Army of Two series

Army Of Two is one of EA's best game series. The games revolves around two men fighting through war, political turmoil, cartels, and a whole lot more. From the chaotic cinematic sequences to slow-mo action with blazing firepower, the game brings the player close to the action, as it feels like you are in a movie. If you decide not to pay attention to the gameplay, the stories from the games really are interesting. Honestly, why didn't they include the Army of Two series in the first place?

---

Which games do you believe should be on this list? Post your comments below, and thanks for reading.

Skate & Skate 2

You can't just include one Skate game. Even though Skate 3 is on EA Access, why didn't EA include Skate and Skate 2? The opposite of Tony Hawk games, they focus on the teenage, urban, indie skateboarding style. Basically, in the original Skate, it's pretty simple: you start at the bottom as an indie, and you work your way up to becoming the best by competing in contests and completing missions. In Skate 2, you get out of prison five years after the events in Skate to find that the city suffered from an earthquake, but the gameplay and challenges are still the same. If you're gonna include one game from the whole series, why not include all of them?

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

A sequel to Playground of Destruction, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames takes place in Venezuela, where the player is on a quest of revenge. The player embarks on a journey where he picks up contracts and earns money for weapons and accessories to take down a Solano. Along the way, the player can join or befriend the groups that he encounters. Even though you can lose the respect of certain groups, it's all about the contracts, completing the missions, and the payouts. While this sequel doesn't have the strong critical acclaim of the original, like the first game, it's still fun to play if you just want to blow up tanks, gunships, and oil rigs.

Alice: Madness Returns

The sequel to American McGee's Alice, Alice: Madness Returns sees the titular heroine in a traumatic state after setting her parents' home on fire and being sent to a psych ward. After getting the treatment she needs, she is released and placed in an orphanage. Still having hallucinations of Wonderland, she returns to Wonderland to find out that it's falling apart, and she must find out the truth. The game was an ultimate thrill ride for the player, packed with new features and weapons for Alice. The psychological horror game received mostly positive reviews, and this is an EA game that deserves to be included.

Brutal Legend

EA definitely has to include one of the best games that was ever made. Brutal Legend was a gem and one of the EA games that deserves a sequel. Not only was the story good, but it included some of the best heavy metal artists, such as Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy from Motorhead, Lita Ford, and last but not least, Jack Black as Eddie Riggs. It's the story of a roadie who was killed by a stage accident and wakes up in a heavy metal world where he joins a group to fight back against evil demons. This action/adventure game with strategy elements was definitely well received by gamers -- so much so that it even received the "Best Strategy/Simulation Game Award" by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Science.

In 2014, EA launched their gaming service exclusively for Xbox One, allowing Xbox gamers to download EA games at a discounted price. Even though EA has some great titles on there, they should have included these as well. Here are the five games that should be available in EA Access but aren't.

Music plays a huge part in most video games. Finding the right game that gets you moving is very important to music fans. There's many genres to choose from  these days but finding that perfect sound in a really fun game keeps music fans begging for more ways to jam out alone or with their friends.

Whats your favorite video game soundtrack? Let us know in the comments below. 

Beat the Game 

This indie-adventure created by Worm Animation allows the player to find sounds that bring about cut scenes as the story unfolds. Your character is equipped a Sound Scanner to help you track down sounds. Players will have to search the desert with a "Roboball" device for hidden objects within the game. 

Finding and creating sounds that you can bring together to perform a live show at the end of the game is an exciting experience for music lovers. This strangely beautiful game brings the player a chance to create many sounds and mixers to use in their show; it allows players to enjoy searching and finding characters to give them items to use. Music lovers could enjoy this mysterious game that brings music and adventure together in one twisted and alluring way. Get it for yourself or read GameSkinny's review of Beat the Game.

Price: $9.99

Purchase the game on Steam.

Electroplankton

Nintendo created another portable game for music lovers. The player gets to choose from a variety of monsters called Electroplankton, with the different monsters having their own unique sounds. By placing them together you can create an array of different sounds when you touch them.

Electroplankton can be a good game for music lovers. Especially if they are playing gigs. Music lovers could even create full albums of soothing - electronic music.

Price: $14.99

 Purchase Electroplankton here.

Jam Sessions

This on-the-go type of guitar player let's you play guitar by strumming the string on the screen of the Nintendo DS as well as selecting chords using the control pad.

The sound of the guitar is authentic, just like if you were playing a real guitar. Music lovers would really enjoy this portable games as it is an exciting way to play guitar.

Price: $6.65

Purchase Jam Sessions here.

Lips 

 Karaoke has been around for a long time. Every now and again people want to sing, even when they can't. Lips provides just that, in the comfort of your own home.

The game lets you sing pop, rock, and many more genres of music. Music lovers would enjoy this game because it lets you pick what you want to sing. The players have choices and everyone loves choices especially when it comes to music. We all have different preferences in music so why not enjoy what you like in your own home or with a group of friends. 

Price: $2.99

Purchase the game here.

Brutal Legend

This has got to be one of the most popular music games for RPG. This action-adventure brings the combat and open world freedom. The Demons want to take over the human race and to permanently erase heavy metal music forever.

The characters are played by an All-star cast like Jack Black and Eddie Riggs. This heavy metal action RPG is a music lovers dream. If metal is your forte, this game would be the perfect rock session for friends to enjoy together. Fighting demons and commanding the power of rock in exhilarating band battles will keep any music lover’s attention for hours.

Price: $14.99

Purchase this rock sensation on Steam.

GNOG

This visually stunning 3D game sends the player on a musical  and mechanically beautiful journey. GNOG takes you through a 3D world beyond the imagination. The player explores this mechanical toy land while enjoying the intricate designs and puzzles along the way.

The soundtrack is very playful and exciting. It really makes you want to dive deeper into the game. Because of how well the music flows with the gameplay, GNOG appeals to all sorts of music lovers. 

Price: $14.99

You can purchase this exciting music adventure here.

The Metronomicon

There's a lot of video games that are popular for making you get up and dance. Rock Band has been the most popular throughout the video game universe for just that, but there are many other video games that bring dancing and fighting together.

One of the best is The Metronomicon, dancing to a tune is one thing but fighting monsters with the power of music is something a lot more interesting to see. This funky-RPG lets you take control of eight newly graduated masters of the "rhythmic combat arts." Using four tracks at a time you can control the spells and other abilities of your eight characters. Good-timing and excellent performance will determine the effectiveness of those funky moves. 

The Metronomicon appeals to all types of players. Music lovers would enjoy the newest electronic and synth wave soundtracks, bringing exciting music to a groovy game would make anyone want to dance. The game also allows music lovers to use Rock Band guitars. This funkadelic RPG game would be a hit to music fans everywhere.

Price: $19.99

Buy it on: Steam

Most music lovers understand the importance of a good tune, but video game music lovers have their own taste in music whether its rock, electronic, or pop. Some have to actually enjoy the music as they play and indulge their ears in the beautiful tunes. Music lovers can enjoy a good game but the music has to grab their attention. If you're a fan of game soundtracks, then check out seven of the best games for music lovers.

Video games (just like movies) tell elaborate stories, build characters and use dynamic effects and shots. It's an immersive medium and before long, you're emotionally invested. You're right there in the game. Dialogue is such an important part of said immersion and (again just like movies) video games have fired off some awesome and memorable one-liners/quotes. Most of the time they're generic action and dramatic one-liners but every now and then, a little piece of gold finds its way out...

With that said, here are some of the funniest one-liners and quotes that are sure to put a smirk on that face of yours!

Duke Nukem Forever

The Duke

*Looks in the mirror*

"DAMNNN, I look good..."

Don't deny it. Whenever any of us played as the Duke, our inner narcissist couldn't be kept down for long and a smile slowly creeped its way across your face. How could it not after hearing that line? Then again, now that I think of it, I laughed at A LOT of his one-liners...

Portal

Portal P.A Announcer

"If you need to go to the bathroom after this next series of tests, please let a test associate know because in all likelihood, whatever comes out of you is going to be cold. Only temporary so do not worry. If it persists for a week though, start worrying and come see us because that's not supposed to happen."

Portal is jam-packed with sarcastic and humorous quotes/one-liners. It was hard to narrow it down but the P.A Announcer made me smile first. While GlaDos always holds a place in my heart, she won't be seen on this list.

Assassin's Creed II

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

"Your sister seemed quite satisfied with the 'handling' I gave her earlier."

Ahhh, the good-old mum and sister jokes. For being as old as they are, still pack quite a punch when used. Seriously, it hurts. Just look at how easily the Pazzis are angered when Ezio uses the above line on them! Ubisoft know this too and young Ezio is a typical, "your mum" kinda guy...

Left 4 Dead

Zoe

"Free copy paper? Sweet!"

What else could put your mind at ease when facing a zombie apocalypse? Guns? Water? Food? Defendable shelter? No! COPY PAPER! Left 4 Dead's Zoe shares STG's enthusiasm for the little things in a zombie apocalypse when she yells out her one-liner, in the copy room. Bless Zoe, you go girl.

Postal

Player

"Hey I'm just exercising my second amendment rights here, you fuckin' communist."

This insane game made absolutely no sense but who cares? The violence and gore made sure you never had a chance to think about that. What I did notice, however, was the player's one-liners. Most notably, the above one. My drink nearly came out of my nose when I heard this gem. Yep, apparently shooting and killing people is just exercising your right to... shoot and kill people? Otherwise, you're just a filthy communist aren't you?

South Park: The Stick of Truth 

Cartman

"If you have a fucking better name for them then fucking say it Clyde!"

There's something about Cartman spitting the dummy at people that's just so damn funny. He's everyone's favourite, evil, little shit. Stick of Truth was (finally) a fantastic South park game and the entire game made us here at STG lose ourselves laughing but when Cartman gets angry and says this to Clyde during the tutorial, it's hard not to laugh let alone smile.

Spec Ops: The Line

Robert Darden (The Radio Man)

"Geez man, where's all this violence coming from? Is it the video games? I bet it's the video games."

Yeah, I'm totally sure it's the video games and not the fact that you play as a highly trained, special forces soldier, trained to kill, dropped into unknown, enemy territory, are constantly attacked and have some tough decisions to make along the road. Definitely the video games...

Brutal Legend

Eddie Riggs

"Oh man... don't tell me I've been slaying hot girls this entire time!"

Eddie Riggs is your average, mediocre roadie who gets transported to a heavy metal dimension. Using his extensive knowledge of 'the metal', Riggs leads the inhabitants of this heavy metal heaven turned hell in a revolution against the dastardly General Lyonwhite. After seeing the face of one of his foes, Eddie immediately pauses mid-fight to ask himself the same question every man would. 

Marvel VS Capcom 3

Deadpool

*Everything he says in this game.*

We couldn't narrow it down with everybody's favourite merc, Deadpool. He's just too damn funny so instead we decided to just tell you to go out and play the game already! The great thing is when he actually talks to the player through the game and mentions the fact he knows he's in a fighting game. Absolute gold...

Sonic Colours

Sonic the Hedgehog

"No copyright law in the universe is going to stop me!"

This one made the list because it was unexpected, yet also feels personal. It transcends the game and touches on a real issue many gaming channels and platforms seem to suffer. You tell em', Sonic...

Uncharted 2

Nathan Drake

"Yeah good luck pal. That's almost impossible to... Oh, you did it... nice."

Nolan North is a great voice actor and the most recognised voice in gaming today. He does a fantastic job as Nathan Drake and can even get his disappointment and envy across the microphone. Being proven wrong is never funny but when you are, at least give the person credit. Real, genuine credit. Don't be like Nate, the jealous douche.

Assassin's Creed II

Mario Auditore

"It's a me, Mario!"

This joke is so old now but it seems to continue to get used. This one-liner was made famous by the super plumber himself and has been seen/heard/used almost everywhere in the world! It comes to no surprise that Ubisoft threw this little piece of chuckler homage in. I feel like I've heard this somewhere before...

Bulletstorm

Trishka Novak

"Yeah!? Go fuck yourself! You shit piles give chase, I WILL kill your dicks!"

Bulletstorm tough girl Trishka is a Final Echo mixture of sassiness and, well, extreme violence. You meet up with Trishka as she is getting sexually assaulted by one of the planet's denizens. Trishka can definitely take care of herself , as she proved as your companion in Stygia. You get the feeling she's got something to prove though and the one-liner she fires off above tends to prove it. Time to start working on your trash-talk Trish...

Conker's Bad Fur Day

The Great Mighty Poo

"I am the great, mighty, Poo and I'm going to throw my shit at you."

Now the line itself isn't actually that funny, but if you really want laughs then turn to a classic comedy method; turn it to song! The Great Mighty Poo serenades Conker on his Bad Fur Day (see what I did there?) and scored an ashamed little giggle from me. Guys really don't need much for comedy, do we?

Mortal Kombat

Boon & Scorpion

"Toasty!"

And:

"Get over here!"

The two most iconic one-liners that came from Mortal Kombat way back in the 90s secured their place in pop-culture, still being referenced and used today. These two quotes will ALWAYS wrestle a sub-conscious smirk from your face.

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby Wolf

"Urggh. This shit will kill ya'."

*Takes puff of his cigarette*

Bigby Wolf is the protagonist in Telltale's The Wolf Among Us. He's the tough, emotionally withdrawn, whiskey drinking, cigarette smoking, wise-cracking, bad-ass tasked with solving a series of murders of fairytale characters in 1986 Fabletown. Again, Bigby (short for Big Bad Wolf) has a lot of great one-liners that made us smirk. Soda will kills you but your cigarettes won't, eh Bigby? Classic fairytale irony at its best.

Far Cry: Blood Dragon

Sgt. Colt

"I fucking HATE tutorials and this one is TERRIBLE!"

The 80s have made a comeback everywhere and Far Cry: Blood Dragon is no exception. Blood Dragon is an 80s-induced trip back in time to Hollywood's sci-fi and action films. Sgt. Rex Colt is a cyber commando in the near future of 2007 in which a nuclear war has destroyed the globe. One typical 80s best friend betrayal later and a revenge plot is set in motion. We all dislike most video game tutorials as much as the next guy (or gal) and Colt confirms this notion. You go Rex...

That's it for this listicle! We hope you enjoyed the article and found a few things to entertain you. Please leave a comment with what you think is your favourite quote in video games and don't forget to check out our channel and links!

Adult Swim is a juggernaut of alternative entertainment. If it's weird or controversial and on television, you'll usually find it there. I'm a fan of a lot of shows that have come out on Adult Swim and I think some of them could see serious success as a video game.

So, here's 5 of my favorite shows on Adult Swim and what I would like to see them accomplish in game form.

The Venture Brothers

This show is a massive parody of Jonny Quest. It centers around Venture Industries -- a massive, multi-faceted corporation created by the late Dr. Jonas Venture Sr., who had a lust for adventure. He took his son, Rusty, on these adventures and traumatized him to such an extreme degree that he now lives in his father's shadow. Being the inheritance's of Venture Industries brings with it no end of villains wanting a piece of it -- which means endless trouble for Rusty, his sons Hank & Dean, and the bodyguards that try to keep them safe.

This series would probably do best as an action platformer -- something along the lines of Donkey Kong Country. You could play as Hank and Dean, running and jumping through locations featured in the show. The brothers aren't exactly the most capable fighters, so combat without items or power-ups would be nonexistent. You could even make it a total rip-off and have Brock appear as a vehicle like the Rhino, and give you bonuses for collecting all the letters to "Venture."

Squidbillies

Squidbillies is a show about hillbilly squids. That's really all that needs to be said about it. Take any stereotypical hillbilly or redneck thing you can think of, and this show cranks it up to ten. That could really work in its favor as a game. 

This in-your-face comedy would do really well as an arcade style beat-'em-up. Your four playable characters would be Early, Rusty, Granny and Lil. Early would be a longer ranged character, using his signature sawed-off shotgun. Rusty could be more of a quick brawler, using his adolescent agility and practice dodging Rusty's abuse to his advantage. Granny might be a slow, but heavy hitter -- inflicting massive damage with her walker. Lil could be a mid ranged control character, scratching enemies from afar with her nails and stunning them with a heave of her breasts.

Other characters would show up as bosses. Starting with Krystal, Early's one-time fling and Rusty's mother. Then maybe you could make your way through others such as The Sheriff, Deputy Denny, The Reverend, etc. 

Superjail

This is an easy one. Superjail is an over-the-top, gory comedy that takes place in a jail. Not just any jail though -- this one is Super, but not for any good reasons. It's super ridiculous, super out of this world, and super unpleasant for anyone who's done enough wrong to warrant being taken there.

I'd love to see this as a city building mobile game. Managing the chaotic jail and its deplorable inmates would be really fun -- like a much more entertaining version of Prison Architect. Keeping the inmates in line would provide a larger budget to improve the jail. Add some incentive to kill, maim or otherwise make the inmates' lives extravagantly awful...and I think you've got a game that's true to the show. 

Moral Orel

Moral Orel is show about a child named Moral who does everything he can to do right by God. The only problem is, God's word can be skewed in the eyes of an adolescent. Despite his good intentions, Moral usually ends up doing something wrong and being punished by his father. This is a tough one, but it's too good not to include on this list.

Since it's by far one of my favorite series Adult Swim has given us, I'd love to see this show reimagined as a game like Lisa. Take out any combat and make it a story-driven side scroller. Add the dark humor from the show with some player choices to determine the direction the game takes, and you've got something that could be pretty great. 

Metalocalypse

Perhaps one of the most popular Adult Swim shows, Metalocalypse is the brutal as hell story of 5 larger than life musicians. Imagine if the iconic status of figures like The Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and anyone else you can think of were all concentrated in one band. That's how popular the show's band Dethklok is. They're so well-known that an Illuminati type organization has to constantly stop them from changing the course of human history. Let that one sink in. 

This one is also a bit simple. We already have a game that tried this called Brütal Legend. Take everything that game has going for it and simply insert the characters from Metalocalypse in to it. Boom -- you have an awesome game. 

What other Adult Swim shows do you think would make awesome (and hilarious) video games? Let me know down in the comments!

1. Marle

Chrono Trigger

Boy, Chrono Trigger has a lot of things that could make #1 on a list, doesn't it? Well, here's another one: Marle, the marksman, cleric, ice mage, exiled princess, and greatest girlfriend in the video game universe. 

First of all, how cool is it that they made the healing party member have some sass in this game? In other games they always make the cleric be some gentle girly-girl, but not Marle: Marle is the rudest, boldest, and most vicious of the whole Chrono Crew. She'll back-talk dinosaur kings and shoot cosmic horrors in the face with nothing but her trusty crossbow. Or by dropping an ice mountain on it.

But that's not the reason she's the best girlfriend: the reason Marle Guardia is the best girlfriend of all time is that she climbed an Eldritch-spawn-infested demon-mountain from the future so she could bring her man back from the dead.

This game had the balls to actually kill off Crono, the main protagonist. Marle had the bigger balls to defy time itself to bring him back. It's a long quest line, and that mountain is hard as shit. But she was not only willing but driven to fight her past hordes of bosses, up a frozen post-nuclear mountain, and snatch her love from the jaws of the devourer of worlds. And afterwords, help you kill that ugly bastard. That is some love, dedication, and outright badassery. If I had a girlfriend and got blasted to atoms by giant deer-tick Cthulhu, my ass would stay dead. Because that girlfriend would not be Marle.

Honorable Mentions

Elena and Cloe, from the Uncharted series

Skylar Sinclair, from The Saboteur

Berri, from Conker's Bad Fur Day

Silvia, from the Viewtiful Joe series

Lucy and Nix, from Infamous 2

Anybody else? Who else is an awesome video game girlfriend?

2. Paula

Earthbound

You think Ness is the protagonist of Earthbound? And this cute little girl is his faithful JRPG healing sidekick? Ha! Brother, you've got it exactly backwards.  Ness is only there to keep her healed so she can annihilate her enemies with lightning and hellfire. Her's is the true face of the destroyer. She is Armageddon with a pretty pink bow. She makes the supposed boy protagonist look like a chump. Paula is awesome.

She's insanely brave too. She isn't just haplessly thrown into the adventure: she just realizes that saving the world is part of her destiny and goes with it. She doesn't even hesitate. She just says "Ness, let's go. We have a planet to save and I know just the crew for the job."

Think about that. Even if I had demigod-like powers at my disposal like Paula has, I would at least think twice about going on a giant globe-trotting quest like this. I would be pretty scared, even now as a grown-ass man. But never once does she lose her cool. How does she fit those balls under that dress?

 And on top of all of that, she knowingly volunteers to help Ness fight this.

3. Anya Oliwa

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Finally, BJ Blaskowitz meets a girl who's crazy about killing Nazis as he is.

In the main game she's already pretty great: she helps out with missions, intercepts messages, and makes loud, passionate love to our hero to the embarrassment of her friends. All admirable qualities as a supporting character.

But then we hear her collectible diaries, and we learn that before the events of the game she waged a one-woman war on the Nazis that makes Inglorious Basterds look tame. Entry after entry about cartoonishly violent Nazi murder, from running them over with her car to feeding them cyanide sausages. She is a walking Tarantino movie. Listen to them here: you will either be disturbed or, if you're like BJ, extremely aroused. They're perfect for each other.

4. Ophelia

Brutal Legend

As Eddie Riggs would say: "God, she's awesome."

As with everything in the Brutal Land, Ophelia is the heavy metal girlfriend amplified. She isn't just a chick with black fingernails and weird jewelry; she's a chick with black fingernails and weird jewelry that slays demons, rescues damsels, talks like a Viking, and tears the bones from wild motorcycle-pigs with her bare hands. And then uses those bones to make cannons for her battle-sisters. That's brutal. Just one more reason I totally want to live in Brutal Legend.

5. Juliet Starling

Lollipop Chainsaw

When Juliet finds Nick, her boyfriend, in this game, the first thing she does is chainsaw his head off and wear it on her belt like a Tamagatchi. She's a great girlfriend.

But yes, that boyfriend is still alive as a head and she's trying to find a way to bring back the rest of him with magic or something. I don't know, the game was too crappy to finish. But hey, that means that the girlfriend gets to be the protagonist for once! Now the girl is the one slaying zombie hordes by the bushel while the guy is a literal helpless hanger-on. He's pretty depressed and weirded-out at the whole experience, but he should be more grateful: she managed to save 1/7th of him, after all.

When we're talking about video games and their significant others, I really do mean significant: there is no overestimating the importance of a good love interest. Especially when these lovely ladies make their big, strong boyfriends look like wusses in comparison.

These are the Top 5 girlfriends who support, love, and destroy the weak alongside their guyfriends. And, often at the same time, make them their bitches.

1. King Caineghis

Fire Emblem series

You stick this man's hair and beard on a face--any face--and it is instantly king. Doesn't matter what kind of king. King of anything. Maybe king of everything. All I know is, no matter what your race, creed, or power level, you would do well to kneel before King Caineghis.

In his kingdom, the land is populated by people who can transform into giant saber-toothed weretigers, and they pick whoever's mightiest to be king. I like to imagine that when ol' Caineghis walked in all casual and declared himself king, they judged him worthy just because he looked so much like a damn lion. Who would argue with hair that awesome? That word is a tad overused, but I mean it this time: his hair fills me with awe.

Screw that talking boat guy: this is the REAL King of Red Lions.

Honorable Mentions:

Hugo, from Final Fight and Street Fighter series

Raiden, Metal Gear series

Darunia, The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time

Augus, Asura's Wrath

Bruce Wayne, Batman: Arkham City

Eddie Riggs, Brutal Legend

2. Lars Halford

Brutal Legend

Why hello there, heavy metal Jesus. You're looking godly this morning.

That PC master-race-looking marvel up there is known only as Lars, King of All Mankind. Because of course he is. I'm convinced. Aren't you? Are you seeing this man? Are you partaking in the feast of the eyes that is gazing awestruck at Lars' divine, angelic tresses, as I am? Who could look upon those golden curtains of majesty and NOT declare him king?

He spends the game fighting against the armies of General Lionwhyte, whose ridiculous super-powered hair graces the title image of this list. It is a just war: when it comes regal heavy-metal hair, there can be no pretenders. Follow his hair to glorious victory!

3. Dalton

Chrono Trigger

Even through pixels, his hair is majestic. For those of you with no imagination, I added the official art on the right.

That is a haircut fit for fearsome wizard-king of Dalton's caliber. It just goes with him. You see that cape? The cape is pretty cool by itself. You see that cascading waterfall of kingly locks across his mighty shoulders? That's awesome too. But there is something about the combination of flowing cape and hair that is just not to be f*cked with. Then you add the eyepatch and, well, it's time to go home. Just go home. You're not topping that.

Well, maybe except for...

4. Grayson Hunt

Bulletstorm

Gray has the exterior of a violent, drunken scoundrel, with the heart of an even more violent, drunken scoundrel. He's got about as much respect for the finer things in life as he does for unexploded human testicles. But his hair is perfect.

The guy is a potty-mouthed, murderous psycho who spends all day shooting the balls off of other murderous psychos, and somehow finds the time and patience to care for that luscious mane of his. How does he do it? Why does he do it? Heck if I know.

All I know is that the guy's whole life makes me jealous. He's a space marine and a space pirate. He has a cyborg sidekick. He gets to lay waste to a hell-planet full of mutant freaks and get paid for it. And to literally top it all off, he's got flawless Wolverine hair.

5. Guile

Street Fighter series

There are some legendary characters that are instantly identifiable even through their silhouettes. One is Batman's cowl. Another is Sonic the Hedgehog's quills. And still another is Guile's towering, majestic crew cut.

As one of our finest Americans, Guile knows that a war where you can't look good is a war not worth fighting. But Americans can't not fight wars; that's blasphemy! So Guile always looks good.

Lord knows it ain't easy: he's got an army of challengers to kick in the tonsils, and that'll give anybody flyaways. But curb-stomping fascists and destroying the ozone with hairspray is what Americans do best, and Guile is the real American hero.

Hey man, don't hate on a guy's hair just because it's fabulous.

You've got to respect a man who can maintain a standard of hair care that exquisite in a video game world. When you're fighting slimes, surfing through sewers, or somersaulting across Hyrule all day, it's hard to avoid getting a few split ends. This list is in honor of the happy few fellas who dare to look beautiful and kick ass at the same time. Because you're worth it.

1. Epoch, the Wings of Time

Chrono Trigger

It's pronounced "epic". And it is.

It started off as just a regular, wingless time machine built in the distant future by a mad time-travelling wizard from the ice age. That is already a more bizarre and awesome backstory than most living protagonists get. But then some shenanigans happen, the Epoch gets captured, outfitted with wings and jets before our heroes get it back, and all of a sudden you have the most incredible vehicle in gaming.

It flies, it's got lasers, and it travels backwards and forwards in time whenever you want it to. No other vehicle can top that. But what makes the Epoch truly great is that it's more than just a machine that does cool things; the Epoch is an unfathomable piece of technology that is not only implied to be magic, but to possess a mind of its own.

It never talks or gives any indication of an AI, but it does things when no one is around to pilot it. There's a scene where you wake up in a tent and are told the Epoch is waiting outside, as if it came there on its own. It's a mystery.

Even the other party members treat it like it's alive. When you start it up, the other members call it by name and cheer it on. If you choose one of the endings where you crash it, they mourn its loss. It even has its own theme song when it flies. It's not an object anymore, it's a character as much as the ragtag bunch that rides in it. Like any vehicle of requisite awesomeness, it's gained a semblance of a soul.

Honorable Mentions:

\n
• The Aurora, from The Saboteur
\n
• The Warthog, from the Halo series
\n
• The Arwing, from the Star Fox series
\n
• The Beluga, from Beyond Good and Evil
\n

Which ones would you pick? Let me know in the comments.

2. The Deuce (AKA The Druid Plow)

Brutal Legend

Forged from the exploded remains of the primordial fire-beast Ormagoden by the Titans of the Ancient World, and assembled with love by a guy named Eddie, the Deuce is the most hardcore automobile ever to shred the earth under its wheels.

Just look at the thing! It's got twin mini-guns on the front! And hillbilly hot rod flames! And an engine the size of a baby elephant!

And that's just the default loadout: you can give it everything from spiky death-metal armor and an even more ridiculous engine to flamethrowers and heat-seeking rocket launchers.

Imagine: you're tearing across the Brutal Land in all its excessive majesty, with flames pouring out of the side pipes as you hit the nitro boosters, guns blazing - all the while with glorious heavy metal blazing away over it all. Pure nirvana. Wait, no. That's not metal enough - more like pure Valhalla. Shiny and chrome. And screaming.

3. Samus' Gunship

Metroid Prime 3

All of Samus' ships are pretty cool-looking, but the one she's got in Metroid Prime 3 really stands out for the simple fact that you can actually use the thing.

In all the other games the ship is just a save station that sits in one spot and doesn't move. It was nice, but I never felt like my own personal star ship.

So I can tell you how awesome it was when you not only got to fly the thing from planet to planet like a real starship, but you could call it to come get you, make it carry stuff for you, outfit it with new gear and gizmos and stuff, and even call in airstrikes! Finally! That is the kind of stuff that an intergalactic bounty hunter's ship should have always been able to do! It made me finally take pride in it like it was my own. When the ship got attacked in-game, it was like I found out some jerk was keying my car.

That's why killing Hunter Ghor was so great. Nobody hurts my ship and lives.

4. SV-001 Metal Slug

Metal Slug series

See that tank up there? In the game, it's about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. It's a puny little gremlin of a tank that's barely big enough for one person. If that tank went to high school, all the Panzers and Shermans would laugh at it in the locker-room showers.

But once you leap inside and start rolling, you feel like an unstoppable behemoth.

One minute you're a squishy little commando that was dodging bullets and grenades, getting killed in one hit, angrily shoving your lunch money into the quarter slot and screaming at this cheap, addicting game for being cheap and addicting.

Then you find this thing just sitting there, waiting for a driver. You hop in. As you start rolling, you unleash torrents of blue Vulcan hellfire all over the screen. Anything that that fails to kill, you obliterate with 127 mm of explosive whoop-ass. You become a pint-sized apocalypse. It's beautiful.

5. King of Red Lions

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

It's a talking dragon boat. What more do you want?

To this day, I still get a feeling of boundless freedom when I hop in that little red boat and start jetting across the open sea. That's a rare feeling that a lot of games don't try to give you. And NO OTHER game lets you ride in a boat made of magical shape-shifting royalty. King of Red Lions is a guide and friend as well as a stylish mode of transportation. It's like Knight Rider with fairies and bird people!

Quick: what's man's best friend?

A dog? Hell no! Can you ride a dog? Or install a moon roof in a dog? Or drop some giant subwoofers in back? Maybe a disco ball and ocelot fur upholstery? If you can manage that with a dog...I salute you, you crazy person. Your deviance makes the world a better place.

No, if God had intended dogs to be man's best friend, he would not have invented video game vehicles.

Cars, boats, planes; no matter what form your ride takes, they're meant to make you look attractive and compensate for your slow, pudgy virtual meat-legs. Video gaming is a medium that laughs in the face of physics and good taste, so the sky's the limit on how cool the vehicles can be. But these five top them all.

To narrow the scope of this list, I limited it to small, personal vehicles that only seat a few people. Humongous ships like the Normandy don't count. Animal mounts also don't count. On with the show!

There you have it! Ten games which are candidates for great movies! Agree with my list? Disagree? Can you think of some games I overlooked? Sound off in the comments below!

At the very least, these would make for better movies than Super Mario Bros was!

No More Heroes

Ideal crew: Takashi Miike directing

I wrote not long ago about the great villains of the game. How could you read that or play the game and not want to see it on the big screen? Besides Killer 7, the game is arguably Suda 51 at his best with the ridiculousness on display. An otaku and former wrestler who comes in possession of a beam katana and sets out to become the world’s greatest assassin? Forget the Bioshock movie, make this!!!

Takashi Miike is probably the most prolific director working in Japan, having worked on nearly every type and genre of films. He has shown he is proficient in directing fantastic action films such as 13 Assassins and well as madcap, absurd antics with Ichi the Killer. He was born to make this movie.

Gabriel Knight

Ideal crew: Jennifer Kent directing and writing

Jane Jensen’s classic adventure game of a struggling, New Orleans-based horror writer discovering his heritage is a fan favorite and regarded as legendary in the gaming world. With a dark story, a great setting with the town of New Orleans, and stellar writing, the game has cemented its place in gaming history for a good reason.

The success of this one would heavily hinge on the visuals and how true the script stays to the source material. Jennifer Kent did wonders with her directorial work on The Babadook, giving the audience a sense of claustrophobia and an unshakable sense of dread even when film moved out into the sun. Given how deftly she handled the atmosphere in The Babadook, I think she’d be a strong candidate to direct.   

Sanitarium

Ideal crew: Guillermo del Toro writing and directing

Sanitarium is a classic of the horror and adventure genres. The game follows an amnesiac (cliché, but it works here) who seeks to find his identity and why the events happening to him are occurring. Players play through various creepy and skin-crawling scenarios in their search for answers. It’s brilliant stuff.

Guillermo del Toro has shown to be splendid with creating fantastical worlds with a dark edge along with great practical effects, monsters designs, and skin-crawling atmosphere. With his imagination at the helm of this production, nothing but good things could be the result. 

God of War

Ideal crew: Zack Synder or Tarsem Singh directing

The atrocities of Kratos the Spartan would be a great fit for the big screen. The games have the format and flow of a feature film already; so an adaptation would not be too hard to accomplish. Just keep the story and characters and bring them to life.

I realize this project is in the works, but the names attached to the film so far are not inspiring confidence. Zack Snyder’s surprise hit 300 showed the world he had a knack for visuals and directing memorable battle scenes.

Tarsem Singh delivered a feat for the eyes with Immortals, even if the story was rather dull. Either of these men at the helm could bring Kratos to the screen in all of his blood-soaked glory. 

Ninja Gaiden

Ideal crew: Gareth Evans directing

The Ninja Gaiden series is known for its relentless difficulty, in-depth combat systems, and bloody action. Any game in the series would be an excellent fit, but the reboot of the series for the original Xbox and sequel for the 360, might make for the best material. Since the series has a nonsensical story which makes Bayonetta look coherent and logical, the focus of the game has always been on the action. So the film should do the same. Have a story as a backdrop to set up the action and then have Ryu Hayabusa go to town on some nasty demons.

Gareth Evans has shown he is one of the best action directors around with The Raid series and Merantu, and he is capable of committing astounding scenes to film. Given the violent nature of the game and his films, he should be a great fit for this bloodbath of an action flick.

Brutal Legend

Ideal crew: Ralph Bakshi or Don Bluth animating and directing

Ah, Brutal Legend, what a unique title! The adventures of Eddie Riggs in the heavy metal inspired world were fun to play and behold. With scenery ripped straight from the metal album covers of old, imaginative enemies, and a very metal soundtrack, the game was a treat for metalheads everywhere. While it had issues, it was one of the most imaginative and unique games players could get their hands on.

Metal has already inspired animated films such as Heavy Metal, so an adaptation of Brutal Legend would not necessarily need to be live action. In fact, an animated feature might be able to more accurately portray the visuals of the game. Simply bring the entire cast from the game to do the voice work! DECAPITATIONNNNN!

To The Moon

Ideal crew: The duo of Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind would make for an excellent pairing. 

To the Moon not only has one of the best narratives in gaming, it also has the most touching love story in the medium. The tale of two scientists trying to help fulfill a dying man’s last wish will affect you on levels few other stories can. This is one of only two games to ever make me cry; a feat no movie has ever accomplished. A true achievement as far as I’m concerned.

With the duo of Kauffman and Gondry at work, this movie should be a knockout. Eternal Sunshine already bears many similarities to To the Moon, being a love story with a sci-fi twist. So long as Kauffman doesn't go too far into typical Kauffman territory and the game's original soundtrack is used, the film could be a real winner.  

Dead Space

Ideal crew: The Thing era John Carpenter or Alien era Ridley Scott

Dead Space was inspired by films such as the Alien franchise, Event Horizon, The Thing, 2001: A Space Odyssey, among countless others. Since the game series was inspired by sci-fi horror films, why can’t the game series itself be made into a film? More so than any other entry on this list, the foundation for this has been laid several times and is shown to work and be successful.

Dark, brooding atmosphere set in a derelict space vessel? Check. A slow buildup of exploring the ship to find out what went wrong? Done. Grotesque monsters done with practical effects? Of course. This formula has been done countless times, but the Dead Space universe and mythos adds some elements many of the films have not had.

Both Ridley Scott and John Carpenter’s recent films have been lackluster when compared to their earlier classics. However, if either could tap into the creative spark used for The Thing or Alien and had a solid script to work from, this film would be one for the ages. 

Bayonetta

Ideal crew: Edgar Wright directing and co-writing the screenplay

I will just say it, Bayonetta is the best action (spectacle action, character action, whatever you call it) game made. It’s also one of my favorite games. A badass woman kicking all kinds of butt onscreen has been done before, so why couldn’t Bayonetta be adapted for the silver screen? The game is a series of ridiculous, over-the-top engagements with all sorts of bizarre creatures, strung together with even zanier cutscenes, backed by a nonsensical story you can’t help but love.Most action movies simply use a simplistic narrative as an excuse for whatever is happening onscreen anyway.

The hardest part of the movie would be Bayonetta herself. The movie would need to ensure she stays the strong character that is in control of her sexuality and not just a shell of a woman being sexy doing crazy things onscreen (because that has been done to death).

Edgar Wright has shown he has a knack for sumptuous visuals, eye-catching scenes, and awesome action with his work on the Cornetto trilogy and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Bringing the extravagant spectacle of Bayonetta to life should be an easy task for the talented director. So have at it I say! 

Hotline Miami

Ideal crew: Adam Wingard or Nicolas Winding Refn directing with a script penned by Simon Barrett

Hotline Miami is one of the most violent games in recent memory, and turned a number of heads with its pixelated carnage. The game is fast and furious with a no-holds barred approach to its gruesome content.

However, the game was more subversive and instead of simply being violence for violence sakes, it had a deeper meaning about players enjoying this horrific content. So how can a game with a subversive message about violence be made into a film?

First off, the aesthetic has been nailed in both Drive and The Guest. Both are hyper violent films and even have the thumping 80’s beats to accompany the visuals. Both movies, especially The Guest, manage to feel dreamlike and otherworldly, which is a key part to the game. For the script, just make it a subversive take on violence in film. The scene where Don Juan and Richard (horse and rooster respectively) speak to Jacket and ask, “Do you like hurting people?” could be slightly changed to address the viewer and hopefully raise some questions.

Let’s face it: movies based on video games are usually horrendous. While a lot of it has to do with the scripts, directors, cast, etc., many of the problems can be boiled down to two core issues:

1.) The movie makes something from nothing (Super Mario Bros.)

2.) The movie ignores what is established to do its own thing (DOOM, Resident Evil)

With the Warcraft adaptation looming on the horizon, I'd like to propose ten games which would make for better flicks (provided the people involved are not Uwe Boll or Paul W.S. Anderson).

I’m an avid player of indie games. Some of my favorite titles come from independent developers. (I’m looking at you, Stanley Parable.) I’m also primarily a PC gamer, which means a lot of my games, especially my indie games, are digital copies. While it’s nice to open my Steam library and scroll through all those game names, I often find myself wishing for physical copies. Because an expansive Steam library is a lot like an expansive shelf of torrented movies: it’s super convenient, but it doesn’t have the same “presence” that a shelf full of cases does. Aside from looking really impressive, a collection of physical copies is also a great conversation starter. I’ve made more than a few friends by noticing games on their shelves.

Enter the IndieBox.

It’s a new service that’s a little like LootCrate for indie games. Starting at $19.99 (plus S&H) a month, you get a boxed version of highly-rated indie games with a few extra goodies inside. I got to peek at two of these boxes: one for Brütal Legends by Double Fine, the other for SteamWorld Dig by Image & Form. And neither box disappointed.

Unboxing

The outside of one box had been signed by the IndieBox team, and the other had a big, silver-sharpie heart drawn on the underside of the top flap. Inside both boxes were smaller, limited-edition boxes for each game – which I learned later were hand-designed by the IndieBox team. The artistic choices for these boxes were very different from each other, and both fit the overall aesthetic of the game remarkably well. The boxes looked like they should have held a series of installation disks, but instead they were packed with all sorts of collectibles and an IndieBox newsletter. Here are the other goodies that came in each box:

Brütal Legends

• Soundtrack and installation CDs
• Instruction manual
• “Exclusive Backstage Pass” (a lanyard with a “Crew” badge)
• Specially-designed guitar pick
• IndieBox newsletter #2
• Leather-scented “Deuce” air freshener
• BL-inspired IndieBox sticker

SteamWorld Dig

• USB Drive with DRM-free installation files
• Original soundtrack CD
• Instruction manual
• SteamWorld playing cards
• Tumbleton welcome sign
• Indiebox newsletter #3
• SteamWorld-inspired IndieBox sticker

The SteamWorld Dig box was also supposed to come with a heavy-duty Gargantuan Pouch, but a delay in shipping forced the IndieBox team to choose between shipping the whole box late and shipping it without the pouch. IndieBox chose the latter, so the pouches were shipped separately.

The Revival of the Instruction Manual

Perhaps my favorite inclusion in each box was the instruction manual. Some of you may be too young to know this, but all games used to come with instruction manuals. These manuals often had maps, art, and other neat stuff inside of them. Instruction manuals are another thing that I really miss about physical game copies.

The manuals inside each box felt just like the ones from games I’d play when I was younger. They each had cool artwork, neat fonts, character photos, and helpful diagrams and tips. (They even had a few extra pages for notes – remember those?) The manuals added just a hint of nostalgia to each box. They didn't just feel like physical copies, they felt like the kinds of physical copies that abounded when physical was the only option. 

Good Quality & Better Art

During my unboxing, the first thing I was struck by was the quality of the items. Each one felt sturdy and well-made – easily the same quality you’d expect from AAA merchandise or a service like LootCrate. The SteamWorld Dig playing cards felt just as good as the decks I’d buy in a store. And the Brütal Legends lanyard is the same quality as one I got for ten bucks in a university bookshop

Each item also had a custom design, so no two things in the box had the same artwork. These pieces of art adhered to a well-structured visual theme for its respective game. The SteamWorld Dig box had a Western theme, so there were a lot of warm, sandy colors. The aesthetic was a clever mix of cogs and mechanical details with fonts that would be well-suited to a saloon’s “Wanted” poster. The Brütal Legends box was much darker, featuring lots of black/white contrasts, stained with hints of red. Hellish creatures and blazing fires abounded. The IndieBox team even revived an original piece of art from the five-year-old game to use on the Crew badge. Both boxes reflected an incredible amount of effort and attention to detail.

Verdict

Overall, I’m really impressed with both these boxes. In the realm of quality and design, IndieBox is right on par with the merchandise from AAA stores and similar goodie-bag services. In fact, I’d be willing to argue that IndieBox surpasses those distributors in some regards, because they spend so much time choosing the items and creating brand-new artwork for the games. The IndieBox team is clearly trying to honor these games with their designs, and their efforts are paying off. Each item felt like it could have been part of an original collector’s edition.

Is IndieBox worth the monthly cost? Absolutely. These boxes are well-thought-out and beautifully executed. Not only do they contain great indie games, they also have soundtracks, high-quality collectibles, and limited-edition art. That’s a ton of stuff for around $20 – a lot more than I expected to get, honestly. I would definitely recommend giving IndieBox a try. It would also make a great gift for beloved gamers this holiday season.

Subscriptions come in sets of 1, 3, or 6 months. You can also buy past boxes from the IndieBox Store. Check out their website for more information on previous and upcoming boxes, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates and photos from the IndieBox team.

Indie Box announced today that their newest box will feature a Limited Edition PC version of Double Fine's heavy metal adventure game Brutal Legend. 

What is Indie Box? 

Indie Box is a physical subscription service (think LootCrate) which ships limited edition boxed versions of indie games monthly. They're a relatively new service, and last month shipped out a secret mystery box -- Vlambeer's Luftrausers. A boxed version of that game is still available through the Indie Box website.

What goes into an Indie Box? These boxes are "retro style" game boxes with game specific artwork, a DRM free copy of the game (the Luftrausers bundle came with a special USB device that featured the game rather than a CD), full color manuals, soundtracks, posters and other collectible items. 

This month's box, which you can subscribe to for the monthly rate ($14.99 + $3 shipping and handling) until October 22 features Brutal Legend, a game about a hard working heavy-metal roadie (played by Jack Black) who gets transported to a metal-lovers paradise, populated by rock icons like Ozzy Osbourne. 

For more information, check out the Indie Box website. 

Most can agree that anything done by Tim Schafer is a winner in any book. Brutal Legend is no exception. This third-person action-adventure game by Double Fine Productions and Electronic Arts for Xbox 360 and PS3; it's just plain fun.

Tim Schafer was inspired to create the game from his own past musical experiences. The game features the character of Eddie Riggs, voiced by and modeled after Jack Black, a roadie who is transported to a fantasy world inspired by the artwork of heavy metal album covers. Eddie becomes the world's savior, leading the humans against a range of supernatural overlords using a battle axe, his Flying V guitar that can tap into the magical powers of the world, and a customizable hot rod.

The game also features voices of real-life heavy metal musicians including Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford and other celebrities such as Tim Curry, as well as more than one hundred metal songs selected by Schafer for inclusion in the game. It's definitely worth playing for its humor and music love.

Team Fortress 2 is a team-based, multi-player FPS video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is a sequel to the original mod Team Fortress. It was first released as part of the video game compilation in The Orange Box for PC, Xbox 360, and then later on PS3.

Team Fortress 2 focuses around two opposing teams, Reliable Excavation & Demolition (RED) and Builders League United (BLU) competing for a combat-based principal objective. These characters are hysterical in every way possible, which is why it makes it a must-play on my list. I'll only share a few.

Characters and Classes:

\n
• The Scout: a fast-talking, cocky, baseball fan and street runner from Boston, Massachusetts, who practiced running to "beat his maddog siblings to the fray."
\n
• The Pyro: a mentally unstable pyromaniac of unknown origin or gender, completely clad in a fire-retardant suit and a voice-muffling gas mask.
\n
• The Demoman: a black, one-eyed Scotsman who drinks heavily and hails from Ullapool, Scotland.
\n
• The Heavy: a stereotypical Russian character originating from the USSR, heavy in both figure and accent. Obsessed and affectionate with his guns,  and he loves his enormous mini-gun that he affectionately refers to as "Sascha".
\n
• The Medic: a German doctor from Stuttgart with little regard for the Hippocratic Oath, responsible for keeping his teammates alive. He keeps doves as pets, one of which is named Archimedes.
\n

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts. It was the second game of the Monkey Island series, following The Secret of Monkey Island.

The game centers on the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood. After defeating ghost pirate LeChuck in The Secret of Monkey Island, little is known of what happened between Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley. The sequel involves Guybrush's attempts to find the mysterious treasure of Big Whoop.

Characters:

\n
• Guybrush Threepwood: The protagonist, a "mighty pirate" and thrill-seeker
\n
• Elaine Marley: Governess of Booty Island and Guybrush's love interest
\n
• LeChuck: The antagonist, Guybrush's sworn enemy
\n
• Largo LaGrande: LeChuck's old first mate whom Guybrush must overcome
\n
• "Voodoo Lady": A mystical woman who assists Guybrush on his journey
\n
• Wally B. Feed: An eccentric cartographer
\n

A lot of the humor in this point-and-click adventure game are the lines, references, and music to many of the LucasArts films found throughout the entire game. They are well placed and in good fun.

I didn't know what to expect when I first heard about this game, but I'm glad I played it. Castle Crashers is a side-scrolling, beat 'em up game developed by The Behemoth and Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360, PC and PS3. The game is set in a fictional medieval universe in which a dark Wizard steals a mystical gem and captures several Princesses. Four Knights are charged by the King to rescue the Princesses, recover the jewel, and bring the Wizard to justice. Simple enough, right?

This cartoon marvel is funny, and I mean it. The four Knights encounter several enemies along the way which include other Knights, multiple encounters with a cyclops, a giant "cat-fish," and alien invaders! You can also find animal companions for your character that assist you in battle, improve your character's attributes, or provide another special ability such as increased treasure earned from defeated foes. The game supports cooperative gameplay for up to four players, either locally or online.

I highly recommend this game more than anything. The mini-games are just as fun. Don't let the cartoon look fool you though, since you are chopping off heads!

Bulletstorm is a first-person shooter game made by People Can Fly, Epic Games, and Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. The game is known for its sense of style and humor by rewarding players with points for performing increasingly insane and creative kills. Bulletstorm doesn't have competitive multi-player modes, but does have a cooperative online play as score attack modes.

The game focuses on combat using firearms and melee attacks. There are various firearms available. The game places heavy emphasis on kicking enemies and using the energy leash. The game's unique features is the "skillshot" gameplay system. It rewards the player for killing opponents in the most creative and destructive ways possible. This can be from killing an enemy in mid-air, to pushing an enemy into a carnivorous plant, or executing an enemy after shooting him in the testicles.

The more complicated or unusual the skillshot, the more points players acquire. The points are used to purchase weapons and upgrades. The weapons are unlocked at set points throughout the game, and after a weapon has been "re-armed" by purchasing it, a "charge shot" for the gun is unlocked at another set point. The humor is in the names the game comes up with for these skillshots and the lines said by the characters throughout the game.

Deadpool is an action comedy beat 'em up game based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The game is developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Former Deadpool comic writer Daniel Way (one of my favorites) created the game's plot, and Nolan North voices Deadpool. The game is true to Deadpool's humor and to the comic series.

As Deadpool progresses, new combos become available. The 'M' rated game breaks the fourth wall, and Deadpool verbally interacts with the player based on skill and progress. Deadpool is armed with both guns and swords. He can also access giant hammers, plasma guns, and a range of other alternatives. A small number of teleportation moves are possible as well. As he slowly falls apart while sustaining damage, players must avoid further damage in order to recover.

The humor in this game is nothing short of what we expect from Deadpool and you won't be disappointed in that regard.

South Park: The Stick of Truth is an outrageous, hysterical RPG by Obsidian Entertainment in collaboration with South Park Digital Studios and released by Ubisoft for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

True to the American adult animated television series South Park: The Stick of Truth follows The New Kid, who has moved to into town and becomes involved in a role-play fantasy war involving humans, wizards, and elves, fighting for control of the all-powerful Stick of Truth. The game quickly escalates out of control, bringing them into conflict with aliens, Nazi zombies, and gnomes, threatening the entire town with destruction.

The humans are led by Wizard King Cartman who make their home in the Kingdom of Kupa Keep (a makeshift camp built in Cartman's backyard). Among them are:

\n
• Paladin Butters
\n
• Thief Craig
\n
• Cleric Token
\n
• Clyde
\n
• Tweek
\n
• Kenny--who dresses as a princess
\n

The humans' rivals are the Drow Elves, who live in the Elven Kingdom (Kyle's backyard) of King Kyle.

Among them are:

\n
• Warrior Stan
\n
• Jimmy the Bard
\n

The game also features all the classic South Park characters:

\n
• Randy Marsh (Stan's father)
\n
• Mr. Garrison
\n
• Jesus
\n
• Mr. Mackey
\n
• Al Gore
\n
• Mr. Slave
\n
• Sentient turd Mr. Hankey
\n
• Stan's Uncle Jimbo
\n
• City Wok owner Tuong Lu Kim
\n
• Terrance and Phillip
\n
• Underpants Gnomes
\n
• The Goth kids
\n
• The Crab People
\n
• Timmy
\n
• Scott Malkinson
\n
• Kevin Stoley
\n

I promise this is a game for fans of South Park and doesn't leave any details of the show out. Everywhere are hidden memories from past episodes. This is NOT a game for kids. If you're looking to laugh your a$$ off, this is definitely the game for you.

The Portal series is a gem! Portal is a single-player first-person puzzle-platform video game developed by Valve Corporation. The game was released as a bundle package called The Orange Box for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Portal 2 is the sequel to the incredible Portal (2007) for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and PS3 which allowed for co-op.

The games are comprised of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player's character and simple objects using the "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device", a device that can create interspatial doorways between two flat planes. The player's character is named Chell, and she is challenged by an artificial intelligence named GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System) to complete each puzzle in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, using the portal gun with the promise of cake and counseling when all is completed. The game's unique physics allow momentum to be retained through portals, requiring creative use of the portals to maneuver through the test chambers.

In Portal 2, players take on the role of Chell once again in the single-player campaign, as one of two robots--Atlas or P-body--in the cooperative campaign, or as a simple humanoid icon in community-developed puzzles. The game includes a two-player cooperative mode. Both player-characters are robots that can control separate portal guns and can use each other's portal. The color scheme is different for each character. One is blue and purple, the other orange and red.

These games are at the top of any gamer's list when it comes to hardcore fun. GLaDOS is a character all her own with every sarcastic remark that makes you want to scream "BI$#%!" The other characters in Portal 2 are just as funny and when in co-op mode playing as Atlas and P-Body is quite amusing. These are a must-play to any list!

What can I say about the Borderlands series? Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are truly fantastic games and are among my favorites just from the characters alone. Thank you 2K for Claptrap!

Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are both action RPG first-person shooter games by 2K Games and Gearbox Software for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Each game centers around the player selecting one of four characters (Borderlands 2 gives us bonus characters) known as Vault Hunters, each having unique special skills and proficiencies with certain weapons.

In Borderlands we meet:

\n
• Mordecai the Hunter
\n
• Roland the Soldier
\n
• Lilith the Siren
\n
• Brick (a Berserker)
\n

In Borderlands 2 we meet:

\n
• Axton the Commando
\n
• Maya the Siren
\n
• Salvador the Gunzerker
\n
• Zer0 the Assassin
\n
• Gaige the Mechromancer
\n
• Kreig the Psycho
\n

In Borderlands we meet characters we love (Dr. Zed, Mad Moxxi and Claptrap) and along with the old; meet some new ones in Borderlands 2--Tiny Tina is one of my favorites! The DLCs are fun, hysterical and tough. They don't make it easy for you, so be sure to bring along a friend or two.

We all love our video games, and there is nothing better than a game that has us in stitches from laughter. Here's a list of 10 games that are guaranteed to make you laugh while enjoying great game time.

Conker: Live & Reloaded is a hilarious action-platform game developed by Rare and exclusively released for the original Xbox in 2005. The single player mode is a remake of the 2001 game Conker's Bad Fur Day for the Nintendo 64 that includes new stages. This includes a new multiplayer mode utilizing Xbox Live. Multiplayer consists of different game modes such as Capture the Flag or the standard Deathmatch modes.

Conker is full of fun, crude behavior, booze, funny songs and great characters that'll leave you in stitches from all the laughter.

The popularity and interest in video game music is growing, especially with symposium like Game Music Connect having launched in London last year. PAX East 2014 is continuing this trend by dedicating an entire panel session to explore the medium of writing music for video games at this year's expo.

PAX East announced the panel line-up, which includes composers of hit video games such as Bioshock, Mass Effect 3, God of War, and Fallout. The scheduled session will take place at the PAX Condor Theatre on Saturday April 12th at 12:30pm.

Band of Brilliance

The panel will include:

• Peter McConnell (Broken Age, Psychonauts, Brutal Legend)
• Billy Martin (Rayman Legends, Rayman Origins)
• Mark Morgan (Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout: New Vegas)
• Tom Salta (Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)
• Gary Schyman (Bioshock, Bioshock II, Bioshock Infintie)
• Cris Velasco (Mass Effect 3, Borderlands, Borderlands 2)

These "maestros of video games" will take the time to talk to expo goers about their experiences in the industry, and divulge the finer points of their writing and scoring music for video games. If Game Music Connect is anything to go by, the session will be incredibly interesting.

Charing the session will be Emily Reese, host & producer of Minnesota Public Radio's "Top Score" podcast. Attendees will also receive a free soundtrack sampler courtesy of Sumthing Else Music Works, who publish a staggering amount of video games soundtracks for public purchase. There will also be a meet and greet and signing session with the composers after the session.

A while ago, we pondered the sincerity of Xbox One's dedication to indie games and if they'd be able to claim a significant share of the market given Sony's head-start, as there was a grand total of 0 indie games at launch. 

However, Microsoft now look like they're putting their money where their mouth is by announcing a long and non-exhaustive list of developers that they already have on board to work with them.

On The List

The list so far includes no less than 32 developers who are confirmed as on-board Microsoft's indie initiative, ID@Xbox. Some of these include some well know indie developers, such as; Double Fine, the studio behind the cult titles Psychonauts and Brütal Legend; Drinkbox, makers of smashing Guacamelee; Halfbrick, the studio behind slash-tastic mobile game Fruit Ninja; and Definition 6, who have been causing excitement with their title Spy Party.

But it does looks like Microsoft are being a tad liberal with their definition of "indie" by including Crytek, makers of Far Cry, Crysis, and Xbox One launch-day title Ryse: Son of Rome. Their presence, however, is because they're going to be "self-publishing". But it's not like they're as strapped for resources as other developers, so can they really be classed as "indie"?

There's also some talk about Crytek picking up some smaller developers and getting them on board with them. But as ID@Xbox has always been pushed as a scheme to get indie games directly onto Xbox One without a publisher's help, such a position seems that of a needless third party. Not that we're chiding Crytek, it just does seem a bit odd that their stance within this indie scheme is one that's being touted at this stage.

Double Fine, too, is a studio that, depending on your point of view, is less indie than most and will forever be a moot point on what defines an independent studio.

But for the most part, the majority of the list is definitely indie, and it's really great that Microsoft are finally putting the wheels in motion for what was a big part of their pre-launch rhetoric.

Smoke, But No Fire

The list of 32 studios is part of a larger 50 developers that Microsoft have already approved to give dev kits to: two Xbox One kits, and a free Unity Pro licence. But despite the length of this list, there's very few titles that have been actually been announced. Although all studios say they're "working" on something, there's few firm confirmation of actual games.

Indeed, some of the developers themselves are being very couched about what they're working on and their future with Xbox One. On Eurogamer, Chris McQuinn of Drinkbox is quoted as saying,

"Can't quite say a whole lot at the moment, mainly because we're not too sure ourselves. But, I can confirm that we are working on a Xbox One title. As for working with Microsoft, well, it's still really really early, so get back to me in a few months on that question."

This is very different tone compared of the quote the studio is attached to in the official Xbox One press release, where Graham Smith is quoted as saying,

"Our experience with the ID@Xbox program has been great so far. As an independent developer, we're very excited to have an opportunity to self-publish on the Xbox One!" 

Zen Studios have also been unable to announce any title, even though they've recently pushed out news about their upcoming Zen Pinball 2 on the PlayStation 4. It looks like developing for the Xbox One isn't exactly their first priority, raining a little on Microsoft's parade.

Non-Exclusive

Microsoft have also announced today that they're withdrawing exclusivity clauses for indie developers getting on board. This is a great for indie devs as it mean they no longer have to worry about dedicating themselves to one console for any period of time. This could also make more indie devs come forward to apply for the developer kits. Yet this does smack a little of desperation in trying to get more studios on Microsoft's side.

Watch This Space

Taking into account all of the above, we're still not convinced about Microsoft's potential to eventually compete at the same level as Sony. But at least they now appear to actually be doing something which could still turn the tide yet.

Hey everyone! Welcome to this week's edition of the GameSkinny News Roundup, where each week we discuss the latest in gaming news.

This time we have Lui, Ernesto, Ian and Ryan joining us.

What We Talked About:

• The fine folks at Valve have announced Steam Family Sharing will be coming out for the platform where you can share your library of games with up to 10 other people.
• The new Humble Indie Bundle 9 - this bundle looks amazing and can only get better!
• Sony's recently announced new Vita model and the Vita TV.
• The newly revealed iPhone 5S and 5c.
• Microsoft's rumored new Siri-like assistant - "Cortana"
• We also talk about all of those leaked GTA V spoilers (especially that map, it's huge!)
• Our thoughts on the fact that FFXIV will be free on PS4 for those who currently own it on PS3
• The awesomeness of the latest FFXIV update (a bit of relief from gilsellers, woo!)
• As well as a bit of new Pokémon X&Y news
• Lastly we wonder who would be willing to cough up $100k for an ultra rare Pokémon card.

Due to members going back to school and changes in work schedules we will be moving this weekly subcast to coincide with the main podcast. Starting this coming week we will be recording on Wednesdays so be sure to watch! This week's episode was recorded on Friday, September 13, 2013 at 9:00 PM EST.

Thank you for watching! As always, if you have anything you would like us to change or add, please let us know in the comments below!

This week's recap was brought to you by Ryan.

The Humble Indie Bundle 9 is now out with six awesome games. The games include, Trine 2: Complete Story, Mark of the Ninja, Eets Munchies, and Brutal Legend. If you pay over the average amount then you can also get Fez and FTL: Faster Than Light. If you wanted to you could buy all these games separately, but it would cost you about $120. So, take advantage of this deal because the bundle lets you name your own price! An added bonus that will make many people happy is that with a purchase of more than a $1 will get you Steam keys for each game. Don't forget you can also have the money donated to charity, which is a really good benefit.

Fez

Lets talk about the adorable game Fez. In this cute game you play as Gomez, who finds a magical fez that lets him rotate his world! Having a magic fez that makes the 2D world 3D is fun, but his world is collapsing and you need to help him restore it by using the magic fez.

Eets Munchies

Eets Munchies is puzzle game about helping the adorable Eet eat cake. The main goal is to eat the cake at all costs. Help Eet through different levels and make sure he gets his cake. You can even edit some levels to make then how you want if you feel they are to hard or easy.

Trine 2: Complete Story

Trine 2 is a magical side-scrolling action-puzzle platformer. You will need to use a wizard, knight, and thief's abilities to complete puzzles and defeat evil creatures. Play with 2 other friends in co-op mode or play by yourself and switch between characters.

Mark of the Ninja

In this side-scrolling stealth game, you must learn different techniques and arm yourself with distractions and attack weapons. Use darts, grappling hooks, and noise makers to distract guards and sneak around. Will you kill all the guards or sneak by them? The choice is yours.

Brutal Legend

In Brutal Legend you will play as roadie Eddie Riggs, as you lead a band of rocker minions to kill some demons. Prepare to experience larger-than-your-head biceps, and an awesome electric guitar that spits white lightning and plows through anything in your way.

FTL: Faster Than Light

In this strategy game you are the captain of a spaceship that is delivering critical intelligence to the Federation while you are being chased by rebels! Manage your crew through life or death situations and one-on-one ship combat. Make sure your crew does not die, since they can die from lack of oxygen, fires, or shots from tons of different kinds of weapons. Each scenario is random, so it ensures new surprises and challenges for all who play.

Don't miss this awesome deal to get these six amazing games before time runs out!