly if you have a large list of active players.

Global Events is essentially the same as Explore except you compete to beat the scores of the whole world in set events which last for set amounts of time. Again, this is mode can be fun for those of you looking to compete. If you’ve already grown tired of going down the same mountains over and over in the different modes, Global Events offers little to change your mind.

SSX looks absolutely breathtaking at times, particularly in its various mountain ranges which all look very faithful to their source material but also brilliantly unique. The character models look great too and all the different tricks you can do are wonderfully animated. In terms of sound the game performs well, with a large licensed soundtrack consisted of songs from X, Y and Z. Not quite my cup of tea music-wise but for some people the soundtrack on offer here is going to be pretty fantastic!

All in all SSX is a brilliantly crafted return for the series, boasting beautiful visuals, exciting and original gameplay with a decent amount of content provided. You also have the global events mode to scratch that competitive itch. Some minor stumbles derail the game a little at times such as the arguably rather short single player story and the sometimes-dull races but these are far too small to really hurt a well put together product. The game itself is really a testament to what companies can achieve when they are allowed to put their full time and effort into crafting an intelligently thought out sequel to their franchises, rather than throwing out a new version every 12 months with minor improvements. They can achieve games like SSX, one of the best snowboarding games of all time.

Gameplay: 9
Still just as fun as we always remembered!

Graphics: 8
Jaw-droppingly beautiful; may make you crash if you stare too long!

Sound: 8
An interesting soundtrack that really gets your heart racing on the slopes!

What’s New: 7
Global Events is a nice addition from the Need for Speed series that lets you compete against scores from around the world.

Replay Value: 8
The Main Campaign lasts about 6 hours but you’re going to be using the Global Events mostly. This will get you the most bang for your buck.

Final Score:

8

Awesomenauts

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00

Review by: Andre Thomas
System: Xbox 360 (Also on PS3)
Genre: MOBA
Rated: T
Players: 1-3 (2-6 online)
Cost: 800 MS Points ($9.99)
Release Date: 04/02/2012
Publisher: DTP
Developer: Ronimo Games

Today's game developers tend to make some of the most beautiful, unique, and intricate games of all time. Our era of gamers get some of the most cinematically smooth gaming experiences ever. What they don't realize is that sometimes, simplicity and fun gameplay can trump all of those Hollywood bells and whistles. Ronimo Games took us back with their new Xbox Live Arcade title Awesomenauts, and it feels oh so good!

Awesomenauts is a 2D MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) strategy game that takes place in the year 3587. Two warring robot armies are locked in a stalemate; due to being so evenly matched they turned to hiring space mercenaries. This is where you and your friends come into play in this intergalactic 2D war. There are so many great things to say about this game, so I guess I will start with how it looks.

Graphically, this game is gorgeous! When I first downloaded the game I didn't know what to expect visually. Most arena games today are 3D with all the visual affects you could ask for. Though Awesomenauts may not be 3D, the 2D side scrolling action looks…well, awesome. The feeling of nostalgia courses through every map; the old school visuals are based on 80’s cartoons. On top of that is the old school gaming feel. From Zero (Mega Man) looking slashes, to Mario style platforming, this game really paid homage to the classics while keeping the vibrancy of modern, HD gaming. This simple look flows without any hiccups in frame rate, which makes the game so easy to enjoy.

The sound quality found in this game is equally (pun totally intended), awesome! Every characters voice fits them perfectly. The amazing balance of comedic phrases and trash talk from each unique character makes Awesomenauts even more enjoyable. One part of this game that really keeps me smiling is the unique music each character has at the load up screen. It is totally different for each character but fits each Awesomenauts perfectly. The music in game has that great simple feel that the classics used to have but still feels good enough in this era to fall in love with while playing this ridiculously fun game.

Now to the part I have been so excited to write about. The main dish on any games menu is the gameplay and Awesomenauts will leave you begging for seconds. If you noticed I used plenty of exclamation points through this review and it's simply because this game is so much fun. Just like any arena game, your goal is to take your teammates and lead your creeps (in this case droids) to the enemy’s base and try to destroy it while defending your own. There are, so far, six classes to choose from in the game. Each one has their own unique set of attacks, powerups, and weaknesses that forces you to use strategy in order to reach your enemies base. What really sets this game apart from other arena games is the countless ways to play a given character. I played this game multiple times with the same people and every match seems to feel different even if the other team consisted of the same characters and players. It's so fast paced that the action makes time fly by and before you know it, you've been playing this game for hours on end. Every match leaves you wanting more and creating new strategies to defeat other teams in game.

In order to get new abilities gamers will have to get solar found in the level, dropped from defeated enemies or rewarded through teamwork. The solar is used as currency to level up your character with new movies, powerful buffs, and more. As the match goes on, and more solar is dropped, characters will go from basic to…well, awesome. At the start of a match you’ll just be a regular space cowboy (named Lonestar) that can shoot lasers and double jump with rocket boots. After a few upgrades, you’ll be able to throw dynamite and summon holographic bulls to ram opponents. After matches you’ll be rewarded with experience points based on how well you played, leveling up your profile. This of course unlocks new power ups to be added to your load out and bought during a match. Players will have to keep in mind that each match is a 3 on 3 affair. Meaning that you have to take into account what powers your teammates have to better help them in the field. All of these things add up to make a simple to learn, hard to master strategic game!

Needless to say this arcade game is a must buy! The simplicity of the gameplay makes the game easy for anyone to just pick up and play without losing the competitive nature of an arena game. The music, the visuals, the achievements that pay homage to 80s cartoons and the gameplay combined, made this arcade title great. Ronimo has brought back the “fun” that used to be found in video games. If you don't have it you need to get it. And after you find out how great it is I promise, I won't say I told you so.... Too much!

Gameplay: 9
What more can I say about this game that I already haven't. It’s Awesome!

Graphics: 8
Awesomenauts features a beautiful 2D world with a nostalgic feel.

Sound: 8
Fantastic voices overs with great old school music to match.

What’s New: 7
Don’t be misled by this score. Taking something from lots of old games and TV shows makes this game stand out amongst the rest!

Replay Value: 9
This game can easily be played time after time again without realizing that the goal is the same.

Final Score:

8.2

Two Serious Sam Tiltes Making They're Way to XBLA This Fall!

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00

Written By: Kenneth Seward Jr.
Date: 05/16/12

Croteam and MOMMY’S Best Games, in partnership with Devolver Digital and Mastertronic, have announced that both Serious Sam 3: BFE and the retooled Serious Sam Double D XXL will launch on XBLA this fall. Wow…all I can say is, sh** just got serious!

“Serious Sam fans have been asking for Serious Sam 3: BFE to come to Xbox LIVE Arcade and we’re very excited to launch on the platform this fall,” said Roman Ribaric, CEO of developer Croteam. “All the high-octane action and over-the-top violence will be intact so Xbox LIVE Arcade gamers will get the full Serious Sam 3: BFE experience!” – Press

Serious Sam Double D XXL will come with new features, missions, weapons, and a cooperative mode. No word on the cost of each game (or if they will be packaged in a bundle of sorts). Having reviewed both games myself, I can safely say they’re worth the purchase regardless of how they’re distributed!

Serious Sam Double D XXL

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00

Bloodforge

Tue, 8 May 2012 12:00:00

Review by: Andre Thomas
System: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Rated: M
Players: 1
Cost: 1200 MS Points ($15)
Release Date: 04/25/2012
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Climax Studios

Man when I found out I was going to be able to review Bloodforge, I was freaking stoked out of my mind! I have yet to review an arcade title that has the potential to compete with large budget, hack and slash games! I literally watched the game download until I heard that beautiful sound of the Xbox letting me know my download was complete. As I watched the opening scene I became more and more excited...and then the game began.

Now I'm sure from the start of this review you are thinking "come on Andre. Lay it on us! Let us hear how great it is!" I sadly wish I could. Here’s the premise (stop me if you heard this before). You play as a warrior named Crom who has given up his fighting days to settle down with his old lady. Even though he put down the sword, he still has dreams of his old battles. One night he falls asleep and dreams that he is killed by a God named Arawn. He is awakened to his village in flames and his wife surrounded by demons. Crom then goes on a rampage to try and save her, dispatching demons left and right. Unfortunately, during his fight he is tricked into killing his wife by Arawn. Crom now rages on a never ending battle against gods and their minions in hopes of avenging her.

I know you probably scrolled to the top of your screen to see if you stumbled upon a God of War review; fear not, you are in the right place. Though Bloodforge’s setting maybe different, the backstory is very similar to that other title. While it’s not the most original idea, that isn’t a complete deal breaker. In a hack and slash action title, there is nothing more important than the gameplay. In many popular titles in this genre, we commonly give the story a pass because the fighting is so epic. That said, the combat elements in this title aren’t as good as they could have been. You’ll eventually wield three weapons, all within the first few minutes of the game. There is a sword, a hammer, and claws, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. The unfortunate part is that you barely feel a reason to switch weapons because the characters all seem to fight the same way against you. The boss battles are so annoyingly repetitive and boring that, by mid fight, you already want to turn off your system and walk away. Plus there is no block button! So you have to continuously roll to avoid attacks and that barely works right. So there is no chance for counter attacks; it’s just button mashing without thinking! Enemies aren’t tough because their strong or have long patterns to memorize. They’re tough because of the poor fighting mechanics.

Graphically this game is beautiful. I love the dark artistry as it creates an eerie atmosphere, making every turn feel more and more scary. The effects on the kills also look awesome…at first. My issue here is that the special kills (like cutting someone in half with blood flying everywhere) are repeated so much that you’ll start to get bored by them after a while. The sound quality is mediocre. I am pretty sure if you muted the game and started making music that you think would go with the level, you’d have more fun. The music becomes incredibly repetitive and the voice overs just feel typical. You would think that with the levels looking so good that the music would also flow well into place, but that seemed to fall to the wayside with the gameplay itself.

With such a beautiful game, it’s really sad that it is wasted by really poor gameplay and an overall repetitive nature. I really wanted Bloodforge to be awesome but it didn't turn out the way most of us would have liked. If it wasn’t for games like God of War I may have rated it a little higher than what I did. It’s just that, those other titles bring more to the table. Not saying that Crom needed to compete with Kratos (Bloodforge is an XBLA game after all), just that he should have been placed in a game that can do the staples of this genre justice. Needless to say, this game is lacking a lot. There was so much potential for this title but the poor homage to God of War would make Kratos very…very angry. While there could be fun found in the button mashing, my gut says this game is a pass; it would be wise to listen!

Gameplay: 4
Overly repetitive combat, boring boss battles, no block button, and a roll mechanic that doesn’t work all the time = poor gameplay!

Graphics: 8
One of the few bright spots found in the game.

Sound: 4
Same sounds/music is found in almost every level; voice acting is just ok.

What’s New: 2
Do I really need to repeat how unoriginal this game feels?

Replay Value: 2
After you finish, I doubt you’d want to play it again.

Final Score:

4

Bloodforge

Tue, 8 May 2012 12:00:00

The Walking Dead Episode 1: A New Day

Wed, 2 May 2012 12:00:00

Reviewed by: Bryant Crawley
System: Xbox 360 (Also on PC, PS3, Mac)
Genre: Adventure
Rate: M
Cost: 400 MS Points ($4.99 per episode)
Release Date: 04/25/2012
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Based on the comic book series that has also inspired the hit AMC TV series of the same name, The Walking Dead game uses the high quality process of cell shading to create a wonderful looking, interactive living comic book. Players have a 3D environment to move around in but the look and feel is very much that of the comics. The story is told over the course of a five episode season, set to release over the next five months or so. Is it worth jumping in right away or should you wait this one out? Well, let’s see.

You play as Lee, a character with a mixed past; you seem good but also troubled. Sitting in the back of a police car on the way to the penitentiary you get to chatting with the driver. It turns out you have (perhaps wrongly) been convicted of a murder. As the cop continues with his non-stop nagging you can either get slightly miffed by him or open up. This is vital to setting the tone for the game, the way you react to people’s questions and the way you talk back to them impacts the way they view you and the progress of the story. Being too blunt can stop a conversation dead, being too soft can lead to them thinking you are an easy target, fumbling over a lie can raise suspicion. This is an important factor throughout the game. People in this game remember things, not just for the moment you are in but across the whole series. It’s a Zombie apocalypse; you need to find alliances and you need to choose the right ones if you are to survive!

After the opening sequence you find yourself taking a young girl, Clementine, under your wing. Her parents have been out of town for some time and you suspect they probably have succumbed to the zombies at this stage. You choose to be this little girl’s guardian but how much she in turns knows about you is up to you. Do you tell her how you really got there? Or is it better for all to leave the past in the past? Will that come back to haunt you later?

Most decisions you’re tasked to make should be very familiar to fans of the point and click/adventure genre. You know the ones that give you unlimited time to think before making your choice. In The Walking Dead, you’ll also be forced into making snap decisions. These snap decisions are offered to you in the same format (options mapped to the face buttons), but with an extra pressure of a timer counting down. The timer moves at a different pace dictated by the pacing of that moment in the game. Simple choices in quieter moments of the game (such as what reply to give someone) will give you a lot more time to think about your answer. Then there are moments of sheer panic that are designed to leave you little time to react, often resulting in you making a hasty decision (or mistake) that you must then live with for the rest of the game.

Fans of the comics and TV series will spot some familiar faces (such as Hershel Greene and Glenn) as well as some new people. Each location has different tasks to complete; some as simple as making small talk, others more important like killing zombies and saving people. Of course there are the mandatory tasks. These are puzzles of sorts, not overly cryptic but rather logical tasks that allow the story to progress. Each location also has a number of non mandatory puzzles that just reinforce friendships and bonds between characters. The gameplay is an updated point and click system that feels very natural on a console. You control Lee with the left stick, moving him around within the environment. You use the right stick to move a cross hair around the screen that, when passing over an interesting object, gives you a prompt to choose an action. These actions are mapped to the buttons on the face of the controller. This could be simply to look at the object in question or an action prompt such as opening a door, moving an object or giving something like food to another hungry character.

As with the TV series and the Comics this is not an overly action packed game. That is not to say there isn’t plenty of action because there is lots, but it is not the main focus. Instead, the developers concentrate on building strong characters and placing them in strong set pieces. The action does come quite often and it is panic inducing; trying to hit the right button when there is a zombie clamoring at your feet is quite difficult.

So far Telltale have nailed it; this opening episode was one of my favorite gaming experiences this year. It has it all, it has challenging well thought out puzzles, it has strong characters, it has player driven narratives where your choices matter and impacts the game, it has a strong story that will drag you in from the moment you start playing and it has zombies getting their heads smashed in with a hammer. What more could you ask for?

Gameplay: 9
The sheer emotion and thought that goes into each of your decisions is what makes the gameplay stand out.

Graphics: 9
Visually, this title is different from other games, including other Telltale Games. A good thing in my book!

Sound: 10
Superb voice acting that really sets the mood of the whole game!

What’s New: 9
A new style of point and click adventure and this one nails it!

Replay Value: 10
The decisions you make will come back to haunt you. Choose wisely!

Final Score:

9.4

The Walking Dead (Xbox 360)

Wed, 2 May 2012 12:00:00

Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat

Tue, 1 May 2012 12:00:00

Review by: Jaime Mejias Jr.
System: Xbox 360 (Also on PS3)
Genre: Fighting
Rated: M
Players: 1-2 (2 online)
Cost: $29.99
Release Date: 04/17/2012
Publisher: 345 Games
Developer: Pipeworks Software

Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat is based on the hit show, Deadliest Warrior, on Spike TV. The show is about putting two warriors from history’s past against one another, basically to see who is the deadliest. Fans of the show now have a game that not only features the same match ups they’ve seen on TV, but also features a large amount of content for its price. It comes with both DLC titles (Deadliest Warrior: The game and Deadliest Warrior: Legends), all additional add-ons for both titles with additional exclusive content, and six episodes of the Deadliest Warrior TV show. Some episodes have never been released before this title. Sounds awesome to a fan of the show; that said, is it enough to sway those who aren’t fans?

Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat (DWAC) is definitely unique. I mean, it doesn’t even boot up like a traditional retail game; the digital versions of the game seem to unlock when putting the disk in. The game will bring you to the “my games” section on your Xbox 360 or the equivalent on your PS3. When you get there you have to search for the game you want to play and select it. Yup, this game starts off interesting to say the least. Deadliest Warrior is supposed to be a realistic take on a fighter using the TV show as its theme. You can freely move around the battlefield, limbs can be severed or broken, and matches tend to end very quickly. Makes sense; a real fight to the death probably wouldn’t last as long as a match of Mortal Kombat. A round can be lost in one hit as long as it’s a lethal one; like taking an arrow to the kne…er…face. While I know it is supposed to be realistic, it still feels bland. I didn’t get excited when I took down an opponent because of the way the fighting mechanics work. DWAC plays like a button masher and less like the strategic fighter it tries to be. To be fair, you can parry attacks and dodge. But most of the time winning comes down to getting lucky hits (resulting in a lost limb) or having a weapon with a longer reach than the other person. The fighting feels basic at best.

The first title, Deadliest Warrior: The Game, features a very generic and unmemorable cast. They’re based on a certain “type” of warrior rather than a unique person (Ninja, Spartan, etc.) Deadliest Warrior: Legends, the 2nd title, definitely improves on this by adding famous warriors throughout history. Which is pretty cool; where else can you see Alexander the Great fight to the death against Vlad the Impaler? There is a nice amount of customization included as well. Each character has 3 types of weapons (short, long, and ranged) with three weapons in each category. Each character also has unlockable costumes. Basically, two people can use the same character and not play or look the same. Nice!

Both titles have a decent amount of game modes to choose from. You have Arcade mode which is just a couple of matches against AI controlled opponents and a bonus mini game every three matches. Going through this mode unlocks addition weapons and costumes. The Versus mode is pretty straightforward. You get the option to play one on one or in teams of two - four characters in Skirmish matches (you play with one character at a time though). The Training mode allows you to view a move list and practice them on a dummy. The Legends title gives you a very useful Tutorial mode. It does a good job of explaining how to fight, switch weapons, and overall how the system works. Then there is the Zombie mode, which allows gamers to keep fighting even if they lose vital limbs (like their head). Mainly for fun, these fights just lead to laughs. The mode that really shines though is the Generals mode. It’s a bored game where you’re tasked with sending your troops to capture different parts of a map. You can play the campaign generals mode (fighting AI controlled opponents) or against a friend. There is a strong sense of strategy in generals; misplacing your troops can lead to a loss of a territory and even worse, a loss of position.

The Online mode in this game works very well. In the matches I played I had absolutely no issue with lag in any game type. You can only play one on one or in a skirmish with teams of four characters each (still fighting one at a time). There is no lobby system though, which is a shame as they’ve become a standard in modern fighters. Makes sense as it would hard to game with multiple friends without a lobby in place. Without a lobby or any other game modes beside versus and skirmish this online mode is pretty barebones.

The graphics and sound quality in this game leave much to be desired as well. Nothing in these titles look very detailed; the combatants are rendered in full 3D but they look bland and the blood looks more like fruit punch or tomato juice. The stages you fight on are also very bland. The sound is pretty generic, outside of the menu the features the music from the show. There is no battle music during matches though; just the sounds of steel clashing. Oh and an annoying tone that goes off whenever you try to use a ranged attack without the proper equipment (like if you run out of Ninja stars to throw). Like the fighting, everything just feels lacking in quality, even for downloadable titles.

Even though this game has its flaws there is no denying that it is a great value. Both digital titles, all the DLC add-ons and six episodes of the show for thirty dollars is just amazing. If you’re a fan of the show this is definitely a good buy just for the amount of content alone. Everyone else looking for a fighter need not apply!

Gameplay: 6
I didn’t find anything really wrong here. It does what it’s supposed to and can be fun in short busts. That said, it is definitely for fans.

Graphics: 5
There isn’t much detail in either title. As much as this game relies on gore to sell the realism, the blood should have looked better.

Sound: 6
The sound is slightly better than the graphics but not that great. The menu music is good, that’s about it.

What’s New: 5
There’s nothing really new to the genre here. There is the realistic take found in titles like Bushido Blade. That said most of the time it’s hit or miss (literally). Either you like it or you don’t.

Replay Value: 7
There is a lot of unlockables that could keep a fan involved but the game isn’t going to keep most people’s attention.

Final Score:

5.8

Be a Baller This Fall With Kinect!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00

Written By: Kenneth Seward Jr.
Date: 04/25/12

Majesco Entertainment today revealed plans to release NBA Baller Beats for the Kinect this fall. Developed by HB Studios, NBA Baller Beats will have players bouncing a real basketball to the beat of an eclectic soundtrack. Wait...say what?

“NBA Baller Beats introduces an unprecedented way to experience basketball through a video game like never before,” said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Majesco Entertainment. “Our innovative play mechanic combined with Kinect technology puts the ball in players’ hands, tracking both full-body gameplay and ball movement, so players are going to have to get up and actually play basketball to get in the game. Ballers and fans alike will love this game.” – Press

Apparently, the game will improve your ball handling skills as you dribble, pump fake, and crossover to the beat. Over the course of the game, you’ll be able to unlock songs, difficulty levels, and over 100 posters and trading cards. There is an eight player multiplayer mode, a stamina building single player mode, and a practice mode called Move School. The soundtrack will feature music from different genres including hip-hop, rock and more (music from Kanye West, Gorillaz, Them Crooked Vultures, Run DMC, and Common were mentioned).

Sounds…interesting to say the least; I can’t wait to see how it works (the teaser didn’t show actual gameplay). Hopefully it will be better than most “unique” titles being release for the Kinect. Be sure to check back with us as we continue to cover this title!