The creators of the 2012 reboot for the Syndicate series wants you to take a really deep dive into the origins of a cult classic cyberpunk gaming series.

The game takes place in the year 2069 where politicians are obsolete and the world is divided up into regions controlled by mega-corporations known as syndicates. Having revolutionized how the consumer interacts with the digital world, the syndicates basically maintain the way of life. Since the consumer requires a device to access the world’s data and control technology, they can do this in the blink of an eye via neural chip implant.

Currently being developed by Starbreeze Studios, Syndicate is scheduled for release in early 2012 and changes the dynamics of the game by removing its roots of being a tactical shooter and turning it into a full-on FPS.

You can’t speak about old school gaming without naming at least 1 title from Treasure. Joining the ranks of Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun and Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury on Xbox Live Arcade comes another gem from Treasure’s vast vault — Guardian Hereos. Originally a title from the Sega Saturn, Guardian Heroes was considered one of the best games in the Saturn’s library and 15 years later Sega gives a new generation a chance to play this great game once again.

Guardian Heroes follows the story of four treasure hunters (though most would consider them thieves or rogues), Han, Randy (with his pet rabbit, Nando), Nicole and Ginjirou, who’ve just recovered a relic sword from a time long ago. As they’re celebrating their spoils in a tavern, Kingdom Knight Serena bursts into the bar warning them all that they have to move quickly as the castle knights have learned of their possession of such a powerful sword, and are coming to take it back, no matter the costs. Caught unawares, the thieves barely have time to react before an ambush is sprung and fighting ensues — as the tavern is burning down around them. After escaping from the knights with the help of Serena, the heroes gain another ally in the form of an undead knight that reclaims the relic sword in a surprising turn of events.

Guardian Heroes is a beat-em up game that boasts a lot of colors and gorgeous sprites. Particularly a side scrolling fighting game, the action RPG meshes in a lot more than just the typical fare RPG’s are known for. Characters have their own unique skills and abilities with opportunities for players to augment any of six different character attributes ranging from strength to durability to luck. Each of the hero characters represent a different class of fighter in the story. Han is the overall tank character while Randy and Nicole are the magic users. Serena specializes in both melee and magic while ninja character Ginjirou is a minor magic user with lightning fast melee attacks. Any of the five heroes can also issue commands to the undead knight turning him into an almost unstoppable force and a wonderful NPC ally.

Treasure made sure to add some balance to the game adding in new tweaks that makes the gameplay mechanics a little smoother. Air dashing is added along with powerful knockback moves, and other little tweaks. If you logged tons of hours playing the Sega Saturn original, you’re guaranteed to notice the difference. The English translation was also completely redone, and our heroes’ dialogue during cut-scenes sounds much more humorous and brings out more depth to the characters (along with injecting a modern day twist to the dialogue).

Alongside the beautiful graphics and frantic gameplay, Guardian Heroes is also remembered for the multiple levels in the battlefield. Players can access three planes of battle: a foreplane, a middle plane, and a back plane. These planes can be switched between in set sequence, or at the player’s choosing based on which button is pressed and also serves as an avenue for escape when you find yourself mobbed by bad guys. Along with the RPG element, the game’s story mode features branched paths which allow players to choose how the story plays out. The player can make choices on where to go and what gets done after every level. This allows for multiple endings and different boss encounters each run. The game scores some serious replay value as players are encouraged to play through the game many times and change the story dramatically each time.

If you know your way through Guardian Heroes, one of the chosen paths will lead to Golden Silver from Gunstar Heroes as the final Boss. Just as in Gunstar Heroes he uses the power of four gems to aid him in battle. 100% nostalgia!

Guardian Heroes gets an upscaling to HD in the new remix mode bringing the game up on the times. Before starting a game, you can choose to use the original 2D sprites and less detailed textures keeping it the same as the original Saturn version Saturn (graphics which actually stand up quite fine given the native system resolutions of today) or go remix mode which “remixes” the graphics making the character sprites take on a less saturated pencil-sketch look (think Valkyria Chronicles). The sprites aren’t redrawn, only smoothed over. Purists of the original will be put off as the pencil effect is a little too subtle to look stylish. What can you really say? The game is over 15 years old and this isn’t a true remake…

For you guys looking to get more substance out of Guardian Heroes, the online mode offers co-op with the ability to accept other players to join your game at any time you’re online. The new Arcade Mode is a single-player variation of the six-fighter Versus mode (which now features 12 fighters) pitting you against over 20 monsters in a survival free-for-all melee.

Ultimately, Guardian Heroes does it’s job of delivering that old school fix you want whenever any game from previous console generations makes the jump to the here and now. When you weigh in the appeal of the remixed graphics, a chaotic 12-player versus mode and the ‘choose your own adventure’ style of branching storylines, the realization that the Online Co-Op is much harder than the single player only adds more icing on a beautiful cake. The game can definitely feel a little chaotic at times, but aren’t all brawlers chaotic to some degree?

Guardian Heroes is currently available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 MS Points ($10). Considering that the original game sells for over $100 (mint condition) over eBay, this is a steal — unless you’re one of those purists that have to play a game on it’s original release system.

Check out this stop-motion animation based on the Gears of War franchise from Alex Kobbs. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, this crafty machimina video features an imagination of the Gears of War series, titled Bricks of War, if it was based in the LEGO universe.

You can also check out more of Kobbs videos over at his YouTube page, Kooberz Studios, where you can check out his featurette on the making of Bricks of War as well a shoutout to Starcraft.

Get your affairs in order because February 22, 2012 is about to be a big day for you. At the Web 2.0 Summit Jack Tretton (SCEA President) made the announcement today and Twitter came to life afterwards. The PlayStation Vita officially drops for North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australia the last week of February 2012!

The Vita will release with two separate models with different prices. The stock (wifi only model) will sell for $249.99 while the 3G model is set at $299.99.

Microsoft has denied that Xbox Live has been compromised, but have admitted that there’s been outside access to “a limited number” of accounts.

Recently several reports indicated that hackers gained access to gamer profiles and purchased Microsoft Points, as well as FIFA 11 or FIFA 12 appearing on their gamercards. Microsoft is is working on the problems at this moment, but assured users that the service as a whole hasn’t been compromised.

Speculation behind the Xbox Live account intrusions could point to a number of instances where anyone could gain access to an account given that MSN accounts, Zune accounts and multiple other MS services are usually tied together by one user ID (namely an email address). In a statement from Microsoft, word was put out about the recent situation.

“We do not have any evidence the Xbox LIVE service has been compromised. We take the security of our service seriously and work on an ongoing basis to improve it against evolving threats. However, a limited number of members have contacted us regarding unauthorized access to their accounts by outside individuals. We are working with our impacted members directly to resolve any unauthorized changes to their accounts.

“As always, we highly recommend our members follow the Xbox LIVE Account Security guidance provided at www.xbox.com/security to protect your account.”

The latest Saints Row: The Third trailer has us walking away feeling that we’ve seen all of this somewhere before. Maybe it’s just us here at PopCultureshock, but does this feel like a jab at Battlefield 3? How about Modern Warfare 3? Could it be (gasp) both Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3?!

It’s obvious that THQ and Volition have great senses of humor with this harmless (and hilarious) trailer that’s absolutely a mashup of the best parts of both the Battlefield 3 and the Modern Warfare 3 trailers. But, all joking aside, the new trailer shows off the Special Tactical Anti-Gang unit (STAG) the in-game military force that’s specifically designed to handle exactly what the 3rd Street Saints represent.

Outfitted with hover jets, speeder bikes, laser tanks, and a flying aircraft carrier, STAG is after both the Syndicate and the Saints. Check out the trailer and check out all of the over-the-top action planned for release this coming November for PS3, 360, and PC.

Just in case you missed out on the last demo for Sonic Generations you will get a new chance to try out what is probably going to be the best Sonic The Hedgehog game to come out in the last 5 years.

Sega is releasing a second demo for Sonic Generations and this will probably be the big one before the game goes live officially on November 1. Starting tomorrow, the new demo for Sonic Generations will be available on Xbox Live followed by an October 25 release on PlayStation Network. The demo brings us back to Green Hill Zone, with “modern Sonic” taking a turn at running through the loops and corkscrews of the remixed classic stage.

Sega also announced that the ‘original version’ of the level will also be featured in this demo, giving anyone that missed out on last June’s demo release a crack at it (as well as giving people more practice from the 20-day tryout).

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception gets its very own taste of the season pass program with the upcoming Fortune Hunters’ Club DLC program.

Today Sony announced the new DLC Pre-order program that ‘gets you WHAT you want, WHEN you want, and HOW you want it!‘ With the Fortune Hunters Club membership players can get featured Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception DLC at a discount which means you can grab the first four multiplayer map packs and the first three multiplayer skin packs. Pre-orders start now for $24.99 and when you do you can  immediately score the exclusive Fortune Hunters’ Club THEME. Then, as each new DLC release drops, you will receive an XMB message on your PS3 linking you directly to the content on the PlayStation Store.

The overall bundle is valued at $45.00 and will definitely help any Uncharted fan get their fix as early as possible. For more information on the Fortune Hunters’ Club head over to the PlayStation Blog and check out the full release information there.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is in stored November 1, 2011.

TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE TO SHOW FIRST TASTE OF GAME VISUALS AND OFFER FANS A CHANCE TO NAME SOME IN-GAME TRANSFORMERS CHARACTERS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

JAGEX TO OFFER FANS THE CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THE NAME OF TWO IN-GAME CLASSES, SHOWCASE CONCEPT ART AND SHOW FIRST LOOK GAME VISUALS

CAMBRIDGE, UK, October 13, 2011- Jagex Games Studio, one of the largest independent games developers and publishers in the world, and makers of the upcoming TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE MMO, today announced their exciting plans for New York’s Comic-Con; which runs from Thursday October 13 to Sunday October 16

Visitors who pass through the enclosed stand will also be some of the first to view footage showing what the browser based MMO will look like, experience the graphical style and direction and be able to see firsthand how the Jagex development team is working with Hasbro to create the look and feel of the game through live concept art and animation demonstrations.

In addition to the activity on the show floor, members of the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE development team will be taking part in the following panel sessions at the show:

Date: Friday, October 14
Time: 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm
Location: 1A24

Famitsu leaked that the time traveling game Time Travelers is no longer a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. Time Travelers will be making release for both the PlayStation Vita and the original PSP alongside the 3DS.

The mystery adventure game from Level-5 and 428 writer Jiro Ishii is hopefully getting a full reveal at the Level-5 World Event (October 15, 2011) where we could finally get some real information on the truly mysterious title. So far, the only info for Time Travelers is that it’s set in Tokyo 20 years in the future with two characters who have knowledge of the future beyond that.