Preview: Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ (Nintendo DS)

by the hammer of Jim Squires!

Few titles this fall have that certain ring to them. That “I need to know what the fuck this is right now” vibe. Thankfully, the fine folks over at Destineer saw fit to deliver a title that us clamoring to know just that.

Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ is a vertical shooter set in the world of fairy tales. Playing the role of the little lady in red, you’ll be tasked with ridding the world of monsters by any means necessary (and by that we mean BIG GUNS). A second playable character is available in Momataro, the hero of Japanese folklore. Together the two will battle undead versions of the three little pigs, Santa Claus, and more.

The appeal of Zombie BBQ is not unlike that of American McGee’s Grimm, though the gameplay seems far more traditional here. Forced vertical movement like you see in similar space-themed shooters is likely to keep the game moving at a good clip, while BBQ’s touch screen only controls should help keep things feeling as frantic as one would like to see in a vert.

Looking forward to giving this one a good once over this Halloween. Here’s to hoping they pull it off with a style befitting crazy-ass zombie fighting heroines.

Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ will be shipping around Halloween exclusively for the Nintendo DS.



Preview: Stoked (Xbox 360)

by the hammer of Jim Squires!

Not too sure how many of you have heard of this one.  It’s flown under my radar all year, but now that it’s surfaced?  I’m moist with anticipation (and wet snowpants).

Stoked is the first snowboarding game produced in conjunction with Absinthe Films, the company behind a multitude of kick ass snowboarding videos (check out a sample of their work here).  Absinthe is a company that knows how to make the sport look downright epic, and that’s exactly the sort of thing you’d want to experience when you lose yourself in a game.

Stoked is set to feature five real world mountains,complete with dynamic weather and environments.  Going down a mountain during a heavy snowfall?  Expect that snow to stay on the ground and change the terrain, providing you with a completely fresh experience on a familiar track.

The environments aren’t the only thing that’ll be dynamic in this title.  Your characters animations will evolve and adapt to your play style.  It’s a small touch, but a neat idea that I don’t think anyone has tried before.

Multiplayer is said to be seemless as well, with online friends popping in and out with you exactly where you are on the mountain.  Think Burnout Paradise, only colder and without a glove compartment.  Combine all of this with real riders and a real drought in the snowboarding genre (we’ve had one since the launch of the 360) and Stoked might just have what it takes to be a staple in the diet of any couch-riding cool boarders out there.

Expect this one to ship exclusively for the Xbox 360 this November, courtesy of Destineer and Bongfish Studios.