Grave Gamer News & Views — xbla

My favorite moments from The Expendables 2: The Videogame trailer in order from least to greatest.  The game looks like absolute balls, but if downloading it means Terry Crews appearing to tie me down to a chair and knock my teeth out…Probably still worth avoiding.

Classic Crossover Smackdowns Return in Marvel vs. Capcom Origins

Coming to PSN and Xbox Live this September, two arcade Versus classics are being smashed into one downloadable package.  Both the seminal Marvel Super Heroes in its gem-happy entirety and its eventual successor Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes will be combined to form the Origins set.

Origins is returning with more than just arcade perfect versions of these aged fighters, though.  Modern day fighting infects the titles with an HD uplift, GCPO supported online play, savable replays, online spectating, and new Third Strike HD-like challenges to accomplish mid-bout.  No specific date in September was given, but Marvel vs Capcom Origins can be yours at $14.99 (which is a steal considering what both games are going for on eBay nowadays).

If you can’t wait until then, dust off your fightstick and head to 2012’s EVO where Capcom is debuting the remastered fighter.  Not a fan of MvC3’s shift in style?  Looks like you’re going to have a fantastic outlet for that frustration soon enough.

[Watch the official trailer hereabouts.]

Another Year, Another Xbox ‘Summer of Arcade’

It’s not hard to tell when summer has arrived in Florida.  Besides car tires melted like marshmallows, it’s tough to ignore the tremendous heat radiating from the sun when it moves within shouting distance of our state.  But there’s an upside to this season in which I’m often ignited where I stand: Xbox Live’s Summer of Arcade.

Beginning July 18th, Xbox owners will be bombarded by a slew of downloadable hits (“slew” meaning five in this instance).  Here’s your official release schedule:

• Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD (July 18th/1200 MS)
• Wreckateer (July 25th/800 MS)
• Deadlight (August 1st/1200 MS)
• Hybrid (August 8th/1200 MS)
• Dust: An Elysian Tail (August 15th/1200 MS)

Mighty interesting selection this year.  If you haven’t heard of a title listed, feel free to hit the link to view a trailer.  I know I already have my Moon Points targeted on Tony Hawk and Deadlight.  What’re you picking up this summer?

Tony Hawk Shows Chris Cole Video Games for the First Time with Pro Skater HD

What happens when a franchise takes a nose dive after peddling bullshitty peripherals and tired gameplay? It goes back to square one and rehashes the breadwinners in the series, of course. But I’d be an indignant liar if I said I wasn’t excited to return to the levels and gameplay that kicked off my score addiction that...

Fable Heroes Reveals Itself as a Co-op Spin-Off to the RPG Hit

A listing has cropped up on Xbox’s site for an XBLA branch off of Lionhead’s Microsoft exclusive RPG series, Fable.  Far removed from the adventure RPG elements that make up the backbone of the core games, however, Fable Heroes teams up to four players in a co-op hack n’ slasher that has you tangling against Albion’s miscreants and monsters.

Collecting as many coins as possible in the game serves you well by allowing you to upgrade your character, buy new ones, waste coin on items, and even unlock special items for the Kinect-frenzied sequel to the main series, Fable: The Journey.  Unlike a lot of gamers, I’m all for publishers dipping their properties in new genres.  But I sort of already bought Castle Crashers.  In lieu of a sequel to that downloadable classic, I suppose a Lionhead backed brawler doesn’t sound quite so bad at all so long as they maintain the humor and style of Heroes’ bigger brothers.

Stay posted for more info as Microsoft sheds some light on Fable Heroes.