The gallery above is all of the most recent screens for I Am Alive with a new addition that was released just a few hours ago.

I Am Alive Story

One year after, a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped most of the human race, a man struggles for survival in a desolate city as he tries to reunite with his long lost wife and daughter. In this post-apocalyptical tale, there are no supernatural threats, just an everyman who faces a decaying and hazardous world and humanity’s darkest inclinations. Will you hang on to your humanity and help strangers or are you ready to sacrifice others in order to survive?

I Am Alive Key Features

The dead city of Haventon, immersive and treacherous

Explore the destroyed, crumbling city across different atmospheric levels, climbing your way to safety. Environments tell the story of the world as it stood before and of what has happened to the city and its people.

Unpredictable encounters

Survivors will adopt different behaviors and adapt to your actions. Some are friendly and need assistance, some are scared and others are hostile and will use group tactics to take you down. Will you go out of your way and sacrifice your few precious resources to help those in need?

Intimidation-based combat

Combat is deadly and ammo is scarce. Players will have to use deception to deal with enemies. Cowards may bow down fast to the threat of an empty gun, but aggressive enemies will put you to the test.

Stamina and resource management

Every effort has its cost. Manage your stamina skillfully to gain access to hidden. Look for resources and supplies scattered throughout the city: water, food, gas, medicine, tools, climbing gears, weapons, ammo and anything else that you can salvage from the destroyed city could prove helpful in your quest.

Source: I Am Alive Official

It’s alive! Yes, my faithful and too busy to check in on me from time to time to see if I’d crapped myself into oblivion in the bathroom readers, it is I, your one true God and masturbatory wet-dream! I have returned from the pitch blackness of my other, salaried job. The one where they don’t rake me with a cheese grater when I’m late with an article. Look, writing for Yell! Magazine may have its perks and numerous other bonuses but…

Actually, I have no idea where I was going with that. What perks? There’s constant whipping, moaning about deadlines, predatory stares from co-workers when you reach for the last donut, and the eternal threat of the Ashes Of Problem Employees Jar should you even dream of contemplating the notion of starting to form a dissentious thought. But enough about the pitfalls of working at the Yell! offices, I don’t want to scare off any potential human shields for the inevitable bloody uprising I most definitely do not have planned this coming Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the typing pool. On an entirely unrelated note, Sunday is officially “bring your automatic rifle and grenades to work day.”

Kidding! Kidding!

I have returned from my real life, 9-to-5 drone work sabbatical and am now ready to delve into some articles. First up: a review of the recently released Uncharted 3. Yeah, so it’s a week late. You want deadlines met, Evil Tormenting Bosses, make with the workplace perks. Like a paycheck. And a chair. Maybe walkies around the block off my leash once in a while. You know, the basics. Anyway, Uncharted 3. Eagerly anticipated. Big release. PS3 exclusive. Rah-rah. All that. Cue review.

The Story

Booting up the game for the first time, I was greeted by Nathan Drake’s familiar and boisterous theme music. A smile crossed my lips. I knew I was in for a good time. In a scant few short years, Uncharted has become one of the juggernauts of the gaming industry, by the strength of its graphics and game play, certainly, but few would argue against the notion that it is the series’ cast of characters that keep players coming back for more. Nathan’s tempestuous relationship with Elena is at the forefront of Uncharted 3, as is his more fatherly partnership with good ol’ Sully.

Uh, Nate? Holding hands with the wrong sidekick there, buddy.

Few will be unhappy to see Claudia Black’s Chloe make a welcome return to the series, providing some additional friction between the cast. While cinematic action sequences are still the name of the game here, Drake’s Deception features a deeper, more impactful story than previous entries. While the first two games were content to leave Nathan Drake engaging yet shallow, Uncharted 3 delves deeper into what makes our hero such a relentless adventurer and the effect his danger-seeking nature has on his circle of friends, especially perpetual tagalong and grouch, Sully.

More so than prior entries, Uncharted 3 places Nathan in some truly horrible situations, where our hero’s determined nature really shines through. Remember the desperation you felt in that scene from Among Thieves where a gunshot Nathan must travel aimlessly in a snowstorm, cracking wise all the way despite the hopelessness of his situation? Uncharted 3’s entire runtime is a bit like that. Piling abuse on top of abuse on our favorite modern-day Indiana Jones.

And that’s just his morning commute.

As usual, there’s a MacGuffin to be found. This time, it’s a fabled Arabian city, nicknamed “The Atlantis Of The Sands.” Of course no Uncharted game would be complete without a competing group of treasure seekers and the series finds its most frightful antagonist yet in Katharine Marlowe, a terrific villainess whom you’ll be rooting to see come a bad end quite early on. The game’s supernatural elements are upped by quite a few notches this time around, for better or worse. While introducing magic and mysticism is nothing new for the franchise and is well in keeping with its Indiana Jones roots, the developers really push things a little far with Djinns, flesh-eating spiders and Templar magic.

Unfortunately, the Uncharted franchise is beginning to show a few cracks in its foundations. It would perhaps be wise to wait until the next console generation before releasing any further installments. While the plot remains engaging, it’s basically a repeat of Among Thieves’ story. There’s a Big Bad, the Big Bad’s chief henchman to dispatch, Chloe is up to her usual “is she or isn’t she?” shenanigans, and Nathan makes with the wisecracks along the way. There’s fun to be had, the cast is lovable and you won’t be disappointed by game’s end, but Naughty Dog really needs to up the ante for the next game because they’ve taken the Uncharted formula as far as it can go on the current PlayStation console.

Read about Uncharted 3’s gameplay, presentation, and verdict after the jump…

T for Teen:

Blood, Language, Violence

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:5]

Published by:

Sony Computer Entertainment

Developed by:

Naughty Dog Software

Year Released:

November 1, 2011

Also Available On:

Exclusive for PS3

Genre:

Third-Person Action Adventure

Official URL:

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Epic Games’ celebrated series comes to a close with the recently released Gears Of War 3. Does the saga end on a high note with Marcus Fenix and Co. walking off into the sunset, heading toward further adventures down the line? Or is this Gear the runt of the assembly line, all bumps and odd corners and in serious need of oiling?

Gears Of War is the franchise that made war-time bromance a main storytelling point and introduced cries of “Chainsaw, chainsaw, chainsaw, fucking chainsaw!” to the gamer lexicon. Speaking of which, I’d like to congratulate Epic Games on finally finishing the assassination job that World Of Warcraft started long ago on my ear canals. Years of guild raids spent listening to the bitchy cries of prepubescent little snots rolled the ball halfway up the hill and I’ll be damned if the preteen bastards playing Gears Of War 3 online didn’t finally push that sucker all the way over the top. I’m not as young as I used to be, damn it! My ear canals are as brittle as the rest of me!

Actual file photo of TheMatt.

In any case, here is Yell! Magazine’s review of Gears Of War 3, available exclusively for Xbox 360. Accordingly, the 360 version was used for review purposes, along with a decent pair of ear muffs and a phone book opened to the murder-for-hire section. What? I only put out hits on the really screechy kids or the ones that overuse the damn chainsaw like they get a free blowjob with each kill.

Fuck you, *wazzupbitches666*!!!

Oh, and the heavy mouth breathers. Can’t stand those. Like I wanna hear your porno movie mouth noises when I’m getting my game on…

The Story

Capping off a trilogy is tricky business. There’s an undeniable desire to sprint to the finish. Gears Of War feels a bit like this, with a pretty straightforward story peppered here and there with admittedly awesome set pieces. While some could argue that storytelling has never been Gears of Wars’ strong suit, that the series relies more on gameplay than long diatribes on the horrors of war, the third entry features the franchise’s usual wartime melodrama. Soldiers die, civilians get butchered, and people will stop to ponder the philosophical implications of the ashen remains of innocents burned in nuclear fire. It’s business as usual for this series.

While I’m admittedly jaded from viewing a ton of war movies growing up, watching Gears Of War recycle the same clichés over and over again is starting to wear thin. Luckily, as with previous titles in the series, it’s the characters and their respective voice actors that end up making the game’s plot worthwhile.

The Dirty Half-Dozen

As usual, main character Marcus Fenix makes for a gruff but strangely admirable hero. Sidekick Dominic is still along for the ride and his eventual fate should come as no surprise to veteran players since the character as been heading down this path since Gears Of War 2. Story wise, Gears of War 3 does everything the final chapter in a series should: The combined threat of the Lambent and Locust are defeated, long-running characters get proper sendoffs, subplots are tied up nicely and there’s a nicely emotional feel to the game’s final scenes that, while hinting at further games down the line, still allows for the franchise to rest in peace knowing full well it did its job and did it well.

Read about the Gears of War 3 gameplay, presentation, and verdict after the jump…

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:4.5]

Published by:

Microsoft Studios

Developed by:

Epic Games

Year Released:

20 September 2011

Also Available On:

Xbox 360, PC

Genre:

Third-Person Shooter

Official URL:

Gears of War 3

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in São Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

Check out this new trailer right above in proper high definition, and stay tuned for more updates on Max Payne 3 here at Yell! Magazine.

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

A true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games’ global development teams that picks up from where series creator Remedy Entertainment’s Max Payne 2 left off, Max Payne 3 utilizes cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience, incorporating the latest advances in Natural Motion physics as well as a brand new iteration of the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine, resulting in highly-refined gameplay with an extensive range of realistic weaponry, an intelligent cover system and sophisticated Bullet-Time mechanics.

In addition to an expansive single-player campaign, Max Payne 3 will also be the first entry in the series to introduce a thorough and engrossing multiplayer experience. In a unique twist, Max Payne 3 multiplayer delivers a compelling experience that dynamically alters maps and mode progression for all players in a match. Along with traditional multiplayer modes, Max Payne 3 will also include a deep reward and leveling system, persistent clans and multiple strategic load-out options.

Stay tuned for much more news very soon and check out a pair of brand new screenshots from Max Payne 3 above.

Source: Rockstar Newswire

Gamers now have a chance to win their ultimate fantasy with Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) and GameStop’s (NYSE: GME), “Get in the Game,” pre-order promotion for Radical Entertainment’s highly anticipated PROTOTYPE 2.

U.S. and Canadian players, 18 and older, who pre-order PROTOTYPE 2 at GameStop between now and Sept. 1, 2011 will have the opportunity to go online and enter a random drawing to win a trip for two to Radical Entertainment in Vancouver, Canada and become a character in the upcoming open-world action thriller. To enter the drawing, and for full rules and regulations, go to www.gamestop.com/collection/prototype-2. For Canadian entries, go to www.gamestop.ca/prototype-2.

“Thanks to this great partnership with Activision and GameStop, we have an incredible opportunity to offer gamers something truly unique,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment. “In addition to just seeing themselves in the game, the winners will actually be able to locate their virtual selves and shape-shift Sgt. James Heller into their likeness. Radical wouldn’t be where it is today without our fans, and this is just another way for us to thank them for all their support.”

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero (or more simply… NYZ) with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt and consume their way toward the ultimate goal — to kill…Alex…Mercer!

PROTOTYPE 2 is currently in development for Xbox 360; video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and the Windows PC. The game is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB, with an expected “M” (Mature — Content that may be suitable for persons 17 and older) rating.

For more information about PROTOTYPE 2, check out the newly updated official game web site at www.prototypegame.com. And for the truly dedicated, be sure and head over to www.facebook.com/PROTOTYPE and join the PROTOTYPE Army — a community of more than 250,000 (and growing) fans that receive constant updates from the team at Radical, and early sneak peeks at new information and assets.

Prototype 2

It seems like you can’t throw a stone these days without hitting a sequel (or your neighbor’s satanic children. What? You’re saying that’s just me?). We have upcoming entries in the Halo, Uncharted, Mass Effect, Assassin’s Creed, Gears Of War, and Elder Scrolls franchises… just to name a few. Heck, even the massive box office bomb Green Lantern is apparently getting a sequel, which just goes to prove that if you gross even a few bucks over your bottom line, you’re getting a follow-up. It’s a sequel world, my loyal brain-dead zombies… I mean, readers… where you’re bound to be completely lost if you don’t know which number that Roman numeral next to a game’s title stands for.

Enter: inFAMOUS 2, sequel to 2009’s Grand Theft Superhero game. inFAMOUS was a sandbox-style product that presented you with a wide-open world filled with people to save, tasks to accomplish, and collectibles to amass. Or, depending on what mood you were in when you popped the disc into your PlayStation, a world filled with little old ladies to mug, civilians to blow up and kiddies to orphan.

inFAMOUS, which cast you in the role of newly christened superhero Cole MacGrath, gave you a lot of freedom when deciding which side of the moral divide you wanted to fall in. You could choose to be a goody two-shoes, helping old ladies in walkers cross the street, or you could be a downright evil bastard and kick that same old biddy in front of a bus. Care to guess which way my moral compass pointed during my play through? I’ll give you a hint: there’s a grandma-shaped stain on the front bumper of the 5:30 to Downtown.

In my defense, I may have totally misinterpreted this sign.

inFAMOUS 2 features a change in locale, new characters to interact with, and a storyline filled to the brim with opportunities for you to bring out your inner hero. Or to indulge in a bit of wanton, apocalyptic violence against whomever looks at you sideways. Entirely your choice. Really. No pressure. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do. Though if you hear heavy breathing and odd chainsaw-like noises from under your bed tonight, I can promise you that I’ll have a very good alibi for that time period.

This is Yell! Magazine’s review of inFAMOUS 2, available exclusively on PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 3 version was used for this review. (Well, duh.)

The Story

Picking up a short month after the first game’s conclusion, inFAMOUS 2 finds Cole in a New Orleans-type southern city by the name of New Marais. New Marais has a very Dixie feel to it, complete with French Quarter-style buildings and streets and surrounding swamplands. But Cole isn’t here for the gumbo. During the events of inFAMOUS, and in true comic book fashion, Cole’s alternate-timeline self gave the young hero a warning of impending doom: a creature of vast power, known only as The Beast, is making its way down the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, inexorably drawn to Cole’s new-found powers. You, as Cole, must learn brand new powers and study ways to increase your store of energy in order to prepare for a final confrontation with your arch nemesis.

Sucker Punch Productions has done a very good job of making both of the inFAMOUS games feel like issues one and two of a new comic book series. inFAMOUS was the origin story and inFAMOUS 2 is our protagonist’s first major confrontation against an all-powerful super villain. inFAMOUS 2‘s ending varies greatly depending on your actions throughout the story, but one thing remains constant: the door is left wide open for a third game in the franchise.

As in the original inFAMOUS, playing as either a naughty boy or a boy scout earns the player differing rewards and powers. This mechanic is given even more importance in inFAMOUS 2 due to the addition of two very important supporting characters: Kuo and Nix. Both females, in addition to being interesting characters, are presented as the classic Angel and Devil on your shoulder. Kuo’s powers are ice-based and she pushes Cole to seek more diplomatic solutions to his problems. Nix, wielding flame powers, is by her very nature a hothead and will definitely appeal to the darker side of your nature. The choices Cole must face aren’t always as clean cut as good and evil, both your muses have valid points to make concerning your missions. Just because 9 times out of 10 I decided to torch the orphanage instead of saving a bunch of whiny, unwanted kids doesn’t mean I didn’t take the time to carefully consider the philosophical implications of Kuo’s arguments concerning…

Sorry. I couldn’t keep typing that with a straight face. What? It was the 4th of July! I wanted to see the kids go up like little human fireworks.

Immediately after this I saved a cat from a tree. Honest.

You’ll have to click through for some insight into the graphics and the game play of inFAMOUS 2…

T for Teen:

Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:4.5]

Published by:

Sony Computer Entertainment

Developed by:

Sucker Punch

Year Released:

June 7, 2011

Also Available On:

PS3 Exclusive

Genre:

Third-Person Action

Official URL:

inFAMOUS 2 Official

I’m amazed at how far we’ve come to get to this point. Initially, the Saints Row series was conceived out of the Grand Theft Auto open world gameplay concept. It wasn’t the first game to imitate this style of gameplay, but it was the first to capitalize on one key aspect of the genre. They not only gave the player a consequence free environment, but more importantly, they encouraged crazy, over the top, psychotic behavior. With each iteration, they added more and more ways to cause mayhem and destruction in hilarious fashions. GTA has always been about social commentary, and making fun of the real world. It’s like the video game version of Jon Stewart. But Saints Row is a parody of that parody.

In Saints Row: The Third, you don’t have to go through a tedious rags to riches story. This time around, the Third Street Saints are large and in charge. They’re taking over the world as an established brand. This fame comes with fun perks, like tactical air strikes, and tanks. A little more than your standard red carpet gift bag. Despite the notoriety, infamy has its price. You’re still trying to take down rival gangs, but now in the new city of Steelport.

I love the unapologetic nature of Saints Row. THQ / Volition knows that millions of people who buy games like GTA, bypass anything story related, and run down pedestrians and cause havoc for hours. With the right amount of shameless violence and tongue cheek humor, this could be a fun mindless ride. Saints Row: The Third comes out on November 15, 2011.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Like a bad breakup, I just want closure with Desmond. He needs to step out of the Animus and become a modern-day assassin. And I’m willing to slog through another Ezio timeline in order to wrap everything up in a nice little bow. But there’s got to be something they can do to liven things up. I had no interest in their competitive multiplayer last time around; however, the addition of  a cooperative story-driven angle would be cool. Alas, that last sentiment will probably remain a dream, but they are making changes, for better or for worse.

The signature free-running for which the series is known is getting a new trick: According to reports, they will be adding a hookblade in order to use zip-lines in town for faster traversing. Also, those side missions that get boring after the third time you do them will now be random events. You would think this would make the game less tedious and repetitive, but I don’t think so. I for one tend to avoid the side quests I hate and stick to the less aggravating ones. Removing that option to chose feels like a step backward. But who knows? It might be a blessing in disguise and make the game more dynamic in the process.

Despite my gripes with the franchise, I want more Assassin’s Creed. The story alone is worth the price of admission. I just wish the mission structure and variety would evolve into more than just busy work. We’ll wait and see when Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is released this fall.

Tomb Raider seems to be playing catch-up to the Uncharted elephant in the room. Let’s face it, I don’t remember the last time I gave a damn about Tomb Raider. For the longest time, they’ve become generic action/adventure games with ridiculous premises and clunky controls.

However, in this new installment, it looks like they’re trying to hit all the right notes, especially in regards to Lara. This new art style makes her look relatable and believable. She looks vulnerable and human for once, instead of the bosomy plastic doll we’ve gotten accustom to. For what they’ve showed so far, the developers are genuinely trying to make us care about Lara. And it’s working. I can’t wait to see more.