PAX East: Grapple Buggy Hands-On Preview

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“Any mention of swinging around in 2D worlds often evokes mental imagery of a certain popular NES classic that was among the first to utilize a grappling hook to traverse an unforgiving landscape. During our brief chat amongst the chaotic din of PAX East’s exhibition hall, Mommy’s Best Games’ Nathan Fouts admits that he’s played a lot of grappling hook games and is a big fan of the Bionic Commando series. That’s why he set out to create a game with similar spirit but a totally different approach to grappling exploration in his upcoming downloadable Xbox Live project Grapple Buggy.”

Check out the full preview here at GamePro.

PAX East: Might & Magic Clash of Heroes HD Preview

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“At a passing glance, Capybara Games’ recent handheld addition to the storied Might & Magic series, Clash of Heroes, was easily mistakable for yet another generic RPG. Then, like many others who were similarly duped yet still picked the game up out of curiosity, it absolutely floored me with its absurdly captivating and deep puzzle gameplay that was hiding just beneath the surface. There’s no mistaking it the second time around: Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes HD, the upcoming enhanced version coming to PSN and XBLA is something you don’t want to miss.”

Check out the full preview here at GamePro.

Feature: Checking in from PAX East: New Location, Same Love

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“For anybody unable to afford the trek across country to PAX Prime every year, the announcement of a separate East Coast PAX was welcome. I can also imagine Boston business owners in the area near ground zero welcomed the news with excitement, expecting to cash in on the sudden crush of business. Some nearby establishments placed signs, like baited lures, welcoming attendees in clever ways. Others seemed genuinely puzzled over why their clientele suddenly made a rapid shift towards the geekier end of the spectrum. Whether it was ready or not, the city of Boston was host to a gamer influx of truly epic proportions.”

Check out the full rundown here at Ars Technica.

PAX East Hands-On: Shank

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“You tend to expect a certain measure of violence, blood, and evisceration out of a game with a name like Shank. Considering Klei Entertainment’s upcoming 2D side-scrolling brawler is heavily inspired by the demented works of several film legends known for their gritty vision, the explosive gore fest and comic brutality Shank offered up during my demo of the latest build at PAX East didn’t disappoint. Indeed, it was hard to conceal my man-glee after shoving a grenade into a guy’s mouth and watching his head erupt in a cartoonish spray of fine red mist.”

Check out the full preview here at GamePro.

Feature: PAX East 2010 – Photo Essay

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“After many successful years on the West Coast, the annual Penny Arcade Expo recently made its East Coast debut in Boston, unleashing a veritable Pandora’s box of gaming nerdery into the Hynes Convention Center that spilled out into the surrounding area for several days of revelry. PAX is the only gaming focused convention of its size that’s accessible to the general public, and PAX East’s clear focus on giving players and fans a means of accessing their wildest geek fantasies over the course of a jam packed weekend assured the approximate 60,000+ attendees would have plenty to do during their stay.”