A P R I L 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 I S S U E 1 , V O L U m e 1 C A R D B O A R D M A G @ G M A I L . C O M @ C A R D B O A R D z I N E

CARDBOARDGAMING MAGAZINE

G A M E S

T H I S M O N T HIN

DARKREALMFORGE STUDIOS April 26 PC, XBOX 360

Let’s be honest, I’m just hoping Dark will fill the void left in my heart my other West-ern RPGs. With major games like Dragon Age III: Inquisition and other RPG games , holding out until next gen consoles, maybe Dark will scratch the itch.Dark is another game that can be defined

in terms of other games. Its stealth me-chanics are reportedly similar to Splinter Cell, with players using vampiric abilities like turning into smoke to take out enemies in supernatural stealth. The game “puts players in the role of a

vampire out to discover the secrets of the

mysterious global GeoForge Corporation,” which sounds a bit Resident Evil-esque, but surely there are more evil corprorations to be found. And vampire video games always seem

to fall into Vampire: the Masquerade games or BloodRayne games. Defined as “action RPG”, however, maybe this game will split the difference.Here’s hoping Dark can find a place for

itself among the tropes that came before. Unfortunately, right now it seems like ev-ery other game on the market repackaged into something a little different.

No VAMPIRE PUNS, EVERYTHING IS OVERUSED.With art reminiscent of Borderland’s cell shad-ing, this game proves it will be visually stunning even if it proves full of tropes and what has become the standard of “paranormal fiction” shelves at bookstores across the country.

AMONG USMatches pair up features DC comics favor-

ites like Aquaman, Bane, Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Lex Luthor, Superman and Wonderwoman.

DLC APRIL

INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG USNETHERREALM STUDIOS APRIL 16 PS3, XBOX 360, WII U, iOS

TREYARCH, N-SPACE APRIL 16

BLACK OPS 2:UprisingCALL OF DUTY

No matter what particular flavor you enjoy your comic book canon, this game should prove a treat for any arcade-style fighting game fans. While this story started in the comic book prologue, you can be sure it’ll be KO-ed in the game itself. Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.The game provides an avenue for match-

ups that might stretch an ordinary plotline a bit thin, except in an episode of Epic Rap Battles of History or actually in a comic book - crazier things have happened (read: Superman vs. the Puzzler - still puzzling over that one).Despite this, the storyline of this action

game is actually being touted as “original” and, most surprisingly, “deep.” Well, we’ll see. There seems to be a mentality that goes with playing combat games: you have an opponent, you take down the opponent. You don’t take them out to a movie and dinner then ask them up for coffee. No, this is gritty action - your favorite superheroes and villains (and some other random DC characters won’t recognize because they don’t have their own franchise yet) having it out for your enjoyment.Are you not entertained?

This DLC, dropping April 16, adds four new multiplayer maps — including a Zom-bies mode set in Alcatraz (in prohibition-era, no less) called “Mob of the Dead.” The map features mobsters escaping the infected island. Mobsters who don’t escape will find themselves in “Purgatory”, a new

feature that sends players killed by zombies into the afterlife. Uprising is 1200 Microsoft Points, or $15

USD. You can also grab Uprising with the Black Ops 2 season pass, which goes for a hefty 4000 Microsoft Points or $50 USD.

KILLING BRAIN CELLS IS THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES.Stranded on a rock without booze might sound like the next Pirates of the Carribean adventure, but proves to be very different in the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC, Upris-ing.

Have you always liked the villians better?I have. And, really, it’s great pummelling those smug superheroes into the ground. Or using cool toys to destroy them from afar, as this game focuses on both attack types.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE

BATTLEBLOCK THEATRETHE BEHEMOTH APRIL 3

TECHLAND APRIL 23 PC, PS3, XBOX

DEAD ISLAND:RIPTIDE

LIFE IS A STAGE.Your character shipwrecks on a mysterious island with best bud Hatty Hattington in tow. The island is inhabited by sadistic cats who im-prison you and force you into theater perfor-mances. No, I’m not making this up.

The makers of Alien Hominid and Castle Crashers are back for another round on XBLA. The trademark Behemoth jokes are beginning to seem cookie-cutter, but the cut scenes are actually worth your while — almost more so than actual gameplay, which seems a bit sparse and disconnected. The stage design seems fairly standard for

the upper-end of XBLA, but makes for an interesting playthrough nonetheless.The winning point has to be the sheer

originality of the plot. I didn’t know I had such a knack for entertaining cats, but I’m sure that’s something I’ll be able to put on my résumé in the future.

While Riptide has been described as a spin-off, the storyline is actually a continua-tion of Dead Island. This action role-playing survival horror game uses a common en-emy of Millennial gamers - zombies. Again. But it isn’t like they won’t be fun to kill any more than any other zombie that has come before.The plot of this game basically under-

writes the entire purpose of the first game, as the survivors you thought you saved

from tropical island terrors (you can’t re-ally expect tropical drinks in coconuts in a game called Dead Island) find themselves quickly subverted from freedom when a storm hits the rescue ship. The survivors must yet again fight for their survival in a tried and true method of gaming. A new character, John Morgan, has been intro-duced. Morgan was a soldier in the rescue team.

Another AdditionRiptide is going to release in several retail edi-tions, including normal, special, collector’s (ex-lusive to North and Latin Americas) and “zom-bie bait”, which is exclusive to the UK.

L E T ’ S P L A Y

BUY AN ENDERFRIENDS T-SHIRT.Friendermen can’t play co-op with you, but they can try. You’re pretty cool and this shirt is too, so you should check it out at dft.ba/-enderfriends.

DEFEATING THE ENDERDRAGON IS PRETTY BADASS.With the new patch release, xbox players can finally reach the End. Bring a bow for the easiest kill and popcorn for the awesome enderdragon animation you’re rewarded with before the credits roll.

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A

GAME (WITHIN A GAME)?

This is called ender-man’s game. It’s basically creating self-perpetuating genocide among endermen by get-ting them to pick up dynamite and place it on redstone ac-tivated blocks, such as obsidian.

M I N E C R A F T

RE A D E R S U B M I S S I O N SS E N D g a m e s u g g e s t i o n s , L p V I D E O S a n d P I C S a n d L E T T E R S T O T H E

E D I T O R T O C A R D B O A R D M A G @ G M A I L . C O M

LET’S BUILD ENDER ISLAND.Sick of endermen stealing your island chunks? Just build him his own island. This one has an obsidian-lined head filled with his own kind.

A C H I E V E M E N TH I G H L I G H T S

I P R E F E R T H E M A L I V E 1 5 G

K U N O I C H I 3 0 G

GOOD CARDIO 35G

GONNA NEED MORE CLOSET SPACE 20G

To get this achievement you must rescue two female survivors at the cathedral. While the implied “Little Piece of Heaven”-esque necrophilia is great, this achievement is actually kind of a pain. Using melee is one tactic, but basically it’s a game of keep away with zombies.

R E S I D E N T E V I L 6

N I N J A G A I D E N 3 : R A Z O R ’ S E D G E

D E F I A N C E

I N J U S T I C E : G O D S A M O N G U S

Clearing all chapters with Ayane, Kasumi and Momiji. Because they’re kunoichi. But let’s be honest, I still have a grudge against Kasumi for sucking so bad at beach volley-ball.

Let’s be honest, everyone knows swimming is not the most efficient way to travel. But in Defiance you get an achievement if you swim a very monotonous 1000 meters. It’s also good preparation for a Zombieland apocalypse, be-ing that cardio is rule #1.

As if the main characters in this game don’t have enough skeletons in their clos-ets, they now have to fit several outfit changes as well.