'Age of Empires Online' Looks Mildly Intriguing

 

Age of Empires, the universally beloved RTS franchise, is joining the MMO universe. Developed by Gas Powered Games, Age of Empires Online adds MMORPG elements to the age-old RTS formula. And the best part? It's free!

Commander Shepard to Kick Even More Ass in 'Mass Effect 3'

The Reapers have taken Earth, burning and killing with a rampancy and scale that would make even Halo's Covenant blush. As Commander Shepard, you are Earth's last hope. You must rally the rest of the galaxy to defeat the ultimate threat -- ancient machines hell-bent on the total annihilation of all life.

Read more and check out the new trailer, "Fall of Earth," and the E3 gameplay video after the jump.

The 'Return' of the Sith Empire

I know I just posted about The Old Republic yesterday, but this new trailer, released via EA's new online store, Origin, is perhaps one of the most exciting things I've seen today. I just had to share it. Like the previous "Betrayed" and "Hope" trailers, this one is done by the incredibly talented Blur Studios.

The trailer has everything that makes Star Wars what it is: snarky smugglers, valiant Jedi Knights, space battles, spunky droids, and evil Sith Lords. Honestly, I haven't watched anything like this that has had me so filled with Star Wars fanboy glee since the original trilogy. These teasers by Blur may single-handedly convince me to play the game.

Watch the trailer after the jump.

E3 Trailer Shows Off 'The Old Republic'

Admittedly, I have been hesitant to jump on the Star Wars: The Old Republic hype train, because, despite BioWare's claims to the contrary, the game doesn't look like it's doing much to differentiate itself from industry giant, World of Warcraft.

You still have two opposing factions, the "holy" trinity of MMOs (tank, DPS, healer), raids, and everything else that has made me weary of the MMO genre. Sure, there are the claims that "story" will change everything -- that BioWare's mastery of cinematic storytelling will give The Old Republic the edge to come out on top.

I wasn't convinced.

'Prey 2' Cinematic Trailer Is Awesome

I will be honest. I wasn't that interested in Prey 2, despite some friends' glowing recommendations for Prey, but the newest trailer out of E3 may change my mind. The game abandons the horror movie atmosphere and Native American themes of the first game for an edgy sci-fi, "alien noir" in a setting that reminds me of Blade Runner.

Human Head puts you in the shoes of Killian, an Air Marshal-turned-bounty hunter, who must navigate the alien city and recover his memories. Yes, Killian has amnesia. As cliched as amnesiac protagonists are, this might actually be pretty cool.

Check out the trailer after the jump.

'Portal' Short Film Shows Chell's Life 'Outside Aperture'

 

Love Portal and Portal 2? Have you ever wondered what happened to Chell, the game's silent protagonist, after escaping the Aperture Science facility? A fan film, created by studio Eisen Feur, explores this interesting scenario. This film is based off the ending of the original Portal.

Check out the video after the jump.

"Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm" Trailer Is Short, Sweet

 

The first trailer for Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm was released May 31. Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, was last seen in Wings of Liberty, where her former lover, Jim Raynor, turned her human again by assaulting Char and using a Xel'Naga artifact. He carried her off the in the final epic cinematic.

This is our first look at the single-player storyline, which has been stunningly good so far. How Kerrigan goes from being in Raynor's care to leading her own Zerg swarm is still a mystery, though this trailer leaves a few clues. Mengsk's pet Ghost, Nova, shows up briefly, along with a few marines and a Ghost. 

Check out the trailer after the jump.