For a genre that was considered all but dead just a month ago, we’re really seen a revival of the side scrolling beat-em-up in these past weeks. The recent Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game was a faithful and fun tribute to classics such as River City Ransom. Shank is also an ode to the brawler, but with a 2D plain instead of Pilgrim’s 3D. Oh, and lots and lots and lots more gore.

We found out a few months back that Telltale would be doing an episodic series based on the Back to the Future franchise. This was both exciting and a little worrisome. It's a risky move with BTTF being such a beloved franchise, and it would be heartbreaking if Telltale were to screw it up.

However an article in USA Today has revealed a few tidbits about the upcoming title, and it definitely sounds like they are on the right track. Granted these details are vague, but we now know that the game will feature Marty McFly and Doc Brown, the Delorean is definitely present, you will be able to traverse Hill Valley and travel to 1985, but perhaps most importantly, Christopher Lloyd will be lending his voice to the games!

So far those are the only things we know. There are no screenshots, or a solid release date. This is one of those games I’ll be watching like a hawk, so expect further updates when we receive even the tiniest bit of information. 

 
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages!  Welc... wait, no, not children of all ages.  We swear a lot in this one.  Seriously parents, listen and take a look at the media your kids consume.  This episode, the boys and gal take a look at the Xbox 360 price hike, and THQ's decision to charge for online play.  Also, playing as the Taliban?  It's really not so terrible.

So really, don't get freaked out, and one you calm down, email us your thoughts at podcast@totalactionadventure.com (you can also fill out our form).  We aren't always right (except when we are), so maybe your opinion can change out mind (not likely).  Don't forget to also subscribe to the RSS or iTunes feed (now with actual working goodness!) so you can get the next podcast when its up in 3 weeks (I kid!!).  There's also Twitter stalking: @TAAShawn, @TAACurtis, and @TAADrea.  I guarantee we will stalk you back.

Hosts: Drea, Shawn, and Curtis
Download: MP3 Format (25MB - Right Click, Save-Target-As)
Music: The Machine (Luc Brunet & Jeff Dupuis)

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is one of the more baffling sequels to come along in some time. When it was first announced, I recall a lot more confusion than excitement. Plus the whole Jeff Gerstmann thing had really tainted the entire brand, automatically associating it with shady business practices and a dark period for game journalism in general. Not to mention, I never really encountered anyone who truly loved the first game.

As bizarre as its existence may be, here we are a week after the game’s release and having played through it, I can confirm that it definitely exists. I did play through the first game a couple years back and although I felt it had a few good ideas and some solid multiplayer, the shooting wasn’t satisfying and the game generally wasn’t much fun to play.

So here we are three years later and after finishing the sequel I can tell you that it has a few good ideas and some solid multiplayer, but overall the shooting isn’t satisfying and the game generally isn’t much fun to play. Ah how little has changed.

Gametrailers.com brings us a brief - yet albeit incredible - look at what Valve has in store for those us looking to cooperatively battle through Aperture Science's test chambers.  It is most definitely a triumph.  Note taken, huge success.  Ummmm... something about cake... you get it.

In what has to be the shortest turnaround for a sequel in the history of any form of media, Hothead games announced today that a sequel to Deathspank is coming, and it’s a mere 4 weeks away!

Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue will be making its way to PSN on September 21^st, and will hit Xbox Live Arcade the following day (September 22^nd for the calendar impaired). It will go for $15 on both platforms. Hothead has confirmed that this is not an expansion pack or DLC, but is in fact a full sequel that is even bigger than the previous/current game.

The sequel has Deathspank tracking down and destroying six mystical thongs that corrupt anyone who wear them. It will contain new characters, weapons, environments and creatures. It will also once again feature local co-op, this time with the second player being able to choose between two different characters; either the returning character Sparkles the Wizard, or Kung Fu master Steve.

If you’ve read my review (and if you have then READ IT AGAIN!) then you know I was a huge fan of the first game and I definitely welcome a sequel. It’ll be interesting to see how this game is received seeing as the first one came out barely a month ago. I’m definitely in the excited camp and look forward to another romp through whatever the name of the world is where Deathspank takes place.

Oh and in case you weren’t convinced, according to the already released achievements list, you get to kill Santa Claus. So, enjoy!

 
In a recent interview with PCGamer.com, producer Chet Faliszek spilled the boomer bile on new DLC coming to both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2.  Originally designed as a new campaign for just the first Left 4 Dead, the team found that “It’s a really fun campaign, it’s got lots of high Hunter leap points and stuff. And we said ‘You know, this would be really cool in Left 4 Dead 2. Some of these locations would be cool for the Spitter and the Charger.’ So we decided we’d release The Sacrifice not just for Left 4 Dead 1, but for Left 4 Dead 2.”.  The new campaign, titled The Sacrifice, puts players in the role of the original Left 4 Dead cast, and you will find out just how that one special character shown dead in The Passing truly did come to pass.

As an added bonus, the popular No Mercy campaign will also be ported over to Left 4 Dead 2 at the same time that The Sacrific is released.  Gamers who are familiar with the layout of the maps will find themselves in uncharted territory with the new special infected terrorizing you every step of the way: "Your strategy of holing up in corners just disappears, because the Spitter is going to wreak havoc.".  Also forthcoming will be a graphic novel detailing the events of The Sacrifice in an attempt by Valve to expand the series into new mediums.  We'll see if that works this October when the DLC launches on PC and Xbox 360.

Watch and enjoy.  The full 83 song setlist can be found after the break.  Also noted by RockBandAide (via ScoreHero) the following statistics: 

1. Of these songs, 14 don’t have keys.
2. Of these songs, only one doesn’t have guitar.
3. The Who are now the only band to have been in every numbered Rock Band game. However they are tied for most on disc appearances with the Foo Fighters and Bon Jovi if you count LEGO Rock Band.

First of all; yes we’re sorry we made you wait over three weeks for a new episode. But hey, some of us had to get married and go on a fabulous honeymoon.  The rest of us had to stay at home, play hours and hours of Dragon Age: Origins and drink a ton of Coke Zero.  So we had our reasons!   We make up for lost time by throwing all kinds of goodies at you, like Curtis dropping some serious Starcraft II science, Shawn breaks down how little has changed for the Kane and Lynch series (still can’t believe I can follow those names with “series”) and everybody jumps in to voice their thoughts on the announcement of Bioshock Infinite.  So kick back, light a cigar, kick your feet up, strip down naked, and enjoy the soothing sounds of the TotalActionAdventure podcast.

Then, when all is said and done, the dust has cleared, and your pants are safely back on, email us your thoughts at podcast@totalactionadventure.com (you can also fill out our form).  Don't forget to also subscribe to the RSS or iTunes feed (now with actual working goodness!) so you can get the next podcast when its up in 3 weeks (I kid!!).  There's also Twitter stalking: @TAAShawn, @TAACurtis, and @TAADrea.  I guarantee we will stalk you back.

Hosts: Drea, Shawn, and Curtis
Download: MP3 Format (23.3MB - Right Click, Save-Target-As)
Music: The Machine (Luc Brunet & Jeff Dupuis)

Well the Summer of Arcade for 2010 is officially drawing to a close. It had a good run this year, with no game up until this point really standing out as weak, although admittedly Castlevania was not really for me. The eagerly anticipated, and now controversial (more on that later), release of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light closes out this year’s event.

Read on to find out whether this game brings everything to a close with a bang, or a whimper.