MashButtons’ first experience with Dungeons & Dragons is Daggerdale

Okay folks, I am going out on a limb and trying my hand at my first D&D product. Daggerdale is the recent game to be released by Atari. Focusing on quests, looting and leveling up, Daggerdale is chock full of all these as you work your way up the Tower to fight the evil within. Whether you choose to play alone in the campaign mode or play online with up to three other people there is a lot of replay value behind this title to keep people coming back for more. So how will this hold up against other titles in the genre, especially with this being an XBLA title.

Well, this is a tough one as I feel it has potential, but the bugs eat away at the features that could make this a very solid dungeon crawler. We will get to the bugs in a bit since you all should know about what makes Daggerdale fun none the less. Easily the four player multiplayer, using a microphone or not, it is way more fun with the more people you have playing, that is unless you are playing with people that have a much higher level than you. The graphics look good, but the hack and slash action is where it is at. And the more you take down, the more loot you get, oh yes, there is looting along with character customization with level. I played through the game with the rogue and will most likely give another class a chance shortly, but the character was fast, able to attack from afar, and battles were a challenge at times. With all the elements in place that make a solid action-RPG, where did this gem go bad?

Well to start, the screen tear when moving the camera a bit too quickly and having the camera get stuck behind objects, which is one of the bugs to be listed. Another bug was a game freeze each time I interacted with the dwarf giving me my first quest instructions, after the third attempt after reset, reload, and an attempt the next day. The solution was to create a new character. Now for the matchmaking transitioning to the last bug encountered. Like I said, it sucks when you are a lower level than your teammates, not only because you die a lot, but a number of times, which increases your chances of falling into a mapping black hole, forcing you into a reset where you lose both the loot and the gained experience. All semi irritating on occasion, the frequency is what has me chomping at the bit for a patch.

Dungeons & Dragons Daggerdale, though fun when and if it is running on all cylinders, is equally irritating to the point of being unplayable with the bugs that need to be patched. Once patched, it would be a great XBLA action-RPG that could outdo Dungeon Siege III, another title in the same genre that also is also scheduled to be released this month.

Centipede resurected in the third dimension

Atari recently announce this morning that Centipede, the age old arcade game is making a comeback, not for the arcade, but on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii. The reboot is to feature not only infestation in the name but also run and gun shooting, tower defense objects and including some of the same gameplay elements that made the original so addicting through seven environments and 40 stages.

Atari's next Ghostbusters to be downloadable in 2011

Atari has provided our office with screens of Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime, their downloadable title to be released on XBLA, PSN, and Windows PC this Spring. This top down action game will still have a number of weapons along with massive supernatural foes. Take a look and keep an eye out for more as we get closer to release and be sure to stock up on MS for the soon to be available XBLA titles to be released in the next month.

Atari gives the gift of car lineup for Christmas, and hotness it is

Atari has given the MashButtons gearhead an early Xmas present this year with the first developer diary and a sneak peak at the specs of some of the hottest cars to be found in the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited 2. Though I did not play the first entry, but from the looks of the social aspect, leisurely drives, and casinos, I can't wait to see how the final product fares.

·Aston Martin One-77 - One-77 fuses advanced technology with stunning Aston Martin design to create possibly the world’s most desirable automotive art form. Based on a sophisticated carbon fibre chassis with a handcrafted aluminium body, this 7.3 litre V12 super car will deliver exhilarating performance for a strictly limited number of discerning customers.

·Bugatti Veyron - The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a rear mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal car in the world, with a top speed of 431.07 km/h (267.85 mph).

·Chevrolet Camaro SS - Chevy Camaro is an excellent performance-car value whether it's equipped with the base direct-injected V6-powered base Camaro can sprint to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, thanks to 300 horsepower.

·Corvette C1 - The Chevrolet Corvette (C1) is the first generation of the sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced late in the 1953 model year and produced through 1962. It is commonly referred to as the "solid-axle" generation, as the independent rear suspension didn't appear until the 1963 Sting Ray

·Dirty Blue Audi TTS Roadster - Audi TT RS has a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with direct gasoline injection; it produces 250 kW (340 bhp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. The blazing five-cylinder engine enables the Audi TT RS to perform extraordinary feats.

·Dodge Viper SRT 10 - The Dodge Viper SRT10 is Dodge’s flagship supercar model. It is a two-door, two-seat vehicle based on the Dodge Viper. The Viper SRT10 originated in 2003 as a roadster boasting an 8.3 liter V10 producing a staggering 500 HP.

·Ferrari Enzo - The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes.

·Koenigsegg CCXR Edition - The Koenigsegg CCXR Edition is a limited edition of the Koenigsegg CCXR manufactured in 2008, only available by special order in a very limited run of 4 production models.

·McLaren MP4-12C - McLaren MP4-12C is a sports car set to be launched in 2011. The MP4-12C features a carbon fibre composite chassis, and will be powered by a mid-mounted McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine developing approximately 592 bhp (441 kW; 600 PS) and around 443 lb·ft (601 N·m) of torque. The car makes use of Formula 1-sourced technologies such as "brake steer", where the inside rear wheel is braked during fast cornering to reduce understeer.

·Pagani Zonda C12 F - The C12 uses a 7,010 cc (428 cu in) AMG–tuned version of the engine producing 550 PS (400 kW; 540 hp). It can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.7 secs, to 100 mph (160 km/h) in 7.5 secs and complete the quarter mile in 11.3 secs at 131 mph (211 km/h). The C12 S features an elongated nose, flaps at the rear for improved aerodynamics, and new light clusters and exhausts. Only fifteen 7.0 L C12 S cars were produced.

·Spyker C8-AILERON - The road going Spyker C8 Aileron is powered by an Audi 4.2 Liter V8 that produces 400 HP and accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 187 MPH.

·Wiesmann Roadster MF3 - The Wiesmann Roadster has been in production since 1993. It is a dynamic and powerful sports car, intended for enthusiasts looking for something a little different. It includes a 3.2 L, BMW M3 in-line 6 cyl Transmission, 6-speed manual, a max speed of 158 mph, 0-60 mph 4.9 seconds, 325 bhp horsepower @ 7400 rpm and weight 1180 kg, 2601 lbs.

Blade Kitten available now for download

I know I am a day late to the party but better late than never, amIright? Blade Kitten is available now on PSN, XBLA, and PC which features a cute but not so cuddle protagonist, Kit Ballard and her sidekick Skiffy on her quest to track down the scum of Hollow Wish.

Commercial or Trailer?

You make the call. Atari has provided the below video showing off the Aston Martin supercar to be appearing in Test Drive Unlimited 2. But my confusion after watching the video, was wondering where the financing and lease details were to purchase the car as it really didn't show any gameplay footage. I will admit, it is a nice car, but aren't they made by ford?

Test Drive Unlimited 2 takes you to Ibiza

This recent trailer shows your the tropical island of Ibiza in which you will be calling home as you race through cliffs, beaches, towns, seaports, and off road trails. This is looking to be a very good looking game and the soundtrack is proving to be just as spectacular with dance hits from such world renowned artists as Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, and more.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer has catchy song

We had previously posted on the recently announced sequel to Test Drive Unlimited. Well we have received the trailer for the upcoming racer and have posted it below. From what we are told, players will race exotic cars to earn money to live the playboy lifestyle every boy dreams of, consisting of buying houses, clothes, cars, and then customizing said car. It looks somewhat promising as it is scheduled for release Fall 2010 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

Atari is bringing back Test Drive franchise

Atari has recently announced that Test Drive Unlimited 2 will be hitting next gen consoles and PC this Fall. What that means is that we will be getting another racing title this year, but this time with Massively Open Online Racing, or M.O.O.R., according to Atari. This new feature places drivers in an online environment that allows you to compete, team up, and share achievements online. This title will also feature vehicle damage, weather effects, day/night cycles, and a new island to explore.

Register now for Star Trek Online closed beta

Atari has just announced that you, the uber Star Trek fanboy, can now
register for the closed beta of the upcoming Star Trek Online MMORPG. If
interested in signing up for the beta, visit, www.startrekonline.com, to
try and get in on this MMO that offers both space and ground gameplay.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game | Review

Synopsis: As part of the 25th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters film, gaming fans of the franchise will now have the opportunity to play as part of the team on the console of their choice. The game is written by the writer/actors that were a part of the original blockbuster hit and also sees support from the original cast members to help make this new pop culture sensation. The basis of the story is set two years after Ghostbusters 2, with Manhattan once again being consumed by the supernatural. You play as a new recruit working alongside the original team, with a variety of equipment and gadgets at your disposal to wrangle and trap phantasms gone awry.



Praise: This game is something adults and children alike can come to enjoy and even play together as long as you have two remotes and nunchuks. Even though the graphics strongly resemble a familiar Pixar movie about superheroes, the Ghostbusters feeling is there and just as enjoyable. The soundtrack and the voice acting are fitting to the flow of the game and is the same music found in the first and second Ghostbuster films. If you are unfamiliar with the movies, you can still enjoy the game while not be completely lost. The coop feature of the game does make playing the game more enjoyable when there are other people around.



Gripes: As the game starts, a tutorial walks you through the controls and objectives needed to complete the game. You look around with the remote and move with the nunchuk, however, the sensitivity of looking around is a little too much. It is too easy to spin too far, and then over correct yourself while trying to find objects and ghosts to scan. Luckily, you can use the “Z” button to lock on to ghosts, easing the issue of motion sickness while looking around. Lastly, the levels can be rather short, before having to watch long cut scenes leading into the next level.



Overall, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a fun, entertaining, and interactive addition to the Wii’s growing library. It is always fulfilling to throw a ghost against the wall, ceiling, and floor, before capturing it. Though the game has some minor quirks that can be frustrating at times, the voice acting and soundtrack teamed with the storyline are strong elements that help make this a solid and enjoyable game. Playing the game from start to finish only takes about five hours, but it is easy and still fun to go back to the game with a friend and play some levels on coop mode.

Mashbuttons.com gives Ghostbusters: The Video Game 7 out of 10

Ghostbuster: The Video Game for the Wii, hit store shelves on June 16th.

Ghostbusters: The Game provides us with release details

Atari has just announced their worldwide plans for the launch of the latest release Ghostbusters: The Video Game. The launch of the Game coincides with the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release along with the launch of the first Ghostbusters movie on Blu-Ray. I now dub June 16th...Ghostbusters Day!



The Ghostbusters game is written by the original writers, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd, along with using many of the original cast members. The plot takes the player to 2 years after the original story in Manhattan, once again being terrified by ghosts.Gamers play as a new recruit to the original team to capture the paranormal.



Ghostbusters: The Video Game is scheduled to be released on June 16th for XBox 360, Wii, Playstation 3, PC, and Nintendo DS. The PSP version is coming world wide in Autumn of 2009. For more information, please visit www.ghostbustersgame.com.

Atari listens, provides Race Pro update to race fans

Atari and SimBin has used the comments and feedback provided on their official Race Pro forum, and implemented a number of fixes within a title update to both multiplayer and single player gameplay.



Race Pro is a racing sim that was released in February, and being a die hard Forza 2 fan, looks like this may very well be my next racing title to pick up.

The fixes that the title update address are as listed below for those that currently have or looking to pick up:

MULTIPLAYER UPDATE

-Fixed bug causing the game to crash when 12 players have joined and left a multiplayer game

-Disallow connections to host if they are not waiting for players.

-Fixed the ”fast forward” / speed bug currently generating some unrealistic race times in leaderboards.

-Fixed problem with lap times being reported to the wrong leaderboard when moving on to the next track in multiplayer.

-Fixed problem of a player joining during session activation causing the client to get stuck in the loading screen.

-Fixed issue when creating a session with downloaded car and inviting a player that doesn’t have the car

-Fixed name of tracks on servers list when players do several sessions in a row

-Fixed incorrect race length value seen in game list screen

-Fixed transparent car that appears after un-pausing in multiplayer qualification

-Fixed the incorrect message that appears when attempting to access multiplayer without a gamer profile signed–in and if selecting Multiplayer with an offline gamer profile

-Set default host option of qualification to NO in multiplayer for players that have never hosted a game in Race Pro before

-New messages: Display some session info in-game so players can recognize where in the game they are

-New messages: Add a specific multiplayer loading tip showing 50% of loading time in player match only.

GENERAL UPDATE

-Fixed performance drop while driving over curb

-Improved deformation of cars

-Fixed hot seat start position problems

-Removed dangerous driving dialogues when entering loading screen

-Fixed crash when the player tries to enter the end pit driving backwards and wants to restart the race after the losing message

-Fixed some localization bugs

-Locked F3000 car #12 and unlocked the Corvette C5R since there is no contract for it in Career mode

-Fixed validation for replay files to allow replay files saved between year 2000 and 2099

-Fixed sound bug making Doppler effect of other cars sound corrupt in swing cam

-Fixed force feedback detection for wheels and slightly improved strength of force

-Adjusted the Seat Leon Extreme Tryout time

-Fixed sound bug making the rev sounds on some cars not transition smoothly (including Mini Cooper and BMW M3 GTR)

-Fixed sound bug with the force calculation of picking the correct collision sound

Who you gonna call? Xbox, Wii, both?

Call it a guilty pleasure, but I love seeing anything Ghostbusters in the subject line of e-mails from Atari. I wake up this morning and see the debut trailer for the Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the Wii.

Even though I have a Wii, the only game that has been in it for the past four months is Boom Blox, with the exception to House of the Dead: Overkill for a brief couple of weeks, this trailer may bring me back to the hours of enjoyment that I haven't had since Super Mario Galaxy.

After seeing this trailer for the Wii Ghostbusters game, I am torn as to whether this will be played on my Wii or the 360...decisions, decisions, decisions. Both?

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena | Review

Synopsis: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is available now on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. Escape From Butcher Bay, which many Xbox and PC gamers are familiar with, was the original Riddick game released by Starbreeze Studios, and is included in this release as a polished high definition revamp while including the gameplay that made the original so successful. Along with the original, for those of us that missed it the first time around, is another chapter to the Riddick Saga, Assault on Dark Athena, where you play as Riddick and have to escape from the Merc-ship, Dark Athena, which is led by Captain Rivas, and she is out for your bounty. The Chronicles of Riddick is a first person shooter with melee combat, which emphasizes on tact and stealth skills. Another feature introduced to the player this time around is a much anticipated multiplayer.

Praise: Because I have not played the original Escape from Butcher Bay, I am not complaining about the sixty dollar price tag whatsoever. The gameplay is extremely fluid and takes some time to learn and get used, but once you do, stealth killing prison guards and drones is a LOT of fun. We have seen voice acting in a lot of current games, but there is a superb cast in The Chronicles of Riddick which brings a strong Hollywood feel to the game that helps engross the player. The multiplayer games were quick to get into, fast paced, and had no lag for me. There were a lot of people online playing so there were full games readily available. I think one of my favorite things about this game is that both Butcher Bay and Dark Athena both had a unique aspect to the gameplay to them, and doesn’t feel like you are playing the same game with just an added chapter to it.

Gripes: The biggest problem a lot of gamers may have is that they are paying sixty dollars for a game that was released 5 years ago. I think a forty dollar price tag would have boosted sales for those that previously played through Butcher Bay. There are a few little glitches that were frustrating at times, but were so miniscule that they were easily forgotten. The difficulty of trying to see your enemies in the dark before you get “eye shine” made getting through the beginning of Butcher Bay taxing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed playing through Butcher Bay, then going on to Dark Athena, and finishing up with the six different types of multiplayer games to play online. Even though this is a remake of a five year old game, Butcher Bay is very polished in the form of high definition graphics and fast fluid gameplay. Adding a new episode to the game keeps gamers engrossed in the Riddick Saga, and multiplayer gives many fans something that they have been waiting for since the beginning.

Mashbuttons.com gives the Dishwasher 8.5 out of 10