NEWS: Murdered: Soul Suspect Achievements Revealed

All of the achievements have been released today, making up for a total of 1000 GS.

Xbox Achievements has posted all 48 achievements which are available to obtain in Square Enix's upcoming detective thriller; Murdered: Soul Suspect, which is to hit shelves June 3 in North America and June 6 throughout Europe on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.

See below for a complete list of achievements and the gamerscore to be awarded, but be warned - spoilers may be included in some of the titles and descriptions.

Collector 1 (10G)

Collected an artifact.

Collector 10 (10G)

Collected 10 artifacts.

Collector 25 (10G)

Collected 25 artifacts.

Collector 50 (10G)

Collected 50 artifacts.

Collector 75 (10G)

Collected 75 artifacts.

Collector 100 (10G)

Collected 100 artifacts.

Collector 150 (10G)

Collected 150 artifacts.

Collector All (125G)

Collected all of the artifacts.

Ronan's Story (10G)

Learned about Ronan's life.

Baxter's Story (10G)

Learned about Baxter's life.

Rex's Story (10G)

Learned about Rex's life.

Cassandra's Story (10G)

Learned about Cassandra's life.

Julia's Story (10G)

Learned about Julia's life.

The Bell Killer's Story (10G)

Learned about the Bell Killer.

Salem's History (10G)

Discovered Salem's history.

The Witch Trials (10G)

Discovered information about the witch trials.

Codex (10G)

Discovered the meaning of the supernatural graffiti.

A Watery Grave (20G)

Uncovered the Watery Grave ghost story.

The Bell Tower Banshee (20G)

Uncovered The Bell Tower Banshee ghost story.

The Stalwart Specter (20G)

Uncovered The Stalwart Specter ghost story.

The Heirloom (20G)

Uncovered The Heirloom ghost story.

Man in the Box (20G)

Uncovered the Man in the Box ghost story.

Terror on the Tracks (20G)

Uncovered The Terror on the Tracks ghost story.

Ashes to Ashes (20G)

Uncovered the Ashes to Ashes ghost story.

Eternal Flame (20G)

Uncovered the Eternal Flame ghost story.

Discover Remove (10G)

Used Remove for the first time.

Discover Reveal (10G)

Used Reveal for the first time.

Possess the Cat (10G)

Possessed the Cat.

Mindreader (10G)

Used Mind Read for the first time.

Poltergeist (10G)

Used Poltergeist for the first time.

Interrogator (10G)

Interrogated a ghost for the first time.

Exorcist (20G)

Defeated a demon.

Investigator (10G)

Completed the first investigation.

Teleporter (10G)

Teleported for the first time.

The Missing Body (20G)

Helped Ingrid find peace.

Amnesia (20G)

Helped Julie find peace.

Carnage (20G)

Helped Brad find peace.

Scorned (20G)

Helped Katy find peace.

10 Secret Achievements

9 X 25G

1 X 150G

NEWS: Nintendo Won't Appear At PAX East 2014

Nintendo has announced they will not be attending this year's event.

Since the first Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East event in 2010, Nintendo has always been around, often showing off promising titles such as Pikmin 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD - however, this year will tell a very different story.

Speaking with Polygon, a Nintendo spokesperson has said:

"Interacting directly with our fans and letting them play our games firsthand is a key component of our approach."

"That doesn't include PAX East this year, but we will offer our fans a variety of opportunities to get their hands on Nintendo products in 2014."

Sony will not be attending this year's event either, however other big companies including Microsoft, Square Enix, Blizzard, 2K Games, Double Fine, Twitch, Oculus VR, and Ubisoft are to make an appearance showing off their respective products.

NEWS: Watch Dogs Minimum PC Specs Revealed

Those planning on purchasing the PC release of Watch Dogs can take a look at the minimum specifications needed to play.

Creative Director for Watch Dogs, Jonathan Morin, has tweeted details regarding requirements needed in order to play the PC version under minimal settings. Take a look at the specifications below:

Processor: IntelCore 2 Quad Q8400 2.66Ghz or AMDPhenom II X4 940 3.0Ghz

Memory: 6GB RAM

Video Card: 1024 VRAM DirectX 11 Shader 5.0

Sound Card: DirectX9

Hard Drive: 25GB

Watch Dogs has quickly become one of the most anticipated titles and was supposed to originally release in November 2013 - however due to various concerns regarding the game's quality, it will now hit shelves May 27 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

Ubisoft recently spoke on the Wii U version, describing how it is still coming but at a later unknown date - read more HERE.

RETRO REVIEW: Thunder Fox

Thunder Fox might be one of the most under-rated gems in the retro scene.

Arcade | MegaDrive/Genesis | Xbox | PS2

[Please note: this review is based on the console port]

Originally an arcade game, Thunder Fox was ported to the Mega Drive / Genesis and whilst it doesn't hold up to the original release, it's worth playing due the sheer amount of fun to be had.

In a world now full of terrorists who's mission it is to destroy all peace, it's up to two men simply known as Thunder and Fox to bring a sense or order back to civilization. To do this, they must take on violent enemies wielding all types of weapons ranging from simple knives to gigantic tanks and helicopters.

Honestly, there's not much to the narrative, but it doesn't really matter - games like this don't need a strong storyline to push the player forward. It's purely fast-paced action with an intent on giving the player a good time through addictive and often-challenging gameplay.

The first level, showcasing the machine-gun and some
 of the more easier to kill enemies.

You have the option to choose between Thunder or Fox - it doesn't matter who you pick, there's no real difference except the colour of their clothes. Essentially, Thunder Fox is a side-scrolling shooter with hints of platforming - as soon as you start the game, you're put straight into the action - wielding just a knife you must take on hordes of enemies coming from both sides of the screen, much like Kung Fu on NES.

An encounter with Gonza, a pike-wielding
boss who gives you no mercy.

The knife is the only weapon that you can use throughout the entire game without having to worry about ammo, although it would be nice to give players the option to throw the knife instead of using it as purely a melee weapon, which can often be dangerous as you have to go (extremely) close up to an enemy to effectively stab them.

However, every level offers various guns at some point, whether it be from an enemy drop or hidden in a wooden box - these weapons include a machine gun, a flamethrower, a rocker launcher, and grenades. Each weapon has its advantages, for example the machine gun's bullets can travel far, making it easy to dispose of those pesky shooters hiding behind cover, whilst a blast from the rocket launcher will easily blow up a group of enemies.

Escaping an exploding "Air Fortress" - lots of
explosive sprites included.

All weapons come with a certain amount of ammo, so it's advised to tactically use the bullets when you really need them - it's not worth wasting ammo on one-hit enemies that could easily be killed with your knife or jump attack. The jump attack is actually an extremely effective way of getting through the game - during a jump, you become almost invincible for some reason, making it easy to plant your feet into the face of terrorists whilst taking no damage what so ever.

With a total of six stages, Thunder Fox is generally short, and it's to be expected considering it was originally an arcade game. Each stage is accompanied with a boss battle including a helicopter, a tank, a spear-wielding maniac, and so on - each subscribe to a certain attack pattern, which when memorised, can make these encounters fairly easy to overcome.

You'll have a lot of fun playing this game, and if you're up for a real challenge, it's worth cranking up the difficulty to the max - no matter how you play, Thunder Fox offers gameplay that resembles a combination of Contra and Altered Beast. This is one of those games that didn't get much attention when released due to other more popular titles taking up the limelight, but it's certainly worth playing - you won't regret it.  retroreview

7/10

NEWS: HMV Will No Longer Sell Pre-Owned Games - 70% Discounts Applied

With plans of no longer selling pre-owned games, HMV has given a massive 70% discount to all stock in an attempt to get rid of it.

Games across all platforms including Xbox One and PS4 are currently on discount throughout the UK at seemingly every HMV store. The retailer wants to eradicate pre-owned content, so to speed up that process, a decision was made to apply a large-scale sale.

It's not yet clear why HMV wish to remove pre-owned games from their stores, but this is a fantastic opportunity to bag some bargains before all stock is gone, which at a discount that high, shouldn't take too long.

HMV Chester tweeted a photo displaying the 70% discount on CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and merchandise - its not confirmed if all outlets are also offering sales on other goods besides video-games. Get spending!

NEWS: New Tony Hawk Game Will Be On Mobile Devices

Tony Hawk has revealed his next skateboarding game is to be mobile-exclusive.

During an interview with Bloomberg, pro skateboarder Tony Hawk has confirmed the next Tony Hawk game is to release on mobile devices with no intention of console versions, although its assumed the game will also be available on various tablets.

Hawk said: "We're never gone exclusively in that direction yet so I'm excited because with the amount of time people are spending on their phones and tablets playing games, we've never had our own game in that space so I'm excited to provide one finally."

Back in October 2013, Hawk expressed his interest in making a mobile game, so the decision to go exclusive should come as no surprise. Recently, he did confirm himself and Activision are working on a game together.

NEWS: Xbox One Could Get More Free-To-Play Games

More information on F2P games on Xbox One will be revealed closer to their release dates.

When asked about adding F2P titles to the Xbox One, Microsoft's gaming executive Phil Spencer replied on Twitter, saying the team has had "good success with F2P on 360", promising to reveal more information closer to their launch dates.

Various F2P games are available on the Xbox 360, including the more well-known Happy Wars - launching in October 2012, the game has been played by approximately 6 million players, whilst the game is free to play, users are encouraged to spend real money on items to improve their experience.

Other titles include Warface, World of Tanks, and Ascend: Hand of Kul - also free to play with additional content becoming available through real money.

NEWS: First Self-Publishing Xbox One Games Revealed

Worms Battlegrounds and Nutjitsu are to be the first two games published as part of Microsoft's ID@Xbox program.

Although not officially confirmed, Microsoft Studios corporate VP Phil Spencer tweeted details regarding the games he had been playing that have been created for the ID@Xbox program.

The first game; Nutjitsu was previously an exclusive for Windows Phone - now it will be making its way to Xbox One. The game features a ninja Squirrel who has to gather nuts whilst avoiding numerous enemies placed around the level, much like Pac-Man.

Secondly, we have Worms Battleground - not much is known regarding this game but we can expect similar turn-based battles just like previous installments. A PS4 release is also scheduled for this year with no specific date as of yet.

For a list of known developers who are taking part in the program, take a look HERE.

NEWS: Yoshi's New Island 3DS Bundle Coming Soon

Previously spotted as a listing, Nintendo has confirmed the bundle is real and will release the same day as Yoshi's New Island.

First seen as an online listing on base.com, it has been confirmed that the bundle is very real and will be hitting shelves March 14 - the same day as the release of the upcoming Yoshi's New Island.

Retailing for £199, you'll get the 3DS XL model as well as the game, which has been produced by Takashi Tezuka - the creative director for the original Yoshi's Island all the way back in 1995.

The game will feature similar gameplay to the original release and maintains that distinctive art style most players have enjoyed in the past.

NEWS: Minecraft Sells 14 Million Copies On PC

The extremely popular sandbox building game has reached an impressive milestone.

Minecraft creator Markus Persson has tweeted the game has reached the 14 million sales landmark, deeming it one of the most popular and successful games of this generation - and that's just the PC release alone.

Persson's tweet reads "The computer version of Minecraft has now sold 14 million copies. Celebrating by having no idea how to play Lego Marvel on PS4!"

The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions has sold a combined 11 million, quickly racking up sales even more - further versions of the game are to be released on Xbox One, PS4, and PS Vita.

REVIEW: Guacamelee!

This game will take you through a whirlwind of Mexican wrestlers, huge chickens, goat men, and that's just the start.

Developer: Drinkbox Studios | Publisher: Drinkbox Studios| Genre: Platformer / 2D

PS3 | PS Vita | Windows PC | Mac OS X | Linux

DrinkBox Studios have gone all out in their latest title, offering players addictive and genuienly well-thought out gameplay, although it could've been a lot longer.

Guacamelee! puts you in the shoes of Juan Aguacate - your run of the mill Mexican farmer who's trying to make a living the best he can, that's until the president's daughter is kidnapped, in which it becomes Juan's mission to save her using his newly acquired Luchador (or Mexican wrestler if you will) skills. In other words, you're given a special mask that grants you various abilities that see you fit to be the next Knight in shining armour so to speak. 

The first thing sure to get your attention are the graphics - the artist(s) did an excellent job on perfecting that sharp looking cartoon imagery, which not only is a treat for the eyes but will more than likely make you want to delve further into the game. Each area is distinguished by a certain look, whether it be the gloomy dark temples or the roasting hot desert landscapes, and its things like this that show the sheer amount of thought and effort put into the game. 

All of the game is 2D and utilizes that perfectly with the use of environments and obstacles suited to those retro ideologies, once again proving you don't need fancy graphics or gameplay to make a good game - Guacamelee! is definitely one of those titles that feels like you're back playing NES, but with a modern twist and overall feel which most gamers will welcome with open arms.

Once you're free to explore the world, you can either pursue the main objective or seek out sidequests to get a wider experience of what the game has to offer - this is recommended as you'll encounter more items and cash. However, not everywhere is instantly accessible - much like Symphony of the Night, certain areas can only be entered upon obtaining the appropriate skill, this makes for replayability as you'll more than likely find yourself going back to areas previously locked.

There are a healthy amount of enemies to keep you busy and often will truly test your knowledge of your current skill set - skills involve typical wrestling moves such as the Suplex, however there are more 'magical' abilities that allow you to really pack a punch into the enemy, as well as opening certain areas of the maps. Some enemies can only be killed through very particular abilities, for example if an enemy is surrounded with a red glow/shield, they can only be defeated through the uppercut move - some areas of the game throw all sorts of enemies at you which will actually make you think of what to do instead of mindless button mashing.

For the most part, the quests are actually very entertaining and often funny - one that comes to mind is having to bash a bunch of chickens back into their coop (Zelda?), another example includes having to physically morph into a chicken yourself, yes there's a lot of chicken action in this game, but it's all good fun and reminds you games don't have to be overly serious to enjoy. REVIEW1

Overall, Guacamelee! will keep you entertained long enough to make you want more, however the only real downfall lies in its length - its way too short and could have done with more quests and a few more areas. But as a whole, the game is a lot of fun and is a brilliant portrayal of retro influences in contemporary gaming.

7/10

PREVIEW: Daylight - "Don't Look Back" Trailer

Atlus has uploaded a new trailer showcasing hints of the game's narrative as well as first-person horror gameplay.

Developed by Zombie Studios, Daylight will offer players a terrifying horror experience that utilizes the new Unreal Engine 4, which according to the videos description "enhances the visuals of your escape to freedom like never before, heightening every bone-chilling detail of your surroundings."

First of, we see a yet to be revealed woman wake up in a state of panic and confusion, and to make things worse - she happens to wake up in an abandoned hospital, complete with a huge Spider.

The hospital is said to have a "dark history" full of secrets that have been hidden away for many years - with only a phone equipped acting as the primary light source and means of navigation, it is up to the player to explore the vast building to eventually find a way out.

We see various paranormal goings-on in the trailer such as objects moving on their own and a very creepy ghostly figure that has every intention of creeping up on you to keep players on their toes.

One of the most unique features is the game's ability to generate different levels each playthrough, meaning environments will never be the same as the last, in turn this will make for massive replay value. Check out the new trailer below.

NEWS: Nidhogg Set For January 13 Release

First shown in 2010, the indie game has finally been given an official release date.

Boasting multiple awards including 'Rock Paper Shotgun Indie Game of the Show' at Eurogamer Expo in 2010 and winner of the best 'Game Design' at Indicade 2013, among others - Nidhogg has accumulated quite the following since it was first revealed.

And now it actually has a stable release date of January 13 - the game pits players in various fencing competitions across numerous levels and relies of both intelligence and speed to overcome opponents. 

Nidhogg sports an Atari-2600 look, further reminding gamers its not all about the graphics. The game will be available on Steam only at the moment, with no mention of future releases. Check out the trailer below.

NEWS: Steam Holiday Sale Day #12

Celebrate the new year with yet another bunch of discounted games on the Steam store.

Today's offerings include the highly popular Half-Life 2, vampire-slaying Castlevania Lords of Shadow, and others - all of which have massive discounts applied. For a full list, see below.

Daily Deals

Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers - £2.37 (-66%)

Scribblenauts Unmasked - A DC Comics Adventure - £9.99 (-50%)

Planetary Annihilation - £26.79 (-33%)

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition - £6.79 (-66%)

Half-Life 2 - £1.74 (-75%)

Mark of the Ninja - £2.39 (-80%)

GRID 2 - £7.49 (-75%)

XCOM: Enemy Unknown - £7.49 (-75%)

Company of Heroes 2 - £10.19 (-66%)

Flash Sales

Don't Starve - £4.07 (-66%)

King Arthur's Gold - £4.68 (-33%)

L.A. Noire - £4.99 (-75%)

Super Meat Boy - £2.39 (-80%)

NEWS: Steam Holiday Sale Day #10

Another day, another swarm of sales hits the Steam store as part of its holiday promotion.

Fancy becoming a truck driver? Or maybe you want to watch alien Lesbians make out, either way there should be something in today's batch of sales that will tempt you, especially at the huge discounts. Check out the full list below, including the various flash sales currently on offer.

Daily Deals

Total War: ROME II - £14.99 (-50%)

Risk of Rain - £4.68 (-33%)

Deadlight - £1.99 (-80%)

Mass Effect 2 - £4.99 (-75%)

Fallout: New Vegas - £2.49 (-75%)

The Swapper - £4.07 (-66%)

Euro Truck Simulator 2 - £3.74 (-75%)

Might & Magic: Heroes VI - £4.99 (-75%)

Spelunky - £2.99 (-75%)

Flash Sales

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 - £6.24 (-75%)

Prototype 2 - £4.99 (-75%)

Trine 2: Complete Story - £1.39 (-90%)

Assetto Corsa - £22.49 (-25%)

NEWS: Super Mario 3D World Pre-Order Bonus Detailed

Exclusively available at gaming retailer GAME, UK gamers can get extra goodies upon pre-ordering the upcoming Mario game.

GAME has announced that the people who have pre-ordered their copy of Super Mario 3D World will be receiving a free key ring of Mario in the new cat suit - an item also available in-game. The cat suit will allow Mario to literally pounce on enemies and scale walls.

As well as the key ring, the game will come in a cat suit-themed sleeve, complete with a fur-like texture. If you have already pre-ordered the game before this announcement, the same bonuses will still apply.

The game is set for a November 29 release, just in time for the Christmas season.

NEWS: Digital Pre-Orders Available for PS4 Games

Sony are giving people the option to pre-order digital downloads of various upcoming PS4 titles.

It's roughly a month until the PS4 launches, but you can pre-order digital content right now - PlayStation revealed the launch games Knack and Warframe will be the starting point of pre-orders, leading us to think more games will be available over the weeks leading up to PS4 release.

The following was tweeted:

"We’re rolling out PS4 game pre-orders on PS Store (PS3) and SEN online store starting with Knack and Warframe today"

Go over to the Sony Entertainment Network website to place your own pre-orders, although there's no sign of UK/EUR payments as of yet.

NEWS: GAME Reveals Midnight Launches of Battlefield 4, CoD: Ghosts, and Assassin's Creed IV

GAME to host various midnight launches for highly anticipated games.

 

 

UK retailer GAME will be offering its customers a chance to get their hands on three of the most sought after games this year.

November 1 marks the release of both Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4 - GAME establishments throughout the UK will open its doors at midnight to those who want to get the game as soon as possible, leaving customers with the following statement:

"Two of today’s biggest franchises will release their newest instalment on the same day. Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag both launch on November 1st – and GAME stores nationwide will be opening their doors at midnight (or first thing!) to give you the chance to grab either or both of these fantastic titles before anyone else!"

Most stores will also open especially early for those who can't make it to the midnight launch for whatever reason.

Just a few days later (November 5), Call of Duty: Ghosts will hit the shelves, and will also be taking part in the midnight launch scheme - the same applies as above; both midnight and early openings will take place. GAME had this to say about the game:

"The Ghosts are real… and they can really be yours – first! – as over 300 GAME stores will be playing (g)host to Midnight Launches acrsoss the country for the latest entry into the legendary shooter series. Check out the list of stores below to see whether you can grab your copy at the Midnight or early-morning opening, and we look forward to seeing you there!"

Don't miss out on your chance to play the Xbox One at the GAME lock-ins taking place October 14 - November 20.

Are you going to any of the midnight launches or the Xbox One lock-in? Comment below.

NEWS: GAME Hosts Xbox One Lock-Ins

Fancy previewing the Xbox One before it's official release? Check your local GAME as limited spaces are available.

Well-known gaming retailer GAME will be hosting a number of lock-ins throughout the UK, offering 70 places at each location - this will take place from October 14 to November 20, with each date being hosted at a different GAME establishment.

Microsoft are working with GAME to promote the console in the UK, offering attendees to experience the following games; Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, RYSE, and Killer Instinct

GAME have said the following:

"We’re all counting down to the launch of Microsoft’s new Xbox One console on November 22nd, but, thanks to our newest Lock In, you may not have to wait that long to play it!

We’ve teamed up with Microsoft for a series of Lock Ins throughout October and November, with over 60 stores across the UK opening late to offer the gaming community the chance to get hands on with the Xbox One and games such as Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, RYSE and Killer Instinct ahead of release!

We only have 70 places available in each store, so to reserve your place, register at your nearest participating store, either in person or by sending them a tweet. Spaces are limited and will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. The events are strictly for gamers aged 18 or over and ID will be required for entry."

A complete list of locations is available on the website including Glasgow, Derby, Sheffield, York, and plenty more. Is your hometown on the list - will you be attending? Comment below.

NEWS: PS4 Games - Will More Than Likely Cost £55-£60

Online retailer ShopTo have given various details on the suggested pricing of first party PS4 titles, along with numerous hardware items.

The website says "It's been revealed that the suggested retail price of PlayStation published games for PS4 is £59.99 and £54.99."

With no indication of an official source regarding that information, I wouldn't say these prices are concrete just yet, but are more than likely to be very accurate.

Straight from the horse's mouth, here are the reported prices for PS4 games and hardware:

Dual Shock 4 - SRP £54.99
Camera - SRP £54.99

Knack - SRP £54.99
DriveClub - SRP £59.99
Killzone - SRP £59.99

PS4 Stand - SRP £15.99
Charging Unit - SRP £24.99

With that said, keep in mind different retailers will give different prices - that may change depending on certain deals, offers, and console bundles.

From personal experience, if you're willing to wait a while before you get your hands on a newly launched game, the price will go down after a few weeks or so.

Supermarkets such as Morrisons, Asda, Tesco, etc will often release games at a cheaper price compared to official gaming retail outlets.

Are you willing to splash out practically £60 for a game? Comment below.